Most people think a $500 cruise costs $500. Those people get surprised at checkout.
The advertised price covers your cabin and meals. Everything else costs extra. Drinks, specialty dining, excursions, gratuities, WiFi, and spa treatments add up fast.
Start with the cruise fare as your baseline. Then add $50 to $100 per person per day for extras. That covers drinks, some specialty dining, and reasonable spending on board. A seven day cruise for two people with a $1,400 base price becomes $2,100 to $2,800 total.
Gratuities run about $15 per person per day. Most cruise lines auto charge this to your room. Beverage packages cost $50 to $80 per person per day depending on what you drink. Specialty restaurants charge $30 to $75 per person for dinner.
Shore excursions vary wildly. Beach days cost $40 to $80 per person. Adventure tours run $100 to $200. Private guides can hit $300 to $500 for your group. Book through the cruise line for convenience or find local operators for better prices.
WiFi packages cost $15 to $25 per day per device. Laundry runs $2 to $4 per item unless your suite includes free service. Spa treatments start around $150 and climb from there.
Track your spending with the cruise line app. Set a daily limit and stick to it. Pay attention to auto gratuities and service charges that get added to everything. If you want help building a realistic budget before you book, that is literally what we do.
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