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Average cost of a cruise per person
Cruising is more popular than ever. CLIA counted 37.2 million ocean cruise passengers in 2025, including 20.6 million from the United States. Here is what a typical trip costs once everything is added up.
| Cost | Per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fare, per day | $170-$265 | Average across the big three cruise companies |
| Onboard spending, per day | $90-$125 | Drinks, specialty dining, casino, excursions, shops |
| Taxes and port fees | $100-$200 per trip | Sometimes more on long itineraries |
| Gratuities, per day | $16-$20 | Higher in suites |
| 5-day cruise, all in | About $2,000 | Average estimate |
| 7-day cruise, all in | About $2,500 | Average estimate |
Source: Cruzely, based on cruise line financial reports, Dec 2025.
Cruzely’s per-day fare figures come from dividing each company’s ticket revenue by passenger days: about $169 for Carnival Corporation, $213 for Royal Caribbean Group and $266 for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Individual sailings can be under $100 per person per day, and luxury lines can run into the thousands.
Cruise prices by cabin and cruise line
The cabin you pick and the line you sail with matter more than almost anything else. These are base fares per person, before fees, tips and extras.
| Trip | Inside cabin | Balcony cabin |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 nights, budget line | $350-$600 | $500-$900 |
| 3-4 nights, premium line | $700-$1,200 | $1,000-$1,800 |
| 7 nights, budget line | $500-$800 | $800-$1,300 |
| 7 nights, premium line | $1,200-$2,000 | $1,800-$3,000 |
Source: NerdWallet, Jun 2026. Budget lines include Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC; premium lines include Disney and Celebrity.
Upgrading from an inside cabin adds roughly $100 to $300 per person for an ocean view, $300 to $700 for a balcony, and $800 to $3,000 or more for a suite.
NerdWallet’s sample 7-night fares per person: MSC $439, Royal Caribbean $492, Carnival $614 and Celebrity $799. Virgin Voyages came in at $833 for 6 nights.
Extras that raise the bill
Gratuities
Most lines add a daily service charge to your onboard account automatically.
| Cruise line | Standard cabin, per person per day | Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $17 | $19 |
| Disney | $16 | $27.25 |
| Holland America | $17 | $19 |
| MSC (Caribbean) | $16 | n/a |
| Norwegian | $20 | $25 |
| Princess | $17 | $19 |
| Royal Caribbean | $18.50 | $21 |
Source: Cruise Critic, Feb 2026.
Bar bills usually carry their own service charge of 15% to 20%, depending on the line.
Onboard and in port
- Drinks: $10 to $15 per drink, or $50 to $80 per day for an unlimited package.
- Wi-Fi: $15 to $30 per day.
- Specialty dining: $30 to $75 per person per meal.
- Shore excursions: $50 to $300 or more per person; many half-day tours start above $100.
Source: NerdWallet, Jun 2026.
Getting to the ship
Plan for round-trip airfare ($200 to $800 or more per person), a hotel the night before ($100 to $300), port parking ($15 to $30 a day) and airport transfers ($50 to $100), per NerdWallet. Living within driving distance of a port can save a lot; our road trip cost calculator helps compare driving with flying.
Sample budget: 7-night cruise for two
Here is one example, using NerdWallet’s $492 Royal Caribbean sample fare for an inside cabin and Cruise Critic’s gratuity rate.
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Fare ($492 x 2) | $984 | $984 |
| Taxes and port fees | $200 | $400 |
| Gratuities ($18.50 x 2 x 7) | $259 | $259 |
| Drink packages (2 people, 7 days) | $0 | $1,120 |
| Wi-Fi (1 device) | $0 | $210 |
| Excursions (3 ports) | $300 | $1,800 |
| Flights | $0 (drive) | $1,600 |
| Hotel before sailing | $0 | $300 |
| Total | $1,743 | $6,673 |
Our calculation, based on NerdWallet (Jun 2026) and Cruise Critic (Feb 2026) prices.
The low column assumes you drive to the port and skip the drink package and Wi-Fi. The high column lands above Cruzely’s average of roughly $5,000 for a couple ($2,500 per person, doubled).
Is a cruise good value?
A cruise fare bundles a lot: your cabin, most meals, entertainment and travel between ports. That makes it easier to compare with a land vacation than it might seem.
| Trip for one person, 7 nights | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cruise, all in (Cruzely average) | About $2,500 |
| Cruise fare only, budget line inside cabin | $500-$800 |
| Upscale US hotel room, 7 nights (2026 forecast) | About $1,170 |
| Upper midscale US hotel room, 7 nights (2026 forecast) | About $954 |
Sources: Cruzely, Dec 2025; NerdWallet, Jun 2026; PwC hotel rate forecasts, May 2026. Hotel totals are our calculation and cover the room only, which two people can share.
On a land trip, you still need to pay for meals, transport between cities and activities on top of the room. On a cruise, the main risk is the extras: Cruzely’s rule of thumb is that onboard spending adds 40% to 50% of the fare. Demand is strong either way. CLIA reports that the number of cruise passengers grew 7.5% in 2025.
How to pay less
- Sail in the off season. Cruzely notes January and February sailings cost less than summer.
- Pick an inside cabin. You will spend little time in the room, and a balcony can add $300 to $700 per person.
- Count the drink package honestly. At $50 to $80 a day, it only pays off if you would buy roughly five or more drinks a day at $10 to $15 each (our calculation).
- Compare excursion prices. At $50 to $300 or more per person, tours add up fast, so check local operators as well as the ship’s own list before you book.
- Budget the extras up front. Cruzely’s rule of thumb is that onboard spending adds 40% to 50% of the fare.
Planning a cruise as a honeymoon? Compare it with a land trip using our guide to the average hotel cost per night.
See how we research every number on our method page, or browse more travel costs.
Common questions
How much is a 7-day cruise for two people?
Cruzely estimates about $2,500 per person all in for a 7-day cruise, so roughly $5,000 for a couple. Fares alone can be much lower; NerdWallet found 7-night sample fares from $439 to $799 per person on mainstream lines.
How much are cruise tips per day?
Most big lines add an automatic gratuity of about $16 to $20 per person per day for standard cabins, per Cruise Critic. Norwegian charges $20, Royal Caribbean $18.50 and Carnival $17, with higher rates for suites.
What is not included in a cruise fare?
Taxes and port fees ($100 to $200 per person), gratuities, alcohol, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and shore excursions are usually extra. Cruzely estimates onboard spending at $90 to $125 per person per day on average.
When is the cheapest time to cruise?
Cruzely notes that January and February sailings are cheaper than summer ones. Short sailings on budget lines can cost as little as a few hundred dollars per person before extras.
Sources
Every number above comes from these pages. We list the date each page showed when we checked it.
- Cruzely, How Much a Cruise Costs in 2026
- NerdWallet, How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost?
- Cruise Critic, Tipping on a Cruise
- Seatrade Cruise News, 37.2m people cruised globally in 2025 (CLIA data)
- PwC, 2026 US Hospitality Directions Outlook Tables
Estimates are for general information only. Get written quotes from licensed local pros before you decide.
Parastoo Parsa is a budget strategist with a background in tourism strategy and cultural heritage. At DollarMap she researches and writes our guides on family life, pets, travel and big celebrations like weddings, turning published prices into budgets you can actually plan with.
“An organized life starts with an organized budget.”
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