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Past Newsletter Articles Cruise or Land Vacation?
Past Newsletter Articles Cruise or Land Vacation?
| Cruise or Land Vacation? |
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| Written by Catherine Banks |
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While planning your next vacation, this inevitable and tricky question is likely to come up. "What's better- an all-inclusive resort or a cruise ship?" After examining both vacation choices, the conclusion is that it all depends on the type of vacation you're envisioning. Do you want a whirlwind of excursions, nice dinners and multiple islands? Or would you rather sunbathe at the pool and sleep in a luxurious hotel room? There are perks and drawbacks to both all-inclusive resorts and cruise lines. Once you look at the pros and cons of each vacation option, hopefully you'll be able to make the correct decision to fit your traveling style. A few days on a cruise line can allow you to experience multiple locations. The best part is you can sleep the night away while you're traveling to the next destination, leaving you refreshed to embark on a new adventure. Cruise ship entertainment is always free. It is available both day and night and is generally more engaging than the entertainment that is offered at an all-inclusive resort. Cruise lines include meals and snacks in their price and these meals can be fancier than most of the meals at all-inclusive resorts. However, a drop in the quality of cruise ship meals has been reported by recent cruise passengers. The staff on a cruise ship is highly trained and experienced. You should find that members of the staff such as the waiter, busboy and cabin steward are polite, service-oriented and attentive. Another advantage to choosing a cruise line is the unique experience of sailing from island to island. The view from a private balcony on a cruise ship is enough to make anyone feel like a world traveler. There are also disadvantages to a cruising vacation. Each cruise line has different accommodations that are included in the overall set price of the cruise but it generally only includes meals and snacks, beverages at mealtimes, facilities such as the pool, activities and entertainment and transportation between the port-of-calls. The extras that you'll end up paying out of pocket for include soft drinks, alcohol, gratuity, spa treatments, island excursions and any airfare or airport transfers. These extra charges are made to your credit card and will commonly show up on your statement after you've already returned home. Don't think you've escaped an expensive vacation until you've checked your credit card bill for charges you've made while on the ship. Cruise lines have realized the best way for them to make more profit is to pile more people onto each ship. This can cause your cruise to feel crowded and crammed, even on a large cruise ship. While you'll be able to see more islands traveling by cruise ship, keep in mind you'll usually only have one day, or a total of 8 hours, to explore these destinations. One last disadvantage to traveling by cruise ship is that more than likely, you will have a small cabin room that provides only simple necessities and none of the luxuries you might find at all-inclusive resorts. All-inclusive resorts give you a single price that generally includes your airfare, hotel room, food, drinks and taxes. These "drinks" not only include soft drinks but also alcoholic beverages so you won't be tacking that on to the total expense. This price also includes nightly entertainment, use of the facilities (which are generally larger and nicer than a cruise ship's facilities) and gratuity. Some resorts even allow you to use their water-sport equipment such as snorkeling gear and surfboards. At an all-inclusive resort, you are free to do whatever you like. The resorts are much bigger than a cruise ship so you can wonder about without feeling claustrophobic. Since you have a few days at the same destination, you'll be able to truly explore your surroundings and get a more in depth discovery. All-inclusive resorts also provide hotel rooms, which are often more accommodating and larger in size than anything found on a cruise ship. One disadvantage to choosing an all-inclusive resort is that you will only see one destination. You won't get the experience of traveling around to multiple islands. The entertainment at an all-inclusive resort is also usually less diverse than a cruise ship. You're generally left to find your own activities during the day. Both cruise lines and all-inclusive resorts have benefits and drawbacks. In your exploration of vacation choices, you will find that more resorts are becoming all-inclusive, giving you a larger selection. However, most all-inclusive resorts are confined to the Caribbean and Mexico. If you were set on another vacation destination, you may want to try a different option. Cruise lines are enticing customers by offering them extremely low cruise prices. Keep in mind that many of these cruises are including fewer accommodations in their prices, making them even less inclusive. Both vacation options offer you excursions to explore the destinations for a fee and both offer great meals. When deciding whether to take a cruise or visit a resort, think about what you need to have a satisfying traveling experience. The answer to the question "What's better- an all-inclusive resort or a cruise ship?" lies in the eyes of the vacationer. |