One of the questions we hear most often is "how much will a cruise vacation cost my family?"
The answer to that question is not an easy one due to so many variables that exist when considering a cruise adventure for your family. Some things to consider as you begin planning and that go into overall pricing:Â
How many in your travel party?
When do you want to sail?
How many nights would you like to sail?
Which stateroom and category are you interested in?Â
Will your family need more than one stateroom?
How far out are you from your proposed travel dates?
Do you want to add travel insurance to your package?
As you consider all the different components that go into cruise pricing you can begin to see how pricing can vary from one family to the next. So, what’s a person to do?
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When you choose to work with a travel professional that specializes in cruise vacations, they can assist you in selecting the right itinerary, length of sailing, and stateroom for your needs, wishes, and budget. We'll ask about the potential for motion sickness, special accommodations you might need, and other preferences that impact your experience (location on ship, dining, and more).
Another question we hear is why is the pricing you give so different than what I saw online on the cruise line website? Most often, folks are looking at the base starting rate for a stateroom or cabin. Sometimes, taxes and port fees are not included in the rate until you progress a few more steps into the pricing process. When a cruise line shares a starting rate on their website, that means you are usually looking at the lowest priced room option. An inside (or interior) stateroom will cost less than a stateroom with an ocean view. And an ocean view stateroom will cost less than a stateroom with a balcony, or verandah. Stateroom pricing is impacted by type of stateroom and location on the ship.
As you can see, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to pricing for cruise vacations. Make sure you are watching for these things when booking a cruise, or make your life easier and work with a travel advisor who can help navigate the waters.