Thinking of going on vacation soon? Which is better: a cruise or a stay at an all-inclusive resort?
Here are our comparisons with information on the pros and cons of both.
Cruise
What is included in the price you pay?
The price includes your stateroom, meals in the standard and buffet dining room (and some alternative venues, depending on the ship), onboard entertainment (and there is plenty to do day and night) and taxes. Drinks generally included are iced tea and, on some cruise lines, lemonade or fruit punch.
What is extra?
Excursions, drinks (beer, wine, liquor, soft drinks), spa treatments, gambling, tips, photos, any purchases on board, alternative restaurants and on some ships, ice cream, Internet access.
Cruise advantages:
You are in a different city or country almost every day of the cruise. There are many excursions to choose from to keep you busy or you can stay on the boat and relax if that’s your thing. There is always something to do during the day, you can be as busy or as quiet as you like. There are shows almost every night on the ship, lots of dances and discos. You can eat all day if you want. Please unpack and pack once, but you can see many different cities or countries.
You can maintain an exercise routine, as gyms are free on ships and most ships have a jogging track.
Cruise prices are heavily discounted at the moment, so finding a good-priced cruise is very easy if you’re not traveling during peak season (holidays or when the kids aren’t going to school).
Cons of browsing:
Liquor can be expensive (if you can gather a large group, some cruise lines offer group liquor packages). I’ve seen people double the cost of their cruise on their liquor bill. With the number of flights delayed or canceled, if you need to fly to the ship’s dock, you need to fly at least one day in advance to make sure you don’t miss the ship. That results in the cost of a hotel for the night before.
Tours add up too, but you can get off the ship and find tour operators willing to offer you a tour for less money. (Just make sure you are back before the ship leaves – they will NOT wait for you and then you will be forced to fly to the next port to meet the ship on your own.)
The pools are very crowded on seaside days, thanks to what are commonly referred to as “chair pigs” – people who get up early and put towels on poolside chairs to hold the seats until they’re ready to go. use them. (There are great ways to deal with these people.)
It could end up in a cabin that is in an undesirable location, such as below or above a nightclub or dining room, or in the front or rear of the ship. (If you use a good cruise travel agent, this should never happen!)
Some people get seasick, although with current boat stabilizers this is greatly minimized. With proper preparation before sailing and bringing the proper medications or remedies that can be minimized.
All inclusive:
What is included?
Meals, drinks (including liquor), rooms, entertainment, non-motorized water sports and for some resorts, golf and diving (for certified divers). Some All Inclusive also prohibit employees from accepting tips (Sandals). Sometimes transfers to and from the airport are also included.
Some children’s resorts (Azul, for example) have a toy “menu” where you can choose toys to keep in the children’s room. Some that are dedicated Family Resorts (think Beaches) have programs for the kids so Mom and Dad can have private moments for themselves.
What is extra:
Tips for some off-resort resorts and excursions that you may wish to take. Sometimes transfers to / from the airport are extra. Some children’s programs have an additional fee and babysitting service when available is additional as well.
Pros:
Unpack, pack ounce. Rooms generally have nice amenities, like whirlpool tubs. Some resorts also have room service. Some luxury resorts have truly gourmet restaurants and a great selection of them (the bigger the resort, the more restaurants they usually have).
Many have wonderful beaches and almost all have many swimming pools. Children’s complexes offer activities for children (sometimes at an additional cost).
Cons:
Initially it seems more expensive to take an all-inclusive vacation. But when you add the meals and liquor that are included, you can end up saving several hundred dollars with an AI vs. one hotel only.
You might get bored just staying on the resort property, especially if you’re not a beach person (since almost all AIs are on or near the beach!). Some resorts require dinner reservations, which requires you to be in restaurants at a certain time each day to make your reservations.
As you can see, there are good and bad things about both. What vacations are for you? Write us and let us know!