Cost of Cruising...Let's Do the math

I'm all for saving money on cruises but I was just adding up costs the other day for a 7 day cruise. I always use a website to book my hotels when I travel and the average cost usually runs between $70-$90 per night for a double or king with continental or almost complete breakfast. Using an $80 average that's $560 for 7 days, Since breakfast is included . lets add up what lunch costs for 2 at McDonalds ($5 x 2 =$10)or Panera ( $8 for a meal + $1.75 for a medium drink= $9.75 x 2 = $19.50) So we have an average of $15/ day for lunch or $105 for 7 days. Dinner at Applebees for 2 on special = $20 + $5 for non alcoholic drinks = $25. Dinner at a good Seafood or Steak house here in SW FL costs $50 -$75, so lets use an aggregate average of $50 for this or $350. We must not forget that it takes gas in the car to get there so lets just say 1 tank of gas for the week at $50.

So the totals are:

Hotel $560.00

Lunch $105.00

Dinner $350.00

Trans $50.00

TOTAL$1065.00

So if one would save up just over $20/ week the basic cost of a 7 day cruise inside cabin found on any of the websites we all use for finding deals would be paid for. All the extras are just that "extras"! I am sure we all have done the math so i'm just sayin " It just takes a little more to go first class so upgrades and shore excursions and drinks can be justified when you are planning your cruise where your hotel travels to so many wonderful ports of call and you don't have to unpack!

IAHAWKIZE A member of:

FRITOS BANDITOS CC Group

LOL at comparing a cruise lunch and dinner with McD's and Appleby's. Good steak dinner for two $50? Whaattt??? 10yrs ago at Sanibel Steakhouse my steak was $38!!

OP,

You are definitely comaring apples and oranges. Micky D and Applebees? Come on. As long as you are stacking the deck, why not stay at a dive for $29 a night and bring a case of canned ravioli. That will make the savings even more.

I'm all for saving money on cruises but I was just adding up costs the other day for a 7 day cruise. I always use a website to book my hotels when I travel and the average cost usually runs between $70-$90 per night for a double or king with continental or almost complete breakfast. Using an $80 average that's $560 for 7 days, Since breakfast is included . lets add up what lunch costs for 2 at McDonalds ($5 x 2 =$10)or Panera ( $8 for a meal + $1.75 for a medium drink= $9.75 x 2 = $19.50) So we have an average of $15/ day for lunch or $105 for 7 days. Dinner at Applebees for 2 on special = $20 + $5 for non alcoholic drinks = $25. Dinner at a good Seafood or Steak house here in SW FL costs $50 -$75, so lets use an aggregate average of $50 for this or $350. We must not forget that it takes gas in the car to get there so lets just say 1 tank of gas for the week at $50.

 

So the totals are:

Hotel $560.00

Lunch $105.00

Dinner $350.00

Trans $50.00

 

TOTAL$1065.00

 

So if one would save up just over $20/ week the basic cost of a 7 day cruise inside cabin found on any of the websites we all use for finding deals would be paid for. All the extras are just that "extras"! I am sure we all have done the math so i'm just sayin " It just takes a little more to go first class so upgrades and shore excursions and drinks can be justified when you are planning your cruise where your hotel travels to so many wonderful ports of call and you don't have to unpack!

 

IAHAWKIZE A member of:

FRITOS BANDITOS CC Group

LOL at comparing a cruise lunch and dinner with McD's and Appleby's. Good steak dinner for two $50? Whaattt??? 10yrs ago at Sanibel Steakhouse my steak was $38!!

OP,

You are definitely comaring apples and oranges. Micky D and Applebees? Come on. As long as you are stacking the deck, why not stay at a dive for $29 a night and bring a case of canned ravioli. That will make the savings even more.

Paul

OK OK I KNOW it's apples and oranges. This post was meant for non or first time cruisers. I wasn't comparing at all. I was just using a point of reference and I went low, very low and the price I used was an average of the high & low. My dinner for 2 last Friday at Reds on Pine Island/Matlacha ( Near Ft Myers Sanibel for those non SW Floridians reading this)was $85.00!. Typical lunch at Panera for 2 rund $20. NOTHING can really compare to the meals on the ship. But the reason for my post was to show non cruisers that Cruising CAN be relatively an inexpensive vacation and if you noticed I ALSO said "It just takes a little bit more to go first class!"which I am sure you and I both agree is the ONLY way to go. So lets bump up my lunch costs to $205 and dinners up to $550 so that increases my price comparison to $1365 for a 7 day cruise or about $98/person /day. So all people have to do to budget next years cruise is save $26/week to get there! Cut back on Starbucks lattes and lay off the Big Mack super meal and you're there.

Gee give the OP a break, I realized his numbers was on the budget end. Thanks for doing that homework.

You will have a great time. quote=iahawkize;32111693]I'm all for saving money on cruises but I was just adding up costs the other day for a 7 day cruise. I always use a website to book my hotels when I travel and the average cost usually runs between $70-$90 per night for a double or king with continental or almost complete breakfast. Using an $80 average that's $560 for 7 days, Since breakfast is included . lets add up what lunch costs for 2 at McDonalds ($5 x 2 =$10)or Panera ( $8 for a meal + $1.75 for a medium drink= $9.75 x 2 = $19.50) So we have an average of $15/ day for lunch or $105 for 7 days. Dinner at Applebees for 2 on special = $20 + $5 for non alcoholic drinks = $25. Dinner at a good Seafood or Steak house here in SW FL costs $50 -$75, so lets use an aggregate average of $50 for this or $350. We must not forget that it takes gas in the car to get there so lets just say 1 tank of gas for the week at $50.

So the totals are:

Hotel $560.00

Lunch $105.00

Dinner $350.00

Trans $50.00

TOTAL$1065.00

So if one would save up just over $20/ week the basic cost of a 7 day cruise inside cabin found on any of the websites we all use for finding deals would be paid for. All the extras are just that "extras"! I am sure we all have done the math so i'm just sayin " It just takes a little more to go first class so upgrades and shore excursions and drinks can be justified when you are planning your cruise where your hotel travels to so many wonderful ports of call and you don't have to unpack!

IAHAWKIZE A member of:

FRITOS BANDITOS CC Group

I enjoyed the comparison, especially as a financial writer helping people save money. Even if it is a simple comparison it's a good starting point.

Couple other things to consider:

1. Tickets for 2 to a Broadway Show/Entertainers $200 x 7 nights = $1,400. OK, the shows aren't as good as Broadway and realistically where are you going to get Broadway tickets for $100/person so lets discount that 50% and say $700 for 2 or $350 added into the equation for each person.

2. Consider sea days. Would you want to hang around a hotel all day? Perhaps...

I like your idea of the basic cost of a 7 day vacation.

I've a friend who spends 6 months of the year living like a king (in his mind) in Thailand for what we pay for a 2 week cruise (airfare included). It's all how you look at it.

Yes, thank you for including all the activities and "other" extras that are included in the price of a cruise. Should we mention free child care and activities if you are vacationing with the little ones? That will sure add up!

Yes, thank you for including all the activities and "other" extras that are included in the price of a cruise. Should we mention free child care and activities if you are vacationing with the little ones? That will sure add up!

It's all the extras that add up quickly!:eek::eek:

In our case you forgot a very important item.

Pet sitter at a minimum of $20 per day for a routine day. Goes up rapidly if pet gets sick while you are on vacation.

In our case you forgot a very important item.

 

Pet sitter at a minimum of $20 per day for a routine day. Goes up rapidly if pet gets sick while you are on vacation.

Hello Steamboat. Just curious. Do you need the pet sitter for both vacations or only for the hotel vacation? I've often thought how much my golden retriever would love to go with us on a cruise.

Nice if you're in S. Florida or a port location, but for many of us we have to add the cost of the flights and transfers to those prices......When I do the math, it's the cost of the flights that get me, not the cost of the cruise.

I agree that cruise are cheaper overall especially with kids who get entertained for free all day. There is the added cost of 12 pp/day that is about 330 for my 4...plus the inflated cost of coke and alcohol. Still way cheaper...but you gotta factor that into your vacation cost when you're planning your cruise. Oh and shore excursions.

OP sorry I didn't read any comments but I noticed that in your "math" you never included actually doing anything besides eating... Is that all you do on vacay lol. I would hope to do some activities on vacay as well! And what kinda car are you driving that gas for 1 week on vacay is only $50? And while I wouldn't eat at Mickey Ds while on vacay I do know that lunch for 2 would cost more than $10 prolly closer to $15-17.

I enjoyed this thread! It made me wonder, how does a stay at an all inclusive resort compare to cruising?

Someone better at math than I am feel free to chime in!

My husband and I have always stayed at Mexican all inclusives but are considering a cruise for something different :)

I enjoyed this thread! It made me wonder, how does a stay at an all inclusive resort compare to cruising?

Well, it depends on the cost (level) of the cruise and of the resort, as well as the flight costs to and from your home. And the costs of the extra drinks on the ship.

I'll often compare costs like this. And no, I don't compare like-for-like. If the alternative doesn't include broadway shows, then I'm not going to figure in the cost for those shows.

Most recent cruise we took was on Freedom of the Seas. There was another, cheaper cruise we were considering at the time (I forget what it was exactly). We were also going to be doing some Disney before and after the cruise. Well...Freedom has a character breakfast multiple mornings (3 or 4, yes I forget that too). I figured that'd be about equal to character dining at Disney (yes, different characters, but characters nevertheless). So I figured the cost for a few character dining experiences at Disney, subtracted that from the Freedom cruise, and used that figure to compare prices with the cheaper cruise. Very close...and I hadn't been on a Freedom class ship, so that's the one we booked. Had a blast.

For us, the costs are very different and the value of a cruise in an inside cabin is a no-brainer. BTW, hello from Fort Myers. :)

Hubby and I booked a 4 night cruise on the NCL Sky for our anniversary in September. While comparing costs to a land vacation, I figured at least $100 per night (closer to $120-$150) for a hotel I'd actually want to stay at and consider a "vacation", plus at least $20 for lunches and $50 for dinners. AT LEAST. I don't consider McDonalds and Applebees to be vacation worthy eateries. Maybe for a meal or two, but not the entire vacation. We figured an average of $100 a day for food. And we still haven't DONE anything. Which is fine if we are staying at a nice beach resort - but then that would run about $175-$200 a night, and you see where this all spirals downhill from here.

On a cruise for the two of us, typically, we book an inside cabin. We don't really drink. We don't use the casino. On Sea days our only expense is the daily gratuity. On port days, we usually do one "nice" excursion that might cost $40 per person (booked independently), and one day just walking around town or laying at a beach. And we find this INCREDIBLY enjoyable while spending very very little money. However, there are very few stateside hotels that I'd just walk around the area for fun. ;)

For us, the value of cruising FAR surpasses the value of a land based vacation. Plus, we enjoy it much much more. :D

I'm all for saving money on cruises but I was just adding up costs the other day for a 7 day cruise. I always use a website to book my hotels when I travel and the average cost usually runs between $70-$90 per night for a double or king with continental or almost complete breakfast. Using an $80 average that's $560 for 7 days, Since breakfast is included . lets add up what lunch costs for 2 at McDonalds ($5 x 2 =$10)or Panera ( $8 for a meal + $1.75 for a medium drink= $9.75 x 2 = $19.50) So we have an average of $15/ day for lunch or $105 for 7 days. Dinner at Applebees for 2 on special = $20 + $5 for non alcoholic drinks = $25. Dinner at a good Seafood or Steak house here in SW FL costs $50 -$75, so lets use an aggregate average of $50 for this or $350. We must not forget that it takes gas in the car to get there so lets just say 1 tank of gas for the week at $50.

 

So the totals are:

Hotel $560.00

Lunch $105.00

Dinner $350.00

Trans $50.00

 

TOTAL$1065.00

 

So if one would save up just over $20/ week the basic cost of a 7 day cruise inside cabin found on any of the websites we all use for finding deals would be paid for.

 

IAHAWKIZE A member of:

FRITOS BANDITOS CC Group

I for one like your analysis. It is an average cost idea, but that does help if you are a frugal person trying to make a comparison, So thank you.

I enjoyed this thread! It made me wonder, how does a stay at an all inclusive resort compare to cruising?

Someone better at math than I am feel free to chime in!

My husband and I have always stayed at Mexican all inclusives but are considering a cruise for something different :)

Our last stay at Sandals in Negril was about $7,000 10 nights, 2 people, including airfare, gratuities, alcohol, and excellent food. We are paying close to the same for our upcoming 12 day European cruise with airfare!

I LOVE Sandals, but nothing beats seeing Europe and many different ports of call.

OP sorry I didn't read any comments but I noticed that in your "math" you never included actually doing anything besides eating... Is that all you do on vacay lol. I would hope to do some activities on vacay as well! And what kinda car are you driving that gas for 1 week on vacay is only $50? And while I wouldn't eat at Mickey Ds while on vacay I do know that lunch for 2 would cost more than $10 prolly closer to $15-17.

For my two cents, you cannot compare. The cruise is a way better deal but a completely different experience. We did an all inclusive in Jamaica last October. The food was mediocre and the drinks were abominable. The service was nonexistent. The rooms were large, but the beach was just okay. The booze was supposed to be included but it was such a low grade. For the same money, we could have had a week on a cruise, not 4 nights. As to nightly entertainment...what nightly entertainment? There was a disco. That was it. I was sooooo bored. Rather do different ports daytime, shows and live music at night with top shelf liquor, and great service.

I have no idea where you figure $50 for gas. I don't eat at McD's. Sure we hit a grocery store now and then on car trips. But the question was about all inclusives vs cruises.

I for one like your analysis.

Did you notice it was posted TWO YEARS AGO? :D

My two sense? Cruising is not a bargain. You're in a tiny cabin, you pay for tours... You pay tips... Unless you get a fantastic deal, you can do a land vacation for the same cost. It's just a matter of what you like. If you want a quick look at a place it's great... If you wAnt to really experience a destination do it by land. I like both!

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Oops... My two cents...

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Sorry Bobbi, but the DW and I are doing 8 day Caribbean in September for $1400. A trip to the Smokey Mountains two years ago was much more expensive. 8 days motel at $115/night, room was the same size as our cabins have been onboard with the same view every morning and night. Meals for two was at least $50 each night then there was breakfast and/or lunch but not both. We went to 4 shows average $80 per show for both of us. Gas (we used our own car) $250 just while there, not counting travel from home and back. On our cruises, the room, meals, entertainment are included for the $1400 and the view changes every minute. I don't know where you vacation but T shirts and trinkets, alcohol, tours, trips and shows cost additional money beyond the room cost and hopefully you tip regardless of how your post comes across. Not to mention the people we meet on the cruises we will see again (or not as we choose), hopefully with the same agenda, that is to have fun.