Cruise guides

Honest cruise-cost analysis from a former Purser’s Office staff member. Browse the sections below, or search and filter the full list.

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Topic Type Cruise line

Cruise line guides

14 guides

What each line includes, what costs extra, and whether bundles are worth it.

Cruise line guides · Azamara Azamara review: cruising before it was dumbed down What Azamara's all-inclusive fare really covers — drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, dining and port shuttles — what it doesn't, and who this small-ship line is actually for… 13 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate an Azamara cruise

Cruise line guides · Carnival Carnival cruise pricing explained: what's included & what's extra Carnival's base fare is fully unbundled — gratuities ($17/person/night), drinks, and Wi-Fi are all separate. Here's exactly what's included, how the Cheers!… 15 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Carnival cruise

Cruise line guides · Celebrity Celebrity All Included: what's covered, what's not, and whether it's worth it Celebrity All Included bundles a Classic Drinks Package and Basic Wi-Fi — but not gratuities, specialty dining, or Premium Wi-Fi. On one November 2026 Caribbean… 12 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Celebrity cruise

Cruise line guides · Celebrity Celebrity gratuities 2026 — what you pay after July's rise Celebrity's daily gratuity is $19.50 a night, $20.50 in Concierge and AquaClass, $24.50 in The Retreat — plus 20% on everything else you buy. 4 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Celebrity cruise

Cruise line guides · Cunard Cunard drinks package & gratuities 2026: is it worth it? Cunard gratuities in 2026: the daily Hotel & Dining service charge, the 18% bar charge, the Beverage Collection break-even, and how Cunard compares with Princess… 12 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Cunard cruise

Cruise line guides · Holland America Holland America Have It All: what's included and whether it's worth it Holland America's Have It All costs $60 per person per day and bundles drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursion credit. Three catches are worth knowing… 10 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Holland America cruise

Cruise line guides · Disney Is Disney Cruise Line worth it? What it actually costs Disney Cruise Line costs $8,900–13,500 for a family of four. We break down exactly what's included, what isn't, and who the premium actually makes sense for. 14 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate a Disney cruise

Cruise line guides · Princess Is Princess Plus worth it? What the bundle really costs Princess Plus is $65 a day, and $18 of that is crew appreciation you'd owe anyway. A former cruise ship Purser's Office staff member does the math on what's left — and when to skip it. 9 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Princess cruise

Cruise line guides · MSC MSC Cruises: why the fares look cheap, and what happens next MSC fares look low. But once you add drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, the gap closes fast. A former cruise ship Purser's Office staff member explains what's actually… 17 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate an MSC cruise

Cruise line guides · Norwegian (NCL) NCL Free At Sea: what's actually free? We did the math. NCL markets Free at Sea as five free perks. It's really four — and a mandatory service charge means it isn't quite free. A former cruise ship Purser's Office staff… 11 min · Updated July 2026 Calculate a Norwegian cruise

Cruise line guides · Princess Princess Premier: is the $35-a-day upgrade worth it? Premier costs $35 per person, per day more than Princess Plus. Every added benefit priced at real 2026 costs — including the 20% dining service charge — to show exactly when the upgrade pays off. 13 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate a Princess cruise

Cruise line guides · Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean drinks package, gratuities & Wi-Fi: costs and whether to buy The Deluxe Beverage Package costs around $88.50 per person per day all-in at the median price. Gratuities are $18.50 per person per night. Wi-Fi runs $20 per device… 11 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Royal Caribbean cruise

Cruise line guides · Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean pricing explained: what's included & what's extra Royal Caribbean's base fare covers Broadway shows, kids' club, and main dining. Gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, and specialty restaurants are extra — typically $400–600… 10 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Royal Caribbean cruise

Cruise line guides · Virgin Voyages Virgin Voyages pricing explained: simpler — but actually cheaper? What Virgin Voyages really costs: Bar Tab, gratuities, specialty dining, and when its simpler pricing actually beats rival cruise lines. 13 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate a Virgin Voyages cruise

Cruise costs

14 guides

Drinks, Wi‑Fi, gratuities, packages, and the real total beyond the fare.

Cruise costs Are cruise drink packages worth it? Forget the break-even sum — it comes down to sea days, the both-adults rule and what you actually drink, compared across every line. 16 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Cruise gratuities, explained That daily "gratuity" behaves less like a tip and more like crew pay. What every line charges in 2026, and whether you can remove it. 12 min · Updated September 2026

Cruise costs Cruise room service: what's included, what's now a fee Room service is still free on some lines and a paid extra on others — what every major line charges in 2026, and why a suite no longer guarantees it. 8 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Cruise ship Wi-Fi: what it costs, what works, and whether you need it What Wi-Fi costs in 2026 on every major line, what the connection can really do, and when an eSIM is cheaper. 18 min · Updated August 2026

Cruise costs Cruise shore excursions: when paying more is the cheapest choice Ship tour or independent? Price is only one cost — getting back to the ship on time is the one most cruisers ignore. 19 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Cruise suite enclave vs balcony: is the “ship within a ship” worth 2–3.5x? The Haven, Yacht Club, Retreat, Star Class and Cunard Grills cost two to three-and-a-half times a balcony. A bigger stateroom is the smallest part of what you pay… 18 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Cruising with a wheelchair: what's free and what you'll pay Accessible staterooms cost no more than standard ones, and boarding help is free — but equipment rental, tender ports and a caregiver's second fare are the costs that reshape the budget. 12 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Does your travel insurance actually cover a cruise? What U.S. cruisers need to know Cruise travel insurance for U.S. cruisers: what Medicare won't cover abroad, how much medical and evacuation cover you need, and when to buy. 13 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Does your travel insurance cover a cruise? What Australians need to know Cruise travel insurance for Australians: why a standard policy can leave you exposed at sea, and what Medicare and reciprocal agreements won't cover. 21 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Does your travel insurance cover a cruise? What Canadians need to know Cruise travel insurance for Canadians: why your provincial plan and credit card won't cover a medical emergency at sea, and what to check before you sail. 13 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Premium cruise drinks packages, decoded: Azamara, Viking, Oceania & Windstar What's actually free on Azamara, Viking Ocean, Oceania and Windstar — and what Silver Spirits, Prestige Select and the beverage upgrades really cost. An independent… 9 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Seven charges they count on you not to add up The headline fare is real. What it leaves out is where the money goes — and what a $599 cruise actually costs before you board. 10 min · Updated August 2026

Cruise costs What actually happens if you get sick or hurt on a cruise What a cruise ship medical center can and can't do, what it costs, when you're taken off the ship, and how a claim works, from a former Purser's Office insider. 7 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise costs Why cruisers consistently overspend onboard — and what to do about it Ships are designed to make spending feel effortless. A former cruise ship Purser's Office staff member explains what's actually happening onboard — and how to stay in… 6 min · Updated August 2026

Port guides

4 guides

Independent port planning: what to book, what to do yourself, and how to return on time.

Port guides Bergen cruise port — walk the free old town, book the funicular online Bergen is an easy cruise port to do yourself: ships dock 10–15 min from Bryggen. Book the Fløibanen funicular online and pick the right fjord trip. Checked July 2026. 12 min · Checked July 2026

Port guides Flåm cruise port — book the railway direct, and early Flåm is an easy cruise port: you dock in the village and the Flåm Railway is a 2–3 minute walk. Book the train direct and early — it sells out on cruise days. Checked… 9 min · Checked July 2026

Port guides Geiranger cruise port — where the best view is from your deck Geiranger is a tender port with a SeaWalk where the best view — the sail in past the Seven Sisters — is the one from your own deck. A plain-English guide to which… 11 min · Checked July 2026

Port guides Oslo cruise port — the best sights are free, so skip the city tour Your Oslo cruise port guide: the best sights are free and walkable, so you rarely need the ship's excursion. What to do, what to skip, and how to get around. Checked… 13 min · Checked July 2026

Tools & reference

3 guides

Practical tools and reference material for comparing cruise costs.

Tools & reference Onboard Cost Index — what a week on board adds to the fare A dated, versioned edition: what seven nights adds for two guests on each line — gratuities charged automatically, Wi-Fi and drinks packages, each in the line's own currency. Reference

Tools & reference Onboard cost reference — what every line charges beyond the fare Gratuities, Wi-Fi, drinks packages and specialty dining side by side — what every major line charges beyond the fare. Reference

Tools & reference What changed — cruise price changes and data updates Every figure and rule we have changed since July 2026, the date we read it from the line's own page, and what it cost or saved the reader. Reference

Solo cruising

8 guides

Practical costs, savings, and confidence for cruising alone.

Solo cruising What solo cruising really costs — and why you pay extra to travel alone As a solo cruiser you’ll usually pay close to double the per-person fare — the single supplement — plus extras priced for two. Where the money goes, and the cleanest… 11 min · Updated August 2026

Solo cruising How to beat the single supplement: a solo cruiser’s savings playbook You usually can’t avoid the cruise single supplement — but you can shrink it. Five proven ways solo travelers cut costs: solo staterooms, promotions, timing and loyalty. 9 min · Updated August 2026

Solo cruising The part of solo cruising nobody talks about — is it lonely? Thinking about a solo cruise? Why loneliness is a common fear for first-time solo cruisers, why those fears are normal, and what usually happens once you’re onboard. 6 min

Solo cruising What happens during your first solo cruise? The first two days of a solo cruise can feel awkward or uncertain. Why that’s normal, what usually happens next, and why many solo cruisers feel completely different… 7 min

Solo cruising How to choose the best cruise for solo travelers Choosing the right cruise isn’t just about price or itinerary. How guest demographics, cruise line culture and onboard atmosphere shape the solo cruise experience. 7 min

Solo cruising Dining solo on a cruise: how to feel at home at dinner Dinner is the easiest way to feel at home when you cruise solo. Why fixed dining builds familiarity with no effort — and how to recreate it if your ship only offers… 6 min

Solo cruising Can you enjoy a cruise alone? Many travelers worry they’ll feel lonely on a solo cruise. Why being alone and being lonely are not the same thing — and why many solo cruisers keep coming back. 6 min

Solo cruising Solo cruise dining: fixed vs flexible vs specialty A solo cruiser's guide to dining: how fixed, flexible and specialty seating compare for meeting people, control and cost — plus which cruise lines still offer fixed… 6 min · Updated August 2026

Start here

The three guides most readers open first.

Cruise Costs12 min · Updated July 2026

Are cruise drink packages worth it?

Forget the break-even sum — it comes down to sea days, the both-adults rule and what you actually drink, compared across every line.

Read the guide → Start an estimate

Cruise Costs8 min · Updated September 2026

Cruise gratuities, explained

That daily "gratuity" behaves less like a tip and more like crew pay. What every line charges in 2026, and whether you can remove it.

Read the guide → Start an estimate

Cruise Costs8 min · Updated August 2026

Seven charges they count on you not to add up

The headline fare is real. What it leaves out is where the money goes — and what a $599 cruise actually costs before you board.

Read the analysis → Start an estimate

Understanding cruise costs 11 guides + tool

How onboard spending adds up — and how to keep it in check.

Cruise shore excursions: when paying more is the cheapest choice 10 min · Updated July 2026 The Excursion Score — ship tour or do it yourself, scored for your port Tool · Interactive Why cruisers consistently overspend onboard — and what to do about it 5 min · Updated August 2026 Premium cruise drinks packages, decoded: Azamara, Viking, Oceania & Windstar 8 min · Updated July 2026 Cruise ship Wi-Fi: what it costs, what works, and whether you need it 19 min · Updated August 2026 Cruise room service: what’s included, what’s now a fee 7 min · Updated July 2026 Cruise suite enclave vs balcony: is the “ship within a ship” worth 2–3.5x? 12 min · Updated July 2026 Does your travel insurance actually cover a cruise? What U.S. cruisers need to know 12 min · Updated July 2026 Does your travel insurance cover a cruise? What Australians need to know 15 min · Updated July 2026 Does your travel insurance cover a cruise? What Canadians need to know 15 min · Updated July 2026 What actually happens if you get sick or hurt on a cruise 8 min · Updated July 2026 Cruising with a wheelchair: what’s free and what you’ll pay 9 min · Updated July 2026

Cruise line guides 14 guides

What each line includes, what costs extra, and whether the bundles are worth it. Filter by line:

AzamaraAzamara review: cruising before it was dumbed down 13 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate an Azamara cruise

CarnivalCarnival cruise pricing explained: what's included & what's extra 15 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Carnival cruise

CelebrityCelebrity gratuities 2026: what you pay after July’s rise 4 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Celebrity cruise

CelebrityCelebrity All Included: what's covered, what's not, and whether it's worth it 12 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Celebrity cruise

CunardCunard drinks package & gratuities 2026: is it worth it? 12 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Cunard cruise

DisneyIs Disney Cruise Line worth it? What it actually costs 14 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate a Disney cruise

Holland AmericaHolland America Have It All: what's included and whether it's worth it 10 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Holland America cruise

MSCMSC Cruises: why the fares look cheap, and what happens next 17 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate an MSC cruise

Norwegian (NCL)NCL Free At Sea: what's actually free? We did the math. 11 min · Updated July 2026 Calculate a Norwegian cruise

PrincessIs Princess Plus worth it? What the bundle really costs 9 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Princess cruise

PrincessPrincess Premier: is the $35-a-day upgrade worth it? 13 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate a Princess cruise

Royal CaribbeanRoyal Caribbean pricing explained: what's included & what's extra 10 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Royal Caribbean cruise

Royal CaribbeanRoyal Caribbean drinks package, gratuities & Wi-Fi: costs and whether to buy 11 min · Updated September 2026 Calculate a Royal Caribbean cruise

Virgin VoyagesVirgin Voyages pricing explained: simpler — but actually cheaper? 13 min · Updated August 2026 Calculate a Virgin Voyages cruise

Solo cruising 7 guides

What it costs to sail alone, how to pay less — and a five-part Confidence Series on actually enjoying it. The series reads best in order.

Solo costs · PillarWhat solo cruising really costs — and why you pay extra to travel alone 11 min · Updated August 2026 Start an estimate

Solo costs · PlaybookHow to beat the single supplement: a solo cruiser’s savings playbook 9 min · Updated August 2026 Start an estimate

Confidence Series · Part 1The part of solo cruising nobody talks about — is it lonely? 6 min Confidence Series · Part 2What happens during your first solo cruise? 6 min Confidence Series · Part 3How to choose the best cruise for solo travelers 6 min Confidence Series · Part 4Dining solo on a cruise: how to feel at home at dinner 6 min Confidence Series · Part 5Can you enjoy a cruise alone? 6 min Solo cruising · GuideSolo cruise dining: fixed vs flexible vs specialty 7 min · Updated August 2026

Port guides 4 guides

Independent planning guides for cruise ports: which sights to do yourself, which need the ship’s tour, and how to be sure you make it back aboard. No affiliate links.

Norway · Port guideBergen cruise port — walk the free old town, book the funicular online Checked Jul 2026 Norway · Port guideFlåm cruise port — book the railway direct, and early Checked Jul 2026 Norway · Port guideOslo cruise port — the best sights are free, so skip the city tour Checked Jul 2026 Norway · Port guideGeiranger cruise port — where the best view is from your deck Checked Jul 2026

Tools & reference 1 guide

Compare the real extras across every major line, side by side.

Onboard cost reference — what every line charges beyond the fare All lines →