Cruise a good value??? I think not.

[MissDiva1]

Even living in North Indiana cruising is a great deal for us, we get free airline, even if we have to change our flight its all free, as well as hotels and upscale as well and we also get free rental cars which is good as we fly down to whatever port we are leaving for, atleast 2-3 days early to just relax. I do realize we are fortunate, but its a good deal for us!

 

That is a great deal!

[kbmeow]

I love to cruise and cant' wait until June when I get to do so with extended family. But......I read here and there that cruising presents a good value......I don't think its a rip off but good value I don't believe.

 

A good value to me is renting a big home on the outer banks with a few families and enjoying the week.......or a drive to vacation if you live in northeast like to to lake george or cape cod or upstate NY.........or an all inclusive in riviera maya (if you like to drink you save tons on booze).........or staying at auntie's home near the beach. lol.

 

If a family of 4 has to fly to miami, take a 7 night cruise, and stay at least 1 night in a hotel in miami and take shuttles too and from airport.....look what that costs.....a ton.

 

anyway....just wondering why many of you think its a good value....remind me again so i keep my enthusiasm high for my trip.....

 

First of all I am not a cape fan. Mind you I lived there for 7 years. How much is it to rent a house on cape? Also you are talking local vacations not ones out of the country. For what the cruise gives it is great value. Room and Food and non us travel.

[WeBeCruisin']

One of us obviously is missing the others' point. And I'll admit, I'm not sure which one. I was comparing the cost of a Caribbean cruise (with air travel from PNW) to a Hawaiian vacation (obviously, including air travel from PNW). I was not contemplating driving to Florida and had no idea where that came from.

 

.

 

It came from the following statement you made:

 

I think it is one of the most expensive vacations there is. I figure it is about $1,500 per person for our family of 4 to come cross-continet from PNW, once you factor in the cost of the cruise, the airfare, the hotels in transit, the transportation, anything you do in ports

[mss22859]

I have approx. $2,000. invested in our upcoming Miracle cruise. That is for an 8 night, Balcony, pre-paid gratuities, and bus from Albany to the pier and return. There is no way I could do either a land-based vacation or an AI for that little.:)

[KruznKel]

I have approx. $2,000. invested in our upcoming Miracle cruise. That is for an 8 night, Balcony, pre-paid gratuities, and bus from Albany to the pier and return. There is no way I could do either a land-based vacation or an AI for that little.:)

 

As long as you both do not drink you will be OK... but you can get AI's alot cheaper than that I am sorry to say;)

 

I just checked I did the same time frame from my location to Punta Cana Dominican Republic 4 star hotel.. $1890 for 7 days all inclusive...

[shadie]

My husband and I go somewhere in the Caribbean at least once a year. This will be our first time cruising together. We are going on on cruise next week and I can say that this trip is costing us HALF of what we payed last year in St. John for the same number of nights. While we LOVE St. John and will go back again and again, we also had to pay for food, drinks, etc. The cost of all of the extras on the ship will still be less than what we paid last year. We also went "all out" on both trips and booked great rooms, etc. I know that the extras on cruises can get expensive, but I still think it's overall a better value than airfare, transportation, hotel, food, drinks, etc. at a land resort. Driving to a destination and renting a house is a different type of vacation, so I can't really compare the two.

[WeBeCruisin']

As long as you both do not drink you will be OK... but you can get AI's alot cheaper than that I am sorry to say;)

 

I just checked I did the same time frame from my location to Punta Cana Dominican Republic 4 star hotel.. $1890 for 7 days all inclusive...

 

Does that include airfare? I've done All-Inclusives at Punta Cana and it cost a lot more than that. I guess it must depend upon where you stay and what package you get. Much like cruising. :)

[pe4all]

When my kids were young, we did AI's exclusively. At that time, it was a great deal. We went to around 15 AI's on many islands. However, once they hit the "adult rate" - 16 and over in most places, it became very, very expensive, and cruising became much more cost efficient - even with getting 2 balcony cabins. Airfare is a wash - we would need it for an AI or a cruise to get to an island. So cruising it is for us!:D

[T. Advisor King]

It came from the following statement you made:

 

I think it is one of the most expensive vacations there is. I figure it is about $1' date='500 per person for our family of 4 to come cross-continet from PNW, once you factor in the cost of the cruise, the airfare, the hotels in transit, the transportation, anything you do in ports[/color']

 

Ah. Then I think there was a misunderstanding. What I had intended was that the $1,500 cost was the per person cost of the entire trip (including air travel, cabin, etc). I think it may have sounded like I was saying that was the cost of getting from PNW to Miami. I certainly hadn't intended to imply that it was the cost of driving, but I regret if my choice of words was less clear than it could have been.

[T. Advisor King]

...

I'm not sure - as another poster suggested - that all of these are really comparable, but assuming that they are...you've only talked about out-of-pocket costs. To me, there's more to "value" than just how many dollars I had to shell out.

 

So, it's worth a lot to me that I don't have to cook (which includes deciding on menus and buying groceries) or clean (dishes, bedrooms, making beds, etc.) or drive, and that I get waited on hand and foot while being hauled around to beautiful places with exciting things to do, different people to meet, new foods to try out, ...

 

... I cruise because I love being out on the ocean - something that's the same for everyone no matter what ship they're on or how much they paid. I love the beach, too, but it ain't like being at sea... what is the view of the full moon rising over the ocean worth? or the sight of all those stars if there isn't a moon? Those things just aren't the same on land....

 

 

I agree completely that it is not just the cost. In fact, if you're talking about "value", then cost is only half the equation. What you're getting in return for that cost is the other half of that equation. But everyone is different and people value different things. The first three things you chose to mention as priorities (not cooking, not cleaning, being waited on) are of very little value to me. I'm happy to have the time to cook when I'm on vacation. And how much cleaning do you really ever have to do on vacation? Part of the "chore" of cleaning is the long-term accumulation of things, no matter how tidy you are on a day-to-day basis, things add up. But if you rent a house or condo for vacation, it is typically close to spotless when you arrive, so it doesn't take much to maintain that over a week.

 

And as for "being waited on hand and foot", it just doesn't do it for me. I would far rather do those little things myself. I just find that whole situation awkward and uncomfortable and not the least bit relaxing.

 

As for the beach not being the same as being at sea, that's true. But it seems to me there are more pros to being on the beach than there are to being at sea. Maybe they'll have a "sand deck" one day where I can build a sandcastle. And there's nothing like standing ankle deep with the waves gently nudging into you as you throw a football back-and-forth with your kid. Why do you suppose so many passengers go to the beach on their port days?

 

And is the full moon rising over the ocean really any better than seeing it rise over a palm tree, or a mountain, or over the city in that way that makes it look three times its regular size? Plus, you can always stand on the beach and watch it rise over the ocean if you really want to.

 

I enjoy taking cruises. But it's not the only vacation and not, in my mind, usually the best value.

[a3593]

The 2 of us live 15 minutes from the port, no flying, no hotel. We live approx., 3 1/2 hours from Deep Creek Lake in Md. The costs of the rental cottage, boat, food would very likely cost 2 1/2 times what the cruise costs for a week, and then the added cost of other forms of entertainment we might want to indulge in. Cruising IS most definitely a GREAT value for us.

 

I concur. OP, as Host Mach said, flying to the port is personal preference. For the NE part of the country, it IS quite possible to take a cruise to the Carribean/Bermuda without airfare. I think in general cruising is a good value, because great unlimted food/fun is included, and on top of that, you can see many different countries in one fell swoop. (Hope I said that right!) :eek:

[ATL2LAS]

I started solo cruising as an alternate to my solo Vegas trips. I have found in my case, it is a more cost effective trip. I can't drive to Vegas so that adds to my cost. My food is included on the cruise. I get to visit some really nice places when I'm not at the slots or tables. I was ready to give up cruising when Carnival started charging 200% for solo cabins, but after looking at the total cost, cruising is still a great value for me.

[MissDiva1]

I concur. OP, as Host Mach said, flying to the port is personal preference. For the NE part of the country, it IS quite possible to take a cruise to the Carribean/Bermuda without airfare. I think in general cruising is a good value, because great unlimted food/fun is included, and on top of that, you can see many different countries in one fell swoop. (Hope I said that right!) :eek:

 

Sure if all you do is cruise for the ship....but alot of us cruise for the itinerary and to get to those places we have to fly.

[steveNcindy]

Does that include airfare? I've done All-Inclusives at Punta Cana and it cost a lot more than that. I guess it must depend upon where you stay and what package you get. Much like cruising. :)

 

I would assume that includes airfare. Our AI packages from here are very reasonably priced and include everything.

[bonnys]

For our family it isn't about the out of pocket expenses. Cruising is the ONLY vacation that my DH (who is an RM for the east coast) takes that is not interrupted by work. Every May we go to a motorcycle rally and he is routinly pulling over to take a call on that f%#*!@g Blackberry. Every summer we go to the beach and he is getting calls at 11pm any day of the week. NOT on a cruise! The BB stays behind and an automated response is sent to anyone that emails or texts that he is in the caribbean and not to expect an answer. So for us our annual cruise is not optional, it is mandatory. And when it does come down to cost, cruising has always been the better value when all has been added up.

[beach410]

As long as you both do not drink you will be OK... but you can get AI's alot cheaper than that I am sorry to say;)

 

I just checked I did the same time frame from my location to Punta Cana Dominican Republic 4 star hotel.. $1890 for 7 days all inclusive...

 

That's not a lot less, and is that a balcony room? Also, is that price from the posters area? I have always compared cost of our cruises to AI and have always found cruises to be a better value from our location, but then we drive 9-10 hours to port.

[UpstateCruizer]

I love to cruise and cant' wait until June when I get to do so with extended family. But......I read here and there that cruising presents a good value......I don't think its a rip off but good value I don't believe.

 

A good value to me is renting a big home on the outer banks with a few families and enjoying the week.......or a drive to vacation if you live in northeast like to to lake george or cape cod or upstate NY.........or an all inclusive in riviera maya (if you like to drink you save tons on booze).........or staying at auntie's home near the beach. lol.

 

If a family of 4 has to fly to miami, take a 7 night cruise, and stay at least 1 night in a hotel in miami and take shuttles too and from airport.....look what that costs.....a ton.

 

anyway....just wondering why many of you think its a good value....remind me again so i keep my enthusiasm high for my trip.....

 

Oh man~! Our first cruise experience ruined any of the Lake George type vacations for us. We had planned to go to Lake George(again) later in the summer but after cruising in June for the first time there was no enthusiasm for another Lake George vacation. To me cruising is the whole package from start to finish. To be able to escape reality and be totally pampered for 10 days (which includes our pre-cruise stays) is the ultimate vacation value for us. My vacation actually starts the minute I walk out my door and head to our pre-flight hotel. Money wise those Lake George hotels were quite costly and included nothing. Entertainment was in the local bars if it was a weekend night. The comedy club was more money and again only on certain nights. It's hard to get excited about walking in downtown Lake George after you do it the first day or so. I could easily spend hours walking around the ship and never get bored with it :) I could go on and on but my passion is cruising and the great value it provides us :)

[MissDiva1]

That's not a lot less, and is that a balcony room? Also, is that price from the posters area? I have always compared cost of our cruises to AI and have always found cruises to be a better value from our location, but then we drive 9-10 hours to port.

 

It's alot cheaper when you figure ALL drinks are included;) I have never been to an AI that didn't have balconies. Is there such an animal:confused: No sail and sign bill at the end of an AI.

[Warm Breezes]

It's alot cheaper when you figure ALL drinks are included;) I have never been to an AI that didn't have balconies. Is there such an animal:confused: No sail and sign bill at the end of an AI.

Depends on how much you like to drink. For you it maybe a lot cheaper. To our family...not so much.

[Sargent_Schultz]

I love to cruise and cant' wait until June when I get to do so with extended family. But......I read here and there that cruising presents a good value......I don't think its a rip off but good value I don't believe.

 

A good value to me is renting a big home on the outer banks with a few families and enjoying the week.......or a drive to vacation if you live in northeast like to to lake george or cape cod or upstate NY.........or an all inclusive in riviera maya (if you like to drink you save tons on booze).........or staying at auntie's home near the beach. lol.

 

If a family of 4 has to fly to miami, take a 7 night cruise, and stay at least 1 night in a hotel in miami and take shuttles too and from airport.....look what that costs.....a ton.

 

anyway....just wondering why many of you think its a good value....remind me again so i keep my enthusiasm high for my trip.....

 

Move to where you can drive to a port, save billions or airfare and lose the aunt. She might thank you. :p

 

I like waking up somewhere different everyday without having to pack and unpack.

 

I don't recall many rentals including a cook, a cleaner, room service or food 7x24. Or a different view everyday. Or live entertainment, a casino, etc.

 

On the plus side for a condo/house rental, you might be allowed to light a candle or use an iron.

 

Ever vacation in winter in Upstate NY? Brrrrrrr.

[MissDiva1]

Depends on how much you like to drink. For you it maybe a lot cheaper. To our family...not so much.

 

Which is why I quoted someone that quoted someone that likes to drink alot;) All my posts have been if you don't drink (party alot), gamble, pay for airfare, hotel, shuttle service, book inside cabins......then yes cruising is dirt cheap:D No denying that:p

But some of us don't roll that way.

[richstowe]

We cruise as a family of 4 in an interior cabin. I know it's cramped, but we literally spend about 1 waking hour there per day (shower and dress). I'm sure I would love a balcony but I really do like being on deck with all the people and watching them. It costs us about $2000 for cruise fare, about $1200-$1400 for airfare. Hotel, cabs and tips come to about $500 and we have a bill at the end of about $600.

 

Where else can a family of 4 go for $4500 and see at least three caribbean islands, all the food you can eat and entertainment as well.

 

Great value.

 

The above, is a perfect example of apples to oranges.

OMG - 4 in an inside cabin and you are comparing this to a hotel? What hotels do you stay in?

 

And can you really say you saw 3 islands? Its fun but a quick port stop is just that.

(It seems many people on CC actually prefer the stops that are private islands so they

don't actually have to meet locals or experience local culture)

 

Cruises are fun. They are like adult summer camp which is great but they

are just one type of vacation.They are good not great value.

[travelingtriumphess]

I love to cruise and cant' wait until June when I get to do so with extended family. But......I read here and there that cruising presents a good value......I don't think its a rip off but good value I don't believe.

 

A good value to me is renting a big home on the outer banks with a few families and enjoying the week.......or a drive to vacation if you live in northeast like to to lake george or cape cod or upstate NY.........or an all inclusive in riviera maya (if you like to drink you save tons on booze).........or staying at auntie's home near the beach. lol.

 

If a family of 4 has to fly to miami, take a 7 night cruise, and stay at least 1 night in a hotel in miami and take shuttles too and from airport.....look what that costs.....a ton.

 

anyway....just wondering why many of you think its a good value....remind me again so i keep my enthusiasm high for my trip.....

I am a camper. Yes you read that. I like to C-A-M-P. I have slept in tents, like to build fires, hike--You name it. Camping is a good value (unless you buy an RV you only use 3 weeks a year. )

But, I have to say, for the experience, the whole napkins in the lap, the food, being able to see the ocean and wonderful places, cruising is a good value. But it is not cheap. And there is a difference. I think the question is, and always has been, what are you willing to spend your money on?

:)

[T. Advisor King]

The above, is a perfect example of apples to oranges.

OMG - 4 in an inside cabin and you are comparing this to a hotel? What hotels do you stay in?

 

And can you really say you saw 3 islands? Its fun but a quick port stop is just that.

(It seems many people on CC actually prefer the stops that are private islands so they

don't actually have to meet locals or experience local culture)

 

Cruises are fun. They are like adult summer camp which is great but they

are just one type of vacation.They are good not great value.

 

Very well put.

[Sargent_Schultz]

I am a camper. Yes you read that. I like to C-A-M-P. I have slept in tents, like to build fires, hike--You name it. Camping is a good value (unless you buy an RV you only use 3 weeks a year. )

But, I have to say, for the experience, the whole napkins in the lap, the food, being able to see the ocean and wonderful places, cruising is a good value. But it is not cheap. And there is a difference. I think the question is, and always has been, what are you willing to spend your money on?

:)

 

Primitive camping is ok with me. I discovered a long time ago why set up a tent when you can sleep in your SUV - a lot quieter and more weather resistant. A wax log in a fire pit seems to care not if it is drizzling. Ain't technology great!

 

No need to buy a RV, or in my case, a Manabago, but that is on the bucket list. If you do use 3 weeks a year I'm pretty sure it would qualify as a second home with tax benefits.

 

Staying at home and renting videos remains the best vacation value. No thanks.