Whatever your budget, dollar for dollar, cruising provides one of the best values for your vacation budget. While popularly priced cruises are not technically “all-inclusive” your fare will include your traveling resort delivering you to new exotic locations daily, gourmet quality multi-course meals, some non-alcoholic beverages, room service, and a myriad of entertainment options from splashy Vegas-style production shows to piano bars and pretty much everything in between.
Expenses NOT typically included in the cost of your cruise are gratuities, adult beverages and soft drinks, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, casino, personal shopping expense, and ground transportation to and from the pier. That being said, if you move into the realm of the luxury cruise, and most of these expenses (other than casino & personal shopping) will be included as well.
Comparing the average cost of a cruise to a “regular” vacation, a couple will, on average, save $1,000 compared to an equivalent land-based vacation. A frequent "rule of thumb" is to budget about $100/day per person (not including airfare).
The minimum price on a popularly-priced cruise line (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian) for a Caribbean cruise can vary greatly depending on factors such as cruise line, length of your cruise, stateroom category selected, and the time of year that you travel. Five-day cruises start at approximately $350 per person inclusive of fees & taxes, while 7-day cruises begin at around $550. Book the same cruise at peak season or over a holiday week, and fares can easily double. Still with most of your costs bundled into one low price, cruises provide an excellent vacation value.
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