Planning

With mega-ships like Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras calling Port Canaveral home, it's no wonder that over 7.6 million cruise passengers visited here in 2024, making it one of the world's busiest cruise ports. 

However, unlike Miami or Fort Lauderdale, the closest airport isn't just down the road. If you have to fly to Florida for your cruise out of Port Canaveral, it'll likely require more planning. 

Wondering how much an Alaska cruise costs? Unfortunately, there's no cookie-cutter answer. 

Some can cost as little as $500 per person for a seven-night cruise in an inside cabin on a mainstream line, or upwards of $10,000 per person for a week in a suite on a luxury cruise ship. The price varies greatly depending on the cruise line, ship, departure date, and itinerary.

Plus, you will need to factor in airfare, a pre-cruise hotel, shore excursions, and other add-on costs to determine the total price of an Alaska sailing. 

From daydreaming about sipping tropical cocktails by the pool and eating endless ice cream cones to researching once-in-a-lifetime excursions, planning a cruise vacation is exhilarating! However, before you get too excited, you must set a budget and figure out how much you’re willing to spend. 

While Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Tampa are the four most popular cruise ports in Florida, did you know you can also sail out of Jacksonville?

Although you may not have as many ship options compared to itineraries departing from South Florida, it is convenient for those who may not want to drive the extra five hours to Miami. Plus, since it's a smaller port, you will not have to deal with as much traffic. 

With 7-night cruises onboard Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas starting at over $1,000 per person for an inside stateroom, many may assume that taking a cruise is out of their budget. 

The demand for cruise vacations is so high that the industry has seen a steady increase in pricing over the past few years. Plus, inventory has been selling out further in advance, leading to fewer last-minute deals. 

Cruises make the ultimate family vacation. From included youth programming to adult-only sun decks and adrenaline-pumping activities for teens, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Still, not all ships are built equally. 

Before booking the same cruise your co-worker raved about, it's essential to do your own research to see which ship will suit your family's needs. 

There's no denying that cruise vacations have gotten more expensive. However, that doesn't mean there aren't ways to cut back on your overall cost. 

One easy way to save money on a cruise is to book an interior stateroom. I know, staying in a dark, windowless cabin may sound jarring at first, but I promise it isn't as bad as you think!

Millions of travelers embark on cruises from Port Miami annually. In 2024, over 8.3 million passengers watched Miami's skyline disappear as they sailed toward The Bahamas or Caribbean. 

As one of the most popular cruise ports in the world, Miami welcomes guests from all over the world. As such, many cruisers rely on pre-cruise hotels to ensure they don't miss their ship's departure due to delayed or canceled flights.