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Cruises Leaving From Galveston, TX

On the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston, Texas, is warm and welcoming with more than 30 miles of beaches. If you're going to cruise out of Galveston, there's plenty of things to see on land before you head out to sea. There are a variety of museums, art galleries, and historic homes and mansions. If you're fascinated by flight, you'll love the Lone Star Flight Museum.

Take the free ferry from Galveston Island to Port Bolivar, and on the way, you might see dolphins and pass a sunken ship. If you love the sea, pay a visit to the Tall Ship Elissa, crafted in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland. This ship still makes annual sails! Take the kids to Moody Gardens, which sports a tropical rain forest replica.

Those who've booked last minute Galveston cruises through CruiseDirect should plan on setting aside a bit of time to enjoy this unique location before they set sail. Don't forget to head down to the beach while you're in Galveston for some well-deserved relaxation.

Hotel In Galveston

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4 Nights Western Caribbean Cruise

Royal Caribbean's Health & Safety Protocols allow you and your loved ones to cruise with the ultimate safety.

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4 Nights Caribbean Cruise

Carnival's Health & Safety Protocols allow you and your loved ones to cruise with the ultimate safety.

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5 Nights Western Caribbean Cruise

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5 Nights Mexico Cruise

Book now, pay later payment plans with no late fees or surprises when booking with uplift, do you have a future cruise credit redeem your future cruise credit with cruisedirect. speak to an advisor today 1-888-407-2784, find the best cruises from galveston, cruise deals out of galveston.

These cheap Galveston cruises are all less than $350 a night:

• Royal Caribbean International, 5 Night Caribbean Cruise
• Royal Caribbean International, 4 Night Caribbean Cruise
• Carnival, 5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
• Royal Caribbean International, 7 Night Caribbean Cruise

Disney Cruises from Galveston

We're your source for magical Disney cruise deals out of Galveston. Here are just a few of your options:

• 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
• 7 Night Bahamas Cruise
• 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
• 4 Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Royal Caribbean Cruises from Galveston

Your options for Royal Caribbean cruises from Galveston, TX, include:

• 5 Night Caribbean Cruise
• 4 Night Caribbean Cruise
• 7 Night Caribbean Cruise
• 6 Night Caribbean Cruise

Get the Lowest Galveston Cruise Prices

Count on CruiseDirect to connect you with the best cruise specials out of Galveston in the industry. There are no booking fees and flexible payments to ensure that you get the best cruise deals. Galveston cruises are yours for the choosing with the help of our cruise experts. Contact us today.

What is the Best Cruise from Galveston?

Cruisers on our site have awarded the highest ratings to the Carnival 7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise and Disney's 4 Night Western Caribbean Cruise. According to our cruisers, these are the best cruises from Galveston, TX.

Which Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Sails out of Galveston?

Three Royal Caribbean ships cruise of Galveston, the Enchantment of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. This line sails from the  Port of Galveston.

What Cruise Lines Go Out of Galveston, Texas?

The following lines offer Galveston, TX, cruises:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Cruise Destinations

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Cruises from Galveston

An island full of art, architecture, and boutiques.

Princess® returns to Galveston, sailing once again from this city tucked within a quaint Gulf Coast barrier island. Explore the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and grab some local cuisine, or visit Moody Gardens with attractions and entertainment ranging from a world-class aquarium and a living rainforest to the Discovery Museum and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, before you embark on a cruise to exciting destinations in the Western Caribbean and Mexico such as Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan.

Caribbean cruises

On a cruise from Galveston to the Western Caribbean, explore the beauty of unspoiled coral reefs and underwater caves as well as visit the ancient Mayan ruins throughout the region. One moment you can be walking among the vast ruins of this mighty civilization and the next delving into the culture of the Yucatán Peninsula or simply unwinding on beaches that offer some of the best snorkeling in the world.

What to Know About Cruises from Galveston

Known for its history, beaches and outdoor adventures, Galveston is truly a gem in Texas. Here’s everything you need to know about your cruise from Galveston. 

Galveston at a glance

• Language:  English
• Currency:  U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Time Zone:  Central Time (CT)
• Docking:  Your cruise from Galveston docks at the Port of Galveston located in the city’s historic downtown district.
• Attire:  Galveston’s temperatures throughout the year typically range from 48 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning it’s never too hot or too cold to spend the day at the beach.
• Transportation:  You can get around the island by Uber, Lyft, shuttle, limousine, or rental car. There are also unique transportation options such as surreys along the beachfront and horse-drawn carriages in the historic downtown district.

Things to do in Galveston

Before getting on a cruise from Galveston, start your vacation with a visit to the city’s museums, historic neighborhoods, and cultural icons. Take a walk along the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, home to family-friendly rides, games, and other attractions. Then relax on one of Galveston’s many iconic beaches and enjoy the 32-miles of coastline. Whether you are traveling with family, a group of friends or your significant other, this laid-back island has something for everyone.

Cruise Ship Sailing from Galveston

Join our Princess fleet to sail on some of the best cruises from Galveston. Find the comforts of home along with the luxuries you deserve on board any of our ships. Discover what makes our fleet so unique.

Learn more about: Regal Princess®

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Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled.

EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages.

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Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

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Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative.

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Cruise from Galveston, Texas

Galveston shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in galveston.

SALTWATER STALWARTS

Gulf Beach, Galveston, Texas

Unwind along Galveston’s 32 miles of sun-drenched shoreline at one of the many county beach parks lining the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston Island State Park offers quiet seclusion and Stewart Beach is a great family-friendly option, while East Beach is a popular gathering space for livelier beach crowds.

HEAD TO THE PIER

The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas

Say hello to the thrills and excitement of the massive amusement park at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. Galveston cruises give the opportunity to experience all that the pier has to offer. Enjoy the rides before playing all of the classic carnival games — there's even a roller coaster on Pleasure Pier!

BUILDING BLOCKS

Stroll past well-preserved Victorian-era buildings in the old Strand District during your Galveston cruise. Once called the “Wall Street of the South”, this charming commercial hub, along with the neighboring East End Historic District, is home to mansions-turned-museums, the Grand 1894 Opera House, plus loads of unique shops and cozy cafés.

LOCAL CUISINE

Seafood is king on Galveston Island— Gulf shrimp, blue crabs, snapper and grouper come fresh off the boat. But the signature Tex-Mex cuisine equally impresses with sizzling fajitas and tequila-laced margaritas. Old Strand Emporium scoops out ice-cream parlor charm, while La King’s Confectionary is where local candy makers craft saltwater taffy in-house. Don’t miss a drive-through daiquiri stand for a frozen cocktail on-the-go.

The Strand Historical District is the town’s prime shopping spot, where 19th-century storefronts now house a quirky collection of locally owned gift shops and antique stores. Here you can pick up beachwear, whimsical gifts, model ships, used books, Southwestern turquoise jewelry, and Texas-inspired home décor.

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• Carnival Breeze
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* Coming Soon

Set sail from a historic jewel in the Gulf of Mexico on Carnival cruises out of Galveston, Texas. Perched on the Gulf Coast, Galveston was a major commercial port in the late 1800s and has the restored architecture and proud history to show for it. Galveston’s long seawall stretches from beach to beach and offers gulf views the whole way. Sprinkle in a few museums, amusement parks, attractive beaches and tasty seafood restaurants, and you’ve got a great start to your cruise from Galveston.

• Shop for antiques in the historic Strand District, near where Carnival cruises from Galveston dock.
• Hear the sounds of a Central American rainforest at the gardens.
• Treat yourself to spa day at a historical hotel.
• Bike the length of the mural-adorned Seawall.

See it all from Galveston.

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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Cheap Cruises from Galveston - Cruises out of Galveston

• United States    
• Texas (TX)    
• Texas Gulf Coast    
• Galveston Island    

Cruises from Galveston

5 night cruise to the western caribbean.

• You want a freshly renovated older ship with lots of activities
• You like plenty of open decks and cabins with balconies
• You want a ship that provides fun with a touch of class
• You want a quiet, classically understated cruise experience
• You need diversions like massive waterparks and ziplines

7 Night Cruise to the Western Caribbean

• You want an energetic cruise that's impossibly fun for all
• You love action; the Ultimate Abyss slide is heart-pounding
• You enjoy big, busy ships filled with plenty of dining options
• You prefer a more traditional, laid-back cruise experience
• You love watching the sea; some public rooms lack windows

4 Night Cruise to the Western Caribbean

4 night cruise to the caribbean.

• You avoided Carnival's earlier ships because of their wild decor
• You want a big ship with quality amenities designed for kids
• You love nonstop entertainment activities by day and night
• You find crowds, line-ups and organised activities stressful
• You value spacious suites and high-end, designer amenities

5 Night Cruise to the Caribbean

6 night cruise to the caribbean.

• You enjoy plenty of diverse restaurant and cuisine options
• You value wide-open deck spaces and hidden nooks and crannies
• You want a big, modern ship with as many amenities as possible
• You dislike big ships where lines and crowds are the norm
• You want adventurous thrills like ziplines and bumper cars
• You prefer subtle evening entertainment to in-your-face fun

8 Night Cruise to the Caribbean

• You want to be wowed by glitzy, Vegas-style attractions
• You need plenty of exciting activities and nonstop nights
• You are travelling as a family and need something for everyone
• You want cutting-edge design and all the latest features
• You dislike crowds and additional charges; both are here

14 Night Cruise to the Caribbean

• You want to sail on one of Norwegian's slightly smaller but more spacious next generation of ships
• You seek the greatest selection of activities, bars, dining (al fresco included) and entertainment options
• You like a refined social atmosphere with places to escape to like a traditional observation lounge
• You prefer a smaller ship with fewer fellow passengers
• You are turned off by The Haven exclusives separate from public amenities
• You want even more included without the need to pay for extras
• You want a sophisticated cruise with some Vegas glitz and glam
• You love having lots of diverse dining options for all tastes
• You're travelling as an extended family and need fun for all
• You like the promenade decks found on other Princess ships
• You want large cabins and balconies; standard ones are small

7 Night Cruise to the Caribbean

• You are looking for a next-gen "Fun Ship" experience with lots to do at a great value
• You want the greatest selection of dining and entertainment options
• You like a social and party atmosphere with some quieter places to escape to
• You prefer a smaller ship with fewer fellow passengers and more space per guest
• You appreciate a greater destination focus with an observation lounge

9 Night Cruise to the Western Caribbean

• You like a more classically styled, big-ship cruise experience
• You like bright, window-lined public rooms and open decks
• You want to go to ports that the bigger ships can't get to
• You want the latest whiz-bang gadgets and onboard features
• You are looking for surfing simulators, ziplines and the like

15 Night Cruise to the Caribbean

• You love Disney and want a high-quality family cruise experience
• You are travelling with kids and need excellent kids programmes
• You love the grand style of the past transatlantic ocean liners
• You don't want to have your picture taken with Captain Mickey
• You're looking for a quiet, adults-only cruise vacation
• You value diversions like surfing simulators and ziplines

6 Night Cruise to the Western Caribbean

Short vs. long cruises: Which one is right for you? Here's how they compare.

Whether you want a weekend getaway or to max out your vacation days, there’s a cruise for that.

Cruise lines offer itineraries ranging from a few days to monthslong . But there are more differences between short and long sailings than just the amount of time guests spend on board. The length of a cruise can help dictate the types of ports passengers visit, the kind of ship they’re sailing on and even the general vibe on board.

“It's important to walk our guests through and for cruisers to think about, what's the experience that they're trying to have,” said Jamie Margolis, owner of Moms at Sea Travel, a Dream Vacations franchise. “So, we try to tease out that information, like, ‘What's your vacation style?’ ”

What can guests expect from short cruises?

Cruises can be divided into those shorter or longer than a week, according to Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel. “So, anything less than that is really considered a short cruise,” he said.

Those around three nights long are often aimed at new-to-cruise guests “who aren’t really ready to commit to seven days but really want to quote-unquote test the waters, let's say – to see if cruising is right for them,” he added.

Those sailings typically feature just one port and a sea day and often visit tried-and-true cruise destinations. Travelers sailing from South Florida ports like Miami and Fort Lauderdale will likely visit Nassau in the Bahamas or one of many cruise line private islands , for example. While those sailing from Galveston, Texas, can expect to stop in Cozumel.

Margolis called three-and-four-night voyages a “great intro to cruising,” albeit with more limited itinerary choices. “Is their dream to go to Saint Kitts? They're probably not going to find that on a short sailing,” she said.

Shorter cruises may also lend themselves more to a party atmosphere and be less kid-friendly. But Margolis noted that’s not unique to cruising. “I mean, it's the nature of travel that short weekends can be celebratory,” she said.

And with diverse onboard offerings – from ship-within-a-ship concepts to kids clubs – passengers can often carve out their own experience.

Cruise lines have new offerings in that shorter category. Celebrity Cruises is launching its first regular weekend itineraries in the Caribbean this month, and Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas will offer three-and-four-night sailings when it debuts in July.

What can guests expect from long cruises?

Feldman said any sailing over seven days could be considered a “longer cruise.” Those can range from around 10 days to more than six months. Royal Caribbean is operating a nine-month world cruise to more than 60 countries.

While short cruises “can feel like a bit of a whirlwind,” according to Margolis, longer itineraries offer more time to explore a greater variety of ports. They may feature less-visited destinations such as Aruba and Curaçao and often take place on smaller, older vessels (though ships are refurbished regularly).

That’s partly due to the limitations in places they stop. “Some of the ports … cannot really accommodate this large ship hardware,” Feldman said. “So, you need a smaller-size ship to navigate in and out of these ports.”

The onboard demographic also tends to skew older on those cruises since retired passengers typically have more free time, and travelers with kids are often beholden to school schedules.

If you want a middle ground, though, Margolis said a seven-night cruise “really takes you through what I think is, like, the whole cruise cycle.”

"You get on, you get acclimated, you find all the different amenities, and then you're able to … truly relax, disconnect, unwind,” she said. ‘And then you know, midweek, you start getting your luggage tags, and you go through that mental process of accepting that you're going to have to get off in a couple of days and go back to work.”

At that length, it's also easier to tack on a bit of extra time on the front or back end of the sailing to explore on their own, Feldman added.

Are short or long sailings cheaper?

Because short sailings frequently take place on larger ships, they are “very attractively priced” to help fill the cabins. But that doesn’t mean they’ll always be cheaper than a longer cruise.

A cruise with more stops will have higher port fees, but passengers may book longer itineraries further out and get better fares.

Looking for cheap cruises?: Here's what to know know about finding deals.

“Most times, you're not going to book a three-to-four-night sailing 12 to 18 months in advance,” said Feldman. “You're going to book that much closer in.”

The ship’s age also plays a role in how it’s priced, with shiny new vessels commanding higher rates . “So, there's a lot of different variables in play that kind of dictate where you're going to come out ahead or how much your cruise is ultimately going to cost based on those factors,” said Feldman.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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REGION 59 HOTEL is one of the top choices for your stay and is a popular 3-star hotel featuring a roundtrip airport shuttle and free extended parking. It's located 3.7 mi (6 km) from Bolshoye Savino Airport. Another top choice near the airport is Marmelade Hotel , located 0.1 mi (0.2 km) away.

The hottest months are usually July and August with an average temp of 59°F, while the coldest months are January and February with an average of 12°F. Average annual precipitation for Chusovoy is 29 inches.

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Home > Company Hub > How much will IR35 cost you? Outside – Inside – Perm

How much will IR35 cost you? Outside – Inside – Perm

• March 9, 2020

This guide talks about the impact IR35 will have on your take-home pay. How much will IR35 cost you? Should you go Inside IR35/Umbrella or Perm?

In Part I of the IR35 mini-series we talked about the current state of contracting and the IR35 mess. We covered some pros and cons of being a contractor and how it compares with being a permie.

It’s now time to talk numbers. The math will hopefully help you decide whether IR35 has made contracting worth continuing. The answer, as usual, is: it depends! Before we dive in, first some definitions. What do we mean by Outside IR35, Inside and Perm:

Outside IR35: The pre-2020 contracting landscape. You operate as a limited company that pays corporation tax and personal income tax. You have the freedom to choose your taxes based on how much you want to withdraw as salary/dividends from your company. Also, business expenses can be claimed.

Inside IR35 / Umbrella : You still operate as a contractor through your limited company or through an umbrella . The take-home pay amounts between inside IR35 and umbrella are very similar. You are taxed more than a permanent employee. That’s because you have to pay both yours and the Employer’s National insurance. 

You’re not paid while drinking Pina Coladas on the beach or when sick (except a small amount of Statutory pay).

Your gross pay is usually higher than a perm to compensate for these plus all other minuses that come with contracting, like void periods, short notice period, accounting, DIY pension etc. You don’t get to choose when to withdraw your profits, as everything is taxed at source and you must take all income home now.

Permanent employee (perm) : The majority of the workforce belongs here. The usual employee of a company, who belongs to the company payroll, has a salary that lands in your bank account each month no matter what. Entitled to holidays, sickness pay, and potentially other benefits such as pension, training and mandatory performance reviews.

How much will IR35 cost me Inside IR35 or Umbrella?

This is the most common question. People switching from Outside IR35 to Inside or Umbrella want to know how much income they will lose.

For starters, we assume that the Outside IR35 contractor takes all income home and leaves nothing in the company.

Taking all income out is not the most tax-efficient way to deal with your company money. But it’s a good baseline so let’s start with that. The following graph shows the take-home pay Outside IR35 compared to Inside IR35/Umbrella at the same rate.

The higher the rate the more it will cost you to transition from outside IR35 to inside IR35. But it’s not that bad. (hint: it gets worse).

So in most cases, a contractor will lose anywhere between 15% to 20% of their take-home income. Here’s a graph, showing the percentage difference for the given rates.

Punchline: For tax-inefficient contractors who take all money home, the difference between Outside IR35 -> Inside IR35 (or Umbrella) is between 15-20%.

What if you switch to perm, instead? Let’s see how an Outside IR35 compares to the same gross income taken as a perm employee.

Cost of moving from Outside IR35 (All Out) to Perm

But a few people I know have abandoned contracting altogether and want to switch to perm. What would the impact be if we take the same gross income as a perm?

Here’s the take-home pay when taken as an Outside IR35 contractor vs the equivalent gross pay as a perm employee. I’ve used the salary calculator ( link ) to calculate the take-home pay of all perm salaries.

As you can see, going perm doesn’t make much of a difference. On £600 per day, for which the equivalent annual gross is £132,000, the difference is just £6,000 per year.

However, here’s the catch:

It is really hard to achieve the same gross income as a perm. Here is a table outlining the equivalent gross amount of a daily rate when charged annually (44 working weeks. 5w hols, 8d bank hols, 7d sick/void):

Do you see the problem? In my experience, a contractor on £300/day will find it really hard to find a job at £66,000. Similarly, one who earns £600/day won’t easily find a £132,000 perm salary, even if you account for things like pension and bonus.

And it makes sense from a risk point of view. As we explained in Part I of this IR35 series , as a contractor your client doesn’t provide months of leave notice, job security or any perks. You provide a service at a cost. You are a Capital Expenditure (CapEx budget).

As a perm, the company makes commitments to you which is why the equivalent gross pay is unrealistic. I don’t know exactly what the equivalent “discount” we need to apply here when switching from Outside IR35 to Perm. But I do know there is one. So the percentage difference is higher than the table above suggests – to some extent.

The difference is BIG when the contractor is tax-efficient

The gap between Outside IR35 and all the other options widens further if you’re a tax-efficient contractor.

I’m sure you know a lot of people who don’t take all the money home.

Most contractors I know will at least take advantage of the minimum salary/dividends payout. So they all withdraw a minimum salary and dividends up to the point that doesn’t cross the higher taxpayer threshold (£50,000 as of 2020).

I think we can all agree this is a good tax strategy assuming you have no other (unsheltered) income outside your LTD affairs. Why take more £50,000 a year and pay higher taxes if you can just leave the money in the company and just pay corporation tax? Assuming, of course, you can live on this amount.

To the extreme end of this spectrum, there are people like myself who invest their company money . I consider my LTD money as “take-home” because it can provide income for years to come when invested. Others just leave it in there in cash and at some point, they claim “Entrepreneur’s Relief” (if this is not scrapped soon). This means they will only pay 10% tax to take it out of the company.

This all means the take-home pay for Outside IR35 contractors can be different from person to person despite having the same daily rate.

Putting it all together we have the following groups:

• All Out :  Some other people say I want all my capital in my pocket, therefore I’m happy to pay the extra dividend tax to do that. This means I’ll have to apply a 32.5% dividend tax on the money before it becomes “take-home”. All-out approach
• Leave Surplus In strategy:  Some, like me, consider the LTD surplus cash as “take-home” pay. Since you can invest the company money, the income/dividends will keep coming and I don’t need to (ever?) withdraw this surplus. So for the purposes of providing me income, the money is effectively take-home although it still belongs to the company. This is mathematically the most tax-efficient way.
• Entrepreneurs Relief approach : Some others take an accumulative approach but with ER in mind. They say, I will only withdraw a minimum salary and dividends as everybody else does and I will leave the rest of the money in the company. When the sum is big enough, I will close the company down and claim Entrepreneur’s Relief by paying only 10% tax to make the money mine . I will call this approach the ER approach.

So for an Outside IR35 contractor who takes a £50,000 take-home and leaves the surplus in the company (on 10% tax, Entrepreneurs Relief) here is the difference in take-home:

That’s a BIG difference. So if you leave some money in the company, moving from Outside IR35 to inside IR35 is going to cost you 30% loss of income on £650 per day. It’s “just” 15% on £200 per day but can go up to 33% loss on £1000 per day.

A bit depressing if you’re an Outside IR35 on a high rate. The data don’t lie!

Putting it all together: Outside IR35 vs Inside IR35 & Umbrella vs Perm

If we put all possible options in one single graph, it looks like this:

And that’s all on the same gross pay!!!

So when people ask me whether converting from contracting to perm has a difference, the answer is: It depends on how well you handle your taxes. If you’re wise with taxes, then it makes a massive difference . As you can see, an Outside IR35 contractor on £500 per day, who L eaves S urplus I n goes from £87,000 down to £70,000 (perm) or £62,400 (Umbrella). That’s a 30% drop in take-home income!

If you want to have a detailed look at the exact numbers, here’s the full table:

Even if you’re not working exactly 44 weeks and make the same assumptions as I do, the above table gives you a good indication. Here is a link to my spreadsheet which I used to calculate all the Outside IR35 take-home options. Use File -> Make a copy to edit the file, please do not request access to edit mine .

You may be wondering:

How can I improve my take-home pay if I cannot continue contracting Outside IR35? 

There are a few things you can do to improve your take-home pay.

• Negotiate a rate increase
• Contribute to your pension

Negotiating a rate increase can work sometimes but it’s a bit futile. If everyone is running around like a headless chicken, why would companies offer more? It’s a question of supply and demand really because I’m sure companies still need some flexible workforce to scale up and down quickly.

So we shall wait and see who needs who more 🙂

Contributing to your pension is a sure win from a tax point of view and makes the transition much smoother. That’s because your pension contributions are income-tax-free, NI-free and corporation tax-free. In the next article we are going to answer the following questions:

• How can I increase my take-home pay inside IR35, Umbrella or Perm?
• How much do I need to increase my rate inside IR35 to match my Outside IR35 take-home?

Calculation Notes:

• A contractor works approximately the same weeks as a perm employee. Takes 5 weeks holidays, 8 days bank holidays, 7 days sickness/void periods between contracts. Total: 44 working weeks. 
• All calculations were done for the Financial tax year 2019/20
• No pension was added to either perm or contract. It can save both perm and contractors a lot of tax. Pension deserves its own chapter, which is why we’re going to have another article just on how to use pensions to extract more out of your salary.
• Perm calculations include ALL benefits, bonus, overtime etc except pension.
• Used my Outside IR35 Contractor calculator ( Google Sheet ) to calculate all take home styles
• Inside IR35 calculations provided by Contractor Calculator – link
• Salary (perm) calculations by The Salary Calculator – link

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17 thoughts on “how much will ir35 cost you outside – inside – perm”.

Great article Michael, this really clarifies what I’d always suspected but could never work out the maths for — and thanks for the spreadsheet.

You rock Michael! Great article!! I’m sure it will help lot of people at this time of chaos.

Hi Michael,

Thanks for this. Do you invest your company money through pension (so before corporation tax), or do you do it after you’ve paid corporation tax and invest it privately as profit?

I’m wondering because I’m quite loathe to leave it in government’s control (even private pension age is planned to go up), and that puts me off pensions.

Thank you, Michael. Great article.

I was using the minimum needed salary and dividends approach so it will be a big hit. One of my client has agreed to increase the rate so mitigate the impact and I’ll put the revised rate for future contracts. Increasing pension contribution is another option and I’d also suggest making the full use of ISA allowance while it lasts for any spare income you are forced to withdraw given that tax is already paid. Any dividends invested and re-invested in ISA, hopefully, coupled with some increase in rates, along with pension contribution will hopefully take the edge out of 33% or so hit on income.

@D I do both. As you rightly said, pension contributions suffer from lack of control but are 100% tax-efficient. So some of my investments go into a SIPP (saving corporation tax) and some I invest through my limited company after corporation tax is paid but still pre-income-tax. https://www.foxymonkey.com/how-to-invest-your-company-profits/

@Peterparker sounds like a good plan. I understand not everyone can increase their inside-IR35 rates but should definitely ask to share the pain with the employer.

@Satish, @Peter Jones – Glad you liked it 🙂 Hopefully, the chaos won’t last long!

Great article Michael – thanks for sharing the insightful graphs and calculator. You managed to make a difficult topic enjoyable to read!

Very well thought out and presented Michael. I have already gone permie as I saw the writing on the wall. The tax hike the past 9 months has been painful but at least some respite today in that Entrepreneurs relief has not been canned. I have a reasonable level of co. reserves over 100k; appreciate in your other posts you talk about opening a holding co. and investing via there but I think unless you have 200k plus or a growing warchest (on the expectation of being able to stay contracting outside IR35) the costs of running the two cos. would eat into potential returns too much.

Thanks, Andrew. I was glad to hear ER is not going away too! Starting an investment company for me has a much lower limit. £50k or so. If you can make a say 7-10% on £50,000 that’s between £3,500 to £5,000 versus £0 returns in the bank. But yeah, there’s hassle involved I hear you.

Thanks Michael. That makes sense if you’re planning on adding in fresh capital over time. But if you’re out of the contracting gig like me I think its harder to justify, and the fees for running the co. are going to eat into those returns. That’s why I was so relieved ER was retained as I can pull out the stagnant cash with only a minor hit. If I was staying contracting I would go down your second company route. But what with the world as it is and mine (and presumably most other’s) pensions and investments decimated knowing what to do with anything spare is all up in the air anyway! FIRE is perhaps less achievable but also not likely the top priority right now. Stay safe folks!

Indeed, Andrew, take care!

@Michael. A very in depth article, thanks!

Did you ever do the followup article covering the necessary increase in rate necessary to maintain the same take-home when moving from outside to inside IR35?

With the revised implementation date for IR35 changes now coming into force in a few months time, it’d be great to see your analysis on this.

Glad you found it useful, Martin. I haven’t written the article yet. You can probably estimate that by looking at the last take-home table based on your rate. So for a £500 per day outside IR35 contract (All money out) the equivalent would be ~£650 per day inside IR35.

The more tax-efficient you are with the company money the higher the rate increase to match it. Goes to show why IR35 can be a big showstopper and why it has really killed most of the freelancing job postings!

Hi @Michael, thanks for your response!

Just to check my understanding is correct: following your example, if I translated a £700 a day outside all out (£98k) that would be equivalent to around £900 a day Inside IR35?

Does the same logic apply to cross referencing between the Outside IR35 Entrepreneurs Relief and Inside IR35? ie a £650 a day at Outside ER (£107k) is equivalent to approximately £1,000 a day Inside IR35?

Hi Martin, both your examples are correct. Goes to show how big of an impact moving inside IR35 has. Plus how much room for tax optimisation company directors have!

Very good article. However, I am one of those contractors who are efficient with their tax. I am loosing 30% pay in real terms and its ruining my life. Sold my car (not a really nice one) and had to hand notice in to my sons private school. its heartbreaking. IR35 has ruined my life.

Hello Michael, I’m wondering what would be the best strategy for someone who has stopped contracting and taken on a perm role. Would you close the company, go with ER and take surplus funds out? Or continue down the strategy of investing surplus funds in stocks/shares or property?

I see the benefits if you continue to do contract work outside IR35. Investing surplus funds make total sense especially if you’re being tax efficient. However with Entrepreneurs Relief on the table I seem to think it flips to the other side.

Asking for a friend 😉

Hi Mannuel, short answer is it depends on your goals. If keeping Entrepreneur’s relief is important to you then investing a substantial amount might lose this benefit. You have to be more careful how you want to go about it.

See can I claim entrepreneur’s relief if my company invests?

ER also restricts you from operating in the same space for 24 months. That’s the “phoenixing” rule. So if you want to leave your perm job and go back to contracting, that’s another thing to consider.

Having said that, the Entrepreneur’s Relief rules change all the time so it might not be here for long. Just speculating though, but now we definitely know it’s on the table.

Overall, it depends on many different factors, and you have to run different scenarios. It’s a popular question and part of the tax pillar in the company investing course.

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7 Cruise Ports That are Far From the Airport (and 7 That are a Breeze to Get to)

Taking a cruise doesn’t just mean traveling on a ship. Unless you live within walking distance of your embarkation port, your journey will usually involve one or a series of planes, trains and/or automobiles before and after you set foot on your cruise ship.

And while driving can often be a feasible way to reach your embarkation port from your home, flying is still very much the norm. Identifying the closest airport and the logistics involved in transferring from airport to the cruise port is still an inevitable piece of every cruiser’s journey.

However, not all distances between cruise ports and airports are created equal. Fort Lauderdale’s airport, for example, is a breezy 10 minutes from Port Everglades. Southampton, England is a pain-inducing 90 minute drive that can cost a bundle in a taxi. It’s crucial to factor in these distances and commute times (and, let’s face it, costs) when planning your travel to and from your ship.

The good news is that, even on the worst of cases, the distances between airport and cruise port are not insurmountable. Moreover, cruise lines typically offer transfers to and from your embarkation port. And alternate transportation options (like taxis, rideshare services, shuttles and even trains) are usually readily available.

Here are seven cruise ports that are notoriously distant from the nearest airport, and seven that are remarkably close.

On This Page

• Far: Orlando (Port Canaveral)
• Near: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
• Near: Miami
• Far: Galveston
• Near: San Diego
• Near: Boston
• Far: Ports of Seward and Whittier, Alaska
• Near: Vancouver
• Near: Ushuaia
• Far: Southampton
• Far: Berlin
• Near: Barcelona
• Far: Rome (Civitavecchia)
• Far: Athens (Piraeus)

1. Far: Orlando (Port Canaveral)

As the world’s second-busiest cruise port, Port Canaveral is a popular embarkation hub. This Floridian port is home to seven terminals and the world’s biggest cruise lines, including Carnival , Royal Caribbean , MSC , Norwegian and Disney .

But Floridians and just about anyone who has flown to Orlando International Airport (MCO) know that calling Port Canaveral an Orlando port is a bit of a stretch. The Central Florida city is, perhaps unsurprisingly, located near the middle of the state; a substantial distance from either the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.

And although MCO lies in the eastern fringes of Orlando and therefore significantly closer to the Atlantic Ocean, it’s still 45 miles away (or a 50-minute drive, on a good day) from the cruise terminals in Port Canaveral. Transportation options are limited to taxis, Uber/Lyft or renting a car, so booking a shuttle with your cruise line is a worthwhile plan. You’ll need to factor that drive time in, too, when you book your return flight home. And pad it a bit – security lines at MCO are notoriously long.

2. Near: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)

If Orlando to Port Canaveral represents the farthest airport-to-port distance in Florida, Fort Lauderdale offers the opposite scenario. Less than three miles separate the terminals of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) from the cruise terminals of Port Everglades , making this South Florida city one of the most convenient airport-cruise port combinations in the world. Convenient, as Port Everglades ranks third in the global list of busiest cruise ports, welcoming about 4 million cruise passengers per year.

The port also features a plurality of cruise lines, including Azamara , Celebrity Cruises , Cunard , Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line , Princess Cruises , Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection , Royal Caribbean, Silversea and Viking Ocean Cruises . Booking a transfer with your cruise line is a readily available option, but given the short hop to Port Everglades, you can just as easily rely on a taxi or shared ride service.

3. Near: Miami

In 2023, PortMiami regained its crown as the busiest cruise ship in the world, welcoming a record-breaking 7.3 million passengers. And the port keeps growing, with MSC Cruises’ new terminal set to debut in 2024.

While not as close as Fort Lauderdale’s International Airport to Port Everglades, the distance between Miami International Airport (MIA) and PortMiami comes up to about eight miles. Traffic conditions can vary wildly in busy South Florida depending on the time of day, but you can reasonably expect to cover the distance between MIA and PortMiami in anywhere from 20 to 35 minutes.

Despite the airport’s proximity to the port, give yourself a bit more time on the return journey home: check-in and security can really back up at MIA if you’re not carrying status with an airline or have TSA Pre-Check or CLEAR to help you zip through the crowds.

4. Far: Galveston

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. And that includes distances.

The Port of Galveston is quickly becoming one of the world’s busiest cruise ports outside of Florida, mainly due to its strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s also part of Greater Houston, one of the largest and most populous metropolitan areas in North America.

The Houston metropolitan area is serviced by two airports: George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) . But neither one is particularly close to Galveston. IAH holds the lion’s share of the traffic, with an annual flow of 45 million passengers. But it’s also the farthest from the Port of Galveston at a distance of 72 miles, due to its location north of Downtown Houston. This translates to a minimum commute of 1.5 hours to Galveston under normal traffic conditions.

Located southeast of Downtown Houston, HOU is closer to Galveston, but still 42 miles away. Driving time between airport and cruise port can easily take an hour or more. The airport is also smaller and mainly offers domestic routes on airlines like Southwest, Frontier, Allegiant, Delta and American Airlines.

To travel to and from either airport, your options are limited to booking a transfer with your cruise line or seeking your own modes of transportation like taxis or rideshare services. Beware: the latter are not cheap.

5. Near: San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is famous for being the world’s busiest single-runway airport. Welcoming more than 24 million passengers per year, this airport ranks as the third busiest in the state of California.

But here’s another claim to fame for this Southern California airport: it sits only 2.5 miles away from the Port of San Diego , which also happens to be the state’s third busiest cruise port. So getting from SAN to the ports two cruise terminals – B Street Pier and Broadway Pier – will take you less than 10 minutes by car.

6. Near: Boston

As New England’s largest city, Boston is a popular embarkation port for cruises exploring the Canada/New England route or going down to Bermuda or as far as the Caribbean.

And the capital of Massachusetts offers a refreshingly swift connection between its main airport and its cruise port.

Going from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) to the city’s Flynn Cruiseport is as easy as crossing the Ted Williams Tunnel, a distance covered in less than four miles. Taxi or rideshare service is your best bet, as public transportation – while available – undergoes a longer and less direct trek.

7. Far: Ports of Seward and Whittier, Alaska

Texas may be big, but Alaska is huge.

The Last Frontier’s vastness is a main component of its charm, with tens of thousands of square miles of natural beauty to discover.

The ports of Seward and Whittier on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula are the state’s two primary points of cruise embarkation and debarkation. Here you’ll find lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruise Line, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea and more on one-way itineraries originating from or ending in Vancouver and Seattle.

But neither Seward nor Whittier have large-scale airports. The closest one, which also happens to be Alaska’s busiest, is Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC) all the way in Anchorage.

From Seward, that’s a distance of roughly 125 miles for which you’ll need to devote about 2.5 hours to cover by car. Whittier is closer: some 60 miles or an hour and 15-minute drive. Alternatively, in both cases you can opt for the longer but much more scenic train ride , which can be arranged as a tour through your cruise line.

8. Near: Vancouver

The aptly-named Canada Place in Vancouver is Canada’s busiest cruise port and a major gateway to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

The city is also home to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) , the country’s second-busiest airport with average annual traffic of 25 million passengers.

While not insignificant, the eight-mile distance that separates Vancouver International Airport (YVR) from Canada Place is fairly benign and manageable in about 30-45 minutes by car, depending on the city’s legendary – and growing – traffic congestion.

A quicker option for those who don’t mind handling their luggage: hop the Canada Line train bound for Waterfront Station. It picks up at YVR just outside the terminal and deposits passengers at Waterfront Station, which offers above-ground and underground connections to Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal.

9. Near: Ushuaia

Cruises to Antarctica have steadily grown in popularity, and the most common way to reach the White Continent on a cruise is from the southern tip of South America.

Ushuaia , Argentina’s southernmost city, is a common gateway to Antarctica. And while crossing the mighty Drake Passage en route to the Last Continent takes an average of two days, commuting from Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH) to the Port of Ushuaia is a much less formidable affair, with a mere 6 km (2.3 miles) separating both transportation hubs.

10. Far: Southampton

The port city of Southampton has long enjoyed a rich seafaring tradition, dating all the way back to the days of the Mayflower’s fateful journey in 1620 – and the Titanic’s ill-fated voyage in 1912. Today, it holds the distinction of being the United Kingdom’s chief port, and one of the UK’s most important cruise ports.

Located only five miles away from the port, the local Southampton Airport (SOU) offers flights to a handful of European destinations. Trouble is, most tourists will never arrive into SOU.

If you’re flying into the U.K. to catch a cruise in Southampton, however, your gateways are likely to be London’s two busiest airports: Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) . Both lie considerably far from Southampton’s cruise port, the former some 65 miles away and the latter about 90 miles to the northeast.

Worse, for a nation of rail enthusiasts, there aren’t convenient rail connections from either airport – and that means you’re going to have to take a taxi (expensive), rideshare (nearly as expensive) or pre-book a more economical motorcoach. For a few dozen pounds, it’s pleasantly cheap – but beware the Southampton coach station is a decent hike from most hotels.

11. Far: Berlin

A quick glance at a map reveals that Berlin isn’t quite on any coast, yet the German capital is often listed as a port of call or an embarkation port for many a Baltic cruise. That’s because ‘Berlin’s port’ is not actually in Berlin, but in Warnemünde , some 240km (150 miles) to the north – a good two and a half hour drive in most conditions.

And given its location just south of the German capital, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) sits even farther from the shores of the Baltic Sea, adding a handful of miles to your journey.

The local trains are a popular option to cover the distance between Berlin and Warnemünde, and to get from BER to Berlin’s city center. Your cruise line will also very likely offer a transfer option, so be sure to take advantage of this if you’d rather avoid a long and costly taxi ride.

12. Near: Barcelona

As one of the main gateways for Mediterranean cruises , Barcelona stands out as being home to Europe’s biggest and busiest cruise port. Luckily, the city’s Josep Tarradellas-El Prat International Airport sits just south of the city center, some 17 km (10.5 miles) away from Barcelona’s cruise port .

While not a tiny distance, it can be reasonably covered in under 30 minutes. Cruise transfers, taxis and ride share services are a commonly used and easy option to get to and from the airport. Public transportation is also available, but it involves a combination of trains and buses that can effectively double your commute time and will prove difficult to manage with luggage. Our advice: book a transfer, or take a taxi or rideshare.

13. Far: Rome (Civitavecchia)

Cruising or flying to Rome can feel a bit like false advertising. The Italian capital’s cruise port is located in Civitavecchia , a municipality that technically belongs to the wider città metropolitana di Roma Capitale (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital), but it’s actually 70 km (43 miles) northwest of Rome’s city center. Similarly, Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) lies about 30 km (19 miles) from the Eternal City.

What’s more, FCO and Civitavecchia are about 65 km (40 miles) away from each other, translating into an hour commute for cruisers getting to or coming from their ship.

Roma Ciampino , the city’s secondary airport, is only 8 miles away from the Italian capital, but is also a much smaller facility that caters primarily to low-cost carriers within Europe like Ryanair. It’s also farther from Civitavecchia, about 85 km away (53 miles).

Bottom line: budget time to reach FCO when disembarking your cruise ship. The drive is lengthy, the airport chaotic on the best of days. Do yourself a favor and leave lots of time – or better yet, hop the nearby express train in Civitavecchia for a post-cruise stay in Rome.

14. Far: Athens (Piraeus)

Legend has it that back in 490 BC, a herald named Pheidippides ran from the village of Marathon to Athens without stopping to deliver the news of an important victory over a Persian army. The distance covered by the Greek messenger -- 42.195 km or 26 miles and 385 yards – has since become the official definition of the marathon foot race.

What’s no legend is that traveling from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Piraeus Cruise Port is longer than a marathon, as the distance between both transportation hubs edges closer to 50 km (31 miles). Therefore, you’ll need to budget anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to cover this distance comfortably – more if you’re trying to reach ATH in traffic.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.