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Resort vs. Cruise: What is the Best Vacation?

8/10/2015

12 Comments

 
Royal Islander resort in Cancun, Mexico
Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship
By John Roberts  

Resort vacations and cruise vacations are both attractive options for travelers who want to get away and experience a little fun, sun, relaxation, exploration, whatever. 

These styles of travel have a few things in common. But which option is the best for you? Let's take a closer look at resorts vs. cruises. I'll break down my experiences here to give an idea of what to expect. 

Accommodations  
One of the best parts of both cruise vacations and resort vacations is that you unpack once and you are set for the week or however long you will be staying. Your room at a resort, even if it features a modest level of luxury, will have much more space than a cruise ship cabin. You'll have more space to spread out, more storage space and larger bathrooms. You might even have a balcony with space to have meals and morning coffee while looking out at a beach, lake or mountainside. If you book a higher class cabin, you can score a nice balcony to watch the open ocean waters as you cruise, but the space still is likely to be much smaller than your resort accommodations. 

The winner: a resort  

Food  
Cruise fares include plenty of meal options, and much of the food is very good. I rarely find reason to complain. But I also have low expectations for my meals and find anything cooked for me on a cruise is almost always better than what I am able to whip up at home. You also can order as much as you like on a cruise to eat until you are satisfied and try a lot of new things. If you stay at a resort, you will have to pay extra for any meals that you have at restaurants, whether on-site at the property or off-site. Unless you have splurged for an all-inclusive resort. These all-inclusive vacations typically offer buffet-style meals that you might find satisfying. A cruise buffet is always an option when you are sailing, but your fare also includes meals at main dining rooms at which you receive full table service and dozens of meal options daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

The winner: a cruise 

Westin Lagunamar Resort in Cancun, Mexico
We had a fine view from our room at the Westin Lagunamar Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The resort was a delight, with pretty pools, and just steps from the beach.
Activities 
Resorts and cruises both feature staff members who arrange a broad array of activities for you to enjoy on your vacation. Try trivia, poolside Olympics, piano players, dancing and cooking classes, beach volleyball, pool volleyball, races, limbo contests and so much more. The resorts and cruise ships also can be outfitted with tons of amenities. On ships, I've seen waterslides, trampolines, ropes courses, ziplines, rock-climbing walls, basketball courts, surfing and skydiving simulators and poolside movie screens. Resorts can have most of these, and your property's might offer bikes, canoes, kayaks, snorkel gear, paddle boards and other equipment to use at the beach. 

The winner: tie 

Beach/Water Time 
At a resort, you can wake up every day and saunter right down to your beach. Maybe your room even opens right up to the sand. You're typically going to have plenty of loungers and thus not have to fret about chair hogs (a problem that plagues cruise ship pool areas). Resorts also have more and larger pools, sometimes with swim-up bars (which are awesome!). On cruises, you also can enjoy your pool time onboard, if you are able to grab a lounger. Some ships have adults-only pool options (resorts do, too), in addition to kids splash zone pool play areas and the main pool. Ships also will offer hot tubs to enjoy. So you can find several options onboard for soaking in the water.   


While you'll be playing at one beach at your resort for the duration of your vacation, a cruise gives you multiple options for beach days at new spots, with new places to snorkel and play each time. If you like a bit of variety, this is attractive. I like seeing new waters and reef systems, so I like to hit as many snorkel spots as possible when we cruise in the Caribbean or Mediterranean.  

On cruises, you will have only six to seven hours at a beach before you have to get back on the ship to depart your port and sail on to your next destination. Conversely, you can hang all day at a resort beach, enjoying sunrises, sunsets, night swimming and everything else going on, without worrying about time constraints. 

The winner: a resort    

Aft pool on Golden Princess on Princess Cruises cruise to Alaska.
We also enjoyed pool time and being delivered to magnificent and enthralling new ports each day on our cruise through Alaska.
Price 
Cruises and resorts (all-inclusive) generally price out fairly equally. Both can be found in the range of $100 to $150 per person per day and include your meals and a range of included activities and entertainment. Additionally, most travelers will have to consider airfare to get to their departure port or their resort. If you like adult beverages (yep), you will be buying drinks on a cruise (whether an all-you-can-drink package or pay as you go). You'll also pay as you drink at a non-inclusive resort. You also should consider the tipping guidelines of each, too. Tipping is generally optional but expected, and cruises automatically place a tipping charge of $12 to $14 per person per day onto your bill, which you can adjust as you want at the guest services desk.  

The bottom line is that you should consider what type of vacation you want and what type of extras you are likely to need from either a resort or cruise (spa services, drinks, specialty dining, additional excursions, etc.). 

The winner: depends on the traveler  

Destinations 
When your stay at a resort, that is your destination. Maybe it's a week in Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica, France, etc. You certainly can use it as a home base to do further exploring in the surrounding region, but if you're at an all-inclusive, you probably will be hesitant to give up too many meals and drinks and activities that are part of the package in exchange for venturing off in a rental car or with a tour company at an added expense. On a cruise, you probably will be waking up each day in a new country -- or at least a new port. Also, cruising the open waters on sea days is a wonderful experience, as the oceans or rivers themselves are wonderful destinations in their own right. If checking off new countries is a top goal on your list as a traveler, you can knock off quite a few during various cruise itineraries. Granted, you are only getting a brief look at each country. But I like to use cruise visits as a scouting trip for future land-based stays in a new country. 

The winner: a cruise 

Overall, you can see there is no clear winner. At this stage of my life, I give the slight edge to cruising. No doubt, both types of vacations are wonderful. I really have enjoyed either type, every time I've done them. But then again, if I'm on vacation, I'm always happy. 

Thanks for reading, 

JR 

Travel fit! Travel happy! Travel often! 


If you like this story, check out: 

9 Tips, Tricks and Warnings to Keep You Smiling in Cancun

How to Pack Like a Pro for Your Cruise 

Beware the Hidden Costs of Your Cruise 

How We Save Extra Money to Travel

11 Ways to Save for a Bonus Cruise 

9 Expert Tips and Tricks for Newbie Cruisers
Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

12 Comments
Denise Bridges
8/10/2015 05:30:05 am

This was a great column! I don't do as much traveling as I'd like, but when I do I'm always torn as to how much bang we'll get for the buck. This information helps a lot. Thanks!

Reply
JR
8/10/2015 07:19:12 am

Thanks so much for the comment, Denise. Hope you get to hit the road again on an adventure soon. Glad this might help. Cheers and happy travels! -- JR

Reply
Ryan Biddulph link
8/12/2015 08:44:55 am

Hi John,

Totally dig your breakdown. Since we do slow travel we rent homes our apartments - or house sit ;) - and do it long term. I'd love to give the cruise bit a try. Note; looking ripped dude! Well done!

Ryan

Reply
JR link
8/12/2015 09:16:38 am

Thanks so much, Ryan. I really love all kinds of travel, of course. But we need to do more slow travel. That is a big part of our future plans, but we are making a good run at cruises and other things now with the connections we have. We also have to get over to explore Asia in more depth. Gonna get to Myanmar this December, so that's a biggie.
Also, I definitely try to keep fit so I can live longer to travel longer and travel better. Thanks for noticing. Ha!
Best always,
JR

Reply
Paula McInerney link
8/14/2015 05:02:00 pm

Love how you divided each up with a winner or a tie in one case. This is a very handy resource to think about. What do you value the most on your vacation. If it is food then a cruise, if it is seeing different place then it is a cruise. Interesting, may have to give this cruising some thought.

Reply
JR
8/15/2015 01:53:23 am

Thanks so much Paula. These types of vacations are all fine ways to have fun and relax, too. It just depends what you are in the mood for. You should give one a try, maybe to Alaska or a river cruise in Europe or on the Amazon.
-- JR

Reply
Carmen @ Carmen's Luxury Travel link
8/15/2015 02:33:20 am

For me it all depends whether I'm traveling with my kids or alone with the hubby. A resort has a lot more beach activities that they enjoyed like water skiing. In a cruise you are limited to what you can do each day unless you get off the ship on an excursion.

Reply
Robert link
8/15/2015 05:18:58 pm

Great comparison! We have always enjoyed a variety of both types of vacation and really has a lot to do with your intended destination. This year we will be experiencing both once again. Great Value!

Reply
Ruth link
8/15/2015 05:19:05 pm

I agree with your breakdown and also agree that the winner in some cases depends on the type of traveler and type of vacation. In my case, I prefer a cruise over a resort because food is a big part of why I travel. In my experience, even the cheapest cruise line offers great food.

Reply
Vlad link
8/15/2015 08:28:49 pm

I'd love to go on a cruise one day, I think it's a great way to see a lot of places in a short period of time. I'm not into all-inclusive resorts, I'd probably get bored after a couple of days, haha.

Reply
Fairlie link
8/16/2015 04:46:59 pm

I've never done a cruise - but I have it 'on my list'! I like the idea of unpacking once, but getting to see lots of different destinations. I'm not usually into resorts....but there is one (Tanjung Rhu in Langkawi, Malaysia) that we've stayed at a number of times when we need a bit of total zone-out time. It's on the isolated side of the island away from restaurants etc, so it makes sense to go for their all-inclusive rate.

Reply
Sarah Smith link
12/20/2018 01:54:11 pm

It's really interesting that you receive a larger room at a resort and can enjoy more time at the beach without worrying about time constraints. My husband and I have been trying to decide on where to vacation this year while our children are being watched by my mother. From the sound of your article, a resort will be the way to go.

Reply



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