Working out the true cost of two cruises

To compare two cruises fairly, put both prices on the same basis, add what each one leaves out, and then compare the totals against the length of each trip. The fare shown on a booking page is rarely the number that matters on its own, because two sailings may include different items, charge fees in different ways and differ in length, in the number of sea days and in the number of days in port.

A common error is to compare the figures in the order they appear on the booking page. The fare is the most visible number, but the terms that change the ranking are often less prominent: whether taxes are included, whether gratuities are charged per guest each day, and when the final payment falls due. Settling those points first keeps the arithmetic honest.

Put both prices on the same basis

Start with the occupancy basis. Many lines quote fares per person on double occupancy, and a solo traveler often pays a supplement on top. Check whether each quote is per person or per cabin, and whether it covers every guest you are traveling with. A quote that looks lower can be for a different number of people.

Next, compare the cabin category. Two sailings may use the same room name but differ in size, position on the ship and fittings. Note the cabin's size, its deck and whether it has a view or a balcony, so that you compare like with like. Then check the taxes and fees. Some quotes show them separately and others build them into the displayed price. Add them to both sailings using the same rule before you compare anything else.

A simple worksheet keeps the figures aligned. Give each sailing its own column, and enter the fare per guest, the taxes and fees, the transfers, the expected extras and the number of nights. Total each column. Using identical rows for both sailings makes it obvious when one of them has a blank that still needs checking.

List what each price leaves out

Write a list for each sailing of the items that the fare may not cover. Common examples include:

• Drinks and any drink package
• Gratuities and service charges
• Specialty dining
• Shore excursions
• Internet access and phone use at sea
• Transfers to and from the pier
• Flights to the departure port, which can differ between two ports
• Travel insurance, if you need it

Estimate a figure only where you know the price. Leave a blank where you do not, and find the number before you decide, rather than assuming that one sailing includes the same things as the other. A cheaper sailing from a distant departure port may cost more in total once the flight or the transfer is added, so the departure port should be part of every comparison.

Compare the cost per night

With both totals on the same basis, divide each by the number of nights to get a cost per night. This gives a rough comparison between sailings of different lengths. Count nights rather than calendar days. A seven-night cruise spans eight calendar days, and the first and last of those are partial days, so counting calendar days would understate the real cost per full day. Use the same unit for both sailings so the comparison stays consistent.

Not every extra cost scales the same way, and the per-night figure can hide that. Charges set per guest per night, such as gratuities on many lines, rise with each additional traveler and each additional night. A charge set once per cabin stays the same when a second guest joins. Sort each cost by how it scales before you divide the total, so that a per-guest charge is not treated as a fixed one.

Check the payment and cancellation terms as well. Sailings can differ in the deposit required, the date of final payment and the charges that apply to a cancellation as departure approaches. Fare types on the same ship often carry different terms too, so a lower fare may be non-refundable where a higher one is not. Those terms set how much money is at risk while you wait to decide, so a sailing with a lower total but stricter terms may be a poorer fit if your plans could change.

Be careful with per-port figures. Dividing the total by the number of ports can mislead, because port days differ in what they offer and in how much time you have ashore. A sailing with many sea days may suit a traveler who wants rest and onboard life, while one with many ports suits someone who wants to explore. Use the per-night figure to compare cost, and use the itinerary to judge the value of the days.

Weigh what a number cannot show

Some differences do not appear in any price. Consider the number of sea days, whether the ports are the ones you want to visit, the season and weather at each destination, and whether the ship's size and layout suit you. A cheaper sailing that does not offer the days you want is not a bargain, however low its total.

Time away from work or other commitments also has a cost, and it differs from person to person. Note the leave each sailing requires, counting the days you spend traveling as well as the days on board, and write that number beside the totals. No formula settles these judgments, but writing them next to the totals makes the trade-off visible.

After the comparison, choose the sailing whose total cost fits your budget and whose itinerary and cabin suit your needs. If the totals are close, the less obvious differences usually decide the matter. Keep the comparison written down so you can check it again before the final payment, because prices and inclusions can change until then.