A recent study from CruiseWatch, a service that alerts travelers to cruise price drops, finds that cruising nonstop for a year can be less expensive than living in some U.S. cities. Using five years of cruise pricing data alongside U.S. Census figures, the company compiled what it describes as the most timely and accurate comparison available.
CruseWatch estimates that the average 2.5-person household in New York City spends about $637 per week to cover living expenses, while an interior two-person cabin on the least expensive cruises in CruiseWatch’s database averages roughly $313.25 per week. Based on those figures, a New York City resident could save about $10,430 per person over a year by cruising continuously instead of remaining at home.
Other high-cost cities show similar potential savings. Honolulu residents could save approximately $7,518 per person per year, and San Francisco residents could save around $7,154 per person per year by choosing continuous cruising over local living expenses.
“Taking nonstop cruises and saving money is an attractive possibility,” said Britta Bernhard, co-founder of CruiseWatch. “It highlights the value cruises can offer compared with the relatively high cost of living in certain cities. Beyond cost savings, cruising also provides access to varied ports and countries—waking up in a new place can be part of the daily experience.”
Most of the savings are realized during winter months, according to the study, while higher summer surcharges reduce the benefit. Even so, CruiseWatch reports that the annual figures still balance out in favor of the cruise option for residents of the most expensive cities.
