Cruising becoming unaffordable...my perspective

Cruise fares, gratuties, excursions, incidentals, air fare, airport parking, transfers, add up to a very expensive vacation, especially when traveling with a family

I know that many cruises are sold out and the bean counters are ordering new ships with additional capacity, but, for the average Joe Sixpack like myself, the total costs are becoming prohibitive.

I'm also considering the value proposition of what we receive in exchange for our money...cutbacks and reductions in service, same tired old ports, lead up to a diminishing experience.

Now, I have cruised many times, I intend to cruise again, but, for many folks the cruise vacation is becoming out of reach.

Just my opinion

i have seen fares increase as they have offered more "free" items like booze. that said, there are still deals to be had if you shop around and are flexible. for example, we never sail in the summer months. ever. too many kids and prices are always higher. we aim for shoulder season sailings and hurricane season sailings.

we also cruise from NYC when we can as we can drive to that port. if we fly, we take Uber or a cab to save on parking (Logan is very expensive to park at). we book independent excursions to save money and some ports we book nothing at all as there is plenty to do for little to no money.

Cruise fares, gratuties, excursions, incidentals, air fare, airport parking, transfers, add up to a very expensive vacation, especially when traveling with a family

I know that many cruises are sold out and the bean counters are ordering new ships with additional capacity, but, for the average Joe Sixpack like myself, the total costs are becoming prohibitive.

I'm also considering the value proposition of what we receive in exchange for our money...cutbacks and reductions in service, same tired old ports, lead up to a diminishing experience.

Now, I have cruised many times, I intend to cruise again, but, for many folks the cruise vacation is becoming out of reach.

Just my opinion

I think the cost also depends on where you live and how you spend on a cruise/your cabin. Floridians can cruise more I guess.

We have to cruise in peak summer time and usually book a longish cruise (10+) days and we have found that our cruises have pretty much been around £1k pp for all of them since 2013. We mainly sail from our home isles or take great European trains to ports. When we do fly that can be a big money burner though.

If you don't get a balcony, don't book excursions, don't gamble and don't drink like a fish we still find cruising quite a bargain....especially if we book a guaratee cabin.

JMO

Cruise fares, gratuties, excursions, incidentals, air fare, airport parking, transfers, add up to a very expensive vacation, especially when traveling with a family

I know that many cruises are sold out and the bean counters are ordering new ships with additional capacity, but, for the average Joe Sixpack like myself, the total costs are becoming prohibitive.

I'm also considering the value proposition of what we receive in exchange for our money...cutbacks and reductions in service, same tired old ports, lead up to a diminishing experience.

Now, I have cruised many times, I intend to cruise again, but, for many folks the cruise vacation is becoming out of reach.

Just my opinion

money wise I, 100 percent disagree, if you are somewhat flexible on dates it is one of the most cost effective vacations you can take.

You can do a 7 day cruise for for as low as 499 per person, plus taxes and tips about 750 per person total, find a cheap flight ,maybe 350 per person - we spend maybe 200 bucks each on the ship and maybe another 300 total on excursions so for 1600 bucks, a little over 200 bucks a day we have a great trip. all entertainment, food and drinks included. I go up to a Yankee game and sit in the bleachers and spend more then 200 bucks lol

Cruising is the most cost effective vacation. Even though I can afford a more expensive room,an inside is more than adequate for sleeping and showering. Where else can you get a nice hotel room, entertainment and 3 meals a day for $150 per day. Sightseeing doesn't have to be expensive if you go to the beach or wander the towns. Most of it is redundant and not that interesting . Alcohol is up to you and your habits. Often we just purchase a bottle of vodka on board .The orange juice, cranberry juice that we enjoy as mixers all week are readily available

Prices have been trending up but so has everything else. My last trip to one of the top FL beaches cost me $180 a night for the condo plus out of pocket for all food and activities making a cruise seem a bargain.

Cruise fares, gratuties, excursions, incidentals, air fare, airport parking, transfers, add up to a very expensive vacation, especially when traveling with a family

I know that many cruises are sold out and the bean counters are ordering new ships with additional capacity, but, for the average Joe Sixpack like myself, the total costs are becoming prohibitive.

I'm also considering the value proposition of what we receive in exchange for our money...cutbacks and reductions in service, same tired old ports, lead up to a diminishing experience.

Now, I have cruised many times, I intend to cruise again, but, for many folks the cruise vacation is becoming out of reach.

Just my opinion

Having travelled all over the place I still find cruising is one of the cheapest ways to go. Our first cruise in 2011 was a suite on the Gem, 7 day to Bermuda. It cost of $4200. Our next cruise, a 14 day on the BA in February in a Spa Balcony is the same price. Their are not many places you can go for that amount of money for 14 days. I agree prices have gone up, but not by that much. It also depends on what cruise you are going on. Alaska and Hawaii can be very expensive compared to east coast cruises

You can do a 7 day cruise for for as low as 499 per person, plus taxes and tips about 750 per person total, find a cheap flight ,maybe 350 per person - we spend maybe 200 bucks each on the ship and maybe another 300 total on excursions so for 1600 bucks, a little over 200 bucks a day we have a great trip.

If a person saves $50 per week/$100 every 2 weeks and books a year out, that cruise is more than paid for without credit cards, tax refund, or scraping together the final payment.

Cruise fares, gratuties, excursions, incidentals, air fare, airport parking, transfers, add up to a very expensive vacation, especially when traveling with a family

Everyone's economic situation is unique, so I'm not going to try to tell you a cruise ISN'T getting more expensive to you.

But, just for the exercise of the debate, for a land vacation from north of the Mason-Dixon line to south of the M-D line in winter, you'd still pay for all of those things except the cruise fares. But you'd pay for hotel/accomodations, meals (either a la carte or if you're at an all inclusive that would likely be accounted for in a resort/hotel per night rate that was higher than if it was just a hotel room without meals), and possibly a rental car. Could those things add up to less than the cruise fare? Sure. But not necessarily.

I think the bottom line is that leisure travel costs in general feel like it's at a high point in its cycle. Which, if true, I suppose the silver lining is that the economy must be doing well?

We have only done 7 day cruises and we are just going our 3rd family cruise so I can't speak to how much longer ones are and I am in no way an expert cruiser however in regards to traveling with families...have you done a trip to Orlando going to Disney and/or Universal lately?? Trust me...Ugggg!!! Heck, we (me and 3 kids) spend $500-600 for a day at a "local" amusement park or waterpark (ie about an hour drive) when you consider tickets, parking, gas, food and drink, etc. No we don't pack our lunches or drinks and go out to the parking lot to eat drink which we could to reduce the cost but we also aren't buying 3 meals there or bringing home bunch of over priced T-shirts or anything like that either....

Obviously it is all dependent on your expectations and what you comforts you deem worth it but if you want to you can absolutely take a family of 4 on a 7 day cruise for a reasonable price even if you have to fly to get there. Fly in the day before, choose an low price no frill airlines and watch for specials and then get a reasonable (but clean) hotel, choose an inside cabin on the cruise, travel when they have 3rd and 4th person free, DIY excursions, forget the internet packages and specialty dinning - even having my fair share of adult beverages and letting the kids spend some (reasonable amounts) on ridiculous priced things like bingo or arcade games....we can still have a complete blast and see some pretty cool things for a decent price for 7 days (as long as I stay out of the casino lol :)). Would I love it if costs went down (or even stopped going up) of course, but when you compare to other options where you have as much entertainment, things to do, food and drinks (and ice cream!! lol)...well I just don't agree that cruises are expensive in comparison...

It takes persistent work to find affordable cruise deals.They are out there if you look long and hard enough.

I hear you! We are going on a NCL cruise in October, NOT peak season, and it is TWICE as much as the cruise we went on in January, that was almost identical. This is a seven day versus six, and added one Mexican port. The first cruise was $699 a person, this one is $1299 a person. First was on Getaway, this one is Escape. I still can't believe that this one in October is going to be so damned expensive once you add in all the taxes, fees, insurance, and excursions. I know you don't have to do those things, well, just the excursions, but why would we be going if we did not? I'm looking forward to it, even more so, as it may have to be our last at these prices.

I do understand you can get them cheap when they pop up and you are available. But we do ours in October for a reason, that is our fall break.

We have definitely cut back on the excursion portion of our cruises....a family of four for the stuff we like to do is usually $80-120 each.

Grand Turk has a beautiful beach right in port, and Nassau has a free beach (Junkanoo Beach) within walking distance from the port. San Juan, you can walk to the fort (although it is up hill the entire way). St. Thomas is fairly inexpensive to take a cab to one of the many beautiful beaches. Our last cruise, as well as this one, we pick one "big" excursion, the rest of the ports we do stuff on our own. We have also used tour companies outside of the cruise ship for excursions.

We are non-drinkers, so that right there saves us a BUNDLE!! :D

We have definitely cut back on the excursion portion of our cruises....a family of four for the stuff we like to do is usually $80-120 each.

 

Grand Turk has a beautiful beach right in port, and Nassau has a free beach (Junkanoo Beach) within walking distance from the port. San Juan, you can walk to the fort (although it is up hill the entire way). St. Thomas is fairly inexpensive to take a cab to one of the many beautiful beaches. Our last cruise, as well as this one, we pick one "big" excursion, the rest of the ports we do stuff on our own. We have also used tour companies outside of the cruise ship for excursions.

 

We are non-drinkers, so that right there saves us a BUNDLE!! :D

Oh...don't get me wrong - our first cruise I spent a FORTUNE on excursions!! We swam with the dolphins, we zip lined, can't remember the 3rd thing but none of them were cheap. We too have gone to the "pick one" really cool one concept if there are a bunch of expensive things - would my kids like to swim with the dolphins again, absolutely it was really cool...but they don't have to do it every time :). And yes the tour companies outside of the cruise ship are the real key to saving money and IMO better excursions. It takes a bit more work reading up on reviews and stuff but definitely worth it!!

I guess it depends on your perspective. I used to think of cruising as a good value, but the enormous amount of add ons really drives up the cost, and every year there are more and more things to pay extra for, and the quality of included things such as MDR have significantly declined in quality vs 10 years ago, sadly. Eating, drinking, tipping, excursions, getting to and from, etc etc really adds up. We have done a bunch of AI vacations in Mexico and the DR and wow, it's a huge savings over a cruise for the same length of time, even at a very top resort. That being said, they're just not the same experience and there's nothing like being on a cruise ship sailing the ocean. We're finally back to craving a cruise again.

Cruising is what I want to spend my vacation money on but I do think that the suites on NCL have become too expensive.

From Sweden we can get a week in Greece, hotel and transport (=cheap flight) for $500 and a week in Thailand can cost $1000. I prefer to pay $5000 and get a cruise but it is expensive, I think.

I hear you! We are going on a NCL cruise in October, NOT peak season, and it is TWICE as much as the cruise we went on in January, that was almost identical. This is a seven day versus six, and added one Mexican port. The first cruise was $699 a person, this one is $1299 a person. First was on Getaway, this one is Escape. I still can't believe that this one in October is going to be so damned expensive once you add in all the taxes, fees, insurance, and excursions. I know you don't have to do those things, well, just the excursions, but why would we be going if we did not? I'm looking forward to it, even more so, as it may have to be our last at these prices.

 

I do understand you can get them cheap when they pop up and you are available. But we do ours in October for a reason, that is our fall break.

Is the room type comparable for both cruises??? Because when I booked our upcoming cruise I was also looking at the Jan and Oct time frame for off season type pricing and looked at both the Gem and the escape - I can't for the life of me figured out how you could have gone from a $699 price to a $1299 price unless you were in an inside or ocean view on your first cruise and moved up to like a suite on the upcoming one....

Is the room type comparable for both cruises??? Because when I booked our upcoming cruise I was also looking at the Jan and Oct time frame for off season type pricing and looked at both the Gem and the escape - I can't for the life of me figured out how you could have gone from a $699 price to a $1299 price unless you were in an inside or ocean view on your first cruise and moved up to like a suite on the upcoming one....

On the January cruise, we were in an ocean view with the large window over the bed. I loved that window, so cool! This time, we are in a balcony, but I was not looking for a balcony, but was told it would actually be $20.00 cheaper per person to do the balcony over the ocean view. So balcony it was :-)

Cruise fares, gratuties, excursions, incidentals, air fare, airport parking, transfers, add up to a very expensive vacation, especially when traveling with a family

I know that many cruises are sold out and the bean counters are ordering new ships with additional capacity, but, for the average Joe Sixpack like myself, the total costs are becoming prohibitive.

I'm also considering the value proposition of what we receive in exchange for our money...cutbacks and reductions in service, same tired old ports, lead up to a diminishing experience.

Now, I have cruised many times, I intend to cruise again, but, for many folks the cruise vacation is becoming out of reach.

Just my opinion

Have you priced really nice AI or trips to Disney World for about a week? How about resort hotels, other than AI when you consider meals, entertainment etc? Of course cruising isn't cheap but they are still the best value for your money there is unless you are talking camping for a week visiting friends or relatives.

Hello,

I can only speak in my case. I get two weeks off a year. One year, I rented a hotel room in Oregon in a beach town for 5 days. I had to bring my own food, no entertainment, no pool. The total with gas (7 hour drive to location), hotel and food it was $950. I went on an Alaskan cruise with Balcony room on a Princess ship ( upgrade offer) it was $1500 . I am not counting the air to Seattle , WA, modest priced hotel by the airport. I booked a year in advance and paid it off monthly. It worked for me. You know what you get with a cruise. It was the best vacation, I have ever been on. I came back relaxed. I never had to worry about where is a good place to eat, what to do in the evenings or what to see. To me there is value in cruising. I do not want to worry about this stuff. I like everything at my finger tips type of person. To me , if I don't have to cook or clean . It is a vacation.

So, How did I do it without credit cards. I saved a little each month, used my tax refund. I also saved soda cans too. I really was nervous whether I could do it. But, I found a way. I am going on a cruise in 2018. But, this time I am leaving out of L.A. closer to my home. So we will have to see, how I can make this happen for myself this year. I can tell you that I don't spend much on other things.

To me everyone is different. Do what you can afford. I would not ever go into debt over a vacation. This is just my opinion.

regards.

I was able to get a 10 night cruise and rt air for two people for 2300.00. That's 115 pp per day. I don't think that's too bad considering it includes most everything. My DIL thinks that Disney is the BEST value around...Somehow I can't warrant spending four grand for two people for 7 nights, not including your food or airfare and spending your time waiting for bus' to take you around to the parks and not even including food, except, if by chance you can get the dining included. But spending 8 to 12 hours a day on my feet in the heat can't even come close to a relaxing balcony with the sea breeze and a cocktail.

On the January cruise, we were in an ocean view with the large window over the bed. I loved that window, so cool! This time, we are in a balcony, but I was not looking for a balcony, but was told it would actually be $20.00 cheaper per person to do the balcony over the ocean view. So balcony it was :-)

Wow...just wow wow wow. I would have definitely taken the balcony room too :).

I do have to say that I am NOT a cruise expert so I could definitely be missing something here but I have got to believe something went terribly wrong when you called because I just do not see how it is possible that an ocean view on a 7 day escape sailing in October was $1300 pp - that is just completely crazy. And I was watching this Oct escape sailings from about 1.5 years ago until probably 6 month ago.

Also, again I am absolutely NOT a cruse expert or a travel agent and I have never done this but after looking at the prices on the website and I am thinking you should call them and find out how much it would be to cancel and rebook. I think even if you lose your deposit which I think would have been $250 (you are just over the 45 days out), and you could cancel, rebook, and save money. If you are on the Oct 14th sailing it might not work because those prices are higher but on all the others...the prices are that much cheaper right now and they have a "tax free" special so I think if you went down to an Ocean view you would save like $700-800 and if you stayed in a balcony you would still save a couple hundred. They may even just give you some OBC or something due to the pricing and specials difference without much hassle or needing to cancel - calling doesn't cost but a small amount of time... I would sure the heck try :). Good luck!!!!

Wow...just wow wow wow. I would have definitely taken the balcony room too :).

 

I do have to say that I am NOT a cruise expert so I could definitely be missing something here but I have got to believe something went terribly wrong when you called because I just do not see how it is possible that an ocean view on a 7 day escape sailing in October was $1300 pp - that is just completely crazy. And I was watching this Oct escape sailings from about 1.5 years ago until probably 6 month ago.

 

Also, again I am absolutely NOT a cruse expert or a travel agent and I have never done this but after looking at the prices on the website and I am thinking you should call them and find out how much it would be to cancel and rebook. I think even if you lose your deposit which I think would have been $250 (you are just over the 45 days out), and you could cancel, rebook, and save money. If you are on the Oct 14th sailing it might not work because those prices are higher but on all the others...the prices are that much cheaper right now and they have a "tax free" special so I think if you went down to an Ocean view you would save like $700-800 and if you stayed in a balcony you would still save a couple hundred. They may even just give you some OBC or something due to the pricing and specials difference without much hassle or needing to cancel - calling doesn't cost but a small amount of time... I would sure the heck try :). Good luck!!!!

Thanks for taking the time for this reply! Funny, I AM on the 10/14 sailing. Why is that one so high?!? This will definitely be our most expensive vacation EVER, and we have been on some really nice vacations. Oh well, I am really looking forward to it. It's just funny, I hear people say all the time, "Cruises are so cheap!" Ummmm....not the NCL cruises I have taken/will be taking, ha! I am leaving my DH in the dark on how much this one is, he would die if he knew what it was up to including excursions, etc. I never lie about it, but if he doesn't ask, I don't share, ha! Sometimes I just say trust me, it's all good. And we always have GREAT vacations.

I think a lot of people have an October fall break... we went to Disney World one year the week of Columbus Day, and it was inexplicably packed. That might be why your October sailing costs so much. A lot also depends on how full the ship is when you book. Maybe that week is popular with people from other countries (Brazil, England, etc.) due to when they traditionally go on holiday.