Cruising beats land vacation anytime!

Eph60 · May 19, 2013

I will agree that without a doubt cruising is one of the most economical and relaxing ways to take a vacation. I have seen many great places and met many wonderful people while on a cruise. I will also take any opportunity I can to go on a cruise. I will also admit that there are some land vacations I have done that are as good if not better then a cruise vacation for me. I love to be on a ship, however I love getting out on a vacation in the woods with nobody or nothing around. Some of the greatest memories I have of a vacation is just jumpint in a canoe in the Boudry Canoe Waters of Northern Minnesota and heading out camping with family, friends or on my own. The cost is one tank of gas and a $25 permit. Yes I have to cook for myself but I get to enjoy wildlife, the beauty of the lakes and forest and I get to sit by a nice campfire at night and just unwind from the rest of the world.

In otherwords for me I love to cruise but I also love the solitude of being on my own for vacation. It all depends on how much stress I have been under.

I also love traveling by train to see things that I cannot see from a cruise ship. As long as I am not at work any type of vacation is great for me.

Jan115 · May 19, 2013

You make an excellent point! My favorite non-cruise vacation has always been a cottage on the water in Wellfleet - Cape Cod. We did this frequently when the kids were little. Pack up the car, unload at the cottage, grill our dinner, walk to the beach, take a nap, go whale watching, bike riding. It was as fun as a cruise - just a different kind of fun - and especially practical with small kids.

JohnG · May 20, 2013

Because I am a Sandals Certfied Specialist and an AMResorts Master Agent, I have been investing in some all-inclusive resort vacations so that I can answer that question that comes from client: Have you been there. In the last two years I have toured every Palace and AMResort in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Two years ago for our anniversary we stayed at an adults all-inclusive in Montego Bay. This Feb for my wife's birthday we stayed at one in Ocho Rios. At the end of Apr we stayed at a family one in Cancun with my daughter. Every time we are on a cruise that stops in a port where I can get an agent day pass to an adults all-inclusive I do so to gain more insight. I have found that two of us can travel for about 5 days, including airfare, to an all-inclusive resort for what we can get a seven day cruise for. My wife does prefer cruising, and our 25th anniversary is already booked for the Southern Caribbean onthe Summit, and we will do her birthday next year on the Reflection because I haven't yet been on the Celebrity's newest.

I agree that just doing land without a tour package can be quite expensive. As you saw in my review of the Norwegian Breakaway comments, food in New York is very expensive. If your shipboard bar bill is high, you might want to consider an all-inclusive, but there is only one in the U.S. currently. I guess my biggest drawback about all-inclusives is that if the weather turns bad, you are there through it. A ship will be somewhere else tomorrow.

DebbieandJerry · May 20, 2013

Great input from everyone! So right that the relative vacation has many unexpected and unplanned for expenses. I could not believe how many meals everyone wanted to eat in a restaurant! I think my fam was taking advantage of my mother's generosity a bit too much.

Funny you should mention a family cruise. My one sister and her family cruise all the time. We spent many after dinner talks sitting at the table discussing the benefits of a cruise. My mother's attitude was "I took one, isn't that enought?" Gotta love it!

coloradocruisers · May 21, 2013

My mother's attitude was "I took one, isn't that enought?" Gotta love it!

It's only enough if she circled the globe aboard The World!

WeCruiseToo · May 21, 2013

My mother's attitude was "I took one, isn't that enought?"

I think everyone here would agree, the answer is clearly “No!” :laugh:

DebbieandJerry · May 21, 2013

What can I say? My mom is clueless! (And her cruise was our gift to both our parents for their 50th anniversary - RCL Southern Caribbean). Thanks for the chuckles.

Jan115 · May 21, 2013

Send mom on a mystery vacation for the next anniversary - just don't tell them it's a cruise :)

DebbieandJerry · May 21, 2013

Good idea, Jan. Except for the fact that since 9/11 - she tells me she doesn't want to fly anymore.

I think that she has become extremely set in her ways (well, she has earned it!) As for me, I will continue to travel as long as I am able or as long as someone is willing to push me around when I can no longer walk on my own.