Costa Cruise Onboard Costs: What’s Free, What Costs Extra, and What To Budget

Costa Cruises advertise impossibly low base fares, but optional add-ons can quickly undo any savings if you’re not paying attention. If you’re happy with the basics–small cabins, limited meal options, and DIY entertainment–Costa can be an exceptionally cheap vacation. But travelers who buy drink packages, rely on wi-fi, and book shore excursions could be shocked by the final bill.

Some of this is par for the course with cruising, regardless of your chosen cruiseline. Where people get surprised is by Costa’s more restrictive inclusions: The included restaurant hours are relatively limited and tap water is not available in the main dining room so you’ll need to pay for bottled water.

Even with extra costs onboard, my week cruising the Caribbean on Costa Pacifica was still a screaming deal. But with this guide you’ll be able to determine for yourself if it makes sense for your budget.

All prices below are based on my January 2026 Caribbean cruise on the Costa Pacifica, but based on forum chatter, these prices are pretty consistent across multiple ships and itineraries.

What’s Included in Your Costa Cruise Fare

When you book, you’ll see a base fare advertised as well as a total price at checkout–this includes taxes and port fees, as well.

Free vs Extra on Costa Cruises

At first glance, this probably coincides with what you expect. The devil is in the details, though. You’ll find free food most of the day, but where can be stingy: For example, only a continental breakfast is available between 10-11am. Want something between 6-7pm? Literally nowhere is included in your meal plan. You’ll have to head to a paid venue.

Additionally, your Costa cruise fare includes an extremely limited set of drinks. In the buffet, you’ll find free tap water, but even water is charged in the main dining room (bottled is the only option). Coffee, tea, milk, and juice (from concentrate) are included at breakfast in both the buffet and main dining room.

Costa Cruise Gratuities & Service Charges

For most travelers, service charges are the one unavoidable Costa hidden fee. These are mandatory labor costs (not an optional gratuity) and added to your final onboard bill to pay your waitstaff, room steward, and other crew. On most Costa cruises, these cost extra at a rate of €11 per person, per night. Currently, that’s about U.S. $13 per day, or $91 on a week-long cruise. This is much lower than what you’ll see on other cruise lines, making the Costa service charge per day very reasonable.

The Costa tipping policy is unusual because some fares booked through European websites or agencies include service charges (especially if you book a full package with airfare, transfers, etc.). However, this is more of a bundling convenience offered by some agencies and not guaranteed. Many passengers will need to budget and pay for this as a separate line item.

You’ll also pay another 15% on top of purchased drinks as part of the Costa tipping policy. This includes a la carte sodas, coffees, alcoholic drinks, and drink packages.

Drinks on Costa Cruises: Prices & Packages

If you’re wondering are drinks included on Costa Cruises, the answer is no–similar to most other major cruise lines. However, I found Costa alcohol prices to be quite reasonable. For example, on my January 2026 cruise, drinks cost:

• €2-4 for espresso-based coffees
• €4 for sodas
• €6-7 for beers
• €8 for mocktails
• €10 for cocktails
• €10 for a glass of wine
• Wine by the bottle varied considerably in cost BUT nearly every bottle is discounted by 15-50% if you’re a C|Club member (so definitely join — it’s free!)

Costa Drink Package Cost

If you expect to order drinks regularly throughout the cruise, purchasing a Costa drink package could be a better deal than paying for each beverage separately. I was given the option of purchasing three different packages online in advance of my cruise. There were a large number of different drink package options for my cruise–almost too many (it makes it confusing).

Some of these packages fell under “bundles”–think seven fresh-squeezed juices for €25 (essentially, buy five, get two free) or six bottles of wine with seven bottles of water for €169–while others are “all you can drink” for a flat price. But even the unlimited drink packages came in a variety of options, including:

• MyDrinks (€42/night): water, sodas, ice tea, select juices, specialty coffees and teas, draft beers, house wines, house liquors, and “classic” cocktails or mocktails
• MyDrinksPlus (€57/night): adds bottled beers, premium liquors, premium cocktails, and the minibar
• MyDrinksMeals (€24/night): water, soft drinks, draft beers, house wines, and espresso-based coffees at meals only
• MySoftDrinks (€27/night): water, soft drinks, ice tea, select juices, specialty coffees and teas, and classic mocktails

These unlimited drink packages are truly unlimited without caps, but cannot be shared between multiple passengers. Each person will need their own package (or can order a la carte).

The prices shown reflect the price onboard, but there were heavy discounts for buying a Costa drink package online. The MyDrinks package, for example, was €205.80 for my seven-night cruise if purchased in advance, reflecting a 39% savings (€29.40/night instead of €42).

As a light drinker, I found it cheaper to buy my drinks a la carte. I started each day with a cappuccino (€3) and ended with two glasses of sparkling water at dinner (€1 per glass, or €3.50 for a 1-liter bottle). Some days I also had a mocktail (€8). Together, this was still only about half the cost of the nonalcoholic MySoftDrinks package.

Gratuities of 15% are added to drink orders made onboard.

Costa Cruise Wi-Fi Costs

There were three different Costa cruise internet packages available during my cruise:

1. WhatsApp package (€6 per day)
2. Social Package (€12 per day) – including access to WhatsApp and most social media apps, like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more
3. Full Internet Package (€19 per day)

There were 8-10% discounts if you prepurchased a package for the full cruise duration online in advance. Those discounts increased to 15% if you prepaid for two devices (for example, one for you and one for your cabin mate), making Costa wi-fi costs somewhat more acceptable.

You can also buy internet access by the minute. I did this on our one sea day. A one-time activation cost of €3 applies per device plus €0,50 per minute. That makes it expensive unless you really just need to login to send a quick email or WhatsApp message. Save money and draft your message(s) offline in advance. Wi-Fi was strong and reliable. It’s expensive, but it worked.

GigSky also sells eSims that can be used for data onboard Costa Cruises. There are different size packages, but they may save you money overall: For example, 5GB of GigSky onboard internet costs $70 or you could upgrade that 5GB package to also work on shore in the Caribbean for a total cost of $84. That’s roughly half the cost of a weeklong cruise internet package through Costa.

Pro Tip: If you have cell service in port, you’ll likely have it for about an hour before docking and an hour after leaving–when you’re still close enough to shore to get a signal. That meant I could use data I already paid for rather than buying an additional internet package through the cruise ship.

Specialty Dining Costs on Costa Cruises

Although the main buffet and dining room include free meals, every Costa cruise ship has additional options available at a surcharge. On the Costa Pacifica, I could choose from four restaurants: Sushino, Pummid’oro, Teppanyaki, and Archipelago.

1. Archipelago–the fine dining option–has a flat cover charge, regardless of the specific menu items you order. Lunch was cheaper than dinner (with fewer courses) and will run you about €60 per person.
2. Teppanyaki–a hibachi-style Japanese restaurant–is also priced at a flat fee of about €40
3. Pummid’oro (pizza) is priced a la carte, and was an exceptionally good value for the quality (individual pizzas start at €8.d50)
4. Sushino (sushi) had both package (€19-25) and a la carte options (€12 for a sushi box)

You can save on Costa cruise food costs by buying a bundle of two, three, or seven restaurant meals, with even bigger savings if you pay online in advance. The savings were greatest if you are planning on eating at Archipelago one or more times throughout the cruise.

You can also save on some specialty dining costs by joining Costa’s C|Club. Even entry-level members can save 25% at the pizzeria, with bigger discounts and more restaurant options as you collect loyalty rewards.

Room service was also available and is your best choice for late night food. You’ll find menus and prices in your cabin, all priced a la carte.

Spa, Fitness & Activity Costs

Costa spa prices weren’t particularly transparent and felt inconsistent based on who you talked to or when you booked rather than following a simple price list.

Generally speaking, “list price” was around €149 for one-hour treatments like a massage or facial. However, there were often daily specials on select treatments which could drop the price to about €99. You may also find coupons in your online C|Club account, though these aren’t combinable with special promotions.

Spa treatments do NOT include thermal area access (jacuzzis, dry saunas, steam rooms) unless explicitly stated. You’ll need to buy this access separately. I peeked in after my treatment (a mini massage & facial combo) and did not think it was worth it. The jacuzzis were nicer than the public areas, but not particularly luxurious and still relatively busy. A one-day thermal pass was €39, or about €150 for the entire week.

The fitness area onboard was free but always busy. It had a decent selection of cardio equipment, weight machines, and dumbbells. There were also a selection of fitness classes during my cruise. Costa fitness classes offered on the pool deck were free and varied between dancing (similar to Zumba), kickboxing, stretching/tai chi-inspired, and water aerobics.

However, fitness classes offered in the spa area cost €12 per class. These classes included yoga, pilates, and spin/cycling. You could save money by buying a package of multiple fitness classes, but I’d hesitate to do that: My yoga class was disappointing, so I would’ve been frustrated if I had prepaid for 3 or 5 classes.

Other onboard experiences ranged from dance lessons to karaoke to wine tastings to live music. Many were free, but some Costa cruise activities cost extra–particularly if alcohol is involved.

Shore Excursion Costs on Costa Cruises

Unsurprisingly, shore excursions (tours or activities you do in port, rather than on the ship) come at an extra charge.

On my cruise, some of the tours were priced remarkably similar to if you booked independently. Others had a 20-50% markup compared to booking with local operators, so there really was no hard and fast rule about how to book. Costa shore excursion prices vary by port and activity, but were often €50-100 for a half-day tour or €100-150 for a full-day tour.

What the cruiseline doesn’t tell you is that they have some substantial discounts the night before each port stop that can make Costa excursions cost effective for last-minute planners. The catch? Only 1-3 tours per day are deeply discounted (whichever ones they’re trying to fill last minute seats on), so it’s only good for flexible travelers who are open to anything.

There were no discounts for booking excursions online compared to booking once you’re onboard. The only advantage to prebooking with Costa is being able to lock in your spot if you think it will sell out.

Pros & Cons of Booking Excursions through Costa

Pros:

• One-click booking
• Easy logistics of leaving right from the ship versus finding a meeting point somewhere outside the main port
• Costa will take care of you and get you back to the ship in case of unexpected delays or complications
• Discounts on last-minute tour bookings

Cons:

• Sometimes independent tours could be up to 50% cheaper
• Independent tours can be smaller groups (e.g. vans seating 8 vs buses of 30)
• Local operators may have more start times available (nearly every Costa excursion I saw left in the morning)
• Keeps your money in the local economy

Sea Days vs Port Days: As someone who goes out of her way for “sightDOING” on trips, I tend to spend a lot of money on port days. It’s pretty normal for me to book a full-day excursion in every port. On this trip, I went whale watching one day, canyoning on another, and took a speedboat to a remote national park on yet another. Someone who prefers quiet beach days or independent sightseeing would spend a fraction of what I did on port days.

Conversely, I’m not much of a drinker, so my bar bill was pretty low. Some travelers may find sea days more expensive as you entertain yourself onboard with visits to the spa, casino, specialty restaurant, and bars.

There is no right or wrong–but be honest about how you travel so you’re not caught off-guard by where your budget goes.

Other Onboard Costs to Expect

Additionally, the casino could rack up charges really fast (unless you’re much luckier than I am!).

How to Save Money on Costa Cruise Onboard Costs

Keep in mind that I paid for shore excursions separately through local operators and had a few drinks on the beach (paid in cash) rather than on the ship. So, my onboard bill looks artificially low compared to someone who buys everything through Costa directly.

To keep costs down:

• Prepay for packages online if you know you’ll use them (beverages, restaurants, wi-fi)
• Join the Costa C|Club for potential discounts on food, drink, and onboard activities
• Check for last-minute discounts on shore excursions or book locally
• Check other service providers for internet/data onboard or on shore
• Pack your own entertainment to avoid on splurges like spa and casino
• Fill your own water bottles on the pool deck to avoid bottled water costs

Pro Tip: Costa processes all onboard charges in euros, so if that’s not your primary currency, choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, your card issuer may take on another 1-5% surcharge.

You could potentially avoid all Costa cruise fees, with the exception of gratuities, if you were on a super tight budget. However, it’s vacation–so it’s smarter to simply budget appropriately ahead of time.

Are Costa Cruise Onboard Costs High?

Costa cruise costs aren’t out of control, but they do add up. Costa Cruises aren’t expensive onboard if you cruise intentionally. The low base fare is real, but the line rewards planners and punishes impulse spenders. The extras can especially sneak up on you if you’re used to American cruiselines where things like pizza, ice cream, and iced tea are included in your base fare.

My personal out-of-pocket costs were supremely reasonable, especially when you factor in how cheap my cruise was to begin with. I also felt like my expectations were realistic from the very beginning: You know these costs are coming, so they don’t act like surprise Costa Cruises hidden fees.

If you’re a budget traveler who treats the ship as basic lodging and transportation without getting tempted by drinks or excursions, you’ll find some cheap Costa cruises. Even midrange travelers will still find good deals and can avoid the “nickel and diming” feel from constantly analyzing prices and making financial decisions during your holiday. Costa makes it easy to prepay packages so you can budget in advance and turn that side of your brain off.

Even with a selection of excursions, drink packages, and other extras, Costa can still be one of the cheapest Caribbean cruise vacations available in 2026. My particular 7-night cruise was only about €1200 (U.S. $1400) for my cruise fare, taxes, fees, mandatory service charges, onboard extras, and extensive tours. I never felt deprived–but there’s still plenty of room to splurge on more luxuries while still staying in a reasonable budget. That’s a fair price compared to other trips I’ve taken.

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