Cruise lines love to call themselves “all inclusive.” This is like calling a car “transportation included” then charging extra for gas, insurance, and the keys.
Your cruise fare covers your room and meals. That part is true. But the list of what costs extra would make a resort executive blush. Internet. Drinks. Specialty dining. Shore excursions. Photos. Laundry. Even room service often has a fee now.
The worst part? Many first time cruisers budget just for the cruise fare. Then they board and discover that a decent vacation experience requires spending 50% more than they planned. The cruise line counts on this. They hook you with low base prices knowing you will pay extra once you are trapped at sea.
Here is what actually happens. You see a $299 cruise and think you found a deal. Add mandatory taxes and fees. Now it is $450. Add drinks because you are not drinking tap water for a week. Now it is $650. Add internet because you exist in 2024. Now it is $750. Add a few shore excursions because sitting on the ship in Cozumel seems wasteful. Now you are at $1200 per person for that $299 cruise.
The math is simple. Budget $100 to $150 per person per day beyond your cruise fare for a realistic vacation experience. A seven day cruise means $700 to $1000 extra per person. Yes, you can spend less if you avoid everything fun. You can also stay home and save even more money.
If you want help building a real budget instead of falling for marketing tricks, that is literally what we do.
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