Caribbean Cruise Cost

• Three- to five-day Caribbean cruises from Florida cost about $180 -$700 per person, double occupancy in an interior room, depending on trip length, cruise line and sailing date. Upgrade to an ocean view for $400 -$780, balcony $325 -$900 or suite $750 -$1,200. Cruise prices are typically higher during the holiday season and Spring Break. Celebrity Cruises offers a four-night Western Caribbean adventure to Cozumel, Mexico starting at $350, per person for an interior room, while a similar-sized room on Carnival to Cozumel, will cost about $180 -$550, depending on sailing date.
• Caribbean cruises sailing 7-10 nights cost $550 -$1,200 for an interior room, depending on trip length, sailing date and cruise line. Upgrading to an ocean view will cost about $700 -$1,400, a balcony room $900 -$1,500, or a suite $1,500 -$4,400. For example, Royal Caribbean offers a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise in an interior room from $590 -$1,170, depending on sailing date, while Disney Cruise Line operates an eight-night Western Caribbean cruise out of Texas for about $1,100 per person, double occupancy, that sails to Key West, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel.
• Longer 11-14-day cruises cost about $1,100 -$1,800 for an interior room, depending on sailing date, cruise line and trip length. Upgraded room prices vary from $1,300 -$2,050 for an ocean view, $1,400 -$2,200 balcony or $2,800 -$4,500 for a suite. For example, Holland America offers a 14-day Southern Caribbean cruise starting at about $1,500 and includes stops at Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, St. John's, St. Lucia, Curacao, Aruba and Grand Cayman.
• All-inclusive cruises on luxury lines may cost about $3,700 for an interior room, up to about $40,000 for a penthouse suite, per person, double occupancy for 14- or 15-day adventures, depending on sailing date, choice of stateroom and cruise line. The two-week period covering Christmas and New Years typically costs the most. For example, Crystal Cruises offers a two-week trip over the holidays that costs about $7,000 -$39,000, depending on choice of stateroom and booking date, while Seabourn operates a 14-day cruise from $5,000 -$7,400, per person, double occupancy, depending on choice of stateroom and cruise date. Unlike many of the less expensive trips, the all-inclusive cruises typically include an open bar, selected complimentary onboard activities from piano to golf lessons, shore excursions and gratuities.

• All onboard meals and entertainment are typically included.
• Western Caribbean cruise ports of call may include Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras, Belize or Grand Cayman.
• Southern Caribbean cruises may include stops in Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Kitt's, Aruba, Curacao and Barbados.
• Eastern Caribbean ports of call may include Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maartan.

• Alcoholic beverages are typically not included. Expect to pay about $5 -$7 for beer, $6 -$11 for wine and $4 -$10 for cocktails. Ask about "drinks of the day" and any early-bird specials purchased before noon. A bar bill will be delivered to the stateroom on the last evening of the cruise with a 15% gratuity attached.
• Tipping may be prepaid at a slight discount. Some cruise lines automatically bill the passenger's account for a set tip amount, either daily or on the last day of the cruise. Otherwise, tipping envelopes are either left in the stateroom during the last evening or may be picked up at the purser's desk. Expect to pay about $10-$12 per person, per day.
• Shore excursions vary by location and desired activity level from swimming with dolphins ($80 -$250), golf ($80 -$150) or snorkeling ($30 -$35) to guided island tours ($75 -$150).
• Single cruisers typically pay supplemental fees of up to double on most cruise lines for a single occupancy cabin, or may choose to be assigned to another solo traveler to receive the double-occupancy rate.

• Early booking discounts of 10%-15% are typically available, for a savings of about $20 -$120, per person in an interior room, depending on cruise line. Ask if the savings come off the ticket price or are available in onboard credits.

• Check with CruiseReviews.com or CruiseCritic.com to locate cruises and read about other travelers' experiences.

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