🛳️ Why your affordable cruise may cost 200% more than you think! 😱
How to be a smart consumer
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New cruisers are hooked on cruise life. They see the sexy cruise line and YouTube videos and photos. Everybody is having fun on board, whether you seek relaxation in the sun, the experience of new ports, the enrichment of traveling the world, an ongoing party, meeting new friends, or the entire at sea experience.
Convenient domestic departure ports are a quick hop or even drive away without the need for long flights to other countries or even continents. Ships are large enough to offer plenty of entertainment options from water rides and games on top to comedy shows, discos, musical groups, and Broadway shows in the ship. Best of all, the price is affordable.
What’s not to love? Perhaps it’s the surprise in the total cruise bill. Unfortunately those bargain rates don’t tell the full story. You’re paying for your cabin and food, but far from everything on the sailing. That cheap fare is closer to just being an entrance fee than your all-in cost.
7 TIPS
Why your total cruise bill is far more than your cabin
Follow the money. The cruise industry spends over $2 billion on commercials, online advertising, and subscriber and member mailings. Their job is to hook you, not provide total disclosure.
Your cruise is not all-inclusive. Many all-inclusive resort expenses like beverages, drinks, and tips aren’t included.
The cruise lines automatically charge you for gratuities that are significantly more than just dining and housekeeper tips. They include ship crew expenses and compensation that other travel companies and restaurants consider regular corporate costs and pay themselves and/or include in the basic rate.
It’s how the industry operates for the mass market. They market a high-quality vacation at an affordable price. There is a powerful incentive to keep the advertised price as low as possible to be competitive in the travel market. It doesn’t pay for a cruise line to be different. Virgin Voyages tried. They initially offered an all-inclusive price. But they later unbundled drinks and tips to be more competitive with mainstream cruise lines.
👉 Here’s what you can do so there are no surprises — Be a smart consumer and do your research. A cruise is a large expense. You wouldn’t buy the first car you see, would you? Make sure the cruise you’re looking at offers the type of cruising and ship features that are best for you. More consumer tips follow.
👉 Look past the pretty advertising. Get the real scoop from the experience of people who have cruised in your life and online. Check out recent cruise line and ship ratings.
👉 Create a budget. Your cabin fare is just one line item in your list of expenses that you can expect to pay.
An example
Your total cruise costs may be far higher from your initial purchase when you select a cabin. Here is a real example. I was on a 13 day Carnival cruise in early 2026. I paid $1,468 for 2 people (includes Vacation Steal’s discount, which was 9%) for an oceanview cabin. Here are key expenses that are cruise add-ons, which would be covered at an all-inclusive resort.
The drink package alone ($70 pp/day + 18% gratuity) is $2,148, almost one and a half times as much as the cabin.
Internet for 2 ($32 pp/day) comes to $832.
The automatic gratuity ($16 pp/day) is $416.
The total add-ons for gratuities and if you and your partner drink and need Internet are $3,396, over TWO TIMES your cabin. This doesn’t even include excursions or casino gambling.
What started as a $1,468 cruise actually costs $4,864.
Make sure you have a lot of room on the credit card you used for your onboard bill!