Cruise Budget Guide | Dee Charles and Associates

Cruise Budget Guide: How Much Will Your Cruise Really Cost?

The advertised cruise fare is only one part of your vacation budget. Some travelers spend very little beyond their fare, while others spend hundreds or even thousands more.

Start With Your Cruise Fare
Gratuities
Getting to the Cruise
Food & Drinks

Shore Excursions
The Day Before
Onboard Extras

IN THIS GUIDE

Knowing the potential expenses ahead of time can help you build a realistic cruise budget and avoid surprises onboard.

Start With Your Cruise Fare

Your cruise fare typically covers your cabin, many meals, entertainment, and transportation between ports.

When budgeting, use the total price you'll actually pay, including applicable taxes and fees—not just the advertised starting price.

Gratuities

Many cruise lines charge a daily gratuity or service charge per guest. Depending on the cruise line and fare, gratuities may be prepaid, included, or added to your onboard account.

Multiply the daily amount by the number of travelers and nights to estimate this expense.

Getting to the Cruise

Don't forget the cost of actually reaching the ship.

Consider:

Flights
Gas
Tolls
Cruise-port parking
Rideshare or taxi
Airport transfers
Pre-cruise hotel
Meals while traveling

Food & Drinks

Many meals are included, but you may spend extra on:

Specialty restaurants
Alcohol
Soda
Specialty coffee
Drink packages
Room service or other dining charges

Check what's already included before purchasing packages.

Shore Excursions

Port days can range from almost free to very expensive.

You might explore independently, spend the day at a beach, book a local activity, or purchase a cruise-line excursion. Budget each port separately rather than assuming you'll spend the same amount everywhere.

Wi-Fi & Onboard Extras

Other potential expenses include:

Wi-Fi
Spa treatments
Casino spending
Shopping
Photos
Arcade games
Specialty activities
Laundry
Souvenirs

Build Your Real Cruise Budget

A simple formula is:

Cruise fare + transportation + hotel + gratuities + food/drink extras + excursions + Wi-Fi + onboard spending + emergency cushion = estimated cruise cost

BUDGET TIP: Decide which extras actually matter to you before sailing. You don't need to purchase everything the ship offers.

Check Your Onboard Account

Review your onboard account periodically during the cruise. Most cruise-line apps make this easy and give you a chance to catch unexpected charges before the last day.