By Alexandr — Independent Partner, inCruises
Other people’s numbers tell you very little: too much depends on your plan, your timing and how often you travel. So this isn’t a ready answer — it’s a way to get one.
Up front, so we don’t waste your time
You won’t find cruise prices here — they aren’t published and are calculated at the moment of booking. All percentages below are approximate, to show how the mechanics work. Your final figure is something we work out personally.
Step 1. Start from your own amount, not someone else’s
Don’t start with the price of a cruise. Start with a question: what would a comparable trip cost you if you put it together yourself? Hotel, meals, getting between places, entertainment — roughly, based on your last trip. That is your starting point.
One important thing: compare like with like. A cruise is accommodation, meals, entertainment and travel between countries in one package. Comparing it with a hostel and supermarket food makes no sense — and neither does comparing it with a five-star hotel in one place.
Step 2. Estimate what the format itself saves
The first source of savings isn’t the club — it’s the format. Everything is included in one price, so a comparable cruise usually comes out roughly 30–50% below your amount from step 1, depending on the route and the season.
That’s before any club tools at all. Many people stop at this step — and already see the difference.
Step 3. Choose how you pay
- The member price (INsider Pricing) — roughly 17% below the listed price, paid in money, while your membership is active.
- Reward Points — cover up to 50% of a cruise, on bookings from 30 days before departure; the rest is paid in money. How many points you have depends on how many months you have paid on time.
You can’t combine the two on one booking: you choose either the member price or your points. Note that points are the only thing that depends on time. They grow by themselves as long as you simply pay your membership on time.
Step 4. Add time — and this is where everything changes
The last factor is the time until departure. Book 270 days or more ahead, and accumulated points can cover the whole cabin. That’s why two people on the same plan get different results: the difference is when they started planning.
The practical takeaway: if you have a date — an anniversary, a milestone birthday, next summer — count back from it, not from “someday”.
Want to play with the numbers right now?
There’s an illustrative calculator — it works from an amount you enter yourself and shows a range. It isn’t a quote, but you see the mechanics straight away.
Where people usually get the maths wrong
- They forget the membership. The monthly fee is part of the equation. If you rarely travel, it eats the savings. Count per year, not per trip.
- They assume points cover everything. They don’t: flights to the port, gratuities, excursions, speciality restaurants and spending on board are all extra.
- They compare things that aren’t comparable. See step 1.
- They plan “in general”. Without a date, the time factor simply doesn’t work.
What to ask yourself before you book
- How many trips will I realistically take in the next year?
- Do I have a date I can count back from?
- Which membership plan matches how I actually travel, not how I’d like to? Compare the plans →
- What happens if my plans change? (Short answer: your points wait for the next trip while your membership is active.)
And one more thing — honestly
Many people join purely for affordable travel and only later notice that the club also has a partner side. No promises: it takes time and effort, and the club’s rules don’t allow me to quote figures. But if you ever want to look into it, I’ll explain honestly. How partnership works →
Alexandr · Independent Partner, inCruises · shurgen.incruises.com/membership
I’m an Independent Partner of inCruises. This is my personal opinion, not official company material. I’m not a travel agent. All percentages and examples are approximate and illustrative, shown for clarity; your savings are always individual. Confirm current terms, membership plans and rules with the club. inCruises is a brand of inGroup International.