A reunion cruise for 20 people costs the sum of five things: cabin fares, taxes and port fees, daily gratuities, shore excursions, and onboard extras, plus flights and a hotel night before sailing. Fares vary too much by ship, date and cabin to quote here, but the add-ons are predictable: on a 7-night Royal Caribbean sailing, standard gratuities alone for 20 guests come to about US$2,590.
Below we break down each cost, show how a group of 20 usually fits into cabins, and give you a worksheet so every household knows its share before anyone pays a deposit.
The five cost buckets on every cruise quote
| Cost | How it is charged | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise fare | Per person, priced by cabin | Ship, sailing date, cabin category, number of guests in the cabin |
| Taxes, fees and port expenses | Per person, shown as a separate line | Itinerary and ports visited |
| Gratuities or service charges | Per person, per day | Cruise line, suite or standard cabin, children's ages |
| Shore excursions | Per person, or per vehicle for private tours | Number of ports, ship tour or independent |
| Onboard extras | Per purchase or per package | Specialty dining, Wi-Fi, photos, babysitting, spa |
When you compare quotes, line them up by these buckets. A lower fare with higher port fees or a shorter list of inclusions is not always the cheaper sailing.
How 20 people usually fit into cabins
Most cruise cabins sleep two to four, so a group of 20 typically needs seven or eight cabins. That number matters. Royal Caribbean's group reservations FAQ says only up to four staterooms can be booked online, and the minimum for a group reservation is eight staterooms. Other lines set their own thresholds, so ask before you book.
Here is a typical layout for a three-generation family of 20:
- Grandparents: 1 balcony cabin (2 guests)
- Three families with two children each: 3 cabins (4 guests each, 12 total)
- One adult couple without children: 1 cabin (2 guests)
- Aunt and uncle: 1 cabin (2 guests)
- Two young adult cousins: 1 or 2 cabins (2 guests)
That is seven cabins if the cousins share, or eight if they each take their own. Eight cabins may qualify as a group, but a single guest in a cabin normally pays a supplement, so price it both ways. On many sailings the third and fourth guests in a cabin are priced lower than the first two, which is why families of four often get the best per-person value. Connecting cabins are limited, so request them at the first booking.
Gratuities: worked examples for 20 guests
Gratuities are the add-on families most often forget, and they are easy to calculate in advance. Current published rates from the lines:
- Royal Caribbean: US$18.50 per guest, per day in standard staterooms and US$21.00 in suites, per its gratuity policy. A separate 20% gratuity is added to spa services, specialty dining, room service and beverage packages.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: US$20.00 per person, per day for Club Balcony Suites and below and US$25.00 for The Haven and suites, charged to guests 3 years and older, per the NCL service charge FAQ.
- Carnival: its ticket contract says a recommended gratuity is added to each guest's account, except for children under two. Check the current daily rate when you book.
| Scenario (7 nights, 20 guests) | Calculation | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean, all standard cabins | 20 x 7 x $18.50 | $2,590 |
| Royal Caribbean, grandparents in a suite | (2 x 7 x $21.00) + (18 x 7 x $18.50) | $2,625 |
| NCL, two toddlers under 3 in the group | 18 x 7 x $20.00 | $2,520 |
Prepaying gratuities at booking spreads the cost and means nobody is surprised by the onboard bill. Rates change, so confirm them in your final quote.
Taxes, fees and port expenses
Every quote shows government taxes, fees and port expenses separately from the fare. They are charged per person, including children, and depend on the ports in the itinerary, so a Caribbean sailing with four port calls will usually carry more than a short sailing with one. Itinerary-specific charges also apply: NCL, for example, adds Hawaii's general excise tax to prepaid service charges on Hawaii sailings.
For a group, multiply the per-person figure by 20 before comparing ships. A difference that looks small per person adds up across the whole family.
Shore excursions for a big family
Excursions are where a group of 20 can control costs most. You have three options:
- Ship-sold tours. Priced per person. Simple, and the ship waits if the tour runs late, but costs multiply quickly with 20 guests.
- A private group tour. One guide and one vehicle or boat for the whole family, priced per group. Divided across 20 people, this often compares well with per-person tours, and the schedule can suit naps and slower walkers.
- Free or low-cost days. A public beach near the pier, a walk through town or a day on board while the ship is quiet. Plan at least one of these on a longer sailing.
A simple budget formula: number of paying guests x average cost per excursion x number of ports you plan to book. Ask about children's rates, since many tours price kids lower. Our guide to private excursions for reunion trips covers what to request.
Onboard extras and the costs around the cruise
Extras vary most by household, so agree early which ones the group shares and which each family pays for itself.
- Specialty dining. One shared celebration dinner is a common group expense. Remember the added service charge on some lines.
- Drinks packages. Soft drink, juice and water packages exist on many lines; compare them with what is already included, such as water and tea at the buffet.
- Wi-Fi and photos. Usually per device or per package.
- Evening childcare. Carnival's Camp Ocean is included for ages 2 to 11, but its late-night Night Owls service carries a fee.
- Getting there. Flights, a hotel the night before sailing, port parking or transfers, and travel insurance. For a fly-in group these can rival the cruise fare.
Build your own estimate
Use this worksheet with your quote. Fill in each line per household, then total the group.
| Line | Formula |
|---|---|
| Cruise fares | Sum of each cabin's quoted fare |
| Taxes and port fees | Per-person figure x guests |
| Gratuities | Daily rate x nights x guests charged |
| Excursions | Average cost x guests x ports booked |
| Shared extras | Celebration dinner, group photo, private tour |
| Travel to the port | Flights + hotel + transfers per household |
| Insurance | Per-person premium |
Decide who pays for shared costs before booking. Some families split everything evenly, others cover the grandparents' cabin or let each household pay its own excursions. Our article on what a family reunion trip really costs covers how to agree on a fair split, and how deposits and payment plans work explains timing.
Bottom line
Get one quote that lists every cabin with fares, taxes and gratuities shown separately, add your excursion and travel estimates, and share the total with each household before deposits are due. If you would like help pricing ships side by side, see our reunion cruise planning page and Far & Away Adventures will build the comparison for your group.
Frequently asked questions
Do babies and toddlers pay gratuities on a cruise?
It depends on the line. Carnival exempts children under two, and NCL charges its service charge to guests 3 and older. Check your line's policy for the youngest travellers.
Are cruise prices quoted in Canadian dollars?
Many lines price and charge onboard accounts in US dollars, so budget for the exchange rate and any card foreign-transaction fees when you plan from Canada.
When should a group of 20 book?
As early as the schedule allows. Connecting cabins, suites and accessible staterooms are limited and tend to go first on popular family sailings.