One of the many wonderful things about a cruise vacation is that it’s all-inclusive: your cabin, dining, and lots of onboard activities and amenities are included in your fare. But some land-based resorts also offer vacationers an all-inclusive experience. Which is best for you?
A cruise and an all-inclusive resort have some similarities, but there’s
a major difference: the number of places you’ll see.
At an all-inclusive resort, activities may include local tours, but you’ll
stay in one place. This can be great if you’re simply looking to
relax or to really get to know the area.
In contrast, a cruise ship visits multiple destinations. The ship sails
as you sleep, so you can wake up in a different port each day. This is a terrific
way to become familiar with a region of the world, such as the Mediterranean, the
Caribbean, Northern Europe, the coast of Alaska, the Mexican Riviera or the
South Pacific, to name just a few options. As the ship takes you from port to
port, your home base will be your own comfortable cabin.
Of course, some cruise fans consider the ship itself to be their main destination.
Like a land-based resort, cruise ships – especially the larger ones – have
abundant options for dining and entertainment. You can work out, take a cooking
lesson, see a show, join a card tournament or improve your golf swing without
setting foot on land. Some ships have truly amazing features like sky-diving
simulators, zip lines, and submarines for underwater exploration. Even if you want
to spend most of your time relaxing in a deck chair, the scenery around you
will change with each new port.
As you think about which type of all-inclusive experience you would
enjoy, know that “all-inclusive” can mean different things for different cruise
and resort operators. Check on exactly what’s included in your base cruise fare
or daily resort rate. It may or may not include things like beverages, spa
treatments, and specialty restaurant charges. To compare the expected total cost
of a cruise to a land-based resort vacation, be sure to consider the cost of
any extras you know you’ll want. Also, think about the cost of travel to a cruise
ship dock versus a resort; one may give you the option to drive rather than fly.
For more information and considerations about all-inclusive cruise and
resort vacations, talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.
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