How Much Does A Cruise Ship Cost To Operate
The costs of operating a cruise ship depend on the size and features of the ship. Specifically, the operating costs for an average cruise ship with 1,000 passengers and 700 crew are as follows:
- Fuel: Expect to consume about 30 tons of fuel per day while cruising. At an average cost of $500 per ton of fuel, the daily fuel cost is $15,000. Naturally, larger ships will spend significantly more on fuel.
- Crew: The daily cost of labor is approximately $150 per crew member. Therefore, a 700-crew ship has labor costs of about $105,000 per day.
- Finance: If you finance $300 million at 5%, expect a daily asset finance charge of $41,096.
- Overhead: It costs about $214/day for marketing, selling, and administrative expenses.
- Food: Expect food to cost about $86 per day per person.
- Depreciation and amortization: About $170 per day.
- Commissions, transportation, and other: $236 daily.
Naturally, these costs are just estimates and vary greatly ship to ship. In this example, the daily cost to operate a cruise ship is $161,802.
The Cost Of Flights And Fees
Factor in the cost of flights you can expect to pay about $100 to $400 per person, depending on the destination and length of the flight.Estimated Cost Per Person For Flights: $100 $400 per personIf you add everything together, you will have quite a big range.7 Night Carnival Cruise ship prices per person in the Caribbean can range between $1000 $3,700.Most people will spend between $1,000 and $2,000 per person for a full vacation. Now, its true that if you were to drink only water, explore ports on your own, and stick to the main dining room and buffets, you could be paying on the lower end. The $50 per person/per day price includes an interior cabin, all of your meals and snacks, regular coffee, tea, ice tea, lemonade, taxes, and port charges. It also includes many shipboard activities, nightly entertainment and daytime child care for ages 2 thru teens. For many destinations in the United States, just the hotel can cost just as much. Remember, that many folks dont realize how affordable family cruises can be.
Expect To Pay Extra For Some Activities And Specialty Restaurants
Teppanyaki on Norwegian Dawn –
Visiting the spa or taking classes in the gym on a cruise ship will cost you. On some lines, aerobics classes and other sea day activities come with small additional fees. The cost of specialty restaurants and the myriad of options has also increased dramatically in the last decade.
Estimated Cost: $50 – $150 per person
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Flights Transportation And Hotels Before And After
Budget for the costs of flights. Some cruise fares do include flights to and from the departure and arrival port, but thats not really the norm. Chances are youll be the one responsible for getting to your port in time and at your own expense.
Other types of transportation to your port may include trains, subways and taxis. Those costs can vary greatly depending on where you are and how far you need to travel. If youre driving yourself, keep in mind that leaving your vehicle at the cruise terminal can cost up to $30 per day.
Usually departure and arrival ports are interesting destinations, too. So, you might want to arrive a bit earlier and stay a little longer to explore that specific city. Consider this when trying to figure out how much a cruise costs.
How Much Does A Cruise Ship Cost To Build By Cabin
This chart shows average cost by cruise cabin. That allows us to account for ship size and “normalize” the cost data. When buying an apartment building, you’d mostly like value it based on total number of units. Each apartment will command $X in rent. Similarly, each cruise cabin generates $Y in revenue.
It’s no surprise that the smaller ships rise to the top. These brands are considered “premium lines.” The drastic differences in price are obvious. Seabourn ships have cruise staterooms valued at more than 5x the cost of cabins on Pullmantur!
Why did we use cabins as a proxy for size?
To get the most of this analysis, you’ll want to compare ships with a similar quantity of cabins. Compare SAGA and Fred Olsen ships. The average roughly the same number of cabins per ship. SAGA spends over 2x the amount on a per cabin basis!
The data won’t completely represent the full picture. Celebrity has massive ships carrying over 3k passengers and also the Xploration with a capacity of 16 cruisers! To avoid this issue you’ll want to check out our complete list of ships by cost below.
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How Much Does It Cost To Go To Antarctica
Cruising among massive glaciers and walking among penguins on the White Continent is a dream come true for many travelers. But the cost to go to Antarctica may cause some sleepless nights. Our experts share their inside knowledge and money-saving tips to help you answer the question How much does it cost to go to Antarctica?
The average Antarctica cruise cost is about $8,000 per person. The least expensive expeditions start at under $5,000. Luxury voyages can exceed $15,000 per person.
Below we crunch the numbers and outline the considerations that influence Antarctic travel costs to help you determine how much it costs to go to Antarctica.
How Much A Cruise Costs In 2022
Wondering how much youll spend to take a cruise? We have specific estimates below.
Before we get too far, however, you should know that just like buying a car, you can spend as much or as little as you want for your vacation.
For instance, are you happy with the lowest-cost interior cabin or would you rather spend more for a balcony or a suite?
Or are you the sort of person who can only sail during the summer months , or can you sail during the off-season and save hundreds of dollars?
That means tracking down the specific cost of a cruise for each person is hard. But we can give you an idea of what a typical trip will cost based on averages and help you get an idea of what you can plan to spend.
We get into all the details of how much a cruise costs and exactly where youll spend money below.
In This Article…
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How Much Do Cruise Ship Bartenders Make
Cruise ship bartenders make between $1,400 and $2,600 per month depending on the cruise line. This includes gratuities which are automatically collected and shared, but they can make more if people tip extra in cash.
Cruise ship bartenders work long hours, often around 12 hours per day with few days off.
Add In Transfers Between The Ship And The Airport On Both Ends
The cost of the shuttle can vary depending on the length of the trip. –
Factor in the transfer costs of the bus or taxi to get you between the airport and the ship for both embarkation and disembarkation. The cruise lines bus transfer makes sense if youre traveling alone or as a couple if youre a group of three or four, a taxi or Uber/Lyft may be your cheapest and quickest option. Driving to the port? Figure in parking charges instead.
Estimated Cost: $20 – $100 per person
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Caribbean Cruises In Summer
Summer is actually the down season for the Caribbean because the temperature increases dramatically and hurricane season runs from June-November. Many other parts of the world have good weather in summer so less people feel the need to escape the bad weather and head to the Caribbean.
The prices of cruises do tend to increase in August when the schools break up and demand increases.
Benefits of Cruising The Caribbean in Summer:
- Cheap cruises
- Ships arent full
- Children are off school for the summer break
Drawbacks of Cruising The Caribbean in Summer:
- Hot weather
- Less choice of cruise lines and itineraries
How Can I Save Money
If you are military personnel or one of your family members is serving in the military, you can enjoy some discount on the cruise packages. Take a look at the official Disney Cruise Line to see the current promotions they are holding.
Check for special cruise promotions or onboard credits. Many third-party websites will have a lot of deals that you can sort through.
Disney is just one of the many cruise lines you can book, and in fact, it tends to be one of the priciest. Royal Caribbean and Carnival, for example, can be up to 60 percent less than a Disney cruise going to the same destination.
Consider a combination deal. In some cases, you can book a few days at a Disney resort on land and the cruise at the same time to save a few hundred dollars.
If you qualify, the Disney Visa credit card can offer discounts and even more credits when used on board.
As with any cruise, try to time it right. Usually, when kids are in school, the costs will be a lot less than when they are on vacation. Play around with the quotes online, and if youre flexible, this is a great way to save a great deal of money. WDW Info recommends traveling during the hurricane season however, if you were to do so, just remember the itinerary could change because of the weather.
Book early. The sooner you know you want to take a cruise, the quicker you should take action. Since cruise liners will price their room by tiers, the earlier you book, the lower the costs are known to be.
Recommended Reading: How To Find The Cheapest Cruises
How Much Does The Average Person Spend On A Cruise
Ever wonder if you got a great deal on a cruise? Of course, you should read our 10 Rules for Getting the Best Deal on a Cruise, but it also doesnt hurt to compare what you paid to the average price other passengers paid.
Thats easier said than done until now. No, you dont have to go from passenger to passenger asking them how much they paid. You arent likely to get an accurate answer anyway .
Cruise lines are often public companies. That means they regularly report statistics to their shareholders and the investing public. These reports offer interesting glimpses into the cruise business with everything from stats on how many passengers a cruise line carries to how much money it takes in.
And with a little math, we can use some of these numbers to calculate exactly how much is spent per passenger on tickets and onboard items like alcohol and souvenirs. This gives us the average amount spent per person on a cruise.
Cruise Lines And Ships
Again, we based this price on a family of four aboard a Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival is one of the largest Cruise lines and their volume translates into great values for families. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are the next lines as far as family popularity and options for kids. Disney is considered a favorite for families but it is considered a premium cruise line. This means families can expect to pay almost three times as much for a Disney cruise and they would for Carnival. If you’re looking to keep your price tag low, bear in mind the newer the ship the more in demand it will be and the price to sail on it will also be higher. The newer ships offer more ship board amenities and those translate into higher price tags.
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How Much Does A Cruise Cost For A Family Of Four
The price of a cruise for a family of four depends very much on what discounts are available for children. The price for a family could be double the price for a couple, or it could be very little extra.
Many cruise lines dont offer any discounts for children. This is usually the case on ships which have a lot of activities made for children like kids clubs, water slides and splash parks.
However, it is possible to get cheap kids prices, by either choosing a cruise line that doesnt charge full price for children or by looking out for special offers and booking at the right time.
Where Youll Spend Money On A Cruise
Think that the cost of a cruise is simply the fare that you pay to get on the ship? While that makes up the lions share of your spending, theres a lot more that goes into the cost of your vacation.
Cruise FareOf course, when most people think of the cost of a cruise, they are thinking mainly of the price of the cruise fare. This fare is what the cruise line charges for you to sail on the ship. Cruise fare includes your cabin, meals, entertainment on the ship, access to pools, lounges, and more.
What it doesnt include are the extras like alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, gambling and other things bought on board.
What you pay for your fare can vary widely. Factors that go into the price include the type of cabin you choose, length of cruise, when you sail, and even the ship and cruise line you sail.
Short cruises on budget cruise lines can run as little as a few hundred dollars, while long luxury trips can run well into the thousands of dollars per person.
Onboard SpendingThink youre done spending money after you buy your cruise fare? Think again. Once on the ship there are lots of extras that you will likely want to purchase that add to the cost of your cruise.
Onboard spending casts a wide net. It includes everything from money spent gambling in the casino to alcohol, specialty restaurants, cruise line shore excursions, and even the souvenirs you buy in the gift shop.
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How Much Does It Cost To Go On A Cruise
A cruise can cost anywhere from $50 per person, per day, with a budget cruise line like Costa Cruises to well over $1,000 per person, per day, with an ultra-luxury cruise line like Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The average cost of a cruise is $161 per person, per day. This equates to $1,127 for a 7-night cruise.
Kids Fares By Cruise Line
This is how much each cruise line charges for kids:
- Carnival Full adult price
- Celebrity Cruises Full adult price
- Costa Cruises Children under 18 pay only port fees and service fees
- Cunard Full adult price
- Disney Cruise Line Child rate for ages 3 to 12
- MSC Cruises Children under 18 cruise FREE when booking in the USA and from £119 when booking in the UK
- Norwegian Cruise Line Full adult price except when the Free At Sea promotion is on when kids cruise free
- P& O Cruises Full adult price in the school holidays and £99 per week in term-time
- Princess Cruises Full adult price
- Royal Caribbean Full adult price except when the Kids Sail Free promotion is on
The price for children under two years old also varies and can be anywhere from free to the full adult fare.
Read more:Do you have to pay for babies on cruises?
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Which Cruise Line Offers The Best Value For Money
Its usually the case that you get what you pay for when it comes to booking cruises. The more expensive cruises will have better service, better food and probably even better weather.
Even if youve cruised before, deciding which is the best value cruise is tricky, and its not something you want to get wrong!
To learn which is the best cruise for your budget AND how to save up to 60% off the brochure price when you book, I recommend this video course by Emma Cruises. Emma is a top cruise YouTuber and these videos pack in so much information.
Ive had a good look at Emmas course and I promise that it offers amazing value for money. It will pay for itself many times over with the money youll save on your next cruise.
Final Thoughts: 21 Hidden Costs Of Cruising How Much Does A Cruise Really Cost
Even though cruising is still a great value, knowing what extra costs to expect and plan for will avoid surprises. By researching in advance, youll be able to budget for your cruise ports, as well as what extra expenses youd enjoy on the cruise ship.
A final tip is to make sure that youre signed up to receive your cruise lines emails. Often, beverage packages, shore excursions and other cruise purchases will be discounted if you buy them online before your cruise.
I hope these tips and the information is helpful as you plan and get ready for your cruise.
What other extras have you encountered on cruise ships or while planning your cruise? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy cruising!
Ilana
Lets connect:
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Drinks And Drink Packages
On all lines, you will be able to get water, coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks as part of your cruise fare. Certain juices, specialty coffees, soda, and alcoholic beverages are usually not included unless youve opted for an all-inclusive fare or you purchase a drinks package.
Some lines, like Azamara, include non-alcoholic drinks along with select spirits, beers, and a selection of wines by the glass in its cruise fares. Others will include drinks at lunch or dinner only. Cruisers can opt to add each drink to their cruise tab or if it seems like better value a drinks package could save you some money over the course of your trip.
Each cruise line is different with how they handle a drinks package but usually, youll have the option to get a non-alcoholic package or an alcoholic beverage package. Drinks packages start from around $12 for a soft drinks package up to $130 for a premium drinks package.