cruise vs. resort

[Jake&IzzyLand]

What is a better (airfare required for either option ) a cruise to the Caribbean or a resort at a Caribbean location like cozemel or turks and Caicos?

I'm not a huge fan of cruises, but I love the Caribbean and it's easy so I do it, but I've never taken a direct vacation there.

Cruises are like a built in vacation planner. Priced and activities are up front. Resort vacations just seem terribly daunting.

Full disclosure, I've not done disney, just rcl.

 

[shoney]

I have done a few cruises but I prefer land based all inclusives. We've been to some in Mexico and Jamaica.
Reasons:
Like the freedom of being on land.
Like that it is truly all inclusive
More flexible meal times
Getting seated at a buffet
Doesn't feel as crowded overall
Right on the beach
Bigger rooms
free bingo - yes you only win a keychain or t-shirt, but I do it for the fun!
Only takes minutes to be on the beach in a lounge chair!

You won't find big vegas like shows, but we don't go to them anyway.
We prefer the food we've had at the resorts over the cruises we've done (most recently celebrity and RCCL)
We just prefer the overall freedom of a resort and feel kind of claustrophobic on a cruise.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

I have done a few cruises but I prefer land based all inclusives. We've been to some in Mexico and Jamaica.
Reasons:
Like the freedom of being on land.
Like that it is truly all inclusive
More flexible meal times
Getting seated at a buffet
Doesn't feel as crowded overall
Right on the beach
Bigger rooms
free bingo - yes you only win a keychain or t-shirt, but I do it for the fun!
Only takes minutes to be on the beach in a lounge chair!

You won't find big vegas like shows, but we don't go to them anyway.
We prefer the food we've had at the resorts over the cruises we've done (most recently celebrity and RCCL)
We just prefer the overall freedom of a resort and feel kind of claustrophobic on a cruise.

That's a big reason I do not like them, crowds and those tinky, tiny pools!

How do you fly directly there?

 

[shoney]

We just book direct flights into Cancun or Montego Bay. We do prefer Mexico for the all inclusives. It is a great safe area, lots or little to do - up to you, direct flights from NY are only 3 1/2 hours. Resorts are located anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes by car service, depending on the area.

 

[Alexle2007]

We've done DCL and Beaches Negril. That's a hard one. We love both of them. We have direct flights from Baltimore to Montego Bay and Beaches has an awesome waiting area in the airport. We never leave the resort because there is plenty to do and we just want to relax. DS loves the XBox Lounge (he hasn't done the kids club at Beaches) but then he also loves the kids club on the Fantasy. Besides the driver's tip to and from the resort and food at the airport, we love that everything else is included at Beaches. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

 

[scanmom]

We had a great time at El Cozumeleno resort in Cozumel. Check on the sites like fun jet vacations, Apple vacations, or look at travelzoo.com.

 

[Happyjen27]

Dollar for dollar I prefer land based resort vacations over the cruise ships. Simply because I feel such pressure when I'm off the ship at port to make it back on time!

I'd rather to take time and meander than feel nervous about making it back on the ship.

That said, I've enjoyed both vacations and wouldn't turn down either!!

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I prefer cruising. I like unpacking once and going to a different port each day. We are not relax on the beach or by the pool the entire day. The times we have stayed at an all-inclusive, we have left the resort each day. Some of the places all-inclusives are, there is not enough to do outside of the resort for a week. Where on the ship if you hit a port each day it's someplace new and something new to do.

We are not big drinkers, so the appeal of the free booze at an all-inclusive isn't a big deal for us. Drinks on a ship could really add up. I believe it's close to $60 a person per day. And, you need to buy it for the length of the cruise (or from the day you buy until the end) you can't say only sea days. If you are big drinkers, adding on $840 to a week long cruise for 2 people is a lot of extra cash.

Excursions, I think your cost would be about the same. There are some excursions you aren't able to do when cruising though as time won't allow.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We are staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico this summer for the very reasons mentioned here. We went on a (Disney) cruise and it was good, but the ship was our least favorite part. We liked being on the islands. And those glorified bathtubs they call pools- no thank you.

We are flying into Cancun and staying here for a week for way less than a 7 day Disney cruise: https://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHote...o-maya-palace-deluxe/general-description.aspx

 

[Alexle2007]

We are staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico this summer for the very reasons mentioned here. We went on a (Disney) cruise and it was good, but the ship was our least favorite part. We liked being on the islands. And those glorified bathtubs they call pools- no thank you.

We are flying into Cancun and staying here for a week for way less than a 7 day Disney cruise: https://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHote...o-maya-palace-deluxe/general-description.aspx

That looks so nice! Have you been there before?

 

[shoney]

We stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace years ago...maybe 2008???
Beautiful resort. They all have there pluses and minuses.
From what I remember....
Plus:
Beautiful Beach.
Great Rooms
Large buffet with cooked to order station
Large resort
Great kids club...my boys were almost 7 and 9 at the time and they loved it!


Minus:
Large resort (Hahaha....a pain sometimes)...we booked club premium and had a room close to the beach and restaurants, though
Reservations for dinner
no beach service
no food allowed outside of restaurants

 

[TeamSy]

For a more relaxing vacation I tend to favor resorts. Cruises have a lot going on and they are a great way to see multiple places, but they are pretty go, go, go. There's not enough time in one place where you can leisurely wake up and go enjoy (I mean you can, but chances are you'll only have 5 or 6 hours before you have to be back on the ship!)

Resorts are more laid back and relaxing (but we hate AI's). There is nothing better than waking up with no agenda!

Think of it this way: yes, you do pay for things up front on a cruise, but with a resort, you're only paying for what you use. And there's way more in your control!

 

[katyjeka]

We love both but they are so totally different. Cruises are no longer all inclusive. If you are looking for a lot of beach time I'd do a land base. Since you've cruised before you know getting on and off the ship is time consuming and your actual port time is limited.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Dollar for dollar I prefer land based resort vacations over the cruise ships. Simply because I feel such pressure when I'm off the ship at port to make it back on time!

I'd rather to take time and meander than feel nervous about making it back on the ship.

That said, I've enjoyed both vacations and wouldn't turn down either!!

Agreed! I panic over that as well. Good point.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

I prefer cruising. I like unpacking once and going to a different port each day. We are not relax on the beach or by the pool the entire day. The times we have stayed at an all-inclusive, we have left the resort each day. Some of the places all-inclusives are, there is not enough to do outside of the resort for a week. Where on the ship if you hit a port each day it's someplace new and something new to do.

We are not big drinkers, so the appeal of the free booze at an all-inclusive isn't a big deal for us. Drinks on a ship could really add up. I believe it's close to $60 a person per day. And, you need to buy it for the length of the cruise (or from the day you buy until the end) you can't say only sea days. If you are big drinkers, adding on $840 to a week long cruise for 2 people is a lot of extra cash.

Excursions, I think your cost would be about the same. There are some excursions you aren't able to do when cruising though as time won't allow.

That's a ridiculous amount for alcohol! I would never pay that. I could never drink enough to make it worth it. I would want to remember my vacation, haha.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

We are staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico this summer for the very reasons mentioned here. We went on a (Disney) cruise and it was good, but the ship was our least favorite part. We liked being on the islands. And those glorified bathtubs they call pools- no thank you.

We are flying into Cancun and staying here for a week for way less than a 7 day Disney cruise: https://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHote...o-maya-palace-deluxe/general-description.aspx

Thanks for sharing. Looks and sounds amazing! I'm filing this away for sure.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

That looks so nice! Have you been there before?

No, this will be our first trip.

 

[My3kiddos]

We have done both Mexico (Riviera Maya and Cabo) and Dominican Republic resort vacations. I LOVE all inclusive resorts. We have never done a cruise, but that's because I don't like the thought of not being able to get to land when I want to.

Most Caribbean resorts are truly all inclusive (booze, food, etc). We were not super crazy about the beaches in Riviera Maya. LOVE LOVE LOVE Dominican beaches (Bavaro area). We have been to DR 4 times and are going again this year. I really like Cabo for an adults trip. We got a great rate for a resort directly on the marina in Cabo that had an all inclusive option ($900 for 2 people for 7 nights in October), but I think we timed booking it just right.

 

[aprilchem]

Resort for me. We've been on 3 Disney Cruises and been to Beaches Turks and Caicos twice. I like Beaches 100x better - you're not trapped on a tiny ship, there are many huge pools instead of one tiny one, the rooms are much larger, and all the things you have to pay for on DCL are free. Plus, no tipping allowed. A week at beaches cost my family of 5 about $4k less than a week on the Fantasy did, and I had a much better time.

 

[100AcreWood]

Resort for me. We've been on 3 Disney Cruises and been to Beaches Turks and Caicos twice. I like Beaches 100x better - you're not trapped on a tiny ship, there are many huge pools instead of one tiny one, the rooms are much larger, and all the things you have to pay for on DCL are free. Plus, no tipping allowed. A week at beaches cost my family of 5 about $4k less than a week on the Fantasy did, and I had a much better time.

Wow. We are a family of 5. I thought all inclusive would be too expensive for us. What time of year did you travel?