A first-time Royal Caribbean Bermuda cruise typically costs $150–$300+ per person per day all-in when you factor in gratuities, drinks, WiFi, and port spending — your cruise fare is just the starting line.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Bermuda is one of the most underrated cruise destinations out there — pink sand beaches, crystal water, and a port situation that actually works in your favor. But first-timers consistently get blindsided by how fast the extras stack up beyond the base fare. Here's the honest breakdown so you're not doing damage control at Guest Services on the last night.
What a Royal Caribbean Bermuda Cruise Actually Costs All-In
Your cruise fare gets you the cabin, main dining, buffet, pools, and entertainment. Everything else is à la carte. For a typical 5–7 night Bermuda sailing from New York, Boston, or Baltimore, here's what the full picture looks like:
| Cost Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise Fare (per person) | $600–$900 | $1,000–$1,600 | $2,000–$4,000+ |
| Gratuities ($18.50/day) | $92–$130 | $92–$130 | $130–$147 (suite: $21/day) |
| Deluxe Beverage Package | Skip it | ~$80/day pre-cruise | $80–$120/day |
| WiFi (VOOM Surf) | Skip/use port WiFi | ~$20/day | $30/day (Surf+Stream) |
| Specialty Dining (1–2 meals) | $0 | $45–$55/person | $75–$95/person |
| Port Spending in Bermuda | $50–$100/day | $150–$250/day | $300+/day |
| Estimated Total (7 nights) | $900–$1,200 | $1,800–$2,800 | $3,500–$6,000+ |
All figures per person. Cruise fare reflects 2025–2026 market rates and varies significantly by cabin type and booking timing.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Key Costs First-Timers Always Miss
Gratuities are non-negotiable (practically speaking). Royal Caribbean automatically charges $18.50 per person per day to your SeaPass account — $21/day if you're in a suite. On a 7-night sailing, that's $129.50 per person before you've bought a single drink. You can technically adjust this at Guest Services before disembarkation, but don't. Your cabin steward and dining staff depend on it.
The 18% service charge is on top of everything. Every drink, spa treatment, and specialty dinner adds an automatic 18% gratuity. A $13.50 cocktail is actually $15.93 by the time it hits your tab. This is how the bar bill grows faster than you expect.
The Deluxe Beverage Package math: Pre-cruise via the Cruise Planner, it typically runs around $80/person/day (range: $56–$120 depending on your sailing and when you buy). The 18% gratuity is already included in that price. You need to drink roughly 5–6 drinks per day to break even — cocktails, specialty coffees, bottled water, all count. On a Bermuda itinerary with 3 full days in port, you'll be off the ship drinking Rum Swizzles on the island, not drinking at the ship's bars. That changes the math significantly. If you're a light drinker or planning beach days in Bermuda, skip the package and pay as you go.
Bermuda port situation — this is key for first-timers: Royal Caribbean docks at the Royal Naval Dockyard in the West End. You do NOT anchor and tender — you're docked right there, which makes coming and going easy. You'll want to budget for ferries and buses to get around the island. A combined ferry/bus pass runs about $30–$40 USD per person. Taxis are available but expensive — budget $25–$40 each way to Horseshoe Bay Beach.
WiFi: Royal Caribbean runs Starlink fleet-wide now, so the speed is genuinely good. VOOM Surf runs ~$20/day pre-cruise, Surf+Stream (for Netflix, video calls) is ~$30/day. Buy pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner — it's always cheaper than buying onboard.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Practical Tips to Save Real Money
Book your add-ons pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner. Beverage packages, WiFi, and specialty dining are all cheaper before you board. Royal Caribbean runs flash sales — especially 60–90 days out and around US holidays. Check back regularly after booking.
Specialty dining packages are worth it if you plan ahead. A 2-night dining package typically saves 25–30% vs. paying individual cover charges ($30–$55 per restaurant typically, up to $55 at Chops Grille and $55 at Izumi Hibachi). Book the restaurants as soon as you board to lock in your preferred times.
The Classic Soda Package at ~$13/day is worth it if you're a soda-only drinker. The Royal Refreshment Package (~$35/day) covers specialty coffees, juices, smoothies, and mocktails — solid value if you're not drinking alcohol.
In Bermuda, eat lunch ashore. The Dockyard has solid food options and the local spots are far better value than paying specialty dining prices onboard. Save the ship's restaurants for sea days.
Main dining room is genuinely good. Royal Caribbean's MDR on Bermuda sailings is better than its reputation. You can eat every dinner there and not feel like you're missing out. Specialty dining is a treat, not a necessity.
Watch the minibar in your cabin. It's easy to crack open a drink without realizing it triggers an 18% surcharge on top of the retail price. If you have the beverage package, use the bars — the minibar is a separate charge.
Royal Caribbean Ships That Do Bermuda
Royal Caribbean's Bermuda sailings typically run on Anthem of the Seas (year-round from Bayonne, NJ) and sometimes Vision of the Seas or Adventure of the Seas seasonally. Anthem is a Quantum-class ship with the North Star gondola, iFly skydiving simulator, bumper cars, and two70° entertainment venue — it's an excellent first-cruise ship with plenty to do on the 2 sea days each way.
Bermuda sailings are typically 7 nights with 3 days docked in Bermuda — which is actually quite a bit of time on the island compared to a typical port-of-call stop. Use it. Horseshoe Bay Beach, the Crystal Caves, and the town of St. George are all worth your time and a modest local transit budget.
Before you sail, use CruiseMutiny to build your personalized cost estimate — plug in your cabin type, drinking habits, and shore plans to see exactly what your Bermuda cruise will cost before your credit card gets any surprises.