Low prices, it’s how cruise companies advertise when they are selling a cruise. But what is really the price for the cruise you’re about to buy? Like most purchases you make, the asking price is never the last price, it’s usually more. So I’m asking “what is the final price of a cruise,” to prepare potential cruisers for what they will mostly likely pay. Keep in mind that all cruises are different and some people know how to save while others splurge. Just know that most of these costs will be applied for everybody taking a cruise which gives you a good estimate.
I want to start with a hypothetical cruise. I’m going to go through processing a cruise and the hidden/extra costs that nobody tells you about when you first book. I’m going to hypothetically book a cruise with Royal Caribbean to give some examples.
Hidden and False Pricing
Many cruises advertise false pricing when you begin the search process. There are several ways to find cruises with the most popular ways through search engines like Expedia, Priceline and Cruise Critic. Nothing wrong with finding cruises through these websites but be warned that if you book through these sites you may have a harder time refunding. My recommendation is to book direct on the cruise website.
Using Search Engines
The good and bad thing about searching for cruises is that the search engines and cruise website will only display the lowest price in a rough time period. Because people rarely ever search for cruises for a specific week or day, most searches will show multiple weeks and the cruise search engines will only display the lowest price from all of them. Just to let you know the lowest price rarely works for most people and there usually is a good reason a room on a cruise is so low.
So now you’ve found the cruise you’re looking for and think the price is great. You then start to check out and type all of your information in until when you get to another page and suddenly the the total cost has changed! What’s going on?
For example, when I book a cruise today on Royal Caribbean, I notice that they are stating this particular 7 day cruise is $569. As a consumer I expect to pay around this amount! But when I go to check out the price is now higher than what was expected. And to top that off, other search engines are showing a higher base price.
Most people wouldn’t check out to see that even though these two companies are displaying different prices, in the end they will both be the same. The search engine website, Expedia, has to show people the base price and then it will show if there are discounts. In this case there is a discount which is why Royal Caribbean is displaying the cruise at a lower price than what it actually is. It’s a great way to lure in people who look at a number like $569 and think that is a great price!
Taxes
But by the time you check out the price will go up by a few hundred dollars due to taxes. Always expect a couple of hundred dollars for taxes. The great thing about cruises though, is that you only have to put down a deposit when booking a cruise and some companies let you reserve a cruise for 24 hours maximum. The deposit will be a small part of the cruise and expect to pay in full at the latest 2 – 3 months before your cruise date.
2 Guests Minimum
Remember that there is a two guest minimum on most cruise ships. That means if you’re a single cruiser you will pay double for a cabin for yourself. There are cruises that cater to singles but they are few and far between!
Everything is Extra
When booking your room, the only thing that is the base price is basically the room itself. A room with an ocean view, a room with a balcony and obviously suites will all be extra and they will try to get you to book those rooms at online check out. They will say things like “this room is only 20 dollars more a day.” But remember that if you add the room not only will you pay 20 dollars a day but also the taxes on that.”
Food and Drinks
Speaking of extra, cruises do serve food for free and drinks like water, tea and coffee but that’s about it. It’s very easy to go overboard on purchasing soft drinks or alcohol because it’s so readily accessible and appealing. Nothing is free and from the moment you step on the ship you should remember that if they begin to hand you something that doesn’t look free, it probably isn’t. You’re on a ship for a long time so I understand that people want to buy drinks, just be careful not to rack up a huge bill.
Tipping
I think newcomers forget or don’t know that on-top of the cruise they just purchased, they will find that the cruise company charges them a percentage for the wait staff. Nowadays the charge goes right on the bill and most people wouldn’t think anything of it because the cruise company has your credit card on file. It is customary to leave a tip and you should always budget for tipping.
For an 7 day cruise, the going rate for tipping for each person is around $10 – $15 a day. That is what the cruise recommends and this is how much they will charge at the end of a cruise, if you don’t set your own amount you would like to tip. Because it is tipping, you’re free to tip however much you feel and it can always be changed. Don’t be a dick though and tip nothing unless your wait staff was really bad.
Excursions
The true genius of cruises is really getting people on a ship and get them excited about a new destinations so that they can pay for excursions. I have to admit, if a cruise company does this right an excursion is a win-win for everybody. You’re paying to experience and see something amazing and the cruise company is making big money from you.
Excursions are tricky because it’s not always necessary to go with the cruise for excursions. In many ports it’s easy enough to book online with another company or just show up and get a taxi or another tour. But every port is different and sometimes it may be cheaper, safer and just better to go with the cruise company. That is where research comes into play!
But I would recommend budgeting somewhere between $100 to $500 per person for excursions. Usually cruises hit more than one stop and usually people want to experience something. If you’re on a tight budget than you will do less excursions and vice versa. Don’t be afraid to spend but do research before you book and budget.
Shopping
All major cruise lines have some sort of souvenir shopping on board or even when you’re at a port. I didn’t realize this until a few years back when somebody told me that many cruise companies either own stores at port or do deals with stores at ports so that they get a cut when customers shop. So even if you think you’re not spending on a cruise you still are probably making the cruise company richer if you shop at a “recommended” store or restaurant.
Of course the on-board shopping which is expensive and pretty clear once you walk on board. There will always be a photographer and if you want professional pictures, those will cost extra and they aren’t cheap!
Oh and another thing that is very expensive is internet. Even to this day internet is slow and expensive on any cruise ship. The charge is ridiculous and never worth it but people I guess love to be connected.
Casinos… enough said.
There are countless other activities that could add up like a personal trainer at the gym, spa packages, classes, salons, art galleries, desserts, and special restaurants and in a way the cruise is designed for people to spend. So there is a lot of willpower that needs to be at play if you plan to go on a cruise on a budget. Obviously cruises would prefer people to spend and there are plenty of people who do but personally I’m in it for the destinations more.
How much are you really spending?
You think you have a safe budget for your cruise set? Think again! In any case you’re going to pay way more than the base price of the cruise unless you’re a super star in saving and don’t buy anything extra. But most people will buy souvenirs and let their wallets loose for a time being and at least shop, drink a bit, and experience something. Already you’re looking at an extra $200 – $300 for a 7 day cruise. Lets look at the numbers.
Before the Cruise
The base cruise was $569 for a 7 day Caribbean cruise leaving from New Orleans. There is a minimum of two people so I assume you will be going with 2 or more people. When I checked out the total was $1,299 for 2. If you split that price in half you’re looking at $650 or $80 more from $569 per person.
So the next purchase is probably the flight or at least gas money to get to your cruise. Most people travel by plane so buying a plane ticket is essential and the cost will vary greatly depending on where you’re traveling from and going to. If you’re staying in the US it’s reasonable to budget anywhere up to $100 to $500. If you’re coming from abroad it’s going to be more. If you’re traveling to another country it’s going to be more.
Also I usually recommend that people travel to the port city at least a day early so that they don’t have problems the day of their cruise. That means people should also budget for a hotel which could range greatly depending on which port city you’re traveling to. I’m going to go with an average estimate of $100 to $300 a night unless you can find a cheap place to stay. Remember to budget in getting to the cruise as well. Sometimes docks are across the city and you will need to get a taxi.
So after buying the trip, taxes and getting to the cruise here is what total we are at for a typical cruise buyer. For a per person you paid you’re $650 part of the cruise including taxes, bought a flight say for $300 round-trip, and split a hotel room costing $75. That’s a total of $1025 just for one person.
On the Cruise
To make this post less wordy I’m going to list the potentials for an average cruiser on a 7 day cruise.
Food and Drinks
This could be totally “free” if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like to spend on the higher end restaurants on the ship. The cruise has specialize restaurants that are supposed to be higher quality food and more luxurious but costs way more. For one meal I would budget around $50 to $100 per person.
Tipping
I really put tipping into a class that is mandatory because I don’t think you want to be that person who doesn’t tip your restaurant wait staff or your room attendant. The asking price is around $10 – $15 a day per person. For a 7 day cruise that is around $70 to $105.
Excursions
It’s pretty typical for cruisers to go on at least one excursion either with the cruise or once the dock. The whole point while traveling is to experience something you have never done before. Many ports will be walk-able and the city will be the excursion in itself. Other ports will have more sights further from the docks and you will need to pay for a tour. Some excursions range as little as $25 while other cruises have excursions that are as high as $500. I would say that most excursions are around $50 to $150. It’s common to do 1 – 3 excursions.
Casino
I rarely ever go into the casino on a cruise ship. Honestly I have better things to do but I have gambled a couple of times back when I was 18 and I could legally while in international waters. This is an arbitrary amount but I think most people will never spend money on a cruise ship casino and the ones that love it will spend a lot. I’m going to to say that the average per person is around $20 even if that is a conservative estimate.
Shopping
Most tourists will spend some sort on souvenirs, alcohol and gifts. Obviously some souvenirs will be more expensive than others. If you’re a woman and buying jewelry, this could easily be a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand. Many ports have markets and open when a cruise comes. I would suggest shopping at authentic markets and buy goods that are from that port city. I don’t buy many souvenirs today but I will buy a souvenir if it’s authentic and I can’t get it from anywhere else. I would budget somewhere between $100 to $500 depending on where you’re cruising.
Spa
I can’t honestly say I’ve ever done a spa package on a cruise but I’m sure they are nice. I know they are expensive however. Most cruises charge a minimum of $50 with average prices near $100. And that is just for your basic massage. You can also have other spa packages like facials and wraps.
Classes
There is also the option to have special classes like yoga or a personal trainer. Again most cruisers won’t get this but I would budget around $100 if you want to do this.
Total price for a 7 day Caribbean cruise
Conservative with plane, hotels – $1350
Conservative without plane, hotels – $975
(meaning no extra food, classes, spa, casino and little excursions and shopping)
Liberal with plane, hotels –$2100
Liberal without plane, hotels – $1725
(meaning extra food, classes, spa, casinos, shopping with multiple excursions)
This is just an average that I came up with for a typical 7 day Caribbean cruise. Peak season some Caribbean cruises start at prices near $1300. It’s very easy to spend way more than even this budget and there are definitely ways to spend less. If you have self-restraint you may just end up paying just for a cruise and have a free flight or hotel thank to miles. This is just a rough guide for cruisers to understand how much they are going to need for a cruise and to help plan.
Happy planning and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
images by: shawnvoyage, travelingotter, azuaje, rennet
