The excitement of booking the perfect holiday can quickly be overshadowed when you’re struggling to decide what type of holiday to go for in the first place. For holidaymakers longing for an easy, effort-free break where everything is taken care of, cruises and all-inclusive resorts can be some of the most popular choices. But choosing between these two equally great but wildly different options? Not such an easy task.
Unless you have first-hand cruise experience, it can be quite hard to know what to expect. But the reverse is also true, and those used to holidaying at sea might not be able to picture themselves staying in one place for an entire week or two.
Looking to organise your perfect getaway but not sure which is right for you? Whether you want more bang for your buck or a relaxing break, we’re here to guide you through the pros and cons of these popular holiday types and hopefully help steer you towards the one that’s right for you.
Cruise vs All-Inclusive Holiday
So, what are the major differences between cruises and all-inclusive holidays? Let’s go through their advantages and disadvantages.
Pros and Cons: Cruises
The first and most obvious advantage of cruising is that you can tick off multiple destinations in one go. Even on a short cruise, you’re still guaranteed to see at least two different places. The ultimate benefit of this type of holiday is that there’s no need to repack your bags or figure out the transport between various locations as you’d normally need to on a multi-destination holiday since the cruise ship solves both of those issues. Whether you’re docking in gorgeous beach destinations in the Caribbean or cities across Europe, you can choose the cruise with the best mix of destinations for you.
Another obvious benefit is the sheer amount of stuff to do onboard. Absolutely everybody is catered to, from thrill seekers to those wanting a peaceful pampering session. The facilities on the cruise will of course depend on the ship, but you can usually expect to see waterparks, a spa area, multiple restaurants and bars, dedicated sporting amenities, and great pool areas. You’ll definitely never run out of things to do either, with day and night-time itineraries packed with exciting activities and entertainment.
Cruises also offer a sometimes-overlooked advantage because they can avoid any bad weather forecasted. In hurricane season, you can worry less about getting caught up in the storm and spend more time simply enjoying yourself. This is a luxury you just can’t get when you book a resort stay, and we know nobody wants to be anxiously checking the forecast every hour or spend the entire holiday indoors sheltering from poor conditions.
However, some cruises aren’t entirely as all-inclusive as they might seem at first glance. Drinks packages, specialty restaurants, activities, shore excursions, and tipping can all come at an additional cost, which must be factored into your original budget.
Pros and Cons: All-Inclusive Resorts
If we had to sum up all-inclusive resorts in one word, it would without a doubt be relaxation. When you book an all-inclusive package holiday, absolutely everything is taken care of for you from the minute you get to the airport right up until you return home. The only extra expenses that need to be accounted for are taxes for the country you’re staying in and any out-of-resort exploring you plan to do.
Other than that, your food, drinks, beach and pool access, and any activities are all included in the original price. Don’t fancy taking part in the excursions or watching the entertainment and prefer to spend your time lazing around? You’ll likely have loads of space in the resort to do exactly that. Likewise, if you want to try underwater activities like snorkelling and scuba diving or stay dry with beach sports, these will be happening just a stone’s throw from your accommodation.
On a similar note, you can also do what you want, whenever you want (within reason) when staying at an all-inclusive resort. While there might be some restrictions on mealtimes, you can usually grab a drink or snack at any time of the day, and you aren’t limited to when you can stroll along the beach like you are on a cruise. Instead of planning your days around when your cruise ship docks and departs again, you can work around your own schedule.
However, there are a few mention-worthy drawbacks to resort holidays. One of which is that when bad weather comes along, it’s incredibly difficult to avoid. Bad weather conditions can have a much bigger impact on how much of your holiday you can experience, and there’s very little that can be done about it except for staying inside until it passes.
Another aspect to consider is that unless you plan on hiring a car or using public transport, you’ll only get to experience one area of your chosen island or country. Being restricted to one place definitely isn’t the right vibe for everyone, especially if you love exploring and immersing yourself in the culture of wherever you go.
All-Inclusive Resort or a Cruise: Which Should You Choose?
The type of holiday you end up choosing will probably depend on who is travelling and what you want to get out of your trip. Looking for an action-packed itinerary geared towards all ages and plenty of destination-hopping opportunities? A cruise is probably the way forward.
Meanwhile, if relaxing by the pool and taking a leisurely approach is more your style, it’s probably worth steering towards an all-inclusive resort.
We hope this guide helps you discover your perfect holiday. Need an extra nudge to help sway your decision? Check out our super handy cruise guides to take a deeper dive into the world of cruising.