A cruise usually costs around $500 per person for flights plus $20 to $100 for transfers. A cruise vacation includes many costs beyond just the ticket price.
When cruising with Celebrity Cruises to the Mexican Riviera, remember that your ticket usually pays for your meals and some basic drinks, but fancier drinks, Wi-Fi, and special drink packages cost extra.
You may also need to pay for airport parking, a hotel stay if you arrive early, and port fees. Remember to budget for fun activities at each port and tips for the ship’s crew, as these are not included in your ticket. In this article, we will give you more information about how much a Cruise Costs.
What is the Typical Price of a Cruise Ticket?
The price of a cruise ticket varies a lot. Basic rooms start at $179 and can go up to $11,000 for fancy suites. The cost covers meals, from breakfast to dinner, and lots of fun activities on the ship.
If you choose a special room like Celebrity’s AquaClass, it costs about $2,700 and comes with a balcony and access to a private dining area. On the higher end, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers all-inclusive trips where everything from meals and entertainment to transportation is covered, even in the priciest options.
How Much Does a Cruise Cost to Build?
Building a modern cruise ship is very expensive, costing between $500 million and $900 million. The costs have gone up a lot over time.
For example, when the Titanic was built in 1912, it was the biggest ship and cost $7.5 million. Today, that would be like spending nearly $239 million. This shows how much more complex and feature-packed cruise ships have become, making them costlier to build.
Extra Costs for More Guests
When you book a cruise, the price usually covers two people in one room. If you want to bring more people, like kids or friends, the cruise might charge you about $99 for each extra person. Sometimes, cruise lines have special offers that can make this cheaper, especially if you’re traveling with a family or a group.
· Trip Insurance
Trip insurance helps cover unexpected problems like cancellations or emergencies. The cost of insurance can be around $231.18, depending on what the plan covers. Squaremouth advises picking the right insurance for your trip, considering the benefits and drawbacks.
· Taxes and Port Fees
Extra charges like taxes and port fees are added to your cruise’s final cost, but they might need to be clearly shown when you first look at prices. These fees depend on which ports the cruise visits, how many stops it makes, and how long it stays at each port. More stops and longer stays mean higher fees.
Some places, like Alaska, generally have higher port fees than others. Larger ships also have higher costs because they use more docking space. Fees are usually lower when ships anchor offshore instead of docking directly at the port.
Here’s what you might expect to pay in taxes and fees for a week-long cruise:
- Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mexico: $140 to $200 per person
- Europe: $50 to $100 per person
- Alaska: $250 to $350 per person, but sometimes it’s even more
· Tips for the Crew
On a cruise, you give tips to the staff for their service. Most cruises automatically add a tip of about $15 to $20 per day for each person to your bill. You can pay this tip when you book your trip, which helps you manage your total spending.
· Travel Costs to the Cruise
The money you spend getting to and from the cruise can add up. This includes your plane tickets, parking at the airport, and possibly staying at a hotel before the cruise starts. If you use rewards points from places like Wyndham, you can save on hotel costs.
Once you get to the cruise port, you might need to pay for a taxi or another service to get to the ship. These travel expenses are important to consider when planning your budget.
· Food on Board and in Port
Here’s a simpler breakdown of food costs on cruises:
- Included Meals: Cruise prices usually cover meals at various onboard restaurants.
- Specialty Restaurants on Cruises: These restaurants have an extra charge. You might pay per person or for each dish you choose. For instance, some Carnival restaurants start at $18 per person. More luxurious places like Royal Caribbean’s New York Supper Club charge $200 per person, and Disney Wish’s Enchante costs $205 per person.
- Extra Charges in Regular Restaurants: Even in restaurants included in your fare, some items might cost more, like a $16.99 lobster at Celebrity or a $50 tomahawk steak at Windstar Cruises’ Candles.
- Snacks and Treats: Expect to pay for things like gelato, ice cream sundaes, or pastries at onboard coffee shops.
- Room Service is not always free. Delivery charges or item prices apply, such as $9.95 per delivery on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian ships. Some items, like breakfast smoothies or steak and eggs, might cost about $15 in Holland America.
- Minibar: Snacks in your cabin’s minibar usually have a charge.
- Food in Port: If your excursion doesn’t include meals, you might want to budget extra for local snacks or meals to experience local flavors, like pizza in Italy.
· Drinks on a Cruise
- Included Drinks: You get free coffee, tea, juice, lemonade, milk (during meals), and tap water on all cruise lines.
- Soda: This costs extra, usually between $4.50 and $6 per drink, except on Disney Cruise Line, where it’s included. Consider buying a soda package if you drink a lot of soda. For example, Royal Caribbean charges $12.99 per day for unlimited soda, and Carnival charges $9.50 per day.
- Bottled Water: This might cost extra, usually $3 to $5 per bottle, but you can buy a 12-bottle case for about $9.95 on Carnival. The water in your cabin might be free if it’s included as a loyalty reward or with your cabin type.
- Alcohol: Drinks like beer, wine, and cocktails cost extra unless included in your cruise fare. Prices are about $7-$10 for beer, $9-$25 for a glass of wine, and $10-$17 for cocktails. You can buy drinks individually or get a drink package, which might cost around $100 per day, including tips.
- Drink Packages: Some cruises include basic alcoholic drinks and offer upgrades to premium packages. For example, Viking Cruises provides beer, wine, and soda during meals and offers a premium package for $25 per night for more options available anytime.
- Corkage Fees: If you bring your own wine, you might pay $10 to $25 to have it opened in the dining room or bar. Norwegian Cruise Line charges this fee at boarding, no matter where you drink it.
- Other Drinks: Smoothies and fresh juices often cost around $10 but might be included in some drink packages.
· Entertainment and Attractions on Cruises
- Free Shows and Activities: Most shows and fun activities on the cruise are included in your ticket price.
- Paid Special Activities: You’ll need to pay extra for unique experiences like Carnival’s rollercoaster, Norwegian’s go-karts, and Royal Caribbean’s iFly skydiving simulator.
- Games and More: You will pay for video games, bingo, casino games, fitness classes, and spa and salon treatments.
· Spa, Fitness, and Salon
- Spa Access: Using the spa isn’t free on most ships. You can buy a day pass to enjoy things like saunas, steam rooms, and special showers starting at $30. Some ships also offer passes for your whole trip.
- Spa Treatments: Massages and skin treatments usually start at over $200. More specialized services like acupuncture or teeth whitening will cost more.
- Fitness Classes: Using the gym is free, but you’ll pay for any classes or personal training sessions.
- Salon Services: Salon treatments like haircuts or manicures tend to be more expensive than back home.
· Shore Excursions and Tours in Port
- Costs: Most cruises charge extra for shore excursions. Some high-end and river cruises offer some free tours, but others might cost you. The price varies based on the tour type, length, and age. You can book these through the cruise line or arrange your own.
- Pricing Differences: Excursions usually start at $100 per person. Tours in Alaska are more expensive than in the Caribbean. Plane or helicopter tours and private tours for just your group cost more. Sharing a private tour with other passengers can save money.
- Location Issues: In places like Rome, Athens, and Venice, the ship might dock far from the city. Some cruises offer free shuttles to the town, but others don’t, so you might need to pay for a ride or an excursion that includes transportation.
· Wi-Fi on the Cruise
On fancy cruises, the Wi-Fi is free and comes with your ticket. On other cruises, you have to buy Wi-Fi, and it can be pretty expensive. It is more costly than the Wi-Fi we use at home. But luckily, the cruise gave it to me for free. If they did not, it would have cost $490 for the whole trip.
· Laundry on the Cruise
On cruise ships, they can wash your clothes for you, but it costs extra money. You’ll find a laundry bag in your room where you can put your clothes.
They charge different prices like $6 to wash and iron a shirt or $15 to clean a dress. Some cruises have a deal where you can fill a bag with as many clothes as it can hold and pay one price, usually about $35.
How Much Does a Cruise Ship Cost?
Going on a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera in an Aqua Class Sunset Verandah cabin on the Celebrity Solstice costs quite a bit when you add everything up:
- Cruise fare: $2,700
- Port taxes: $372.90
- Standard tips: $245
- Trip insurance: $231.18
- Extra transportation: $155.71
- Food: $5
- Shore excursions: $1,055
- Wi-Fi: $490
The total for my cruise was $5,254.79, which is almost double just the cruise ticket cost and that’s without airfare. This higher total cost is common unless you opt for an all-inclusive luxury cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a 7-day Cruise Really Cost?
A short cruise of three to four nights might cost between $200 and $300 per person for a basic inside cabin. However, a seven-day cruise usually costs between $500 and $1,500 per person. This price can change based on which cruise line you choose, where you’re going, and the type of cabin you book.
Is a 7-day Cruise Long Enough?
A 5 or 7-day cruise is great for a family vacation, giving everyone enough time to enjoy and relax.
How Much is a Cruise Ticket for 1 Person?
For a short cruise of three to four nights, prices start at $200 to $300 per person for an inside cabin. A week-long cruise typically costs between $500 and $1,500 per person, depending on the cruise line, destination, and cabin type.
How Much Does a 1-year Cruise Cost?
The cost of a one-year cruise varies depending on the cabin type. Small “Virtual Inside” staterooms, which are 130 square feet without a real window, start at $29,999 per person. For two people taking a three-year trip, it would cost $179,994 in total.