“All-Inclusive” Survey: Is a River Cruise Cheaper Than a DIY Land Tour?

Study Time: 3 minutes

You’ve probably seen the price tag on a cruise and thought, “I can travel in Europe for less.” That is a fair assumption. However, once you put the numbers on the cost of a DIY trip, you may change your mind…

All-inclusive tours are designed to save you money. But how much do they really cost compared to the average holiday in the world?

What is “All Inclusive” on a River Cruise

The phrase “all inclusive” means that the cost of your cruise includes your cabin, all your meals, wine and beer and dinner, Wi-Fi, on-board entertainment and at least one guided excursion per port.

On a Danube river cruise, that means you pass through Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and a few other ports, without booking a single extra hotel or paying for extra flights and transportation.

Well, what this is not the case inclusions also matter when comparing costs. Flights, travel insurance, port restaurants, souvenirs, and special tours can all add value. Some cruise operators offer more bundle deals on an all-inclusive ticket than others, however, so it’s worth reading your itinerary’s inclusions list in advance.

Cost of DIY Land Tour

Self-organized trips to similar cities in Central Europe can be expensive. Accommodation in Vienna or Budapest costs around £78 – £130 per night for a mid-range hotel. Some of the costs you can expect include:

• Train travel between cities: £25 – £70 each
• The daily food of the restaurantCost: £35 – £50 per person
• Entry fees: £12 – £35 per day

That means that for one person, it costs around £150 a day in a flat, to take just one train journey.

There are other costs, too:

• Luggage storage between departures
• Taxi fares from train stations or airports
• ATM money
• Geographical data systems
• Visa fees (if any)

In some cases, these “minimum” costs can add up to £260 for a 7-day stay.

Side by Side Cost Comparison

An average 7-day Danube cruise usually costs around £2,600 to £3,600 per person, including your cabin, meals, excursions, and city transfers. Return flights from the UK add around £150 to £350, bringing your total to around £2,750 to £3,950 (one-off).

Danube cruises will stop at approximately 5 to 6 ports on their journey, with two-week long cruises covering Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.

A comparable self-organized tour covering the same cities costs around £150 per person, per day of departure. That’s around £725 – £1,050 for 7 days. For flights, you’ll pay around £870 – £1,350 per person at the high end.

Although this seems very cheap, it limits you to one destination. Also, these costs are based on the assumption that you will be traveling during the off-season, when costs are lower, and some attractions may be closed.

Additionally, this does not include entertainment or any unexpected expenses. In that regard, DIY travel brings financial uncertainty, which is not good if you have a tight travel budget.

Sailing removes that uncertainty.

Hidden Value Beyond the Price Tag

Cost comparisons are important, but they only tell you so much. On a cruise, you check out once for the entire trip rather than always carrying check-ins and traveling through multiple cities.

That means you save the timeand, which is one of the biggest needs when you travel the world. You lose time during transportation and waiting in lines at restaurants and attractions.

Final Decision

DIY world tours can be quite expensive, especially for budget-conscious travelers. But once you factor in all the hidden costs, a river cruise is a definite contender.

If you have limited time (and a low tolerance for travel), cruising is often a better choice. But if you’re happy with budget accommodation and don’t plan to stay in more than one or two cities during your trip, a DIY country tour can work just as well.

If you’re still deciding on your destinations, this Mediterranean cruise guide might be worth your while.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore the information contained herein including opinions, comments, suggestions or strategies is for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be taken as financial advice. Anyone considering investing should conduct due diligence.