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Costs

Alaska Cruise Costs

By Reviewed by Marin HollowayUpdated 2 min readLast fact checked on .

The cruise fare is between 45 and 60 percent of what an Alaska cruise actually costs. This page builds the whole number from first principles, with worked budgets for a budget couple, a typical couple, a family of four and a luxury traveller, so you can see exactly where the money goes.

The short answer

Budget roughly twice the cruise fare for a complete Alaska trip. For two people on a seven night cruise, expect $3,500 at the budget end, $6,000 to $9,000 typically, and $15,000 or more for luxury. A family of four should plan on $8,000 to $13,000. Excursions and flights are the largest variables after the fare.

Key points

  • The fare is 45 to 60 percent of the total trip cost.
  • Excursions are the largest variable, at $600 to $2,400 for two.
  • Gratuities add $16 to $25 per person per day and are effectively mandatory.
  • Taxes and port fees add $150 to $350 per person and are quoted separately.
  • A budget couple can complete the trip for around $3,500; a typical couple spends $6,000 to $9,000.

Alaska cruise pricing is not deceptive, but it is fragmented. The fare is quoted separately from taxes, which are quoted separately from gratuities, which have nothing to do with excursions, which are booked in a different system entirely. Assembling the real number takes deliberate effort, and this page does it.

The anatomy of an Alaska cruise budget

Where the money goes, two people, seven nights, flying in
ComponentShare of totalTypical amountGuide
Cruise fare45 to 60%$2,000 to $4,200Average cost
Shore excursions10 to 20%$600 to $2,400Excursion costs
Flights12 to 22%$700 to $1,600Flight costs
Onboard spending8 to 15%$500 to $1,800Drink packages, WiFi
Taxes and port fees5 to 9%$300 to $700Hidden fees
Gratuities5 to 8%$230 to $350Gratuities
Pre cruise hotel3 to 7%$180 to $450Hotel costs
Travel insurance3 to 6%$200 to $500Insurance costs

Four worked budgets

Budget couple, shoulder season, Seattle

ItemAmount
Carnival interior, two people$1,000
Taxes, fees and port expenses$380
Flights$560
One hotel night$170
Transfers$110
Two excursions each$560
Gratuities$230
Onboard spending$250
Insurance$210
Total for two$3,470

Typical couple, peak season, Vancouver

ItemAmount
Princess balcony, two people$3,800
Taxes, fees and port expenses$520
Flights$1,000
Two hotel nights in Vancouver$600
Transfers$120
Three excursions each$1,150
Gratuities$300
Onboard spending with a drinks package$1,100
Insurance$320
Total for two$8,910

Family of four, peak season, Seattle

ItemAmount
Royal Caribbean balcony, four sharing$4,600
Taxes, fees and port expenses$900
Flights$1,800
One hotel night, family room$280
Transfers$150
Two excursions each$1,600
Gratuities$560
Onboard spending$1,400
Insurance$520
Total for four$11,810

Luxury couple, peak season, Vancouver

ItemAmount
Seabourn veranda suite, two people, 11 nights$19,000
Taxes and fees$1,100
Flights, business class$4,000
Two hotel nights$900
Ventures excursions$1,600
Drinks and gratuitiesIncluded
Onboard spending$400
Insurance$1,400
Total for two$28,400

The variables that move the total most

Cost levers ranked by impact
LeverSwing for two peopleEffect on experience
Sailing month$800 to $2,600Low. Slightly cooler and shorter days
Cruise line$600 to $3,000Moderate. Programming and refinement
Cabin category$600 to $2,000Low on this itinerary
Excursion choices$400 to $2,000High. This is the trip
Drinks package$500 to $1,400None if you drink little
Departure port$150 to $700Low to moderate
Cruisetour add on$2,800 to $6,000High. A different holiday
WiFi$0 to $560Low. Ports have free WiFi

Every cost guide

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Alaska cruise cost in total?
For two people on a seven night cruise including flights, a hotel night, excursions, gratuities and onboard spending, expect around $3,500 at the budget end, $6,000 to $9,000 typically, and $15,000 or more for luxury. A family of four should plan on $8,000 to $13,000. The cruise fare itself is usually 45 to 60 percent of that.
What is not included in an Alaska cruise fare?
Taxes and port fees at $150 to $350 per person, daily gratuities at $16 to $25 per person per day, shore excursions, alcoholic drinks, WiFi, specialty dining, spa, laundry, flights, hotels and transfers. On most mainstream lines the fare covers accommodation, main dining, buffet, entertainment and basic beverages only.
How much spending money do I need for an Alaska cruise?
Budget $50 to $150 per person per day for onboard spending depending on whether you buy drink and WiFi packages, plus your excursion costs and $30 to $60 per person per port day ashore. Gratuities of $16 to $25 per person per day are separate and charged automatically.
Why are Alaska cruises expensive?
The season is roughly twenty weeks rather than year round, so ships and shore operators must earn their annual return in a short window. Fuel, provisioning and port costs are higher, excursions involve aircraft and small boats rather than coaches, and demand is concentrated into a few months. Flights to the Pacific Northwest add further cost for most travellers.
How can I reduce the cost of an Alaska cruise?
The two cheapest big savings are sailing in early May or late September, which cuts fares 30 to 50 percent, and skipping the drinks package if you drink fewer than five a day. Together they can save a couple $1,300 to $4,000 with almost no effect on the trip. Choosing an interior cabin and booking excursions independently save further. Do not cut the pre cruise hotel night or the insurance.
Is an Alaska cruise cheaper than a land trip to Alaska?
Usually yes, for the coastal region. A cruise includes accommodation, meals and transport between towns that otherwise have no road connections, so replicating a seven night Inside Passage itinerary independently by ferry and hotel typically costs more and takes longer. A land trip becomes competitive if your focus is interior Alaska, Denali and the road system.

Keep researching

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