Cruise vs All-Inclusive — One Costs 3x More and Nobody Realizes

Cruise ships advertise $100/night. All-inclusive resorts charge $450/night. But when you add up EVERY hidden cost — drink packages, WiFi, flights, excursions, tips, and transfers — the real numbers tell a completely different story. We tracked actual 2026 pricing across 3 tiers (Budget, Mid-Range, and Premium) for a 7-night Caribbean vacation for 2 guests. This is the full data breakdown — no sponsored deals, no affiliate links, just the real math. Chapters: 0:00 Which Vacation Is Actually Cheaper? 0:06 The Real Cost Comparison 0:39 The Setup: What We're Comparing 1:10 Cruise Advertised Prices 1:57 Resort Advertised Prices 2:40 Hidden Costs: Cruise 3:55 Hidden Costs: Resort 4:50 TRUE Total: Budget Tier 5:47 TRUE Total: Mid-Range Tier 6:45 TRUE Total: Premium Tier 7:45 What Cruise Does Better 8:26 What Resort Does Better 9:22 The Verdict: Which One Wins? Key findings: - Cruise drink packages alone add $1,050-$1,330 for two guests - Resort flights are the single biggest hidden cost ($700-$1,000) - The winner changes depending on your budget tier Subscribe for weekly data-driven travel comparisons that save you money. #cruise #allinclusive #travelcost #cruisevresort #caribbean #vacationcost #budgettravel #travelsmarter #traveltips #cruisetips #resorttips #hiddencosts