how expensive is a ticket on a ship compared to air travel?

A ticket on a ship is usually not cheaper than air travel for passenger trips, and it can be much more expensive depending on the route and type of vessel. For example, one ferry comparison shows trips in the €29 to €99 range while a comparable flight can be around €300 per person, but some cruise or ocean-liner discussions mention ship travel being about 10% to 20% more expensive than flights on certain routes.

What usually costs more

• Short regional routes: Ferries can be cheaper than planes, especially when baggage is included and fares stay stable.

• Long-distance leisure travel: Cruises often cost more than airfare alone, because you are paying for transportation plus lodging, food, and onboard services.

• Cargo or niche passenger ships: These can be a different case, but they are not the normal comparison most travelers mean.

Practical takeaway

If you mean a normal passenger trip, air travel is often cheaper and faster, while ship travel is usually cheaper only on certain short ferry routes. If you mean a cruise, the ship ticket itself may look competitive, but the total trip cost is often higher once you compare it fairly with a flight-only fare.

Example

A ferry route in the Caribbean was advertised at €29 to €99, while a flight on a similar regional route was around €300, showing how boats can win on some island-hopping trips. On the other hand, cruise discussions commonly show cases where the ship fare is low but the required airfare to reach the departure port makes the full journey much pricier.

TL;DR

Ships are sometimes cheaper for short ferry-style routes, but for most passenger travel, planes are faster and often cheaper overall; cruises are usually more expensive once you compare the full trip.