While sea passenger transport almost became obsolete in modern times due to air travel, one thing remains steady in terms of marine-related activities – cruising. While this may sound like something just for the rich and famous, it’s definitely not.
How much does the world cruise cost exactly, and what can you do to minimize the cost if you are working on a budget? Please read on.
World Cruise Cost Estimation
The average cost of a world cruise per day ranges from $150 to $220. However, this could be higher depending on the specific ship, cabin type, and length of travel, among other factors.
If you are taking Royal Caribbean, a world cruise cost that will last 274 days starts at $61,000 (around $223 per day) per person and is set to sail in 2023. The cost entitles the guest to an interior stateroom and increases to $65,000 (around $237 per day) for an oceanview stateroom.
On the other hand, if you want a more luxurious stay, you can book a balcony stateroom for $79,000 (around $288 per day), while for $112,000 (around $409 per day) per person, you will get to enjoy a junior suite.
What are Included?
Just when you thought that a world cruise, or any other cruise for that matter, was an all-inclusive voyage, think again. While it is true for a few luxury cruise liners, it is certainly not true for the rest.
World cruise prices typically include the cabin, meals and snacks, entertainment, sports and fitness activities, among others, which should be clearly outlined for you from the get-go.
On the other hand, you should set aside an extra budget for all the side elements of the cruise because they will be charged separately. Below are some of them:
- Wines and spirits – wine and other alcoholic drinks are typically not included in the cruise fare, so you will be spending extra for a booze fix. Bringing some onboard for consumption is not allowed. However, some ships allow them, but you need to prepare for a corkage fee.
- Shore excursions – these are side trips via bus tours or guided walking that include shopping, dining, or even several adventures like zip-lining and snorkeling, among others.
- Spa treatments – since a world cruise would entail months of being inside the four corners of the ship, you will need some pampering to loosen those muscles and joints. But, mind you, you will need an extra budget for those.
- Alternative restaurants – because world cruise takes longer than most country-specific cruises, you might get tired of the food being served by the ship and want to taste something different from time to time. Please take note, though that these might be extremely expensive since they are specialty restaurants and also due to monopoly.
Factors Affecting the Cost of World Cruise
When choosing a world cruise that suits your budget and preferences, you need to consider the following factors:
- Cruise line or company
The reputation of the cruise line or the company that operates the world cruise has a huge impact on the cost you have to pay. Those that are widely known to give the best service often charge the highest price.
- Specific ship
Choosing a specific ship contributes to the overall experience. For example, choosing the ship based on size will give you an idea of the number of passengers you will be sharing the trip with. The size will also determine whether or not there are enough amenities and entertainment onboard.
- Cruise date
The specific date of travel plays a crucial part not only in the overall experience but also in the cost of the cruise itself. This mainly depends on the cruise’s itinerary.
- Type of cabin
The type of cabin on a cruise takes up a huge chunk of the price of the trip. Of course, it will be a major consideration when planning a trip as you are after comfort, satisfaction, and enjoyment, which are basically your ultimate goals for the trip.
However, if you are working on a budget, you can save a lot of money by choosing a cheaper cabin to stay at. These cabins may be cheap, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. Perhaps just fewer amenities, but you should be fine.
- Cruise duration
Typically, the longer the cruise, the cheaper the cost per day becomes. This is because some of the overhead costs of the cruise tend to be spread out in proportion to the trip’s duration up to a certain extent.
How to Find a Cruise That Suits You
Planning for the perfect world cruise isn’t that hard for people with money being out of the question. You can even just tap a person or travel agency to arrange things for you.
However, if you are going to work on a budget but don’t want to compromise on the experience, the following list should help you figure out the most affordable yet still perfect cruise for you:
- Your preferences: Different cruise lines are built to suit patrons’ different lifestyles and preferences. This may not have anything to do with what people can afford, but what type of activities and adventures they want to experience. Some of the choices include adventure cruises, over-18 cruises, family cruises, luxury cruises, among others.
- Your finances: world cruises are also classified based on people’s spending power. There are basically three categories under this, and they are the mainstream, premium, and luxury cruises. You should be able to identify what you can afford.
- Your Timing: Cruise ships’ busiest booking periods are from January to March every year. It is around this time that they make over 35% of their annual income. Surprisingly, there isn’t much difference in the price of a world cruise regardless of the month you want to travel. However, these world cruises are often divided into segments, and there are itineraries that will vary in price based on the season.
- Inclusions: As mentioned, not everything is included in the cruise cost. That is why it is important to research first if your target activities, food and drinks, side trips, and others are included. This way, you can decide if you are willing to spend extra on them or just look for another cruise that will cater to your preferences at no additional cost.