Cruises appeal to many travelers because they are considered all-inclusive vacations. Pay one price and receive accommodations, meals, entertainment, and transportation between island and port destinations. But once onboard, many cruisers find themselves shelling out hundreds of additional dollars for shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. What happened to their supposedly all-inclusive vacation?
Many land-based resorts also refer to themselves as all-inclusive. Yet these properties offer a different set of included amenities. So what does it really mean to be all-inclusive?
If you've been debating the merits of cruise and resort vacations, I've come to your aid. I have compared the all-inclusiveness and considered the pros and cons of both resorts and cruises to help you choose a vacation. Read on to find out which type gives you the better value for your money, and which is the better choice for your travel preferences.
What's Included?
All-inclusive cruises and resorts tend to include different amenities in the base price. Book a mainstream cruise, and you'll receive accommodations, all meals (except at the specialty restaurants), certain beverages at meal times, use of the ship's facilities (such as the pool, kids club, and fitness center), onboard activities and entertainment, and transportation between ports-of-call. You will have to pay extra for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, gratuities, spa treatments, shore excursions, airfare, and airport transfers.
There are several cruise lines who have adapted the All-Inclusive concept:
+Crystal Cruises
+Regent
+Silversea
Many other cruise lines are now offering beverage packages, etc. so that you will have more of an all-inclusive experience.
On the other hand, book an all-inclusive resort package, and you'll receive at minimum accommodations, all meals and beverages (except wine upgrades), nightly entertainment, access to the resort's facilities, use of all nonmotorized water-sports equipment (such as snorkeling gear, sailboats, and windsurf boards), and gratuities. Many also include airfare and airport transfers, and higher-end properties, such as Sandals and Super Clubs, often include scuba diving in the cost as well. You'll notice that much more is included in the resort price than in the cruise fare.
Which is a Better Value?
Just because a cruise includes less than a resort does not necessarily mean that it is not as good a deal. You are certainly getting a lot for your money, and with cruise lines offering specials as low as $300 or $400 per person, many travelers feel that they can save with a vacation at sea.
Are you a Cruise or Resort Vacationer?
Many kinds of travelers would be equally happy at a resort or on a cruise, but certain styles of vacations will get you better value for your dollar at each place. For instance, a cruise may be less inclusive and therefore more expensive than a comparable resort vacation, but if a resort vacation is not what you want, your trip will be less valuable to you.
Who would enjoy each vacation style? Cruises are best for travelers seeking to explore several destinations and who want an extremely diverse array of activity options. A seven-day cruise stops at three to five islands and offers activities from horseback riding to parasailing and exploring historic sites. Cruises may cost more, but they are designed for travelers who want to get off the ship and have unique experiences at each port of call. You can certainly have a relaxing vacation on a cruise ship, but if you don't plan on leaving the ship, you might find that your dollars go farther on a land-only vacation.
In addition, cruises may also be better for travelers seeking a high-level of service. While resorts offer excellent service, their employees tend to be locals, who may or may not have experience in the service industry. Cruise lines hand pick service professionals from all over the world, and a ship's staff has more likely gone through extensive training on how to serve you best. They will spoil you!
On the other hand, resorts offer the best value for relaxing vacations. You can find a variety of included water sports and entertainment options to interest an active traveler, in addition to plenty of opportunities for sunning on the beach. And the best thing is that you'll hardly ever have to take out your wallet. However, if you keep venturing from the resort to dine at local restaurants or explore other areas of the island, you won't be getting the best value from your vacation dollars. In that instance, you'd be better off booking a room in a non-inclusive hotel or trying a cruise that calls at several ports.
For multigenerational families, both cruises and resorts are good options. Both have kids' clubs to entertain the little ones and a variety of activities to satisfy family members of every age. Just remember that when your kids think it's fun to try virgin pina coladas, they'll be free at a resort and between $5 and $10 on a cruise.
Cruise versus resort
Ultimately, the value of a vacation depends on the kind of getaway you're seeking. If your focus is on relaxing and drinking, an all-inclusive resort will be the better option. If you want an active vacation and enjoy exploring different cities or islands, a cruise will be more valuable to you. Choose the type of vacation that most appeals to you, and you'll have found the best value for your money.
Would you try and bake your wedding cake yourself or ask a professional for help? For stress-free travel plans - especially those with multiple steps like a honeymoon - seek out the expert advice of a travel professional(ME!).
Travel professionals will save you money as well as time - two enormous factors for a couple trying to plan a wedding and a honeymoon simultaneously. Through incomparable experience and valuable resources, we specialize in providing personalized suggestions to suit your interests and your budget. When you come to me for assistance, my services are FREE.
A couple of suggestions:
Begin early and share the planning. To ensure that you both enjoy the honeymoon, make all the decisions together.
Make time for yourselves. Pad your honeymoon schedule with generous amounts of free time, for a rushed and overly organized honeymoon might feel too much like your wedding. Instead, plan a few enjoyable activities and leave lots of opportunities to just enjoy each other's company.
Set a tentative budget. Talk about your expectations and priorities from the very beginning and decide what you might splurge on and where you might cut corners.
Splurge on whatever accommodations you choose. No matter what type of vacation package you choose, you will spend an enormous amount of time in your room or cabin. Make it special......make it unforgettable.
Brides, use your maiden name. Unless you're taking a delayed honeymoon, you won't have time to change the name on your passport and driver's license. Use your maiden name on visas, airline tickets, etc., so they match as it appears on your official documents.
Tell the world you're on your honeymoon. Stand up on every chair, on every rock and shout, "We're on our honeymoon!" Everyone from strangers to airlines to hotels will take notice and cheerfully offer you such special treatment such as complimentary champagne in-flight or a gift basket in your room. Go ahead, it's your honeymoon. Celebrate!
