Have Cruise Prices Become RIDICULOUS? We Did the Math
Have cruise prices become ridiculous… or does it just feel that way? Cruise fares, drinks packages, gratuities, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and shore excursions all seem to be getting more expensive. Spend five minutes in a cruise Facebook group and you’d think cruising has become completely unaffordable. But we decided to actually look at the numbers. In this episode, we go back to pre-COVID cruise prices in 2019, look at what happened when cruise fares collapsed during the pandemic, and compare those prices with what we're paying in 2026. And that raises an interesting question: Are cruise prices really increasing at a ridiculous rate — or did the incredibly cheap cruises immediately after COVID completely distort our perception of what a cruise should cost? We also discuss: 🚢 Cruise prices in 2019 vs 2026 📈 How cruise increases compare with inflation 🍹 The rising cost of drinks packages and onboard extras 💰 Why cruise lines are becoming so good at extracting more money from passengers ✈️ What has happened to the cost of flights and other holidays 🏨 Cruising versus hotels and land-based holidays 🛳️ Why comparing an older ship with a brand-new mega ship doesn't make much sense 💎 Whether we're partly responsible by demanding newer ships, better cabins and more luxury 🤔 And whether cruise lines are simply charging more because we're still prepared to pay it And, naturally, Jodie discovers Girl Math, while Graham attempts to prove that mathematics can win an argument. We'll let you decide how successful that was. 😂 So we want to hear from you: Have cruise prices become ridiculous? What's the most you've noticed your favourite cruise increasing by? Are you cruising less because of the price? Or do you still think cruising represents great value compared with other holidays? 👇 Tell us in the comments — particularly if you completely disagree with us. And if you enjoy travel without taking it all too seriously, subscribe to Graham and Jodie Travel. We've got plenty more cruise debates, travel adventures and questionable financial decisions coming. #CruisePrices #CruiseNews #Cruising #CruiseTravel #RoyalCaribbean #CelebrityCruises #CarnivalCruise #PrincessCruises #CruiseTips #GrahamAndJodieTravel