Cruise Cost Calculator: See How Much Your Trip Will Cost

Table Of Content

• Oceanview Cabins
• My 12-day cruise cost me about $109 a day. See inside my 160-square-foot cabin, the most economical option on the ship.
• Onboard Prices for Disney Cruise Line's Disney Fantasy
• How To Book A Cruise
• What does the advertised cruise fare price even mean?
• Big Benefit of Booking a Cruise a Year in Advance (That Most Overlook)

Carnival is a good cruise line to choose if you want variety in free dining options. Even room service, once free 24/7, now comes with a surcharge on many lines, with fees applied for certain items during certain late-evening hours or all the time. If you want the full cruise experience, you'll need to set aside some cash to cover these extra expenses. To make sure the incidentals don't break the bank for you, here are 10 things that will cost you extra onboard (and how to score them at a discount). This means you can spend as much or as little as you would like, but chances are you will want to budget for some things like beverages, WiFi, or excursions. Some of the taxes go to the embarkation port and some to the country under which the ship is registered.

Oceanview Cabins

On embarkation day, I was able to request extra pillows and towels plus other preferences like turn-down service, which included a towel animal and Astor Chocolates on most nights. Regardless of what type of car you intend to drive, the price of gas can also be a major factor toward the cost of travel. As of June 1, 2023, the national average price of regular unleaded gas across the country was $3.57.[8] That’s a decrease from last year’s high prices but still doesn’t feel like a bargain. Summer season to hover above average, but note that SUVs or specialty vehicles tend to cost more.

My 12-day cruise cost me about $109 a day. See inside my 160-square-foot cabin, the most economical option on the ship.

All ships offer free dining in the ship's main dining room and buffet, but nearly every ship today has one or many extra-fee dining venues (specialty restaurants). There are some things you may want to do or experience on your cruise -- but they may cost you extra. And those fees can quickly increase overall cruise prices and your final bill. Onboard spending includes anything purchased on the ship, in addition to services and beverage packages purchased before the cruise.

Onboard Prices for Disney Cruise Line's Disney Fantasy

From duty free liqueur, designer handbags and even higher end jewelry, you might want to do a little “gift” shopping, even for yourself. It’s a good idea to keep some cash with you for a light meal or snack, while you’re in a cruise port. You may want to budget $20 to $50 a person depending on the port and your tastes and preferences.

How To Book A Cruise

However, a cruise vacation still offers a fantastic vacation value considering all that is included in your cruise fare. Cruises can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Most advertisements do not include port fees and taxes, which are mandatory and can add hundreds per person to the overall cruise fare.

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After a trip or two, you’ll have a better idea of what things cost which will make it easier to budget for future travel plans. When it comes to vacation rentals, the cost is all over the place. Average prices in the 50 largest U.S. markets range from $140-$790 per night.[13] Some markets have worse add-on Airbnb fees than others. A solo traveler could expect to spend a smidge under $1,400 on a trip lasting three days.

A luxury, all-inclusive cruise will cost significantly more, while a no-frills Caribbean cruise can be cheaper. Before booking, find out what considerations you should make to determine the cost of a Caribbean cruise. Research the top attractions in your ports of call to determine if you can easily visit without an organized tour.

Big Benefit of Booking a Cruise a Year in Advance (That Most Overlook)

You can either purchase drinks one by one (they run about $7 for a beer and $10 for a cocktail) or you can purchase a drink package what allows you to drink what you want for one set price. If you need help on estimating what you might spend on drinks on a cruise, you can try our Drink Package Calculator here. GratuitiesOur calculator automatically estimates gratuities based on the number of days and people traveling. While gratuities can vary, they usually run about $13 per person, per day. So a couple traveling together can expect to pay $26 per day, total. If this article has taught you anything about the price of a cruise, it’s that a cruise fare can vary considerably.

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They can help solo cruises find these deals and also let you know about them when they happen. As well, remember that what you spend will vary widely based on any number of factors, including your own budgeting for the trip and how much you let loose on your vacation. Of course, those figures are averages across the entire company.

Look for Wi-Fi Promotions When Booking Your CruiseMany cruise lines offer Wi-Fi packages as an added perk when booking certain promotions. Also look for free Wi-Fi access in port; you might need to buy a cup of coffee or a snack at a cafe to access it. The amount of the surcharge can vary a lot depending on the cruise line, the cabin type, and where you’re going. Some cruise lines might not charge the fee for certain cabins or certain sailings, so it’s worth checking with them to see what your options are. You can spend as little as $150 on a 3-day cruise deal or as much as 5 figures on a longer cruise with a palatial suite. You still need to add in taxes and fees, and other expenses we will talk about here.

This includes a round-trip economy flight within the United States, three nights in a mid-range hotel room, a three-day car rental and breakfast, plus daily lunch and dinner in a restaurant. Forbes Advisor collected data on travel costs to determine the average expenses you might encounter on your next trip so that you can budget accordingly. What other “extras” have you encountered on cruise ships or while planning your cruise? The main dining room and buffets are included on your cruise, but if you want a special and more intimate dining experience, check out the specialty restaurants onboard. Specialty coffees range in price from about $3-6 each, however coffee packages are available on most cruise lines and are a pretty good value. When you get to each cruise port, you’ll want to budget some money for ship excursions or local guides and tours.

For example, a Western Caribbean cruise may have fewer ports and lower port fees overall compared to an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Some popular ports may also charge a higher fee than a less popular port. Each of these things may come into consideration when comparing cruise vacation prices.

From these public reports, we know that the average cost of cruise fare runs from about $150-$245 per person, per day (depending on cruise company). Excursions not booked through the cruise line would be in this section (those booked through the cruise line are onboard spending, mentioned above). Your port spending also includes things you do in port like catching a taxi to a beach, food and drink at a restaurant, or buying souvenirs. Rates vary across cruise lines, but are usually around $15 per person, per day.

You’ve got your accommodation, transport to each port, and meals sorted. To work out the real costs, however, you’ll need to dig a little deeper to figure out what else you’re getting for your money and what needs to be paid for on top of the base fare. Read our guide and learn how much does a cruise cost, including drinks, packages, and activities. For the last several year, the port fees are included in your cruise fare. For this reason, I don’t consider this to be a hidden fee of cruising. Although you certainly are paying them, they aren’t optional and there’s no way to get around it.

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. If you’re traveling solo you’ll need to factor in an additional cost to have a room all to yourself. Single cruisers can expect to pay between 125% and 200% of the advertised fare. Staying connected is a necessity for some and it’s important to note that the internet is rarely included in your cruise fare. Some lines provide packages for buying internet in bulk while others opt for a rate based on how much bandwidth you use. For example, Carnival Cruise Line has a social media plan for $7 per day and Disney Cruise Line offers a plan for 1,000 megabytes at $89.