Most people book the wrong cruise — and never realise it.
The fix is one simple number.
When you’re comparing cruises, the price you see is the total cabin price. But that number lies. A two-week cruise will always look more expensive than a long weekend — even when it’s far better value.
To compare fairly, you need PPPN: Price Per Person Per Night.
Why a £1,800 cruise can be better value than a £1,200 one
A £1,200 cruise for 4 nights works out at £150 per person, per night. An £1,800 cruise for 14 nights is just £64 PPPN — over 50% cheaper per day, despite the bigger headline price. Once you compare by the night, the real bargains jump out.
Cruise prices move like flight prices
Cruise lines use dynamic pricing — algorithms push fares up when a ship is filling fast and slash them when cabins sit empty. PPPN helps you see past the sticker price and spot when a fare has genuinely dropped.
How to tell a real deal from a fake discount
The trick is knowing the average PPPN for a route. Once you do, any price below it is a genuine saving — and any “sale” above it is just clever marketing. That benchmark is your instant sanity check.
What £90 a night actually buys you
At £90 PPPN, remember that includes your cabin, travel between destinations, five-star dining and nightly entertainment. Put like that, cruising makes land-based holidays look expensive.
See it for yourself
Our free tracker shows live prices across Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and P&O — sorted by PPPN so the best value rises to the top, complete with “price drop” and “lowest yet” flags.
CruisePriceSpy is free to use. We only earn a small commission if you click through and book — at no extra cost to you.