Having sailed to Alaska, the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe, and the Mexican Riveria, the allure of Bermuda's pink sand beaches, turquoise waters, and rich maritime history led me to book a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas.
As a fan of Royal's newest ships—namely those in the groundbreaking Oasis Class—I wasn't quite sure what I'd think of Vision, one of the line's oldest ships at sea. Still, the primary reason for selecting the cruise wasn't about the ship—it was the destination!
Though the weather wasn't in our favor, Bermuda's charm shone through the overcast skies and frequent downpours. From exploring Hamilton's quaint, colorful streets to visiting two shipwrecks on a snorkeling excursion, it's an island I can see myself visiting again.
Here's everything I spent on my cruise to Bermuda, including airfare, excursions, and specialty dining.
My flight from Charlotte to Baltimore cost $248.95
Earlier this summer, I drove from Charlotte to Washington D.C. for a live show and immediately knew I wouldn't be making that drive again.
When it came time to discuss travel arrangements for our Bermuda cruise, I told my friend we could fly from Charlotte to Baltimore, as Southwest and American Airlines operate direct flights that last a little over an hour. We chose an American flight that cost $248.95. However, my friend booked her ticket earlier and saved about $100, highlighting the importance of planning ahead for travel!
As someone who travels out of Charlotte monthly, I know to expect the worst; I'm rarely on a flight that departs on time! Thankfully, our flight to Baltimore was only delayed thirty minutes, and we arrived in Baltimore around 6:20pm, early enough to drop our luggage off at our pre-cruise hotel and head into the city to explore a bit!
Read more: Should I book my flight through my cruise line?
The cheapest on-site parking lot at CLT was $84 for 6 nights
Usually, I'll have my fiancèe on standby for airport drop-offs and pick-ups. This time, however, my flight schedule interfered with her work schedule. So, my friend picked me up around 1:30pm for our 3:40pm flight, ensuring we had plenty of time to check bags and make it through security.
When we arrived at the airport, we were surprised at how full the parking lots were. In fact, they weren't accepting drive-up reservations. We had to pull to the side and book a spot online! I hate paying more than needed for parking, so I always go for the cheapest lot. In this case, it was Long Term 1 for $84.
The booking and parking process was easy, and we were on the bus to the terminal in no time.
A one-night stay at the Springhill Suites near the Baltimore airport was $122.09
A few weeks before the cruise, I started looking at hotels in Baltimore. While the flight was short, we weren't going to risk flying on the day of departure, so we booked a one-night stay at the Springhill Suites Baltimore BWI Airport for just $122.09.
The room was spacious and the rate included breakfast. It was great to wake up without having to search for a quick bite or pay for an overpriced hotel meal.
My only complaint is that I wish I had chosen a hotel closer to the city center, but the prices were significantly higher—some nearing $300 for just one night.
Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise
That night, we went out to dinner in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood. My portion of the meal cost $63
Since we landed around 6:30pm, we did not want to waste the evening lounging around the hotel. Instead, we dropped our bags off and headed to Fells Point, a neighborhood my friend had heard great things about.
We stumbled upon the Choptank, an al fresco restaurant featuring a lively atmosphere and a menu filled with delicious seafood. Since this was my first time in Maryland, I was determined to try fresh crab. However, it wasn't the blue crab that caught my eye. Instead, I went with the Maryland Crab Cake Sandwich.
The crab meat was tender and perfectly complimented by the remoulade sauce. Going into the meal, I expected to pay a pretty penny. To our surprise, however, the restaurant had a special on certain cocktails, so I spent $63 for my entrée and two Orange Crushes, a drink credited to being invented in Maryland.
We spent $114.89 on five rideshares
Though we drove to the airport, we relied exclusively on rideshares in Baltimore. Five Lyft rides cost $114.89, including from the airport to our pre-cruise hotel, the hotel to Fells Point, Fells Point to the hotel, the hotel to the port, and finally, the port to the airport.
Using rideshares made navigating Baltimore easy and stress-free, especially as we weren't too familiar with the city. Our driver from the hotel to Fells Point even gave us a few recommendations on places worth checking out!
The cruise fare for two was $1,396.76 and included our accommodation, dining, and entertainment
Now to the important part: the cruise fare. We booked the cruise four months in advance for $1,396.76 (or $698.38 each), including port fees and gratuities. This breaks down to $139.67 per night!
Not concerned about our stateroom, we reserved the cheapest option: a standard inside cabin. However, my travel agent confirmed our stateroom at the time of booking, meaning we didn't have to worry about getting assigned a random room closer to our sail date.
Overall, I didn't feel like I overpaid for my 5-night Bermuda cruise. Between the onboard entertainment, quality of the complimentary dining, and accommodation, it would have been difficult—nay impossible—to visit Bermuda on a land-based trip for that price. A flight from North Carolina to Bermuda would have been more expensive than my flight to Maryland, too.
Read more: I sailed in tiny interior cabins on old Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. I'd only book one again
My onboard charges totaled $159.64
I was incredibly proud of my minimal onboard spending on this cruise, which came out to just $159.64, including a tip for my cabin steward.
I'm not afraid to admit I enjoy trying different cocktails at sea; however, my newfound Diamond status within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society means I get four complimentary drinks daily! As such, I found myself purchasing fewer drinks. One splurge, though, was the Coffee Select Coffee Card, which my friend and I split. For just $18.29 each, we enjoyed fifteen espresso-based drinks during our cruise. A nice departure from the standard complimentary coffee!
One of my favorite activities on a cruise is trying my luck at the casino. Even if it's just $20 or $30, I'm certain to visit the slot machines at least once during any voyage. Unfortunately, my luck on Vision of the Seas was nonexistent. In fact, I'm thankful the casino closed at 6:00pm on our last night as we sailed through the Chesapeake Bay; it forced me to keep my money in my wallet!
I spent $30.20 for one specialty meal
Since this was my friend's first-ever cruise, I wanted her to try at least one specialty restaurant, in case she wasn't fond of Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room. After letting her look at the menus, she said she'd like to try Izumi on embarkation day.
We booked in advance through the Cruise Planner and applied our $50 onboard credit, compliments of my travel agent, to our meal. The credit covered my friend's meal, but I had to pay an extra $30.20. Still, it was, so, so, so worth it.
Our dinner at Izumi was the best meal onboard Vision. Every dish—from the creamy firecracker shrimp roll to the savory miso ramen and the refreshing champagne lobster roll—was drool-worthy.
My souvenirs in Bermuda added up to $92.85
As someone who cruises frequently, souvenirs usually aren't at the top of my list, especially when visiting spots I've been to before. Bermuda was different, though. Since I had never stepped foot on the island, I wanted to grab a few surprises for my fiancée, dad, and dog!
One shot glass, a bottle of hot sauce, two pairs of handcrafted earrings, and a chew toy cost $92.85. The earrings are easily my favorite memento. Each pair was crafted by Jennifer Rodrigues using Bermuda's infamous pink sand, making them one-of-a-kind!
While ashore, we grabbed dinner at a local spot in Hamilton, which cost $50.66
We didn't dock in Bermuda until 1:30pm, with the ship receiving the all-clear around 2:00pm. We decided to grab something to eat while ashore, rather than get off for a few hours and try to rush back for our assigned 5:00pm dinner.
After finishing our shopping in Hamilton, we stumbled upon a local joint with $35 lobster rolls. The fries were pretty disappointing, tasting similar to those in the frozen section at my grocery store.
And while I don't think my New England-born-and-raised fiancée would approve of the lobster roll, it served its purpose; we enjoyed buttery and flakey lobster after exploring the colorful streets of Hamilton. Even better? I washed it down with a crisp (and overpriced) Diet Coke, bringing the total, with tip, to $50.66.
Instead of taking taxis, we utilized public transportation in Bermuda for $9 each
I was worried about how expensive transportation would be in Bermuda. Thankfully, my friend's dad advised us that public transportation was safe and cost-effective. We took the hour-long bus ride to Hamilton from the Royal Naval Dockyard for $4.50 each and enjoyed seeing the island along the way.
There's also a water taxi that runs from Hamilton to the Dockyard for $4.50. The idea of traveling by water was tempting, so we took it back. Unfortunately, the rain picked up as we boarded, so there wasn't much of a view. The ride, however, was much shorter, and we were back onboard Vision in no time, heading to the sauna to warm up and dry off.
Finally, the snorkeling excursion cost $80.99
When I discovered the poor weather forecast for my Bermuda cruise, I was most worried about my snorkeling excursion. The three-hour tour was slated to take us to multiple shipwrecks, returning us to the pier at the ship's all-aboard time. At breakfast, we debated whether we'd arrive at the meeting point just to be told it was canceled. Worst case scenario? We'd take a bus to the pink sand beaches for an hour or two.
The clouds started to break up as we disembarked the ship, revealing small patches of blue sky, and when we reached the meeting point, we were relieved to see a small crowd gathered.
I'm so glad Mother Nature held her tears back, as the snorkeling excursion was the highlight of our trip. The tour operators were informative and humorous, sharing interesting facts about marine life we'd encounter and cracking plenty of jokes.
After snorkeling, we stayed put for about half an hour, and that's when the drinks started to flow. Can you say you've been to Bermuda if you haven't tried a Rum Swizzle? Many passengers—including myself—also jumped into the crystal-clear waters from the second level of the boat, swimming around for a while longer before finally heading back to the cruise ship.
Read more: 11 common cruise shore excursion mistakes to avoid
My Bermuda cruise cost $1,784.65
Recently, cruise fares have seen an increase due to the demand. I've fallen victim to higher prices, so my cheap cruise on Vision of the Seas was a refreshing change, reminding me how cruising can remain accessible to all.
Sailing on an older ship, for example, is a great way to cut costs without sacrificing quality. In fact, I thought the dining experience on Vision was greater than larger Royal Caribbean ships I've sailed on within the past year, including Symphony and Freedom of the Seas.
Also, cruising in interior staterooms can help keep costs manageable. Though my cabin on Vision was outdated, it was comfortable and provided everything we needed. The cozy space allowed us to focus on enjoying our time onboard, rather than wasting time lounging in the cabin. Instead, we were eager to set camp in the Solarium each day, relaxing steps away from the Park Cafe and the complimentary sauna.
Read more: What to know before booking a cheap cruise
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
