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Compared to a typical holiday on land, cruises can offer exceptional value. Even a standard cruise fare covers accommodation and typically all on-board meals, plus, of course, the convenience of travelling between ports of call.
That said, you can build up some pretty big bills once on board if you splash out on drinks, shore excursions, speciality dining, and daily essentials like Wi-Fi, all of which might incur extra cost. So if you’d rather not worry about budgeting or just don’t want to think about everyday spending, an all-inclusive cruise will surely appeal.
Covering much more in the upfront cost offers peace of mind and a total disconnect. Whether it’s upgraded dining, onshore activities, or even just details such as tips, going all-inclusive equals a straightforward, stress-free holiday.
Find by cruise type:
- Best for an expedition cruise
- Best for ultra-luxury
- Best European river sailing
Best for the small-ship experience
Flavours of the Hebrides
Hebridean Island Cruises
Key stops: Islands of Iona, Colonsay, Skye and Mull (Scotland)
Departure port: Oban (Scotland)
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Hebridean Princess
Shore excursions on some cruise lines can be ludicrously overpriced, which is one of the things that makes Hebridean Island Cruises such good value. On this seven-night sailing aboard the 48-passenger Hebridean Princess, all onshore activities are included in the cost. Gastronomic travellers who know as much about haggis as harissa will appreciate the foodie focus throughout.
There are gourmet treats to be discovered as the ship sails around the Inner Hebrides, including visits to local producers of cheeses, oysters, honey and spirits. Other highlights ashore include a pint at mainland Britain’s most remote pub, The Old Forge in Inverie, and a meal at the renowned Three Chimneys Restaurant on the Isle of Skye.
Back on board, expect more fine cuisine in the elegant Columba Restaurant. Then round off each day in a comfortably intimate Tiree Lounge with a whisky or Islay gin to sip beside the brick inglenook fireplace.
How to do it
A seven-night Flavours of the Hebrides cruise departing on April 20, 2027, costs from £8,455pp for a standard double cabin with outside view. Includes drinks, tips, excursions, Wi-Fi, and either local transfers to the station/airport or secure parking at the port.
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Best for skipping the flight
Best of the Canaries
Saga Cruises
Key stops: Lisbon and Funchal (Portugal), La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria (Spain)
Departure port: Portsmouth (UK)
Duration: 14 nights
Ship: Spirit of Discovery
Saga Cruises’ all-inclusive offering is so thorough that it even covers transfers between your home and your departure point. For this particular cruise, that departure point is Portsmouth, from where the 987-passenger Spirit of Discovery sails south to sun-splashed Madeira and the Canaries.
Start your exploration of these volcanic archipelagos – known since ancient times as the “Fortunate Isles” – with an overnight stay in Funchal, Madeira’s capital, to discover its native laurel forests and gorgeous botanical gardens. Next come four Canary Islands – La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote – before crossing back to mainland Europe to visit lively Lisbon.
The final days are spent relaxing at sea on the return to Portsmouth, which allows time to tick off the theatre, spa, outdoor lido and any other facilities that might not have been tried yet (don’t miss La Vie en Rose, the all-new, brasserie-style French restaurant). Or simply enjoy the view from your private balcony: a feature of every cabin on board.
How to do it
A 14-night Best of the Canaries cruise departing on December 6, 2026, costs from £3,499pp for a standard cabin. Includes drinks, an excursion in every port, a nationwide door-to-door chauffeur service to the ship, Wi-Fi, gratuities and optional travel insurance.
Best for an expedition cruise
Indonesian Explorer: Bali, Raja Ampat & Papua New Guinea
Heritage Expeditions
Key stops: Sumbawa Island, Komodo Island, Wakatobi National Park, West Papua, Raja Ampat and Biak Island (Indonesia), Sepik River and Madang (Papua New Guinea)
Departure point: Denpasar for Bali (Indonesia)
Duration: 17 nights
Ship: Heritage Adventurer
In keeping with their exclusive, small-ship nature and focus on amazing experiences, expedition cruises tend to follow the all-inclusive approach. This itinerary with New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions is packed with (included) bucket-list staples.
There’s the chance to swim with whale sharks, encounter Komodo dragons and snorkel with sea turtles over pristine coral reefs. Even rarer still are the opportunities to see birds of paradise on a jungle trek or learn about the cultures and practices of Indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea. Other highlights include buffalo racing on little-visited Sumbawa Island, or the thrill of sailing through island-speckled waters that few outsiders get to see.
In a region that can only be discovered on this kind of cruise, the 140-passenger, polar-class Heritage Adventurer keeps the experience comfortable. With a 14-strong fleet of Zodiacs, explorations ashore are never cramped – and the sense of adventure that you’ll feel just from being in this unspoiled, remote region is magical.
How to do it
Heritage Expeditions offers the 17-night Indonesian Explorer cruise departing on October 7, 2027, from £10,615pp for a main deck triple cabin. Includes a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Bali, local transfers, meals, drinks with meals, excursions and a post-cruise charter flight to Cairns. Excludes international flights.
Best for ultra-luxury
Sunset in Santander: Lisbon to Lisbon
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC)
Key stops: Santander and Bilbao (Spain), Bordeaux (France)
Departure port: Lisbon (Portugal)
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Seven Seas Grandeur
Regent Seven Seas Cruises positions itself as the world’s leading all-inclusive luxury cruise line, so it’s the obvious choice for those with deep enough pockets. Every conceivable element is included in the quoted price, from premium drinks and fine dining to flights and unlimited shore excursions.
To make the most of on-shore experiences, many itineraries include Immersive Overnights that allow passengers to delve rewardingly into key ports of call. Guests on this particular itinerary can enjoy overnights in four different ports: all the better to discover Lisbon’s eclectic nightlife, Bordeaux’s vineyards and castles, or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Even the cookery class in a French château incurs no extra cost. Neither do the wellness programmes back on board, nor the speciality restaurants, of which pan-Asian Pacific Rim is the standout. The ship itself is a treasure too (its art collection includes three original Picassos). You’ll soon understand why Regent is feted as having “the world’s most luxurious fleet”.
How to do it
A 10-night Sunset in Santander voyage departing on April 28, 2027, costs from £6,379pp for a veranda suite. Includes dining, drinks, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, gratuities and valet laundry service.
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Best European river sailing
Capital Cities of the Danube
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Key stops: Novi Sad (Serbia), Batina (Croatia), Budapest (Hungary), Bratislava (Slovakia), Vienna (Austria)
Departure port: Belgrade (Serbia)
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: SS Emilie
As with Regent for ocean voyages, Uniworld sets itself apart from its river cruise competitors by offering what it claims is an “unmatched level of inclusive luxurious amenities”. Beyond the ships’ chic design and sizeable, all-river-view accommodations, Uniworld’s European itineraries are fully all-inclusive and cover flights, excursions and drinks within the fare. The result is an onboard environment that’s effortless, relaxing and entirely carefree.
This Danube cruise aboard the line’s newest ship, SS Emilie, is a great example. Activity highlights include a half-day bike tour in Belgrade, a boat trip with a biologist in Croatia’s scenic Syrmia region, and a private concert in Bratislava’s St Martin’s Cathedral. Or, for a real treat, join the private after-hours tour of Vienna’s Belvedere Palace to ogle its magnificent collections.
Back on board, guests can enjoy the commissioned artworks scattered throughout the public areas in a nod to its namesake, Emilie Flöge, who was the muse of the famous Austrian painter, Gustav Klimt.
How to do it
A seven-night Capital Cities of the Danube cruise departing November 7, 2027, costs from £2,999pp in a Classic Cabin. Includes return flights, airport transfers, all drinks and dining, excursions, exercise classes, gratuities and port charges.
Best for seeing South-East Asia
The Mekong in a Different Way
CroisiEurope
Key stops: Tonle Sap Lake, Udong and Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chau Doc, Sa Dec, Cai Be, My Tho and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Departure port: Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Duration: Eight nights
Ship: RV Toum Tiou II
All-inclusive on-board pricing comes as standard on river and ocean cruises with French line CroisiEurope. However, for some parts of its programme, such as hotel barge cruises in France and Belgium or river cruises on the Mekong, the deal expands to shore excursions too. This means it won’t cost any extra to take a tuk-tuk tour in Phnom Penh, ride a bike past impressive pagodas or visit a sleepy riverside village to sample the fruits of its tropical orchards.
This cruise is all about cultural immersion and active exploration. As well as cycling, there are chances to kayak or travel on a sampan, the traditional flat-bottomed boats, while sailing between Cambodia and Vietnam.
What’s more, the 28-passenger RV Toum Tiou II is one of just a handful of cruise ships that offer the unique experience of transiting the Chao Gao canal from the Mekong into Ho Chi Minh City. And after each day’s explorations, repair to the expansive sun deck to watch boats buzz by on the Mekong’s muddy waters.
How to do it
An eight-night The Mekong in a Different Way cruise departing February 4, 2027, costs from £2,118pp for a main deck cabin. Includes return flights, local transfers, drinks, excursions and tips.
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This article was first published in February 2026, and has been revised and updated.
