Cruising has long been considered one of the most affordable types of vacations. In 2026, however, setting sail comes with a higher price tag than ever before.
From rising operational costs to unprecedented demand (including over 9.4 million vacations in 2025), travelers will notice that booking a Royal Caribbean cruise costs more than it did in years past.
For example, during Royal Caribbean Group's (RCG) Q4 earnings call on Thursday, January 29, executives remarked that pricing in the Caribbean was higher than in previous years.
"[W]e're seeing high demand [of travelers] wanting to go to the Caribbean... [So] we're not only seeing good volume, but our pricing is higher in the Caribbean than it was last year," Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group's CEO, reported.
While the value is still strong compared to land-based vacations, pricey add-ons and dynamic pricing strategies can quickly drive up the total cost of a cruise by hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
Here are four key reasons why your cruise will likely cost more in 2026 — and a few ways to save money on your long-awaited getaway.
Record-breaking demand
It seems as though every few months, Royal Caribbean announces its strongest booking period ever. Most recently, they experienced the strongest seven booking weeks in the company's history since the last earnings call in October 2025.
"2025 was an outstanding year defined by strong demand for our brands and vacation experiences," Liberty stated.
This demand has a direct impact on pricing, as travelers are willing to pay more and spend more money on board Royal's ships. In fact, recent research from the cruise line shows that its target audience feels financially secure, with 40% planning to increase their leisure travel spending over the next year.
Liberty continued, "We're getting the volumes that are more than what our capacity increases, and we're benefiting from a lot of the investments that we've made," indicating that demand is also exceeding capacity growth.
Read more: 5 Royal Caribbean cruises where your dollar will go further right now
Limited 2026 inventory
Demand for cruising has surged well beyond pre-pandemic levels, and it's evident in how quickly and how far in advance ships are selling out.
Liberty put it plainly: demand is off the charts, with the company already about two-thirds booked for the year.
"[Our] book load factors well within historical ranges at record rates. This sets us up to optimize pricing and yield growth as we continue to build the book of business for the balance of the year," he explained.
Limited inventory directly correlates to higher fares and fewer too-good-to-be-true last-minute deals and promotions.
As such, with much of 2026 already booked, travelers who wait to book their vacation risk paying a premium or missing out due to sold-out voyages.
Read more: Why you should book a 2026 cruise right now
AI-driven pricing tools
While cruise fares have always been priced dynamically to help balance supply and demand, Royal Caribbean has recently leaned heavily into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to max out prices.
"Our yield management models... are AI-based. They do learn… [and] we have a pretty good handle now on close-in demand, how we market it, [and] how we price it... and our yield management and forecasting is informed by all of that," Liberty remarked during the earnings call.
This means that the data that's analyzed and collected in real-time is used to increase cruise fares without hurting the overall demand.
AI is also being used to make vacations easier to discover, plan, and personalize. Improving overall guest satisfaction means that people are typically comfortable paying more for high-end vacations and pricey add-ons.
"We are improving our ability to curate and personalize what guests see while increasing pre-cruise engagement… The goal is to reduce friction, improve the experience, and present relevant options that add value to the guest," added Liberty.
Read more: Royal Caribbean's AI push helps explain why cruises cost more
Working to close the value gap with land-based vacations
It's no secret that Royal Caribbean is actively working to make cruising more appealing than traditional land-based destinations. It's been one of their goals for years — and they believe that they are well on their way, noting that cruise vacations are increasingly competitive with tourist spots like Orlando and Las Vegas, Nevada.
"The cruise value proposition continues to resonate due to quality, amenities, value, and convenience," explained Liberty.
Included in the base fare are accommodations, entertainment, dining, and transportation to different destinations — an experience that cannot be replicated at Walt Disney World (no, drinking around the world at Epcot doesn't count).
The success of the line's private destinations, including Perfect Day at CocoCay and the brand-new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, further reinforces the value proposition.
Within four weeks, for example, the Royal Beach Club has become the number one rated attraction in Nassau, according to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.
These unique land experiences that can only be visited on a Royal Caribbean cruise, combined with the amenities and overall value offered on board, create a vacation that’s hard to beat.
The results speak for themselves, too. "[W]hat we see is we're closing gaps to Orlando. We're closing gaps to Vegas. We're closing gaps to other vacation all-inclusive experiences," Liberty claimed.
Read more: Why are cruises so popular? 6 reasons cruise demand is bigger now than ever
Strategies to save money on Royal Caribbean cruises
Even with the rising prices, there are ways to make your vacation affordable. For starters, you should book as soon as possible. Securing your cabin in advance helps lock in lower fares since there's more available inventory.
Additionally, dditionally, being flexible with dates lets you take advantage of lower shoulder-season rates, which can save money compared with peak travel periods. If, for instance, you're eyeing a Caribbean cruise, fares will be higher in July than in February or October.
Finally, there's no denying that balconies are tempting, but they aren't the cheapest stateroom option. To save money on your overall fare, consider booking an inside room. While you may not have access to a private verandah, you will have the same basic cabin amenities, including a television, an ensuite bathroom, storage space, and a Royal King bed that can be converted into two twins.
