Cruise Cost Calculator

A standard cruise fare typically includes the cabin, most onboard meals (main dining room and buffet), entertainment, and some onboard activities. It does not usually include alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, gratuities, Wi-Fi, spa services, port taxes, or flights to the port of embarkation. Gratuities (also called service charges) are often automatically added to the bill at a rate of $15 to $25 per person per day.

Port taxes and fees are government-imposed charges collected by the cruise line and passed directly to port authorities, customs agencies, and government agencies. They are non-discretionary and non-negotiable. They typically range from $100 to $300 per person for a one-week cruise and must be added to any quoted cruise fare to calculate the true cost.

Shore excursions vary widely. Cruise line-organised excursions typically cost $50 to $200 per person per port. Independent tours are often cheaper. For a 7-night cruise with 4 port days, budgeting $200 to $600 per person for excursions is reasonable for a mid-range experience. Some destinations (such as Alaska or Antarctica) have excursions that cost $300 to $500 each.

Drinks packages typically cost $60 to $120 per person per day for all-inclusive alcohol. They are generally worth it if you consume 5 or more alcoholic drinks per day (at roughly $12 to $15 each individually). The calculation is straightforward: if (drinks package cost per day) is less than (expected drinks per day x per-drink price), the package saves money.

Most major cruise lines add automatic service charges (gratuities) of approximately $15 to $25 per person per day in 2025 and 2026. For a 7-night cruise for two people at $18 per person per day, gratuities total $252. These are typically charged to the onboard account and can be adjusted at guest services on some lines.