A cruise from Boston typically costs $600–$2,500+ per person depending on destination and cabin type, with 7-night Canada/New England itineraries starting around $699/person for an interior cabin and Bermuda cruises averaging $900–$1,800/person in 2025–2026.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Boston is one of the most underrated homeports in the U.S. — you skip the flight to Miami, park or take the T to the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, and you're sailing to Canada, Bermuda, or the Caribbean without a layover. But prices vary wildly depending on the season, cruise line, and how far you're going. Here's the full breakdown.
What a Cruise from Boston Actually Costs
The most common routes out of Boston are Canada/New England (7–14 nights), Bermuda (7 nights), and occasional Caribbean repositioning cruises in fall and spring. Prices below are per person, double occupancy, cruise fare only — before taxes, fees, gratuities, and drinks.
| Route | Duration | Budget (Interior) | Mid-Range (Balcony) | Splurge (Suite) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada/New England | 7 nights | $699–$899 | $1,100–$1,600 | $2,500–$4,500 |
| Canada/New England | 10–14 nights | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,800–$2,800 | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Bermuda | 7 nights | $899–$1,200 | $1,400–$2,000 | $3,000–$5,500 |
| Caribbean (repositioning) | 10–14 nights | $700–$1,100 | $1,300–$2,000 | $3,500–$6,000 |
| Transatlantic | 14–18 nights | $1,200–$1,800 | $2,500–$4,000 | $6,000–$12,000 |
These are cruise fares only. Budget an additional $150–$300/person for port fees and taxes on top of any advertised price.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Drive the Cost
Season is everything in Boston. This is a seasonal homeport — ships typically operate from May through October. Peak season is September–October when the fall foliage is at its peak along the New England/Canada coastline. Expect to pay 20–35% more for those sailings versus early May departures.
Which cruise line you choose. Holland America dominates the Boston-to-Canada route and tends to price at the mid-range tier. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean operate Bermuda sailings from Boston and offer more promotional pricing. Princess runs occasional longer itineraries. Here's how the lines stack up:
| Cruise Line | Primary Route from Boston | Starting Fare (7-night, interior) | Value Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holland America | Canada/New England | $799–$999/person | Mid-range |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Bermuda | $749–$999/person | Budget–Mid |
| Royal Caribbean | Bermuda | $699–$899/person | Budget–Mid |
| Princess Cruises | Canada/New England | $849–$1,100/person | Mid-range |
| Celebrity Cruises | Canada/New England | $999–$1,400/person | Premium |
Cabin type multiplies your cost fast. Jumping from an interior to a balcony cabin adds $400–$800/person on a 7-night sailing. On a fall foliage cruise where you'll actually be on the balcony watching scenery, it's worth it. On a Bermuda run where you're at the beach all day? Interior is fine.
Add-ons that inflate the total bill:
- Beverage packages: $75–$105/person/day (Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity)
- Specialty dining: $30–$65/person per meal
- Gratuities: $16–$20/person/day (often not included)
- Boston parking at Black Falcon Terminal: $22–$28/day — for a 7-night cruise, that's $154–$196 before you even board
- Shore excursions: $50–$180/person per port
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Real Total Cost Estimates (What You'll Actually Spend)
Here's what an honest all-in budget looks like for a couple on a 7-night Canada/New England cruise from Boston:
| Expense | Budget Couple | Mid-Range Couple | Splurge Couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise fare (2 people) | $1,400 | $2,600 | $6,000 |
| Port fees & taxes | $300 | $300 | $400 |
| Gratuities | $224 | $224 | $280 |
| Beverage packages | $0 (pay as you go) | $1,050 | $1,470 |
| Specialty dining | $0 | $200 | $500 |
| Shore excursions | $200 | $500 | $1,200 |
| Boston parking (7 days) | $175 | $175 | $175 |
| Total (2 people) | ~$2,300 | ~$5,050 | ~$10,025 |
| Per person | ~$1,150 | ~$2,525 | ~$5,013 |
Practical Tips to Save Money on a Boston Cruise
Book early for peak foliage sailings — or go early May instead. September and October Canada sailings from Boston sell out fast and rarely discount. If you're flexible, a late May or early June departure on the same itinerary can cost 30–40% less and the coastal scenery is still stunning.
Skip the parking, take the T or an Uber. The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal is accessible. An Uber from South Station runs $15–$25 each way. Even a round-trip cab beats a week of $25/day parking fees.
Watch for repositioning cruise deals. In late October and early November, ships deadhead south from Boston to the Caribbean for winter. These repositioning sailings often go for $60–$90/person/day — some of the best per-day value in cruising, and you get a mix of sea days plus a few ports.
Don't pay rack rate for beverages. On Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, drink packages frequently get bundled as a "free" promotion when you book early. If it's not free, calculate your actual drinking habits — the break-even point on most packages is 6–8 alcoholic drinks per day. Many people don't hit that.
Book through a cruise-specialist travel agent for Bermuda sailings. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian compete heavily on the Boston-Bermuda route, and agents often have access to group rates or onboard credit deals that aren't publicly listed.
Best Lines and Ships for Boston Cruises
For Canada/New England foliage: Holland America's Zuiderdam and Maasdam are purpose-built for this route — older, smaller ships that fit into smaller ports like Bar Harbor and Sydney, Nova Scotia without overwhelming them. Celebrity's Summit also does a solid job on this itinerary with a more modern feel.
For Bermuda: Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas runs Boston-Bermuda and docks right in Hamilton and King's Wharf — you're steps from the action without needing a ship excursion. Norwegian's Breakaway is another strong option with more onboard entertainment.
For budget travelers: Look at Royal Caribbean's shorter 5-night Bermuda sailings from Boston — they occasionally appear at $499–$649/person during early booking windows and give you two full days in Bermuda.
Boston is a genuinely convenient homeport if you live in New England — the math on skipping airfare alone often makes the slightly higher cruise fare worthwhile. Use CruiseMutiny to compare real-time pricing across all the Boston sailings and see which itinerary actually makes sense for your budget before the foliage season crowds push prices up.