Do you have an upcoming Celebrity cruise? You might be surprised by just how much is actually included in your cruise fare.
Celebrity is known for its upscale experience, and today I’m sharing all the free perks—both the obvious ones and the hidden extras you may not even realize are included—so you know exactly what’s free before you sail.
Bathrobes in every cabin
One thing that really sets Celebrity apart is that every cabin comes with complimentary bathrobes—not just the suites.
You don’t need to ask for one; it’s already waiting for you, which is something many cruise lines no longer provide. It’s one of those little touches that instantly makes the cruise feel more upscale.
Complimentary tote bags
Another nice surprise is the complimentary tote bags. On embarkation day, I received high-quality totes with a zippered pouch inside, which was perfect for port days and carrying essentials around the ship.
My mother-in-law didn’t get hers on the first day and had to ask for it, so if you don’t see one in your cabin, just ask your stateroom attendant. It’s a really useful freebie that you’ll likely use throughout the cruise.
Free champagne
You can get free champagne on Celebrity cruises if you know where to look. One of the easiest ways to get a complimentary glass is by attending the art auction, champagne is typically offered to everyone—and there’s no pressure to buy anything. It’s a fun way to enjoy some bubbly while checking out the artwork.
Want free champagne on embarkation day? Head to the Art Gallery’s Welcome Aboard Reception. Just make sure to check your daily planner so you don’t miss it.
Free port talks
One thing I really love about Celebrity Cruises is their free port talks. These presentations give you helpful information about upcoming ports, including where to go, what to do, how to get around, and where to eat. They’re especially useful if you’re planning to explore on your own instead of booking a cruise shore excursion.
What really sets Celebrity apart is that the talks are very informative, not like a sales pitch. I’ve been to port talks on other cruise lines that felt more like an excuse to push shore excursions or hand out coupons to lure you into sponsor shops at the port.
Umbrellas in your stateroom
Similar to upscale resorts, Celebrity provides umbrellas in your stateroom. They’re perfect for rainy port days and a lifesaver if you didn’t pack one yourself.
There were no signs saying they had to stay on the ship, so I brought mine home. I didn’t get charged for it. That said, the quality isn’t the best and mine broke after a few uses, so it seems like it’s meant to be a basic umbrella you can use and keep.
Free food at Café al Bacio
At Celebrity’s Café al Bacio, the pastries and snacks are free—you only pay if you order coffee. It’s easy to assume the food isn’t free, since everything is displayed behind glass without any signage.
The cookies are incredible, and it’s the perfect spot to grab an afternoon snack without having to make the trip to the buffet.
Lavazza coffee all day
Another nice perk is that Celebrity serves Lavazza coffee, not a generic no-name coffee like you’ll find on many other cruise lines. You can enjoy it for free throughout the day at the buffet, with both regular and decaf coffee available.
Free texting on the Celebrity app
Celebrity cruise lets you text other passengers on the ship through the app without having to pay for a Wi-Fi package. It makes it easy to stay in touch throughout the day which is helpful when your group splits up or plans change.
Just keep in mind that the messaging feature isn’t available for kids under thirteen, so if you have a tween like I do, it can be a bit harder to keep track of them.
Turndown service with chocolates
One thing I really appreciate is that Celebrity still offers nightly turndown service. Each evening, your cabin steward refreshes your room and leaves chocolates on the pillow—a classic cruise tradition that many cruise lines have phased out.
It’s a small but luxurious touch, and my kids look forward to chocolates at bedtime.
Free Beach towels
One thing that makes pool days so much easier on Celebrity is how they handle towels. Beach towels are available right on the pool deck, completely free—so there’s no need to keep track of them or worry about being charged if one goes missing.
You can get as many as you need, and when you’re done, just leave them on your lounge chair or take them back to your cabin for your steward to collect.
Free Drinks in the casino
A lot of first time Celebrity cruisers don’t realize that you can get free drinks in the casino. As long as you’re actively playing, servers will come around and offer complimentary drinks.
This applies whether you’re playing slot machines or table games. Just make sure your SeaPass card is inserted or visible so they know you’re actively playing.
Free Juice at the Buffet
Juice is available for free all day at the buffet. It’s not just during breakfast, even later in the day you can still help yourself to lemonade, iced tea and fruit punch.
It’s great for kids or anyone who wants something other than water without needing to buy a non-alcoholic package.
Free continental breakfast room service
Here’s a little room service hack on Celebrity Cruises: normally, room service comes with a fee—but if you order a continental breakfast, it’s free. You can enjoy pastries, fruit, yogurt, cereal, juice, and coffee without paying any service charge.
Hot items like eggs, bacon, or omelets do have a fee, so sticking to continental breakfast items is key. It’s perfect for early mornings before shore excursions.
One of my favorite cruise morning routines is getting a pot of piping hot coffee every morning so I can enjoy it on my balcony.
Free Captain’s Club perks
It’s worth familiarizing yourself with the free perks available through Celebrity Cruises’ loyalty program, the Captain’s Club. Even if this is your first time sailing with Celebrity, you might already have a status—because Celebrity matches loyalty levels from Royal Caribbean and Silversea. That means you could have free perks waiting for you without even realizing it.
Depending on your status level, perks can include complimentary drinks, free laundry, and invitations to exclusive events.
Personally, I always look forward to the VIP party, behind-the-scenes ship tours, and wine tastings—it’s a fun way to enjoy your cruise like a true insider.
Main dining room meals
Celebrity Cruises will often promote specialty restaurants, but honestly—you don’t need to spend extra. The free meals in the main dining room are excellent. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included, and dinner gives you a true fine dining experience with white tablecloth service, all part of your cruise fare.
Don’t miss formal night—it’s one of the highlights of the cruise. Celebrity really goes all out, serving premium dishes like steak, duck, and lobster, all included at no extra cost. Just be sure to ask your waiter when formal night is so you don’t accidentally miss it because you were eating at the buffet.
Themed buffet
One of my favorite free experiences on Celebrity is the themed buffet. They really go all out, and many guests don’t even realize it’s happening because it isn’t always announced ahead of time.
One night, we discovered an Oktoberfest spread complete with sausages and warm pretzels, and on sea days, the buffet can turn into a seafood feast or an impressive dessert display.
I make a point to check the buffet regularly, even if I’m not hungry, just to see what creative theme they’ve set up.
Evening shows
Don’t skip Celebrity’s complimentary evening shows. From Broadway-style productions to acrobatics and live music, the performances are award-winning and professionally produced. The talent level is impressive, and many guests are surprised by how good the shows are.
Mast Grill and Spa Cafe
Aside from the main dining room and the buffet, Celebrity Cruises has free restaurants that you need to know about. The Mast Grill is a favorite—my son always orders made-to-order burgers there, and honestly, it’s much better than the burgers at the buffet. The Spa Café is also included.
Bathroom amenities
Celebrity goes a step above most mainstream cruise lines when it comes to bathroom amenities. Along with the usual shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel, they also provide lotion and a shower cap, giving you a few thoughtful extras that make your cabin feel more like a hotel.
Free library books
Forgot to bring a book? No problem! Celebrity ships have libraries where you can borrow books for free. The selection usually includes a mix of fiction and non-fiction—perfect for reading by the pool or on your balcony.
Just keep in mind that not all Celebrity ships have libraries, so it’s a good idea to check ahead of time.
Free onboard activities
Celebrity cruise organizes a lot of complimentary activities throughout the day and evening, so there’s always something fun to do.
One of my favorites is the silent disco, where everyone gets headphones with different music channels and dances to their own beat. It’s truly fun for all ages—my kids love it, and my in-laws have just as much fun joining in. It’s a memorable experience that everyone in the family can enjoy without spending a dime.
Fitness Center
Staying active on your Celebrity cruise is easy—the fitness center is included at no extra cost. You’ll find treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights, making it simple to keep up with your workout routine while onboard.
Free kids club
Celebrity’s kids club is free. Camp at Sea is a supervised drop-off program for kids starting at age three who are potty trained, with age-based groups all the way up to seventeen.
The activities are fun, giving kids a chance to make friends and enjoy themselves while parents get some well-deserved downtime.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cruise Planning Essentials
Day Passes to Resorts– Booking private beach resort access in advance guarantees a comfortable beach experience at the cruise port.
Travel Insurance with CFAR Coverage– CFAR travel insurance gives you flexibility to cancel your cruise for any reason and recover part of your costs if plans change.
Last Minute Cruise Deals– Search for last minute cruise deals.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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