Jill

I am very new to traveling on my own (a young pup of only 26). Can anyone make suggestions on either cruising or all-inclusive? I will be traveling with my boyfriend and another couple in their late twenties. Our budget is moderate to high, and we are looking to relax, drink and have great food. Any suggestions would be helpful. We haven't even decided on a destination since I haven't been out of the United States before!

janie

One thing that is a plus on a cruise, is if the weather is bad, and you are at a resort, it can rain your whole vacation. It happened to us twice! We still had fun, but I prefer a cruise.

stewart

Both are same and different at the same time. Do one this year and the other next year. Food and bed, same on both. Cruises have more indoor stuff also like a 2nd pool, show, discos, etc. All inc you tend to be more outside. Cruises try to be a bit more formal at times but thats up to you if you like to dress up. All inc you can spend all day and evening in swimming suit. The great food issue might be more probable on the cruise. Going to an all inc or touring a island for 6 hours is not exactly international travel so dont worry, you will be safe on both instances. email me if you want more advise [email protected]

CruisingBoi

Jill<BR>I have done both,enjoyed both, and been disappointed by both.Cruising to me is more exciting and adventurous.Today's newer ships are destinations in themselves.But more and more all inclusive resorts are popping up.Just depends on you.And what you want to do and accomplish if anything.The big difference right now that I can point out is that an all inclusive resort includes your drinks--of some sorts.Some charge for "premuim" brands.On a cruise ship, ya gotta fess up for the booze.In some way shape or form.<BR>Jason

maryann

I prefer cruising because I get to see different ports, rather than being stuck in one resort for a week.

Peter

Not counting the free alcohol (which you don't get on the average cruise), a cruise is just like being at an all-inclusive resort that changes location each day.

Cathy

The one advantage I see to all inclusives is the inclusion of the booze. However, the all inclusives I have been to did not have the quality of food or entertainment that cruises have. <BR><BR>The other definite advantage of a cruise is it is a great way of seeing many different locations and deciding on what destinations you like and what you don't as opposed to going to a land based place, hating it and being stuck there for a week. This is good, since you have not been out of the US before, if you are uncomfortable with a country, you can always get back on the ship.<BR><BR>Depending on the time of year you go, you can get much better deals on a cruise than an all inclusive. I usually get my own airfare and get it at a better rate than the cruiseline.<BR><BR>To get the most out of your cruise, think about what you and your friends are interested in doing ( snorkeling, shopping, other sports, etc). This will help you decide on eastern, western or southern Caribbean. You can post your interests here, if you like.<BR><BR>Feel free to post any other questions.

Paul Therault

All interesting and excellent posts.

xman

Yes you may get free booze at all inclusives but you also get: A tip free environment, free excursions, very good food, larger rooms, and how is stopping in a port to be fleeced for six hours pleasurable and a change of atomosphere. They all sell the same curios that you eventually throw away anyway.<BR><BR>And I still have never had to pack up several times to enjoy an area.<BR><BR>The only thing ships offer over AI's is: ---------------Ummm I forget. Still looking for the elusive good cruise.

Peter

Hows this scenerio, xman - you show up at your AI and it rains seven straight days - I guess you could stay in your great big room and get drunk every day?

xman

Uh Peter ever heard of weather.com. You check the weather before you leave. Also, the RCCL cruise I went on it rained for several days with choppy seas. The ship didn't dock at Coco Cay and the ship couldn't stear around the bad weather. RCCL was unprepared and offered less than adequate diversions for this. Whereas it rained two days out of my vacation at an AI and there was plenty to do without feeling confined. I know you can't control the weather but I would much rather spend a rainy day at a place that had over 20 acres of property with many things to do, than be stuck in a tiny room with everyone holding their hand out for tips. Still looking for the elusive cruise.

Bob

Jill:<BR><BR>My recommendation would be a cruise on one of the newer Carnival or Royal Carribean ships. <BR><BR>Why a cruise over an all-inclusive? It's intangibles, mainly. There's just something about being at sea; the motion of the ship; waking up to a new port--that's hard to describe and must be experienced.<BR><BR>Start online to get a feel for prices, cabins, destinations, etc. (personally I like Travelocity for this) then shop around. There are a number of discount online destinations as well as travel agents you can call for pricing and advice. I've gotten good service at cruise.com (Heather at extention 227) but other people have had bad experiences with other agents there, so caveat emptor. Know that you can talk to as many people as you like and get quotes from as many places as you like before making any decisions.<BR><BR>Get a balcony & smuggle alcohol (lots of tips on Cruisecritic about that--and everything else, for that matter).<BR><BR>Now, you will find plenty of people online who will relate horrible cruise experiences-they do happen, as do horrible airport, restaurant, and other vacation experiences. While they are possible, they are not the norm. As long as you don't go on vacation expecting everything to be absolutely perfect, you'll have a great time.<BR><BR>For everyone else, here's an open question: why isn't there an "all-inclusives" forum on this site? Would be a good resource.<BR><BR>Cheers all!

kiersty

i stayed at an ai in cacun....no free alcohol and no free excursions!!! It was cheaper for us to rent a little water plane to the ruins than to take one of "their" excursions. Im going on my first cruise in Nov so i can't really coment on that. All I know club med sucks!!!!

Ki

Just a question for x-man...I'm not sure I understand how weather.com helps if it rains during your vacation. If you check and see that it will be raining, do you cancel your trip? Or is there some other type of provision that you make when you realize that it will be rainy while you are at a resort? I honestly don't intend any attitude here...I'm just wondering if I missed something...

Paul Thearult

I can not understand xman either. How can you cancel at the last minute without losing your money and insurance does not cover rain. <BR><BR>I have been at resorts when it rains and it gets extremely boring.<BR><BR>I still can not see the positives to resorts over cruising after all a resort is only one place and doesn't move. For beach people it is usually perfect and that is why resorts are very popular. This is the major reason people book resorts. They like to veg-out on a beach for a week, eat fairly good food, enjoy semi-entertainment entertainment and drink until they are sloshed.<BR><BR>To each his own.<BR><BR>Paul

xman

My reference to weather.com was so you could check to see what kind of weather is typical of the time period you are going to book. Weather has a running history of weather for most locations which you can therefore extrapolate.<BR><BR>When we ran into bad weather on a ship it could not "steer around it". That's understandable.<BR><BR>I have just found that AI's offer much more diversions over the RCCL ship I was on. Indoor/outdoor pools, numerous clubs, didn't have to worry about docking in bad weather, etc....<BR><BR>What does it matter how much the ship can move if it can't dock at any of the locations it's upposed to go to?<BR><BR>When someone can suggest ship that is competitive with what it offers and how much it costs against an AI, I'm on it!

Nix

Paul:::"They like to veg-out on a beach for a week, eat fairly good food, enjoy semi-entertainment and drink until they are sloshed"<BR><BR>I thought this is why people cruised!<BR>I've never seen more sloshed people and more mediocre entertainment and food in any one place than aboard a ship.

xman

Hmmmmmmm. I noticed that comment to. Except you have to sneak your booze on board to do that.

Wondering

Why hasn't Jill posted a response? do you think she has even read these responses? I wonder what she decided.