Disney Cruise Lines' Disney Wonder in Port Canaveral (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ever wonder where the money goes? Take a look at the estimated breakdown of the 2025 average cruise revenue and expenses for a typical cruise. The projected per-passenger, per-day cruise expense is $286.05, comprising a ticket price of $193.46 and on-board spending of $82.03 per person, based on an average cruise duration of 8.6 days (median duration 7.5 days).
| Financial breakdown of typical cruise
(worldwide, across all ocean cruise lines) |
|||
| Revenue | Expenses | ||
| Ticket | $1,457 | ||
| Onboard Spending | $697 | ||
| -Casino & Bar | $383 | ||
| -Shore excursions (cruise line portion) | $139 | ||
| -Spa | $70 | ||
| -All other onboard spending | $105 | ||
| Total spending | $2,154 | ||
| Other operating costs | $308 | 14.3% | |
| Agent commission | $287 | 13.3% | |
| Corporate Operating Costs | $261 | 12.1% | |
| Payroll | $237 | 11.0% | |
| Depreciation/Amortization | $228 | 10.6% | |
| Onboard and other | $221 | 10.3% | |
| Ship fuel costs | $165 | 7.6% | |
| Victualing (food) | $114 | 5.3% | |
| Total Expenses | $1,822 | ||
| Profit before taxes | $333 | 15.4% | |
Sources: Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Carnival Corporation and plc, NCL Corporation Ltd., Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).