Cruise prices range from $500 to $5,000 per person for a week, depending on the ship size, destination, and how far ahead you book

The advertised price you see online covers your cabin and onboard meals, but not everything else. A budget cruise line like Carnival or Disney might advertise a seven-day sailing at $600 per person; a luxury line like Regent or Seabourn will charge $3,000 or more for the same length of time. The difference comes down to ship size, ports visited, onboard amenities, and how much staff attention you receive.

What matters most is understanding what is and is not included in that base price, because the gap between the advertised fare and what you actually spend can be substantial. A $600 cruise can easily become $1,200 or more once you add gratuities, drinks, shore excursions, and specialty dining.

Key Takeaways

  • The base cruise fare covers your cabin and main dining room meals, but not alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, or activities off the ship.
  • Gratuities (tips) typically run $15 to $16 per person per day and are automatically added to your onboard account unless you adjust them.
  • Shore excursions booked through the cruise line cost $50 to $300 per person per port, while independent tours are sometimes cheaper but carry more risk if you miss the ship.
  • Drink packages range from $60 to $200 per person per day depending on what is included, and most people spend $100 to $200 on drinks if they do not buy a package.
  • Specialty dining, cabin upgrades, and onboard activities like spa services or fitness classes add another $200 to $800 to the total cost.

What the Base Fare Actually Includes

Your cruise fare pays for the cabin, all meals in the main dining room, and access to most onboard activities like fitness classes, trivia contests, and evening shows. It also covers port charges — the fees the cruise line pays to dock at each port. You can walk around the ship, use the pools, and attend entertainment without paying extra.

What it does not include: alcoholic drinks, specialty coffee drinks, room service, spa treatments, fitness classes at some lines, photos taken by the ship's photographer, and anything you buy in the gift shop. Soft drinks, water, and coffee from the buffet are free; a bottle of water from the minibar costs $5 to $8. A specialty coffee drink at the coffee bar costs $5 to $7.

Some cruise lines now charge for basic things that used to be free. Norwegian Cruise Line charges for fitness classes on some ships. Disney charges for some onboard activities. Royal Caribbean charges for some specialty dining venues. Check the specific ship's website before you book to see what your line includes.

Gratuities and Service Charges

The cruise line automatically adds gratuities to your onboard account at the end of each day. The amount is typically $15 per person per day on mainstream lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney, and $16 per person per day on premium lines like Celebrity. On luxury lines, gratuities can run $25 to $40 per person per day.

For a seven-day cruise with two people, that is $210 to $560 in gratuities alone, depending on the line. You can adjust the amount at the guest services desk before you leave the ship, but most people do not. The gratuity covers housekeeping, dining room staff, and bartenders — not the captain or senior officers.

Some all-inclusive cruise lines like Regent and Seabourn include gratuities in the base fare, which is one reason their advertised prices are higher. If gratuities matter to your budget, factor them in before you compare prices between lines.

Drinks and Beverage Packages

Alcoholic drinks are not included in the base fare. A beer costs $6 to $9, a cocktail costs $10 to $15, and wine by the glass costs $8 to $18, depending on the line and the drink. A bottle of wine from the wine shop costs $20 to $80. If you drink one or two drinks per day, you will spend $100 to $200 over a week.

Most cruise lines sell beverage packages that cover all drinks — beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks — for a flat daily rate. Carnival charges around $60 per person per day for unlimited drinks; Royal Caribbean charges $70 to $80; Disney charges $80 to $90. Premium lines like Celebrity charge $100 to $120 per day. These packages are cheaper than buying drinks individually if you plan to drink more than two drinks per day.

Some lines offer limited packages that cover beer and soft drinks but not wine or spirits, at a lower price. Others offer packages that cover only soft drinks and coffee. Read the fine print, because some packages exclude premium spirits or wine over a certain price.

Shore Excursions and Port Activities

Shore excursions are organized tours that the cruise line books for you at each port. A guided city tour costs $50 to $150 per person. A snorkeling trip costs $100 to $200. A zip-lining adventure costs $150 to $300. A private car and driver for the day costs $300 to $500. If your cruise visits four or five ports and you do one excursion at each port, you could spend $500 to $1,500 on excursions alone.

You can also explore ports on your own without booking through the cruise line. This is cheaper — a taxi or local tour guide is often less expensive than the cruise line's version — but it carries risk. If you miss the ship's departure time, you are responsible for getting to the next port at your own cost, which can mean flying to meet the ship or paying for a hotel and flight home.

The cruise line's excursions are may provide to get you back to the ship on time, which is why many people pay the premium. If you are comfortable with the risk and have done research on the port, independent exploration can cut your excursion costs in half.

Specialty Dining and Cabin Upgrades

The main dining room is included, but most cruise lines have specialty restaurants that charge extra. A steakhouse dinner costs $35 to $50 per person. An Italian restaurant costs $25 to $40. A sushi bar costs $30 to $45. A brunch at a specialty venue costs $20 to $35. If you eat in a specialty restaurant three or four times during a week-long cruise, you will spend $150 to $400.

Cabin upgrades — moving from an inside cabin to a balcony cabin, or from a balcony to a suite — can cost $500 to $2,000 extra, depending on the ship and the sailing date. Suites come with perks like priority boarding, free specialty dining, and access to a private lounge, which can offset some of the extra cost if you were planning to pay for those things anyway.

Onboard services like spa treatments, fitness classes (on lines that charge), photos, and laundry add another $100 to $300 to the total. A massage costs $150 to $250. A facial costs $150 to $300. A photo package costs $50 to $150.

How to Estimate Your Total Cost

Start with the base fare per person, then add gratuities at $15 to $16 per person per day. Add a beverage package if you drink, or estimate $100 to $200 for drinks if you do not buy a package. Add $100 to $300 per person for shore excursions, depending on how many ports you visit and what you want to do. Add $200 to $400 for specialty dining and onboard services.

For a couple on a seven-day mainstream cruise, the math looks like this: $600 base fare per person ($1,200 total) plus $210 in gratuities plus $150 in drinks plus $300 in excursions plus $300 in specialty dining equals roughly $2,160. That is nearly double the advertised price.

For a couple on a luxury line, the base fare might be $3,000 per person ($6,000 total), but gratuities, drinks, and specialty dining are often included, so the total might be closer to $6,500 to $7,000. For a budget cruise, you might spend $1,500 to $2,000 total if you skip specialty dining and excursions.

When to Book and How to Find Lower Prices

Cruise prices drop the closer you get to the sailing date if the ship is not full, but they also rise if the ship is selling well. The sweet spot is usually 2 to 3 months before departure, when the line has a clearer picture of demand but still has inventory to move. Last-minute deals exist, but they are not may provide.

Booking during wave season — January through March — sometimes offers discounts, but the savings are usually modest. Repositioning cruises, which move the ship from one region to another, are often cheaper because they visit fewer ports and attract fewer passengers. Cruises during shoulder season — just before or after peak summer or holiday travel — cost less than peak-season sailings to the same destination.

Travel agents sometimes offer onboard credits or discounts that are not available if you book directly with the cruise line. It is worth getting a quote from an agent before you book online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is travel insurance worth buying for a cruise?

Travel insurance covers cancellation, medical emergencies, and missed ports. It costs $100 to $300 for a week-long cruise and is worth considering if you have a health condition, are traveling far from home, or booked a non-refundable fare. If you are flexible and in good health, it may not be necessary.

Can I bring my own drinks onboard?

Most cruise lines allow you to bring a limited amount of alcohol — usually one bottle of wine or champagne per person — in your carry-on luggage. Beer and spirits are typically not allowed. Soft drinks and water are usually prohibited because the line wants you to buy them onboard, though some lines allow one case of bottled water per cabin.

What if I want to skip the main dining room and eat only at specialty restaurants?

You can eat at specialty restaurants every night if you want, but you will pay for each meal. The main dining room is included, so most people eat there at least some nights to keep costs down. Some lines offer unlimited specialty dining packages for $100 to $200 per person per day.

Do kids eat free on cruises?

Kids eat free in the main dining room and buffet, which is included in the base fare. Specialty restaurants charge the same price for kids as for adults. Some cruise lines offer kids' clubs and activities free; others charge. Check the specific line's website for details.

What happens if I go over my onboard spending limit?

You can set a spending limit on your onboard account, and the ship will notify you when you approach it. You can also check your balance at the guest services desk at any time. You pay the final bill when you leave the ship, and you can use a credit card, debit card, or cash.