How Much I Spent on Cruising in 2024

How much I spent on cruises in 2024

Growing up, we would go on one cruise every 3-5 years. It was typically a Carnival cruise, but we did splurge one year and go on the Disney Magic, I believe in 2005? It quickly became my favorite type of vacation; there was always so much to do and so much food to eat. It was enjoyable even though I played basketball at the basketball court and played cards in the card room for the majority of my cruising life. I remember the first cruise I went on with no basketball court, and I was DISTRAUGHT. After my graduation cruise, I was on my own to pay for vacations. Turns out cruising was much more expensive than I thought, and I wouldn’t go on a cruise for four or five years. It sucked being off my parent’s balance sheet. In 2021, I moved to Orlando, an hour away from Port Canaveral. After a tough year getting my feet under me, I finally went on my first cruise in late 2022 with my money. As I kept getting my feet underneath me and with good last-minute deals, I went for my record and went on three in 2023. Trying to maintain that, I went on three more in 2024 and I paid for another one in 2025, so how much did I pay this year for my cruising habits? 

In February, I lucked out and got a 3-night last-minute cruise deal on the Carnival Vista. It was a total of $329.40 for two people with a $100 spending credit. This was the second last-minute deal on Carnival and was a good cruise. Probably in large part due to the price point. 

In August, I went down to Miami for the first time with adult money where I had to pay to park and pay for huge turnpike tolls. I probably won’t be going back to that port again. I went on the Virgin Valiant Lady for $1694 for an interior for 5 days. It was pretty good. My favorite remains the Independence of the Seas sailing in 2022. 

I am now booked for a November cruise on the newest ship of the Royal Caribbean fleet, the Utopia of the Seas. All in for a 3-night sailing in an interior cabin is $1238.16 brand new ship with a stop at Coco Key. I am very excited for it. 

The one that sparked cruise prices is the one I booked for October of 2025. It was the cheapest 5-night sailing on Disney’s oldest cruise ship in its fleet, the Disney Magic built in 1998. One month older than I am. We will both be 27 years old when I sail. This one also is the most expensive cruise I have ever sailed on at $2,763.12. Quite a bit away from my $300 sailing on the Carnival Vista. 

With this sailing it brings my total cost in 2024 to $6024.68 and when divided in half it’s $3012.34. This amount spent on cruising is my highest total to date. If you take the Disney portion out of 2024 to put in 2025 the costs for cruising goes down to $1642.78. Still beats my previous year’s total. I am excited to give Disney a try as an adult, I will be sailing with my young niece and nephew, but the price point just isn’t what I look for with an interior cabin to the Bahamas.