Now that travel is back in full swing, it seems like everything is just … so much more expensive than it used to be. Flight prices are soaring as high as the planes, and hotels are pulling in huge nightly rates. But deals are still available, and it seems cruising is one of the best ways to see Europe’s hottest destinations at the right price this summer and fall.
As an example, we took a closer look at Holland America Line’s summer sailings. The line has serious markdowns this year because of the company’s 150th anniversary. Next month, the seven-day Adriatic Gems cruise hits four countries (Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece) while sailing the Mediterranean Sea for the price of a couple of nights at a hotel in Greece.
“Hotels in Santorini and Mykonos are also more expensive than normal this summer — between 15-25 percent higher compared to last summer, based on Expedia data. So if you find a good deal on a cruise, there could be a lot of value to gain,” said Christie Hudson, the head of US public relations for Expedia.
Christina Bennett, head of communications at Priceline, agreed. (Priceline’s summer Mediterranean cruise deals start at USD 115 (HKD 901) per person.)
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“Cruises are one of the best ways to travel at an affordable price right now,” she said. “When comparing the individual costs of transportation, meals, and hotels that would be required for the same itinerary, cruises provide a tremendously higher value and the ability to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of unpacking and repacking.”
Let’s look at a cost breakdown for this Holland America itinerary, compared with how much it would cost to travel to some of the same spots in a nine-day overland trip. Note that the timeframe of the overland trip includes two extra days due to driving time.
Seven-day Holland America Adriatic Gems Cruise
- Cruise fare – USD 899 (HKD 7,042) per person for an inside stateroom
- Flight cost (nonstop round-trip between New York City and Venice) – USD 1,708 (HKD 13,380) per person
- Hotel cost – Included
- Food/beverage cost – Included
Estimated cost for two people: USD 5,214 (HKD 40,845)
Nine-day overland trip
- Flight cost (accounting for extra days) – USD 1,793 (HKD 14,046) per person
- Hotel cost – USD 67 (HKD 525)/night (Venice), USD 107 (HKD 838)/night (Split), USD 113 (HKD 885)/night (Dubrovnik), USD 61 (HKD 478)/night (Kotor), USD 107 (HKD 838)/night (Santorini)
- Food/beverage cost – USD 50 (HKD 392) per person per day
- Transportation cost – USD 484 (HKD 3,791) for a rental car, USD 100 (HKD 738) for gas
Estimated cost for two people: USD 5,499 (HKD 43,078)
*Note: All prices are based on the lowest available four-star hotel cost and rental car costs on Expedia and Priceline.
With Holland America, you can see that the costs — before all the anniversary sale discounts — are almost equal. But cruise lines like MSC and Celebrity are even more affordable (USD 579 (HKD 4,535) per person and USD 679 (HKD 5,319) per person respectively). Keep in mind, as well, that driving these distances can sometimes be about 12 hours one way, which is exhausting enough on its own.
Ultimately, though, whether you choose to take a cruise or land vacation through the Mediterranean depends on the goal of your trip. Hudson and Bennett both note that cruises are great for hitting a large number of places in a shorter period of time while driving is better for a flexible, more time-consuming trip. So, do you want to be scheduled or spontaneous? Let that guide your trip choice. Find more last-minute summer travel deals and cost-effective ways to get to Europe this summer and fall on T+L.
(Hero and feature image credit: Holland America Line)
All currency conversions were done at the time of writing
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Related: These Are The Most Affordable Ways To Travel Around Europe This Summer
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