Cruise cost reality check

Cheap cruise fares are not always cheap trips.

Before you book, check the full trip cost: flights, hotels, transfers, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions, gratuities, and port timing.

Compare sailings Read the cheap cruise fares guide

Before you book

Travel costs: Flights and hotels
Onboard extras: Drinks and Wi-Fi
Port timing: Stops and tenders
Second look: Compare before booking

Beyond the headline fare

Ten checks. One clearer trip budget.

A low fare is a starting point. Put the travel costs, onboard extras and time ashore beside it to see which sailing is worth booking for you.

01 / Getting there

Budget for the journey to the ship.

A fare is easier to compare once the flights, overnight stay and transfers sit beside it.

Illustrative airport departure lounge with an aircraft at the gate

Flights

Compare the airfare, baggage charges and arrival buffer alongside the cruise fare.

Packed suitcase on a bed before a cruise journey

Pre-cruise hotel

Include the room, taxes and an extra night if your flight schedule needs a safer arrival window.

Illustrative coach bus and luggage beside a cruise terminal

Transfers

Price the airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-pier journeys, including luggage and your whole group.

02 / Onboard spending

Know what your fare leaves out.

Check the inclusions for your exact booking, then add the extras you would actually use.

Cocktail and water on a table overlooking the sea

Drinks

Compare realistic pay-as-you-go spending with the full package price, including applicable service charges.

Compare drink costs

Illustrative laptop, tablet and cell phones on a cruise cabin desk

Wi-Fi

Check the plan, number of devices and whether the price is per day or for the whole sailing.

Illustrative thank-you envelopes labelled Waiter, Bartender, Cabin steward and Maitre D on a cruise cabin desk

Gratuities

Check whether gratuities and service charges are included, prepaid or added onboard before comparing totals.

03 / Time ashore

Make sure the itinerary works for you.

The value of a port day depends on the time, transport and experiences available to you.

Illustrative waterfront promenade for exploring a port on foot

Excursions

Add your intended tours, admission fees and local transport. Leave room for a simple day exploring, too.

Explore the ports

Illustrative cruise ship docked beside a terminal pier and gangway

Port timing

Look at arrival, departure and all-aboard times. Subtract the journeys ashore before planning your day.

Check port schedules

Illustrative small passenger boat arriving beside a harbour

Tender risk

Check whether you dock or use tender boats, and allow for queues, operating conditions and the return trip.

Travel planning documents ready to check against an itinerary

Schedule fit

Check the whole trip: days off work, hotel nights, sea days and the flight home after disembarkation.

AI-generated illustrations.

Put the full trip side by side

Compare more than the fare.

Keep a total for each sailing: fare + travel + onboard extras + days ashore. Then weigh that cost against the ship, itinerary and time you will actually enjoy.

Find sailings to compare Read the full cost guide

Keep planning