What Are the Direct and Indirect Costs of Taking a Cruise

Cruising is one of the last great bargains today. Although you might see ads for ultra luxury cruising in fashion and lifestyle magazines, “mass market cruising” can be very reasonable. When you have time on your hands and consider “sailing soon savings” it is hard to come up with a reason not to get packed and go. The cruise fare is only part of the expense. What are the other components?

Let us look at the various costs associated with getting away on a cruise.

The cruise fare. (Direct cost) You book a cruise through your travel agent. You might pay in scheduled installments, but this adds up to a basic number. We sometimes think “That’s the cost of the cruise.” But there is more …
Airfare to and from the ship. (Direct cost) If you live in New York and the ship sails from Lisbon, you must get to Lisbon. This means flying back and forth from your home city airport. The airfare is a cost. You can eliminate it if your city is a homeport and you sail to and from your town.
Hotel the night before sailing. (Direct cost) If you are sailing from Lisbon, you do not want to fly into Lisbon the morning your ship sails. What happens if your flight is delayed or cancelled? You arrive a day early and stay overnight. The hotel stay is a cost.
Getting to the ship or airport. (Indirect cost) If you sail from your city, this might be a taxi or Uber ride. The same holds if you are flying and need to get to the airport. If you drive yourself and park for the duration of your cruise, you have parking fees. Getting to your cruise has a transportation cost.
Airport to ship transfers. (Indirect cost) You flew to Lisbon. You stayed at an airport hotel because they have airport shuttles. Now you need to get to the ship. You book the cruise line’s transfer or get a taxi.
Overseas health insurance. (Indirect cost) Some people might skip it. Bad move. Once you leave USA you leave your health insurance behind. Ask your Travel Agent. The cruise line sells policies or you can buy online. It’s a cost you don’t expect and the best result is you don’t need to use it.
Visas to visit foreign countries. (Indirect cost) There are many countries requiring you to get a visa before you can enter the country. It might be simple to apply online, but there is a cost.
Your onboard spending. (Direct cost) There are expenses and there are packages. Your ship charges for cocktails, but you can buy a drinks package. They have alternative dining options, but these restaurants come at a cost. There are packages for this too. For us, it is rare to sail for a week and leave the ship with a stateroom bill under $1,000.
Purchases. (Indirect cost). You might make duty free liquor purchases onboard. You might buy jewelry or artwork. You might go shopping in port. This is controllable, but it is still an expense.
Shore excursions. (Indirect cost) You book a tour. Maybe one in each port. It makes more sense than exploring on your own, unless you rent a car. This can add up.
Tipping the staff. (indirect cost) This is often billed automatically to your stateroom account. On some cruise lines, tipping is included in your fare. You will still be tipping porters and taxi drivers.
Internet access. (indirect cost) You can survive a week without the Internet, but many people don’t want to find out. The ship will offer packages. Generally speaking, they are not cheap. The alternative is heading to Starbucks or McDonalds when you get into port.
Extending your stay. (Indirect cost) If this is the vacation of a lifetime, you might choose to stay several nights in the city where your cruise originates or concludes. Who would not want to spend a few extra nights in Paris?
Gambling.(Indirect cost) Are you a gambler? Some people enjoy an evening in the casino. If this describes you, a helpful reminder is that the house usually wins. You might gamble at a casino in a port too.

When you consider a cruise as a vacation option, it makes sense to consider all the costs.

Editor’s Notes:

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