Myth #3: Cruises are too expensive
Let’s talk about one of the biggest myths I hear: “Cruises are too expensive.”
At first glance, I get it. You see ads with gleaming mega-ships, Broadway-style shows, and endless food, and your brain says: Yikes, that must cost a fortune. But here’s the truth—when you stack up everything that’s included, cruising often turns out to be one of the best vacation values out there.
So let’s break this myth wide open and look at why cruising is for anyone who loves travel, fun, and a good deal.
What’s Really Included in Your Cruise Fare
Unlike a land vacation where you’re constantly swiping your credit card for meals, Ubers, entertainment, and activities, your cruise fare bundles a ton of those things together. Think about what you get just by booking your cabin:
Accommodations: A comfortable stateroom with daily housekeeping and the little details handled so you can focus on fun. Suites often include extra perks, but even standard cabins give you service that feels like vacation luxury.
Dining: Meals are included—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between. On most ships you can eat 24/7 without ever paying extra.
Entertainment: Broadway-style shows, live music, comedians, trivia nights, dance parties, karaoke, movies under the stars—it’s all part of the deal.
Transportation: Your floating hotel takes you from island to island or city to city without extra train, flight, or ferry tickets. You unpack once and your “resort” moves with you.
Pools and activities: From pools, water slides, hot tubs, and surf simulators to rock-climbing walls, dance classes, and pickleball, there’s always something happening that doesn’t cost an extra dime.
When you add all that up, the price per day often comes out far less than booking a comparable land trip with hotels, restaurants, and activities.
Something for Every Budget
Not all cruises are created equal, and that’s a good thing. You can tailor your experience to fit your wallet.
Inside cabins are the most affordable and still give you access to everything onboard. You’ll spend most of your time exploring the ship or ports anyway, not sitting in your room.
Oceanview and balcony cabins cost more but give you fresh air and views right outside your door. Worth it for Alaska or anywhere scenic.
Suites are a splurge, yes—but if you want luxury, it’s still often cheaper than booking a high-end resort on land.
Plus, cruise lengths vary. A three-night Bahamas cruise can be as affordable as a long weekend at a decent hotel, while seven-night sailings spread the cost over more days (and more included experiences).
Cruises vs. All-Inclusive Resorts
A lot of people compare cruises to all-inclusive resorts, and it’s a fair match-up—they both include your accommodations, meals, drinks (sometimes), and entertainment in one price. But here’s the kicker: cruises usually give you more variety for less money.
At an all-inclusive, you’re staying in one place. Beautiful, yes, but still one resort. On a cruise, your ship is both your hotel and your transportation, letting you wake up in a brand-new destination each morning. Why stick to one beach when you could zipline through the trees in Roatán, shop and snorkel in Cozumel, and sip a margarita by the sea in Costa Maya—all in the same week?
And while resorts often include nightly shows or beach games, cruise entertainment runs the gamut—from Broadway-caliber productions to comedy clubs, live music, pool parties, and movies under the stars. You get the feel of an all-inclusive, but on a floating resort that moves with you.
Compare It to Land Vacations
Here’s a fun exercise: Imagine booking a week-long Caribbean getaway on land. You’d be covering seven nights at a hotel or resort, paying for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, adding in nightly entertainment, and lining up daily activities to keep you busy—things like fitness classes, guided tours, live music, or cultural experiences.
Not only are all those things an extra cost on land, but you also have to go to the trouble of finding them, planning them, and booking them yourself. On a cruise, it’s all wrapped into one neat fare—meals, entertainment, activities, and your stateroom—so when you add it up, the value speaks for itself. Even with gratuities or a splurge on specialty dining or cocktails, cruising is often less expensive—and far less hassle—than piecing it all together on land.
Extras Are Optional
Let’s be honest: it’s easy to spend more money on a cruise if you want to—specialty dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, cocktails with umbrellas, the works. But here’s the secret: you don’t have to.
You could spend a whole week on a ship, enjoy delicious included meals, take in nightly shows, join activities, and relax by the pool without ever opening your wallet after you board. It’s all about what you choose. That kind of control makes cruising flexible for any budget.
Timing Is Everything
If you’re looking for even more savings, the time of year you sail matters. Off-peak seasons—like September in the Caribbean or May in Alaska—often mean lower fares and fewer crowds. Shoulder seasons are your friend.
Holiday weeks and summer breaks will cost more, just like flights and resorts do. But if you’re flexible, you can find gems of itineraries at surprisingly low prices.
The Big Picture
So, are cruises expensive? They can be, if you book a suite during peak holiday week and tack on every possible extra. But they don’t have to be.
For most travelers, cruising is actually one of the most budget-friendly ways to see the world—because it combines accommodations, dining, entertainment, and transportation into one neat package. That’s value you won’t find just anywhere.
Final Thought
The myth that cruises are expensive is one of my favorites to bust, because it usually ends with people being pleasantly surprised. Whether you’re watching Broadway-caliber shows, sipping coffee on your balcony, or exploring a new port every morning, you’re getting so much more than just a vacation—you’re getting an incredible bang for your buck.
The next time that myth pops up, remember: cruising isn’t about spending more, it’s about getting more for what you spend.