Cruise or All inclusive hotel?

[quilting lady]

Next year some friend and I are going to GET AWAY!!!!! WOOO HOOO!
I would like your opinion on going on a cruise versus an all inclusive hotel. Please tell me your preference or experience. We are looking into our options.

TIA
Carole

[BEARS]

Dh, myself, and our two teenage sons went on a cruise in February. It was fantastic! Each evening the ship would set sail, and come morning you were at a new and exciting island to explore.

We took quite a few shore excursions; snorkeling, deep sea fishing, mountain biking, an afternoon at the beach, river tubing, and horseback riding were all well planned and well staffed. Met many interesting tour guides and fellow passengers with the same
interests.

Plenty of shopping as well, if that be your interest. Pools, games, a casino, and of course plenty of delicious food were always available on board.

I will cruise again in the future, if opportunity knocks :D . Next January dh's sister has invited us to Jamaica to witness the renewal of their wedding vows. We are definately considering the trip, so I look forward to input from other buddies who have vacationed at all-inclusive resorts.

Sheryl

[ March 24, 2004, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: BEARS ]

[Heaklea]

A cruise definately gives you more bang for your buck. They are safer than a lot of the resorts and always have activities you can engage in. I vote cruise.
Heather

[Msmandeee]

The idea of a cruise just doesn't appeal to me. I go on vacation to get AWAY from all the people, not to pack myself on a boat full of them. I have heard from people who have both loved and hated them.,


I would say it depends on what specifically you are looking to do. A crusie would let you see a few diff places, but youd be surrounded by people.

On a vacation - your in that one place, but you can do more of your own thing, ie Costa Rica lay on the beach, visit the rain forests, see the volcanoes, and have a lot of relaxing little mini trips.

Depends really on what you are looking for. smile.gif

Either way, I bet you'll have a great time.

[netekay]

Cruise cruise cruise!!!!

You can do as much or as little as you like. Although you might be on board with as many as 2500 other passengers, it doesn't seem like you are; there are always places that you can be alone.

The food is great too. Most cruise lines now offer spa cuisine or, at least, healthy options. You can try all sorts of new things and not worry that you will gain 5 pounds.

You can exercise with equipment that you might not have ever used before and have a qualified trainer help you with a routine that you can take home. Many also offer organized exercise classes or walks around the deck. Holland America used to have something called Passport to Fitness. You would get a punch for every activity that you would do and at the end of the cruise, you could redeem those punches for stuff. My friend got a really nice beach towel and visor.

The spa facilities are FAB too! Getting a facial/manicure/pedicure while watching the wake behind the ship as you leave port is just awesome.

As you can tell, I LOVE to cruise and do it whenever I can. We just booked our next one for the week after Thanksgiving. We are heading to the Mexican Riviera. I can't wait!!!

And, best of all, the ship MOVES so you get to see new scenery all the time!!!

Lynette :D

[deborahdarling]

Hi Carole,

They are very different types of holidays and both have their good and bad points. As already stated a cruise is great because you get to visit a lot of different destinations- getting a "snapshot" of various places. The food is good (!) and you can eat in a very healthy fashion. Lots of activities and usually great entertainment. I love being on the water- that's my favorite aspect of cruising. But unless you are on a six-star luxury line like Radisson or Crystal cruises are NOT all-inclusive! That's not a bad thing but you have to budget for it. Coffee and tea are free but soft drinks, water and alcohol are not. Most cruise lines will sell a soft drink card for about $30.00 a week and that allows you unlimited beverages. Lots of cruise lines will charge extra for their "alternative" dining restaurants (usually $20.00 per person). There are casinos on board and something like Bingo starts at about USD $40.00/session. The shore excursions are extra (getting off and looking around on your own is free). It's usually a much better value to arrange a tour with one of the dockside operators. We were recently in the Cayman Islands and I wanted to swim with the stingrays. I did some research online a found a great company that I booked for $25.00 per person. The same excursion on the ship was $65.00 per person! I love cruising- but go into it with your eyes open.

An all-inclusive land vacation is usually just that- from a food/drink standpoint. Most activities are also included- unless they are motorized (ie. Jetski, parasailing). The resorts also provide evening entetainment but do your research- it can be mediocre. If you can afford it always aim for a 5 star property. I love being stationary as well- access to the ocean and a nice beach, constantly surrounded by tropical gardens, very restful. I think this is a more laid-back type of holiday than a cruise. The resorts usually have great exercise facilities if you are so inclined.

Have fun making your decision!

Debbie

[mudpies]

Cruise, Cruise, Cruise!!

We have been on just 2 - and they are WONDERFUL. Lots of quiet places if you need to get away. It's fun, fun, fun!!

[Jen815]

Hey Buddies! I see a lot of good input on cruises and all inclusive resorts. Which do you think would be better $$ wise as well as activity wise for a family with little ones? I have three sons; 12, 10 and 3. We have never taken a real vacation with the kids and I really would like to plan one for next year. If y'all have any suggestions on the destination that would be awesome too, someplace with a little bit of something for every one.

Thanks! graemlins/wave.gif

[latebloomer]

I HIGHLY recommend the Disney cruise. Our littlest was 4 when we went. She never wanted to come out of the playroom! (They give you a pager if your child wants you, and you have to give them a password so that only you can pick up your child.) You eat in a different restaurant each night but your waiter moves with you and our wait staff was adorable. Castaway Cay is really cool, it is a private island Disney owns in the Bahamas and so there isn't the pushy hair braiders and Tshirt salesan and drug pushers you get on the other Bahamian islands. There was a different show every night, Disney themed of course, and it was Broadway quality. They showed first-run movies in the theaters. The food was awesome. My husband travels around the world and is not easily impressed by food but he loved it. You can also combine this with a DisneyWorld visit and they have good package deals during the school year. If you can handle missing some shcool, or if you have a decent October break, it is absolutely worth doing.

[RainySky1018]

I enjoy my All-inclusive trips to Cancun myself.

I don't have children - but all the children that I see there seem to have a good time!!

Check out www.applevacations.com (http://www.applevacations.com) - go to sizzling specials for some great last minute deals.

I go through them - and it's great - plus it will list out what each resort has for extra activities. You definately get a lot of bang for your buck!

[imlulu]

With kids I would go with a cruise....not necessarily Disney. We took our boys ont heir 1st cruise alst Feb on Carnival. My 4yr old cried on the last day he loved it so much. We are doing a 7day on Carnival again this coming Feb. They chose another cruise over Orlando. If your children really love Disney then go with Disney. However if they don't really care then try RCI, Carnival....great family lines.

[quilting lady]

Thank you good buddies for your opinions. We still havene't made up our minds yet I guess it will come down to what gives us the most "bang for the buck".

Again, Thanks!
Carole

[Mrs Peterson]

Check out web page (http://traveladviser.com) it's real people telling you EXACTLY what they think of the places they stayed. When me and DH stayed at Sandals Bahamas, we got a LOT of very very good tips. And remember to take things with a grain of salt as well. Everyone's tastes are different.

Cruise or all inclusives.... really depends on what your particular tastes are. I've never been on a cruise, but it sounds nice to me. I know the ships are ungodly huge, but I think I might have a feeling of "enclosure" or being stuck on that ship.

As far as all inclusives... Is this a "Friend" your going with? Usually these are couples only resorts, but there are a few really wild ones for singles.

What do you like to do? My idea is a whole lot of R&R with a tad bit of sight seeing. I think I'd feel too rushed on a cruise with the Port of Call stops and the time limits.