United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Cruise prices down by a fifth in past five years
The average price paid for a cruise is now over a fifth less than it was five years ago.
Statistics provided by online cruise specialist Bonvoyage.co.uk show prices are down 22% compared to 2008.
The company says cruiselines are compensating for the drop in the headline price by generating more from onboard spend, such as spa treatments, speciality dining and higher drinks costs.
However, customers are becoming more wary of added onboard costs – and the report suggests operators cannot get away with pushing up onboard costs any further.
Bonvoyage.co.uk reveals the average respondent paid £1,600 per person five years ago, while the average respondent planning to cruise this year or in 2014 will pay 22% lower, at £1,248 per person.
The price difference in cruises from 2011 – when the Bonvoyage.co.uk site launched – compared to prices for cruises leaving this year or in 2014 show a 19% decrease in cost.
Encouragingly, over a third (38%) of respondents said that, despite the lower costs and potential onboard cuts, they had noticed improvements in services onboard cruises in the past five years.
However, 46% said they are now a lot more wary of added costs onboard a cruise, as well as the perceived value of amenities, than they were five years ago.
When asked to elaborate, aspects of cruises including food and entertainment quality (31%), level of service (22%) and quality of staff (19%) topped the list of the places these individuals could see that improvements had been made in the previous five years.
Of those questioned in the study, 24% stated that the reduced costs advertised in the past five years were one of the main reasons they decided to choose a cruise holiday.
Steph Curtin, cruise development manager at Bonvoyage.co.uk, said cruisers are becoming "increasingly money savvy…not being afraid to ask for a discount or to wait closer to the departure date".
by Lisa James
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations