Common river cruise inclusions by price tier

Inclusion	Budget/Entry-Level	Mid-Range	All-Inclusive Luxury
All onboard meals	✅	✅	✅
Beverages at meals	Drinks package may cost extra	Beer, wine, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner	All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks 24/7
Gratuities	Not included	Not included	Included for both crew and guides
Wi-Fi	Included, but may be slow	Included	Included
Shore excursions	May include one or two tours; most cost extra	At least one included excursion in every port	All excursions and often exclusive events are included
Airport transfers	Not included	May be included with airfare purchase	Included
Onboard amenities	Basic amenities, sundeck	Fitness center, bikes for use	Fitness center, spa, pool/whirlpool, butler service in top suites
Dining options	Main dining room only	Main dining room, plus a second specialty venue	Multiple dining venues, room service

Key takeaways:

• Most river cruises include your stateroom and all meals, but major differences exist in the amenities and services covered in the upfront price.
• The terms “inclusive” and “all-inclusive” have different meanings for various cruise lines. While many lines include Wi-Fi, basic drinks at meals, and daily excursions, truly all-inclusive luxury lines cover all beverages, gratuities, airport transfers, and provide enhanced services like butler service.
• Luxury lines like Tauck, Scenic, and Uniworld bundle most or all costs into their fares, while mid-range and budget lines charge extra for many services.