Are cruises very expensive?

Is going on a cruise expensive?

Yeah, cruises are expensive, unfortunately.

Last summer, 2024, I wanted to take my mom on a Caribbean cruise. We’ve always talked about it, ya know? Thought it’d be a fun mother-daughter thing.

I was all excited, checking out Royal Caribbean, Carnival. The usual suspects.

Started looking at prices, and woah!

It wasn't pretty, I tell ya.

I’m thinking, “Okay, a few hundred dollars, right?”

Nope.

We're talking thousands! It was easily over $3,000 for an inside cabin, plus port fees, taxes, tips... oh my god, everything.

I was like, “Forget it!”

Why is it so damn expensive?

• Increased Demand: Everyone wants to travel.
• Fuel Costs: Gas prices are outrageous.
• Labor: People need to get paid.
• Food Inflation: Groceries are insane.
• Onboard Spending: Everyone buys drinks and excursions.

Seriously, it's ridiculous. I almost cancelled the whole thing... ended up booking a cheaper, shorter trip to Orlando instead. Still fun, but not the same thing as sailing the freaking ocean. What a rip off, ugh!

Do you need a lot of spending money on a cruise?

It seeps in, this question of money. Cruises...

It's more than the ticket, isn't it? That base fare.

• Spending 25-40% of the cruise cost onboard? That seems, somehow, right. Vaguely accurate, yes.
• I overspent that, I think. The allure of the casino...and the drinks, of course.
• Five hundred? A thousand? For a week... Maybe it depends.
• Cash matters. Not everything can go on the card. Tips, maybe. Small purchases.
• Bring more rather than less, I tell myself. It eases my worry.
• Seven days feels like a long time to be adrift. How much can I lose myself?
• It depends on whether you drink alcohol or gamble?

Maybe it's not about the money, anyway. It never really is, is it?

Is cruising value for money?

Value for money? Cruising is like all-you-can-eat sushi, but on water. You pay upfront, then gorge yourself. But is it really worth it, or just cleverly disguised excess?

Cruises bundle everything. Accommodation? Included. Transportation? Covered. Food? Oh honey, mountains of it. You're basically paying for a floating, buffet-powered hotel that moves between Instagrammable locations.

Let's dissect this "value":

• Onboard Cabin: A floating shoebox! (Okay, some are bigger. Some even have balconies, aka 'personal pigeon perches').
• Meals: Buffets galore. Think "quantity over quality", but hey, no cooking! (Except maybe microwaving that leftover pizza).
• Entertainment: Broadway knock-offs! Magicians who still use rabbits! So bad it's almost good. (Almost).
• Transportation: You're moving the whole time. Wake up, new view! Though, views from my apartment are pretty great too, minus the seasickness.

But remember the extras! Those tempting shore excursions? The "must-have" drink package? The casino calling your name? Before you know it, you've spent more than you planned. Suddenly, value is relative. Like that "free" puppy...

So, is it really value for money? Depends. If you love buffets, enjoy mediocre entertainment, and have zero self-control, then absolutely! Otherwise, maybe price out that solo trip to that remote cabin in the woods you've always dreamed about.

Is there a bad time to go on a cruise?

Ugh, Caribbean cruises. My sister and I went in June 2023, Royal Caribbean. Total disaster. The heat was brutal. Seriously, like walking into an oven. Sunburnt the first day, even with high SPF. Didn’t help that we booked a cruise to Cozumel, and the shore excursion was mostly outdoors.

I mean, the ship itself was fine, the food was decent enough. But the sheer humidity made it miserable. My sister kept complaining. I felt bad, she’d saved up for ages. We ended up spending most of the time indoors, watching bad movies. Such a waste of money!

Plus, the crowds were insane. It was packed. Every port of call, every restaurant, every pool. You couldn’t even find a decent spot by the pool. I swear, everyone on earth was on that cruise ship that week. Completely defeated the purpose of getting away.

Next time, definitely going during the shoulder season – maybe April or May. Avoid those school holiday months like the plague. Learn from my mistakes, people! I’ll stick to small island hopping next time, no big cruise ships for me.

• Peak Season (December-April): Expensive, crowded.
• Hurricane Season (June-November): Obvious issues, avoid.
• Hottest months (July-August): Brutal heat, not worth it.
• Rainy Season (September-October): High chance of rain.
• Shoulder Seasons (April-May, September-October, excluding hurricane season): Fewer crowds, better weather, best option.

What are the negatives of cruising?

Ugh, cruises. Okay, negatives, right?

• Limited time is a huge bummer. Always rushing! Ports feel like drive-bys. I want to experience a place.

• Plus, the price. Yeah, "all-inclusive" my foot! Suddenly, I'm paying extra for everything fun. Drinks? Ka-ching. Excursions? Ka-ching! I saw an offer for a 10-day Mediterranean cruise for $1000 in November, but I bet all the extras will cost another $1000.

Positives, though... hm.

• Seeing lots of places, yeah, that's cool. I remember going on one once, saw like, five islands.

• And the activities are non-stop, I guess. But is that good? It's exhausting! And seriously, the crowds! I need some peace!

Crowds, yeah. Overrated.

• The sheer volume of people can be really overwhelming.

The environment tho?

• All those huge ships descending on tiny places. Must be a nightmare for the locals. Tourism is a double-edged sword. My brother went to Thailand and said the beaches were awful.

• Not to mention the pollution. I have seen this documentary. Gross.

So...yeah. Cruises. Pros and cons.

What kind of people enjoy cruises?

Cruises lure those who chase fleeting views. Gourmet food, sure. Wine too. New places? Through someone else's lens.

Some like buffets. Others the forced fun. Easy escape for some. Avoidance for most. I saw Carol there last month. Awkward.

• Retirees: Time on their hands, money in the bank.
• Families: Controlled chaos. All-inclusive appeal.
• Couples: Romance repackaged. Or divorce averted.
• Singles: An algorithm’s dream.

A floating petri dish. Germs and glitter. Still, some find peace. If you call forced relaxation, peace.

It's all predictable. Sunsets. Souvenirs. Seasickness. The captain's smile. A perfectly curated facade. Then the bill arrives. Heh.

How long will a cruise last?

A cruise? Oh honey, that depends. Think of it like a meticulously planned garden party—except on water, and with significantly less polite conversation. A typical cruise, barring pirate attacks (unlikely, but let's be prepared) or spontaneous outbreaks of interpretive dance, lasts around 7-10 days. Twelve days? That's practically an odyssey. Unless your ship's a floating metropolis—mine definitely isn't; I prefer smaller, more intimate voyages like the one I took last year on the Serene Seas (fantastic shrimp cocktail, terrible karaoke).

Key Factors Affecting Cruise Duration:

• Itinerary: A transatlantic crossing? That's a different ball game than a jaunt around the Bahamas. Expect longer voyages for longer distances—duh.
• Fuel Capacity: Ships aren't exactly nimble little sailboats. Fuel needs matter.
• Supplies: Think of it like a really, really expensive camping trip. You need provisions. And maybe extra sunscreen. I always forget that.

My Personal Experience (to spice things up): Last summer, my cruise to Santorini—oh, the views!—lasted 8 days. Eight glorious, sun-drenched days that included a near-miss with a rogue dolphin (it was its fault, honestly) and an argument with a particularly demanding mime.

So, in short: Plan for 7-10 days unless your itinerary suggests otherwise. Remember: always pack extra socks. You'll thank me later.