What Does A Cruise Really Cost?

What’s Included, What’s Extra & How to Budget for Your Cruise

By Jim Hoover, Cruise Planners Travel Advisor

You see an advertisement for a seven-night cruise for $699 per person.

Sounds pretty good.

But does your seven-night vacation really cost $699?

Probably not.

That doesn’t mean the cruise line is doing anything wrong. A cruise fare can actually include an incredible amount: your cabin, meals, entertainment, pools, activities and transportation from one destination to another.

The problem comes when travelers compare cruises based solely on the advertised fare.

The price of the cruise and the cost of the vacation are two different things.

Understanding that difference before you book can help you choose the right cruise, set a realistic budget and avoid unpleasant surprises once you’re onboard.

1. What Is Usually Included in Your Cruise Fare?

Let’s start with the good news.

Cruises can offer tremendous value because your basic fare generally covers many of the biggest expenses you’d pay separately on a land vacation.

Depending on the cruise line and ship, your fare will typically include things such as:

• Your cabin
• Main dining room meals
• Buffet dining
• Some casual dining venues
• Basic non-alcoholic beverages
• Most onboard entertainment
• Live music and shows
• Pools and hot tubs
• Fitness center access
• Many onboard activities
• Kids’ and teen programs on family-oriented cruise lines
• Transportation from port to port

Think about what those things would cost separately on a traditional vacation.

A hotel room, three meals a day, entertainment every evening and transportation to several different destinations can add up quickly.

That’s one reason cruising can still be an excellent vacation value.

2. The $99 Cruise That Isn’t Really $99

We’ve all seen the advertisements.

Cruises from $99!

Can you actually find a cruise fare for $99? Sometimes.

Are you going on vacation for $99? No.

The advertised fare is only the starting point. Depending on the sailing and how you travel, your total trip might also include taxes and fees, gratuities, transportation to the port, parking or airfare, a pre-cruise hotel, drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, shore excursions and other onboard spending.

That’s not necessarily a reason to avoid the $99 cruise.

It may still be a fantastic deal.

You just need to know what you’re comparing.

3. Gratuities: The Expense First-Time Cruisers Sometimes Miss

Most mainstream cruise lines have recommended or automatic daily gratuities that are charged per person.

Those gratuities generally go toward the crew members who take care of you throughout your vacation.

On a seven-night cruise, daily gratuities for two people can become a meaningful part of the overall cost, so it’s something you should account for when setting your budget.

Some cruise fares or promotions may include gratuities. Many do not. Luxury lines often handle gratuities differently from mainstream lines.

4. Drinks: One of the Biggest Variables

This is where two people taking exactly the same cruise can end up spending very different amounts.

Water, coffee, tea and certain basic beverages are often included.

Alcohol, specialty coffee, bottled water, soda and other premium beverages may cost extra depending on the cruise line.

Then there are drink packages.

For one traveler, a drink package might be a great value. For someone else, it could be a complete waste of money.

5. Wi-Fi: Do You Really Need It?

For some people, disconnecting is part of the vacation.

For others, going seven days without internet sounds less like a vacation and more like a hostage situation.

Wi-Fi pricing and quality vary significantly among cruise lines and ships.

Some fares include it. Some cruise lines offer packages. Others charge based on the number of devices or level of service.

Before automatically purchasing internet for everyone in the family, think about how you’re actually going to use it.

Do four people really need four simultaneous connections?

Maybe. Maybe not.

6. Specialty Dining: Included Food vs. Upgraded Experiences

You absolutely do not need to pay extra to eat well on most cruise ships.

Your cruise fare generally gives you access to plenty of included food.

But modern cruise ships may also have steakhouses, sushi restaurants, seafood venues, chef’s-table experiences and other specialty restaurants that cost extra.

For some travelers, those restaurants are a major part of the cruise experience. Others are perfectly happy eating in the included venues all week.

Neither approach is wrong.

7. Shore Excursions Can Change the Budget Quickly

Here’s another category where spending varies enormously.

You can walk off the ship and explore a port on your own for very little money.

Or you can take a helicopter to a glacier.

Those are obviously going to be very different vacation budgets.

Shore excursions can include walking tours, beach days, snorkeling, food tours, private guides, fishing trips, wildlife experiences, helicopter flights and just about anything else you can imagine.

On a port-intensive cruise, excursions can become one of the largest expenses beyond the cruise fare itself.

But they can also create some of the best memories of the entire trip.

8. Don’t Forget the Cost of Getting to the Ship

This one is easy to overlook when you’re staring at cruise prices.

You still have to get there.

• Airfare
• Checked baggage fees
• Airport transportation
• Parking
• Rental car
• Transfers
• Hotel
• Meals before the cruise

For people who live near a cruise port, this can be one of cruising’s biggest advantages.

For everyone else, transportation can add significantly to the vacation cost.

And if you’re flying to your embarkation port, there’s one expense I think is particularly worthwhile.

9. The Little Things Add Up Too

Then there are all the smaller expenses.

A spa treatment.

A photo.

A souvenir.

A casino visit.

A bottle of wine.

A nicer bottle of wine.

A T-shirt you absolutely did not need but somehow couldn’t leave the ship without.

None of these necessarily breaks the vacation budget.

The solution isn’t to spend your cruise worrying about every dollar. It’s simply to budget for some fun money before you leave. Then enjoy it.

10. Packages Can Make Sense—but Don’t Assume They Save Money

Cruise lines increasingly offer bundled fares that may include some combination of drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, gratuities or other perks.

Sometimes these packages are an excellent value.

Sometimes you’re paying for things you wouldn’t have purchased anyway.

11. Why a Luxury Cruise May Not Be as Expensive as It Looks

This is where cruise-price comparisons get really interesting.

Luxury cruise fares can look dramatically higher than mainstream cruise fares at first glance.

But depending on the cruise line, a luxury fare may already include things you’d otherwise pay extra for—such as beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, specialty dining and sometimes shore excursions.

That doesn’t automatically make the luxury cruise cheaper or better.

But it does mean you shouldn’t dismiss it based solely on the initial fare.

12. So What Does Your Cruise Really Cost?

Here’s a better way to think about your cruise budget.

Start with the cruise fare, then consider the rest of the vacation.

Now you have a much better idea of what your vacation is actually going to cost.

That’s Where a Good Travel Advisor Can Help

Cruise pricing can get complicated quickly.

Two fares for the same ship and itinerary may include completely different things. Promotions change. Packages change. And the least expensive fare on the screen isn’t always the best value for the way you travel.

At Vacay Dreams, Jim and Christine can help you look beyond the advertised price and compare the real value of your options.

Because we’d rather help you understand what your vacation is likely to cost before you book than have you discover it one charge at a time once you’re onboard.