Short answer
The advertised fare for a cruise usually covers your cabin, main-dining meals, basic entertainment and use of many ship facilities; our guide to what’s included on a cruise goes through it. It generally does not cover everything you will spend. Common extras include taxes and port fees, daily gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, specialty dining, spa treatments, laundry, medical care, travel to the port and insurance. The amounts below are rough ranges reported by cruise sites and vary a lot by cruise line, ship and itinerary, so check your own line’s prices.
Costs before you board
- Taxes, port fees and government charges. These are often shown separately from the base fare. Check the full price, not just the headline number.
- Getting to the port. Flights, a hotel the night before, and airport transfers can add a lot, especially for popular departure dates. Flying in a day early reduces the risk of missing the ship because of a delay.
- Parking. If you drive, ports charge for parking, often by the day.
- Documents. A passport, if you need one, costs money and takes time. See cruising without a passport for when you may not need one.
- Travel insurance. Not required for most cruises, but many people buy it. Read whether cruise travel insurance is worth it.
- Clothing and gear. Formal wear, swimsuits, sun protection and seasickness remedies. See what is banned on board so you do not buy items you cannot bring.
Costs on board
Gratuities
Many cruise lines add a daily gratuity per person to your onboard account. Figures in the mid-teens to low twenties of dollars per person per day are commonly quoted, and they may be higher in suites. A few lines include gratuities in the fare. Multiply the daily amount by the number of guests and nights to see the total. For a closer look at tipping the person who cleans your room, see how much to tip your room steward on a 7-day cruise.
Drinks
Basic drinks such as water, tea and some juices are often included at meals, but sodas, specialty coffee, bottled water, beer, wine and cocktails usually are not. Drink packages are sold at several price levels, and the whole cabin may be required to buy the same package. Whether a package pays off depends on how much you actually drink; see whether the Carnival Cheers package is worth it for a worked example. Price it out against paying per drink.
Wi-Fi
Internet access is usually an additional charge, often per device per day or in time bundles. Satellite connections can also be slow. Some travelers buy a basic plan, and some wait until port days, when local Wi-Fi may be free. Your own phone plan can be costly at sea, so read using your cell phone on a cruise without roaming charges.
Specialty dining
Alternatives to the main dining room, such as steakhouses or sushi, typically carry a cover charge or menu prices. Dining packages can reduce the per-meal cost if you plan to eat there several times. See whether specialty restaurants are worth the extra cost.
Spa and fitness
Massages, facials and some fitness classes cost extra. Salon services can be pricey. See banned items and onboard salon alternatives if you are deciding whether to bring your own tools.
Laundry and pressing
Some ships charge per item to launder or press clothes. A few include some laundry services. Self-service laundry rooms exist on some ships. For ways to avoid paying, see how to unwrinkle clothes on a cruise.
Room service fees, activities and photos
Some lines charge a delivery fee for room service, particularly late at night. Certain activities, such as simulators, go-karts or premium classes, charge a fee. Professional photos are often sold as individual prints or packages.
Medical care
Ships have medical centers, and consultations, tests and medicines are charged to your account. Serious problems can lead to very large bills if you need to be taken off the ship. This is one of the main reasons people buy insurance.
Casino and shopping
Gambling, duty-free shopping and gift shop purchases count too. Decide on limits before you board.
Costs in port
Shore excursions booked through the ship are convenient, and the ship generally waits for its own tours. They can also cost more than independent options. Prices range from modest to hundreds of dollars per person for full-day tours. Doing your own research and booking independent tours can cost less, but make sure you have plenty of time to get back to the ship.
Costs after the cruise
- Onboard account settlement, which usually includes gratuities, drinks and anything charged to your cabin card.
- Transfers, hotel and flights home. If you take a one-way trip, flights can be significant. See one-way cruises.
How to estimate your total
- Start with the fare, taxes and fees for every traveler.
- Add gratuities for each person and night.
- Add travel to and from the port.
- Add insurance if you plan to buy it.
- Add your best guess for drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions and dining.
- Add a buffer, such as 10%, for surprises.
Many cruise sites suggest that onboard spending can add a meaningful share to the fare, but it varies with your habits. For a short budget test, see our section on whether $2,000 is enough for a cruise.
Ways to keep costs down
- Pre-purchase packages if the cruise line offers a discount before sailing. Compare the price with paying onboard.
- Take advantage of free port Wi-Fi where available.
- Research excursions before you go.
- Check your account regularly in the cruise line’s app.
- Choose a shorter or less expensive cruise. See how many days is ideal for a cruise.
- Look for promotions that include extras. Our guide to finding unsold cruise cabins at big discounts covers where late sales appear.