From a shoestring budget to a relatively extravagant lifestyle, it completely depends on the sailors, their financial situation at the time, and a number of important factors that need to be taken into account.

Cruises come in many different categories…

• Those who have sold to sail and have some savings!
• Sailors who have retired, possibly with pensions they will live on!
• Those who have income or can work from a yacht!
• Many who have to take breaks to build the ‘kitty!’
• The lucky ones who have found alternative ways to ‘live the dream!’

These are some of the questions that need answers…

• Can you handle basic maintenance and repairs yourself?
• Is your boat likely to need a beaching in the future, when should the next antifouling be applied? Will you and what about emergencies?
• Will you be looking for flights back to your home or family?
• Do you like to dine out occasionally or go sightseeing?
• Will you be spending time in marinas or anchorages?
• What about other living expenses like fuel and communications?

Go back to desire. If you really want to go on a cruise, your budget will fall into place, you will make sacrifices and you will improvise so that you can live the lifestyle you want.

Budget cruisers can live on a small fixed income, like a pension, living extremely simply without any of life’s luxuries. It is the freedom and pleasure of the cruise life that gives them satisfaction.

For others, a reasonable budget may be anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 a year. It means focusing on good money management, preventative maintenance, and staying true to your values.

Cruise food budget:

The food is individual and the costs vary between cold and warm climates and coastal or offshore navigation. If you have good storage, some things can be bought in bulk or even shared among several other sailors. Shop where the locals shop, it’s always cheaper than the smaller shops in the tourist areas. The meat keeps better and is tender when vacuum packed.

On some islands you can exchange products for fruits, vegetables and seafood. For example, at Minerva Reef on the way to Tonga we exchange cans of beer for whole lobster. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season at markets, and long-lived vegetables like potatoes, squash, onions, and garlic can be bought in larger quantities.

If you’re lucky enough to catch a few fish, it’s a great complement to meat that can be expensive in some areas.
One of the ‘must haves’ in the kitchen is a pressure cooker. It saves time, money and in the tropics it cooks so fast that it keeps the heat in the cabin. A pressure cooker is a great pot roast, it can turn cheaper cuts of meat into tender, flavorful meals. Try baking bread in it if you don’t have an oven.

Eat out:

Dining out and entertainment can vary wildly depending on the boaters and where you are. If you go out for lunch, or a ‘take away’ that you can eat on a beach with a bottle of wine, it is much cheaper.

In a different country, part of the fun of sailing is trying the local cuisine. Some countries are fantastic with coffee and delicious food and don’t break the budget. With other places you may need to budget more money to eat out!

The cost of fuel:

The best part of a budget cruise is that the wind is free, and we are sailors, so cruisers prefer to use their engine as little as possible. Coming in and out of anchorages or sometimes marinas the use of fuel is minimal.

If you are sailing along the coast and it is necessary to reach a destination before dark or against the current and the wind, you can use the motor to arrive before dark.

My inboard diesel engine runs with the smell of an oily rag. The other two fuels that we have to consider are diesel and cooking gas, neither of which should make a dent in the budget.

When planning your fuel cost keep in mind the distance you are traveling, if you are going to be cruising in blue water consider the cost of fuel in the areas you travel.

Based on the cruisers I’ve spoken to, your total fuel budget can be anywhere from $10 to $50 per month, depending on whether you spend most of your time cruising or at anchor.

Communication:

For most of us, mobile phones and the Internet are a necessary part of living and staying in touch. Prepaid calling cards help you keep your call within a fixed budget and that also depends on the person, it can be anywhere from $20 to $50 per month.

Satellite phones will keep you in touch anywhere in the world and have many additional features… see the cost and include it in your cruise budget! There are internet cafes all over the world if you don’t have the facilities on board.

There’s also Sail Mail for offshore sailors with SSB radio, it can be connected to your computer and costs around $200 per month.

Clothing budget:

This depends on where you browse; the tropics or a colder climate. In the tropics minimal clothing is needed and washing and drying is easier. Winter woolen coats and heavy woolen clothing cost more and are more difficult to wash and dry.

It’s often best to wash and dry them on the ground in a washer and dryer; They don’t dry very well when washed with salt water. Therefore, the cost of the laundry will have to be included in the budget of the cruise.

One’s style and values, the frequency of land travel, and the type of entertainment enjoyed will also determine the type and cost of clothing. I personally like to have some beachwear reserved and ready to go! Sailing clothes can sometimes look wrinkled or have stains from their last meal when they lose their mouths hitting a wave. So the cost? This is as individual as it is on land!

Entertainment:

Travel a few hundred miles or over the sea and part of the enjoyment is getting out and exploring the sites, natural wonders, history and all that the culture has to offer. Cruise budgets can be guessed based on the destination.

Much can be seen for free; walking, hiking, snorkeling or diving and walks on the beach. Some museums and cultural events may be free. Local cinemas and cafes don’t have to break the budget, but a good concert can cost us a little more.

Onboard entertainment is different between cruise ships. Most read, listen to tapes and CDs, also watch DVDs, there are also electronic games and board and card games.

None of these things will cost much, and sailors can trade books, games, and DVDs; Marina laundromats are famous for having an array of books for the next person to read. Hobbies like writing journals of places visited or painting are also fun. Some play musical instruments and sing… great for potlucks or beach barbecues, it’s entertainment for everyone!

Medical – Dental – Optical:

This varies in different countries and the health of the individual. In Australia there are mass billing medical centers that are free and dentists if you have a pension and join the free dental waiting list.

Magnifying glasses can be purchased at a pharmacy for reading. That doesn’t rule out going to an optician.
Health Insurance can be a protection in emergencies, some have it, others don’t; this is no different than when you are on land.

Other costs… you may have to consider things like fishing licences, recipes and souvenirs, and flights home. All of these things are individual and things like Customs and Immigration fees for offshore travel must be considered.

Some cruisers can live on $5,000 a year if they are an extremely frugal no-frills cruiser. Others say they live on around $10,000 a year on a pretty strict cruise budget and it can go up from there depending on one’s values ​​and the way one likes to live.

You can spend what you have and live extremely well when your budget hits $20,000 or $30,000 a year. For most people, they can navigate for less than they can live on land.

Lots of things to think about!! A lot to calculate and weigh when looking at your cruise budget! And good news! You won’t have mortgage or rent payments, electric bills, car payments and fuel for your car and all the land-based costs that heavily eat up your finances.

The other big advantage is your vacations and trips, which are endless, are also covered! There is no hotel or transportation to pay!