We are in the depths of winter and thinking about our next vacation is both therapeutic and wise. With the economy what it is at the present time and the price of a holiday, that works to relax you and provide fun and excitement be it cruise or land resort, it just makes a great deal of sense to compare these two major types of getaways right now.
Having been on about a dozen cruises, which is a small number compared to some true cruise enthusiasts and to resorts in Barbados, St. Martin, Mexico, both the east and west coasts, Las Vegas and Florida, it could be argued that there is a definite appeal from both land resort and cruise on my behalf and I will be objective when discussing both.
Land resorts, let`s start there.
Most people classify land resorts as all-inclusive resorts which means that the price of the holiday is just that, all-inclusive, and includes all expenses of the vacation included in the one price. This price must include the air travel, the cost of lodging, the food, the services which should include the transfers, the amenities at the resort, all taxes and fees and, last but certainly not least, the alcoholic beverages.My preferences in land resorts begins with the ocean. The resort must be on a warm, sunny beach with a smooth sandy wading area, shade from beautiful palm trees and cooling breezes from off the deep blue sea.
Some benefits of land resorts are:
1. Your holiday is all included in the one price and you should not be, what some people feel is being nickeled and dimed while at the resort.
2. The food is usually pretty good at all-inclusives and the servings are what ever amount you want to eat. The meals are scheduled for certain times of the day which means that snacking is limited. This can be good or bad.
3. The three, four and five star resorts usually also have a large swimming pool as well as the beach, most with organized activities run by staff if you wish to take part or just want to observe the activities.
4. There may be some sports activities also available such as tennis or water sports
at the resort. Usually these types of activities are aimed at the children and, to some degree, are supervised.
5. The scenery can be quite beautiful with the palm trees swaying, warm sand under foot, sparkling sea, the beautiful music of the sound of the waves splashing on the shore and the cooling breezes all of which do a great job of draining the stress that has accumulated since you were last away.
Some other things you may also want to consider about resorts:
You are in one place in one country and any activity away from the resort, including evening entertainment, is done so at your expense.
You may think that the term all-inclusive means the tips are included but the staff of the resort are always looking for gratuities near the end of the week. It could tend to lead to an awkward feeling with the staff.
- The service is not as good at most of the resorts as on a cruise. The fact that all the regular meals are served buffet style is not something that I enjoy.
Cruises, let`s discuss them.
As huge as the modern day cruise ship is, it still must be stated that the fact is the ship is on water. Having said that, some people seem to feel that there is the same motion on cruises that you would experience in a canoe. Well, that certainly just is not the case. These cruise ships have marvelous technology that limits what some people would call motion to almost nothing. People who do experience some degree of discomfort do have medical facilities on board with medication available to them if they did not pack any for themselves. On top of that, the officers in charge of the ship are very well trained and highly experienced in their work to avoid most problems during the cruise.
There are other solutions such as patches and bracelets that have helped many people as well proactively. To put the situation into perspective, the cruise ship`s company of staff and officers would not want to have to deal with a high percentage of 3000 to 4000 passengers becoming ill at the same time while on the cruise.
Some benefits of cruises are:
1. One of the first things that anyone thinks of about cruises is the food and with good reason. The food is excellent and served to your personal tastes and preferences. Lobster, filet mignon, roast beef and things such as smoked salmon and caesar salads are common fare on all cruise these days. Also, there is food available to you at various places on the ship almost 24 hours a day. If you don`t feel like dining in the evening, you don`t have to as other restaurants are available to you.
2. To go along with point no.1, you are assigned to the same table for every meal with the same guests, serving staff and head waiter so the quality of service is what you would expect from a high class restaurant and you should expect nothing less. You will certainly not just be eating but you will be dining and enjoying every minute of the experience. There are also children`s style meals available to your family on request. All you have to do is ask.
3. You will have the opportunity of visiting 3 or 4 countries on each 7 day cruise. Most stops are 9 to 10 hours in length so you have the option of booking a tour or just getting off the ship to stretch your legs and do some souvenir shopping and mingle with the local people of the country. At some ports such as St. Martin, there is a very large gemstone trade and quality products are available at some very attractive prices which, by the way, are negotiable.
4.The cruise lines feel that the entertainment on board ship must be of the highest quality and they do not disappoint. Stage shows, of New York quality, produced in an extremely comfortable theater, are so well attended that you have to be there early to get in. Piano bars and intimate lounges are provided for personal dancing and to get to know other people and rekindle the romance in your life.
5. The overall level of service is excellent. Staff are available at your fingertips for anything you may need or want. If you feel you like to be pampered, try a cruise. Pampering is a cruise ship specialty which isn't to be found at this level and with this consistency on many other vacations.
The down side, if you will, of a cruise is the fact that alcoholic beverages are not included in the price of the trip. However, the price of the beverages are what you would expect to see at any restaurant and are not overly expensive for such things. It, also, tends to provide a level of responsibility during your cruise. There are, however, in most cases, two free cocktail parties provided by the ship to get acquainted with some other people on the cruise served in the theater area prior to the evening dining.
When you started out reading this piece, we wanted to warm up, release some stress and think about your possibilities for your next vacation. The jury is out as to whether a decision has been made between land resorts or cruises, however, it is hoped that reading this has whetted your appetite to look further into the possibilities of getting away for an enjoyable experience even if it is just to make this winter a little easier to cope with and to have something to look forward to. Bon Voyage and don`t miss the boat.
Travel has been Bruce's passion for many years with cruises and cruise ships being his delight. He has experienced and enjoyed upwards of two dozen cruises to many parts of the world on almost all cruise lines amid many stops at beautiful land resorts. His goal now is to continue to, of course, cruise and travel, and to help others in the process of deciding on itineraries, and enjoying their cruises and travels to the fullest. We all know life is meant to be happy and joyful and disruptions and problems will certainly detract from your holiday. He is available to assist you at http://www.tpiworldwide.com/BrucePickettTPI/
Bruce took the time and the energy to achieve his ACC designation from Cruise Line International Association, an organization that has as one of it's goals to oversee the cruise industry and develop the experience and knowledge of the people in the industry. This ACC designation displays Bruce's dedication to his clients and the industry.
