Many times when clients come into my office they ask, “which is better--a cruise or an all-inclusive vacation?” This is a really good question that does not have a quick and easy answer.
Cruises are a wonderful way to see many destinations in a short period of time. On a Caribbean cruise, you may be able to visit four or more islands in just one week. If you choose a European cruise, you may even find yourself in a different country every day! Alaskan cruises offer many unique activities, like glacier walks and dog-sledding with beautiful scenery to view along the way. This year Canada and New England cruises are very popular because they offer port calls at places such as Boston to visit the Freedom Trail and the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia to view its high tides and the interesting geological wonderland they have created. Another option is to combine cruises, so that you may see the Eastern Caribbean one week and the Western Caribbean the next. Cruises offer endless possibilities.
All-inclusive vacations, typically in Mexico or the Caribbean, offer the type of trip where everything is taken care of. The only thing you need to worry about on an all-inclusive trip is what time to hit the beach. These packages usually include your airfare, hotel stay, meals, both alcoholic and soft drinks, non-motorized water sports, organized activities, nightly entertainment and more. Since everything is paid for upfront, there is nothing to pay for once you are there, except maybe the occasional souvenir. All-inclusive trips are for the traveler looking for relaxation rather than days of sight-seeing.
On the other hand, a typical cruise, amasses several additional expenses, including gratuities, drinks (including soft drinks), shore excursions, and specialty dining. Oftentimes I recommend that my clients fly into the departure port city a day early to prevent any delays that would cause them to miss the ship. This of course means the added expense of a one-night hotel stay, but gives the peace of mind that you won’t miss your cruise.
Why not consider combining a land and sea trip? In Alaska it is common to add a few nights on to the cruise so that it is possible to explore Denali National Park. Most of the cruise lines offer land packages to accomplish this. A short cruise from Port Canaveral allows time in just one week to also visit Disney World for a few days. This is a great way to please Mom and Dad as well as the kids. Still can’t decide where to take your next vacation? Ask an experienced travel counselor to help you decide whether land or sea is best for you.
