From treatments to happy hour: the best cruise freebies and how to get them

Get more for your money on your next voyage.

A free champagne waterfall at Princess Cruises' captain's welcome. Picture supplied

By Louise Goldsbury

September 15, 2025

Nothing is truly free on a cruise - you've already paid for those "complimentary inclusions" in your fare - but there are plenty of ways to get more bang for your buck.

Winning prizes in competitions is easy because not many people bother to participate. I have seen all kinds of wacky games on family-friendly cruise lines but also on the most luxurious lines. Anyone can enter tongue-in-cheek contests such as world's sexiest legs, hairiest chest, best belly flop, best liar, scavenger hunts, talent quests, pool volleyball, mini-golf, shuffleboard, trivia, bingo, limbo, cornhole (bean bag toss) and "diaper derby" crawling races for babies. It's usually a branded keyring, cap, umbrella or other trinket up for grabs.

The spa and jewellery store often have free raffles on the first day of a cruise. Check the daily schedule for something like "ladies pamper party", where you might receive a short treatment. Despite the hard sell at the end, it's not compulsory to make a purchase or appointment. You can take home the slippers but not the bathrobe or towels from your cabin. And no, you can't steal the sheets or silverware. A cruise is your chance to do free activities, so sign up to learn something new, from ballroom dancing to photography skills.

Most ships have free self-service laundrettes, and some provide the washing powder.

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For drinks, keep an eye on the daily program for two-for-one happy hours or events that entice people with free sparkling wine, such as art auctions or the captain's welcome party.

The ship's duty-free shops may host complimentary tastings of spirits and liqueurs. Some demonstrations and classes also give away samples to people in the front row.

In the buffet, help yourself to tea and coffee after your free feed. If you're staying in one of the top suites or booked through a travel agent, you may be gifted a bottle of wine, chocolates or fruit basket. Regulars often receive little surprises for loyalty.

Past passengers are sometimes invited to behind-the-scenes tours or exclusive parties with complimentary cocktails and canapes.

The ultimate freebie is a whole cruise. Join the line's loyalty program to start earning points for each day at sea. It may take years, but along the way, you will be entitled to other perks such as a free massage, laundry service or cabin upgrades.

You actually do need to look after your own visas.

MYTHBUSTER: Visas are organised for you

Australians don't need visas for New Zealand or South Pacific cruises but for other regions, you are responsible for obtaining all visas prior to travel. This also applies to visa waivers such as ESTA for the US, ETA for the UK and ETIAS for Europe. For some countries, such as Papua New Guinea, the cruise line may organise a group visa and charge the fee to your onboard account. Always check your documentation or ask your travel agent if any visas are pre-arranged. If not, passengers need to apply directly with the country's consulate (online) or by using a third-party visa service.