💰 HOW MUCH DOES A CRUISE ACTUALLY COST?

The Price They Advertise vs What You REALLY Pay

“🚢 I've found a cruise for £499!

Seven nights.

Beautiful ship.

Multiple destinations.

Food included.

Entertainment included.

Swimming pools.

Shows.

And apparently…

I'm getting all of this for £499?! 😍

Amazing!

So I book it.....And then…

💸 £499 cruise
💸 £180+ gratuities

💸 £300 drinks

💸 £20 a day service charge
💸 £100+ Wi-Fi
💸 £250+ excursions
💸 £200+ flights
💸 £150+ hotel
💸 £75+ transfers

And suddenly my £499 cruise is looking more like…

£1,794! 😳

But here's the thing…

Does a cruise REALLY have to cost that much?

No!

Because the headline cruise fare is only one part of the story.

Let's talk money. 💰”

1️⃣ FIRST THING — WHAT DOES THE CRUISE FARE ACTUALLY INCLUDE?

“Let's start with the good news. 😁

Your cruise fare normally gets you quite a lot.

On mainstream cruise lines, your fare will generally cover:

🛏️ Your cabin
🍽️ Main dining
🥐 Buffet meals
🎭 Many shows and entertainment
🏊 Pools
🏋️ Fitness facilities
🎯 Many daytime activities
🚢 Transportation between ports

For example, Norwegian currently lists accommodation, complimentary dining venues, entertainment, pools, sports-court activities, and fitness facilities among things included in its cruise fare. (NCL)

So when someone says:

‘Cruising is all-inclusive.’

They're not completely wrong…

…but they're not completely right either. 😂

Because there are plenty of things you can spend extra money on.”

2️⃣ 💸 THE BIGGEST MISTAKE — ONLY LOOKING AT THE HEADLINE PRICE

“Here's where first-time cruisers can get caught out.

You see:

🚢 7-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

FROM £599pp*

And your brain says:

‘£599! That's cheaper than a week in Spain!’ 😍

But…

FROM £599 doesn't necessarily mean that's what your holiday will cost.

The price can depend on:

📅 Your sailing date
🚢 Your ship
🛏️ Your cabin
👫 Number of people sharing
🌍 Destination
🎉 School holidays
💰 Promotions
📦 What's included in the fare

And the really important bit…

what you add afterwards.”

3️⃣ 🛏️ YOUR CABIN CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE THE PRICE

“Let's say our imaginary cruise starts at:

£599pp

That's usually going to be based on a particular cabin category and occupancy.

Want an ocean view?

💸 More.

Want a balcony?

💸 More.

Want a suite?

💸💸💸💸So much More

And here's my first money-saving tip:

Don't automatically upgrade.

If you're spending most of your day exploring the ship or getting off in port…

do you really need a balcony? Maybe opt for an Infinity room instead!

Or would you rather put that money towards:

🍹 Drinks
🏝️ Excursions
🍽️ Speciality dining
✈️ Flights
🚢 …or even your next cruise?

Because we all know which one I'm choosing.”

4️⃣ 🍹 DRINKS — THIS ONE CAN GET EXPENSIVE

“Now we get to one of the biggest extras.

Drinks.

Depending on your cruise line and fare, basic drinks may be included, while alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, speciality coffees and bottled water can cost extra.

A recent cruise-cost guide found that drinks packages can add hundreds of pounds to a week's holiday, depending on the cruise line and package.

And here's the problem.

You think:

‘It's only one cocktail.’ 🍹

Then:

One cocktail.

Another cocktail.

A glass of wine.

A speciality coffee.

A bottle of water.

And suddenly you're looking at your onboard account thinking:

WHO HAS BEEN USING MY CARD?! 😂

Before buying a drinks package, actually do the maths.

If you're drinking:

☕ Coffee
🥤 Soft drinks
🍷 Wine
🍹 Cocktails

every day…it might make sense.

If you're drinking two glasses of wine all week…probably not.”

5️⃣ 📱 WI-FI — DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?

“Here's another one.

On some cruises, basic connectivity may be included in certain packages or promotions.

On others, you'll pay extra.

And the price can vary significantly depending on the package and number of devices.

So ask yourself:

Do I actually need it?

If you're happy switching off for seven days…

🎉 Congratulations!

You've just saved money.

If you've got teenagers…

on a working holiday!!...

😂

Good luck.

You might need to remortgage the house.”

6️⃣ 🧑‍🍳 SPECIALITY DINING

Your cruise fare normally includes several dining options.

But then you walk past:

🥩 Steakhouse
🍣 Sushi
🍝 Italian
🥘 Teppanyaki
🍷 Fine dining

And suddenly you're thinking:

‘Well, we HAVE to try that.’

You don't..😂

Speciality restaurants are an optional extra on many mainstream cruises.

And they're often very good.

But you don't need to eat there every night.

Try the included restaurants first.

Then decide if there's something you really want to pay extra for.

💡 One speciality dinner can be a treat.

You don't necessarily need a speciality dining package.”

7️⃣ 🏝️ EXCURSIONS — WHERE YOUR BUDGET CAN REALLY DISAPPEAR

Let's talk about getting off the ship.

You arrive in Barcelona.

And the cruise line says:

‘Would you like to see Barcelona?’ 🇪🇸

‘Yes!’

£89.

Okay.

Then Rome.

£129.

Then Florence.

£149.

Then Naples.

£99.

And suddenly…

your excursions cost more than your cruise. 😳

Now, cruise-line excursions can be convenient and can offer reassurance about getting back to the ship.

But you don't necessarily have to book one in every port.

Consider the alternative:

🚶 Walk around
🚌 Use local transport
🏖️ Find your own beach
☕ Have lunch locally
🏛️ Explore independently

And sometimes… the best port day costs almost nothing. ❤️”

8️⃣ 💅 SPA — DON'T WALK IN JUST TO ‘HAVE A LOOK’

😂

I'm warning you now..You walk into the spa.

Someone says:

‘Would you like a complimentary consultation?’

And 45 minutes later…

you're booking a facial, massage and thermal suite package.

💸💸💸

Cruise ship spas can be lovely.

But they're generally an optional expense.

If it's part of your holiday budget…fantastic.

If you're trying to keep the cruise affordable…walk away slowly. 😂”

9️⃣ 📸 PHOTOS

“Here's another sneaky one.

You're getting on the ship.

Someone says:

‘Photo?’

You think:‘Why not?’

Then there's a sunset photo.

Formal night.

Dinner.

Port day.

Captain's night.

And suddenly you've got enough photographs to fill a gallery.

📸

They're optional.

But if you know you love cruise photography…budget for it

Or better still, use your own phone!.

Because those little purchases add up.”

🔟 💳 GRATUITIES / SERVICE CHARGES

“Now this one is REALLY important.

Depending on the cruise line, gratuities may be:

✔ Included in the fare
✔ Added automatically to your onboard account
✔ Included in a package or promotion
✔ Something you can pay before sailing

✔ Something you remove before sailing

So always check your specific booking.

Don't assume.

A current UK cruise comparison, for example, shows gratuity treatment can differ significantly between cruise lines and fare types.

And if you're budgeting for a cruise…

include gratuities in your calculations from day one.

Because they're part of your real holiday cost.

1️⃣1️⃣ ✈️ DON'T FORGET THE COST OF GETTING TO THE SHIP

“This is the one people forget.

Your cruise might be £700…but how are you getting there?

✈️ Flights
🚆 Trains
🚕 Taxis
🏨 Hotel
🧳 Luggage
🅿️ Parking
🚌 Transfers

If you're flying to your cruise departure port, I'd also consider arriving the day before.

Because spending £150 on a hotel is MUCH better than missing a £3,000 cruise because your flight was delayed. 😳”

1️⃣2️⃣ 🛡️ TRAVEL INSURANCE

“Please don't forget this one.

Travel insurance is another cost to factor into your holiday budget.

And cruise holidays can involve additional considerations compared with a simple city break, particularly if you're visiting multiple countries or travelling far from home.

Don't just automatically buy the cheapest policy.

Check what it actually covers.

Medical expenses.

Cancellation.

Baggage.

Cruise-related cover.

And your own circumstances.

💡 **Insurance isn't exciting.

Until you need it.**”

1️⃣0️⃣ 🎱 BINGO — THE ‘JUST ONE GAME’ TRAP

“Ahhh… Bingo! 🎱

You hear the announcement:

‘BINGO STARTS IN 10 MINUTES!’

And you think:

‘I've never played cruise bingo… why not?’ 😏

So you wander in.

You buy a book.

Then someone tells you:

‘You could win thousands!’ 💰

And suddenly you're sitting there with your dabber, surrounded by 300 other hopeful cruisers thinking:

THIS COULD BE MY MOMENT. 😂

Now, cruise bingo is generally an additional-cost activity, and the price varies by cruise line, ship and the type of package being offered.

You might have:

🎱 Individual games
🎱 Bingo packages
🎱 Special jackpot games
🎱 Progressive jackpots
🎱 Final-day big-money games

And yes…

someone actually has to win.

But here's where the Cruise & Confused maths comes in. 🧮

You buy a bingo package.

Then there's another special game.

Then someone says:

‘Would you like an extra card?’

And your sensible holiday budget suddenly becomes:

💷 £20
💷 £40
💷 £60
💷 £80…

BINGO!

Except it's your bank account that's shouting it. 😂

💡 CRUISE & CONFUSED TIP

If you enjoy bingo, budget for it before you board.

Decide:

‘I'm happy to spend £X on bingo during this cruise.’

Once you've reached that amount…

walk away. 🚶‍♀️

Don't chase losses because you've already spent money.

And remember:

🎱 Bingo is entertainment — not a holiday investment strategy. 😂

If you win?

🎉 WHOOP!! WHOOP!!

If you don't?

At least you've had a bit of fun...and got the t-shirt 😂

And if you win enough to pay for your next cruise…

we'll see you at the booking desk. 🚢💰😂”

1️⃣3️⃣ 🛍️ ONBOARD SHOPPING

“Cruise ships have shops.

Lots of shops.

And somehow they're always there when you're wandering around with a cocktail.😂

Perfume🧴

Jewellery💍

Clothes👗

Watches⌚

Souvenirs🎁

Duty-free🛍️

And those mysterious things you didn't know you needed until five minutes ago.

Set yourself a budget.

Because:

‘It's only £40’

said twelve times…isn't £40.”

1️⃣4️⃣ 💰 SO WHAT DOES A CRUISE REALLY COST?

“Okay.

Let's do a REALISTIC example.

Imagine two adults booking a 7-night mainstream cruise.

🚢 CRUISE FARE

£1,400 total

That's £700pp.

Sounds pretty good.

Now let's add:

💳 Gratuities...£200

📱 Wi-Fi...£100

🍹 Drinks...£300

🏝️ Excursions...£300

🍽️ Speciality dining...£100

✈️ Flights...£400

🏨 Hotel before cruise...£150

🚕 Transfers...£100

And we're now at...💷 £3,050

For two people.

That's...£1,525pp

And that's before you've bought a single souvenir.”

😱 BUT HERE'S THE REALLY IMPORTANT BIT…

“That doesn't mean every cruise will cost £1,525pp.

You could spend far less.

You could:

🚢 Choose a cheaper sailing
🛏️ Choose an interior cabin
🍹 Skip the drinks package
📱 Skip Wi-Fi
🏝️ Explore ports independently
🍽️ Eat in included restaurants
✈️ Choose a closer departure port
🏨 Avoid an overnight hotel where practical

And suddenly that same holiday might look very different.

Cruising isn't automatically expensive.

The trick is knowing where your money is going.”

1️⃣5️⃣ 💡 THE £85-A-DAY RULE

“One useful benchmark comes from World of Cruising, which suggested budgeting around £85 per person per day for onboard extras for an average cruiser, based on summer 2025 spending. That example included drinks, some speciality dining, Wi-Fi, one spa treatment or excursion, gratuities and service charges. (World of Cruising)

But…

I wouldn't treat £85 as a magic number.

Because if you're:

🚫 Not drinking
🚫 Not buying excursions
🚫 Not using Wi-Fi
🚫 Not booking speciality dining

you could spend MUCH less.

And if you're:

🍹 Drinking cocktails
📱 Buying premium Wi-Fi
🍽️ Eating speciality dining
🏝️ Booking excursions

you could spend considerably more.”

1️⃣6️⃣ 💎 SOMETIMES THE MORE EXPENSIVE CRUISE CAN ACTUALLY BE BETTER VALUE

“This is where cruise pricing gets REALLY interesting.

Imagine Cruise A is: £800pp

and Cruise B is: £1,200pp

You think Cruise A is cheaper.

But Cruise A charges extra for:

🍹 Drinks
📱 Wi-Fi
💳 Gratuities
🍽️ Speciality dining

while Cruise B includes several of those things.

Suddenly the £1,200 cruise might actually be the better value.

That's why you should compare:

THE TOTAL COST

not just:

THE ADVERTISED FARE.

Some current 2026 cruise pricing comparisons show exactly this effect: once gratuities and drinks are added, the gap between apparently cheap and more expensive fares can change considerably.

1️⃣7️⃣ 🧮 So here's the suggested formula to use before booking.”

🚢 CRUISE FARE

💳 TAXES / FEES / GRATUITIES

🍹 DRINKS

📱 WI-FI

🏝️ EXCURSIONS

🍽️ SPECIALITY DINING

✈️ TRAVEL TO THE PORT

🏨 HOTELS

🛡️ INSURANCE

💰 SPENDING MONEY

YOUR ACTUAL CRUISE COST

Simple.

And suddenly that £499 cruise doesn't look quite so mysterious.”

1️⃣8️⃣ 💡 HOW TO MAKE YOUR CRUISE CHEAPER

“Want to save money?

Here are my favourite tricks.”

💰 1. BOOK THE RIGHT CABIN

Don't pay for space you don't need.

📅 2. BE FLEXIBLE WITH DATES

Prices can vary dramatically between sailings.

🚢 3. COMPARE DIFFERENT SHIPS

The same cruise line can have very different prices between ships.

🛏️ 4. CONSIDER AN INTERIOR

Especially if you're rarely in your cabin.

🍹 5. DON'T AUTOMATICALLY BUY A DRINKS PACKAGE

Do the maths first.

🏝️ 6. DON'T BOOK AN EXCURSION IN EVERY PORT

Explore independently where appropriate; do what the locals do!!

📱 7. ASK WHETHER YOU REALLY NEED WI-FI

You might survive seven days without Instagram.

Probably. 😂

Opt for an e-sim for global roaming, and use the free cruise minutes

Recommendation: GigSky eSim, allows wifi while cruising 📱

💳 8. WATCH YOUR ONBOARD ACCOUNT

Check it regularly.

🚨 1️⃣9️⃣ THE BIGGEST CRUISE COST MISTAKE

“Here's the mistake to REALLY avoid.

Don't say:

‘I'll work out the extras when I'm onboard.’

Because onboard is where you're most likely to say:

‘Oh go on then.’

😂

You're on holiday.

You're relaxed.

You've got a cocktail.

Someone offers you a massage.

There's a steakhouse.

And you've just sailed into the sunset.

Your budgeting skills?

Gone.

Work out your budget before you board.”

🏆 2️⃣0️⃣ THE CRUISE & CONFUSED REAL-COST TEST

“Before you book any cruise, ask:

🚢 WHAT IS MY TOTAL COST?

Not:

‘What's the cruise price?’

Ask:

‘How much will this entire holiday cost me from leaving my front door to walking back through it?’