Cruise prices range from about $50 to $500 per person per day, depending on the ship size, destination, season, and how far ahead you book
A seven-day Caribbean cruise on a major line like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian might cost $700 to $2,100 per person if you book months in advance, or $1,400 to $3,500 if you book last-minute. An Alaska cruise typically runs higher—$1,200 to $3,500 per person for seven days. A luxury line like Regent or Seabourn charges $3,000 to $8,000 per person for the same length. These are base fares for an inside cabin (no window). A balcony cabin costs 30 to 60 percent more. A suite costs significantly more.
The price you see advertised is almost never the price you pay. Taxes, port fees, and mandatory gratuities add 15 to 25 percent on top. Drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, and onboard activities cost extra. Travel insurance is optional but recommended and runs $100 to $300 per person. If you fly to the port, that's another $200 to $800 depending on where you live.
Key Takeaways
- Base cruise fares start around $50 per person per day on budget lines and rise to $200 to $300 per day on mainstream ships, not including taxes or fees.
- Taxes, port fees, and gratuities typically add 15 to 25 percent to the advertised price, so a $1,000 cruise becomes $1,150 to $1,250 before you board.
- Drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, and onboard activities are not included in the base fare and can easily add $500 to $1,500 per person to your total cost.
- Booking three to six months in advance usually offers the lowest fares; last-minute deals exist but are less common than they were before 2020.
- Balcony and suite cabins cost significantly more than inside cabins, and flying to the port adds another $200 to $800 per person depending on your location.
How the advertised price breaks down
When you see "$699 per person, seven days," that number covers only the cabin and basic onboard access. It does not include port taxes and fees, which cruise lines are required to list separately. These fees vary by port and itinerary but typically run $100 to $300 per person for a week-long cruise. They go directly to the ports and local governments, not to the cruise line.
Gratuities—tips for cabin stewards, dining staff, and bartenders—are automatically added to your onboard account at roughly $15 per person per day on mainstream lines, $16 to $18 on premium lines. You can adjust this amount before you sail, but most people do not. For a seven-day cruise, that is $105 to $126 per person added to your bill.
So a $699 advertised fare becomes roughly $900 to $1,050 per person before you spend a dollar onboard. That is the true baseline cost.
What changes the price most: timing, ship size, and destination
The same cruise on the same ship can cost 40 to 60 percent less if you book four to six months ahead instead of one month ahead. Prices are lowest during shoulder seasons—early spring and late fall—and highest during school holidays and summer. A Caribbean cruise in September costs half what the same cruise costs in December.
Smaller ships and newer ships cost more per day. A seven-day cruise on a mega-ship (4,000+ passengers) runs $600 to $1,200 per person. A seven-day cruise on a smaller ship (1,500 passengers or fewer) runs $1,500 to $3,500 per person. Newer ships have more amenities and cost more; older ships (15+ years) cost less.
Destination matters enormously. Caribbean and Bahamas cruises are the cheapest because they are the most common. Mediterranean, Alaska, and Hawaii cruises cost 30 to 50 percent more. Transatlantic crossings and world cruises cost $200 to $400 per day or higher.
Costs that are not included in the base fare
Drinks: Water, coffee, tea, and lemonade are free. Everything else costs money. A beer runs $6 to $8. A cocktail runs $10 to $15. A bottle of wine runs $25 to $60. Most people spend $100 to $300 on drinks over a week. You can buy a drink package for $60 to $80 per day, which covers unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails.
Specialty dining: The main dining room is included. Steakhouses, Italian restaurants, and sushi bars charge $15 to $40 per person per meal. A couple eating one specialty dinner per week spends $120 to $320 extra.
Shore excursions: These are organized tours at each port—snorkeling, zip-lining, beach clubs, city tours. They run $50 to $300 per person per excursion. A seven-day cruise with three excursions costs $300 to $900 extra. You can also explore ports on your own for free, but many people book at least one or two excursions.
Onboard activities: Most activities are free—trivia, shows, fitness classes, kids' clubs. Some cost extra: spa treatments ($100 to $400), casino play, photo packages, and specialty classes. Most people spend $0 to $200 on these.
Cabin type and what it costs
| Cabin Type | What You Get | Price Difference vs. Inside Cabin |
|---|---|---|
| Inside cabin | Small room, no window, shared bathroom | Base price |
| Oceanview cabin | Small room with a window, shared bathroom | +15 to 25% |
| Balcony cabin | Medium room with a private balcony, private bathroom | +30 to 60% |
| Suite | Large room, balcony, priority dining and boarding, concierge service | +80 to 200% |
An inside cabin on a mainstream ship might be $700 for seven days. The same cruise in a balcony cabin is $1,000 to $1,100. A suite is $1,500 to $2,100. These are per-person prices for double occupancy; a solo traveler pays more per person because the cabin is not shared.
How to find the lowest price
Cruise lines post their lowest fares four to six months before departure. Prices drop again about six weeks before departure if the ship is not full, but this is less reliable than it once was. Booking early is usually the safest strategy.
Mainstream lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian) offer the lowest base fares. Premium lines (Disney, Celebrity, Princess) cost 20 to 40 percent more but include more amenities. Luxury lines (Regent, Seabourn, Silversea) cost three to five times more but include drinks, specialty dining, and shore excursions in the fare.
Repositioning cruises—when a ship moves from one region to another—sometimes offer steep discounts because they are less popular. These are longer (10 to 15 days) and follow unusual routes, but the per-day cost can be 30 to 50 percent lower.
Travel agents sometimes have access to group rates or onboard credits that are not available online. If you are booking a cruise for multiple cabins, an agent may save you money.
What happens if you add flights
Most cruises depart from a port you have to fly to. A round-trip flight from the Midwest to Miami or Fort Lauderdale costs $250 to $500. A flight to Seattle for an Alaska cruise costs $300 to $600. A flight to Barcelona for a Mediterranean cruise costs $600 to $1,200. If you live near a cruise port, you can drive instead and save this cost entirely.
Some cruise lines offer flight packages bundled with the cruise. These are sometimes competitive, sometimes not. Compare the bundled price to booking the flight separately before you decide.
Travel insurance and other costs
Travel insurance covers cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage. It costs $100 to $300 per person for a week-long cruise, depending on your age and the cruise cost. It is optional but recommended, especially if you are booking far in advance or have health concerns.
Parking at the port (if you drive) costs $15 to $25 per day. Pre-cruise hotel stays near the port cost $80 to $200 per night if you need to arrive the night before. Luggage delivery services cost $15 to $30 per bag if you want bags delivered to your cabin instead of carrying them yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest cruise you can take?
A three-day Caribbean cruise on Carnival or Royal Caribbean costs $150 to $300 per person for the base fare, plus $50 to $100 in taxes and fees. That is roughly $200 to $400 per person total. Longer cruises cost more per person overall but less per day. A seven-day cruise usually costs less per day than a three-day cruise.
Do kids cost the same as adults?
Children under 18 usually cost the same as adults for the base fare, though some lines offer small discounts for kids under 12. Gratuities and taxes are the same per person regardless of age. Kids eat free in the main dining room but specialty restaurants charge full price.
Can you get a free cruise?
No cruise line gives away free cruises. Some offer onboard credits (money to spend on the ship) as promotions, but you still pay the base fare, taxes, and fees. Repeat cruisers sometimes earn loyalty discounts of 5 to 15 percent, but these are discounts, not free cruises.
What if I want to cancel after I book?
Cancellation policies vary by line and how far ahead you cancel. Most lines allow free cancellation up to 60 to 75 days before departure. After that, you lose a percentage of the fare—typically 50 to 100 percent depending on how close to departure you cancel. Travel insurance can cover cancellation fees if you have a covered reason.
Are there hidden fees I should know about?
No major fees are hidden, but they are not always obvious. Taxes, port fees, and gratuities are listed separately from the advertised fare. Drinks, specialty dining, and excursions are clearly optional. The main surprise for first-time cruisers is how much the final bill exceeds the advertised price once all fees are added.