Cruise Cost Calculator

Cruise cost estimation accounts for the base fare plus the many add-on expenses that can double the final bill. A well-planned cruise budget prevents financial surprises at sea.

The Total Cost Formula:

Total Cruise Cost = Cruise Fare + Port Taxes & Fees + Gratuities + Drinks + Excursions + Flights + Pre/Post Hotel + Miscellaneous

Typical Per-Person Cost Breakdown (7-night Caribbean, 2024):

These figures are 2024 averages and move a lot by cruise line, season, and how far ahead you book. Enter your own cabin fare, gratuity, and package prices in the calculator for a number that matches your quote.

Gratuities are charged per person per night, not per cabin, and on most lines they are added to your onboard account automatically whether or not you asked for them. The going rate is $16 to $20 per person per night, with suite guests billed at the top of that band.

7 nights × $18 = $126 per person

Worked example. Two people, 7 nights, mid-range everything: a $130/night ocean-view cabin, $200 port fees, $18/day gratuities, a $75/day drinks package, $300 of excursions, $400 flights plus a $150 pre-cruise hotel, and $250 of specialty dining and spa.

• Cabin fare: 7 × $130 = $910.00
• Port fees and taxes: $200.00
• Gratuities: 7 × $18 = $126.00
• Drinks package: 7 × $75 = $525.00
• Excursions: $300.00
• Flights and hotel: $550.00
• Onboard extras: $250.00
• Per person: $2,861.00. For two: $5,722.00

The cabin fare is $910 of a $2,861 trip. That is the number worth sitting with, because the fare is the only part most people compare when they shop, and it is under a third of what they will actually spend.

Practical notes:

• Book 6 to 12 months out for the best cabin selection, or inside 8 weeks if you can travel on no notice and want the discount.
• A drinks package breaks even somewhere around five alcoholic drinks a day. Below that you are subsidising the table next to you.
• Book the excursions that involve a long drive or a flight through the cruise line, since the ship waits for its own tours and will not wait for you. Everything walkable from the pier is cheaper booked independently, often by 30 to 50%.
• Travel insurance runs 4 to 8% of the trip cost. The reason to buy it is not lost luggage, it is medical evacuation from a ship, which starts around $50,000.