Cruises = A terrible idea for your trip
Why Cruises are Generally a Bad Idea for Solo or Family Trips
Cruises are a terrible idea for nearly any vacation.
I know that’s a bold take—some might even find it offensive—but hear me out. The average cost of many cruises can run anywhere from $15,000 to $18,000 USD on the low end, depending on cabin class, itinerary, and add-ons.
What’s more concerning is the financial behavior that often surrounds these trips. It’s not uncommon for families to stretch themselves thin—tapping into home equity, delaying retirement savings, or diverting funds from long-term goals—to afford what’s marketed as a “luxury” cruise. At best, this is financially unwise. At worst, it’s reckless.
Cruises can become money pits in more ways than one. On lower-end ships, the only truly “included” amenity is often the buffet. On higher-end cruises, nearly everything—and I do mean everything—is charged to your room, which really means it’s charged to the credit card on file.
Take Virgin Voyages, Sir Richard Branson’s cruise-line extension of the Virgin brand. The branding is nearly indistinguishable from Virgin Atlantic, the UK-based airline. Virgin Voyages offers at-sea tattoo services, upscale dining concepts, and a curated “adult-only” experience. In 2026, it was voted the #1 Cruise Line in the World by Travel & Leisure magazine, based on aggregated reader votes.
That may sound impressive—and in many ways, it is—but even award-winning cruise lines operate on the same underlying model: onboard spending drives revenue.
Carnival and many other mainstream Western cruise lines prominently feature onboard casinos. Gambling is not a side attraction—it is a core profit center. This only reinforces my thesis that cruises are structured as financial sinkholes disguised as vacations.
No matter how strong someone believes their willpower to be, it doesn’t take much to say, “Maybe just one play.” One round becomes ten. Ten becomes fifty. Before long, you’ve spent hours in a windowless casino at sea, far removed from the tropical destination you thought you were enjoying.
And while losing your entire life savings may sound extreme, the psychology of gambling environments is well-documented: they are engineered to keep you playing. The ship’s comfortable cabin—the plush six-by-eight-foot bed—may feel indulgent in the moment. But if the trip leaves you financially strained, that comfort is temporary.
There’s also the opportunity cost to consider. For the price of many cruise packages, you could book business- or even first-class airfare, enjoy a luxury hotel at your destination, dine at local restaurants, immerse yourself in the culture, and still have money left over.
Instead of being confined to a floating resort designed to maximize onboard spending, you could experience a destination on your own terms.
Save your money—and the financial hardship that can follow impulse travel decisions.
Book a premium air ticket, enjoy your destination fully, and return home without a credit card hangover.
If you’re ready to travel smarter, book your next trip at brookeintheairtravel.squarespace.com today.
