Cruise a good value??? I think not.

[big_duck]

Not sure which AIs you have looked at but at many/most you end up paying just for the airfare if

they are a sharing room with adults. Not so different then cruising.

 

I am not sure what "the usual AI song and dance" is?

 

Also I don't understand the "eat 3 times a day in the buffet" comment.

Many/most AIs have multiple dining options which are not all buffet. Todays AIs have

as many choices as any Carnival cruise, perhaps more.

 

If the kids are under 12 yes. No way Am I spending a week with 4 stuffed in one room with older teens. I refuse to compromise my standards to save a couple of bucks.

 

Sure most AIs have sit down restaurants most requiring 24 to 48 hour advance reservations.

 

AIs are a great deal for shoveling at the trough falling down drunk types, but aren't such a good deal especially for families.

 

2 Empress deck balcony cabins plus air (on real airplanes not the flying cattle cars used by charter companies) for 1200 PP was the best deal I could find without lowering my standards.

[MissDiva1]

If the kids are under 12 yes. No way Am I spending a week with 4 stuffed in one room with older teens. I refuse to compromise my standards to save a couple of bucks.

 

Sure most AIs have sit down restaurants most requiring 24 to 48 hour advance reservations.

 

AIs are a great deal for shoveling at the trough falling down drunk types, but aren't such a good deal especially for families.

 

2 Empress deck balcony cabins plus air (on real airplanes not the flying cattle cars used by charter companies) for 1200 PP was the best deal I could find without lowering my standards.

 

Wow! That has not even been close to our experience with AI's.

[richstowe]

AIs are a great deal for shoveling at the trough falling down drunk types, but aren't such a good deal especially for families.

 

Again you seem to be lumping all AIs together. Would you say all cruises are the same?

 

Same with AIs. Lots of different types in all different price ranges.

Some are about the food,some focus on sport facilities,some are family focused and YES some

are all about catering to party types.

 

Not all cater to the "Lets see how much I can drink "crowd.

Just like with cruises,different strokes for different folks.

[Crusing Nut]

We go to Lake George yearly up until this year. To travel to Lake George dragging a boat, getting lakeside cabin for a week, launching boat, parking boat at cabin is over 1500.00 Now add food, and fuel for boat.....

 

Yes, we think cruising gets you more bang for the buck.

[T. Advisor King]

You must have got a GREAT deal on airfare and the hotel! WOW good for you! When we went to Hawaii in 09' we only stayed 2 nights in Waikiki and then did a 7 day Hawaii cruise on NCL and it was very expensive. Our total was $7k, but it was our 20 yr anniversary. The food prices in Hawaii are so expensive. An average breakfast for 2 was $24 this was at the hotel but even a soda was high priced. And we had to eat at Dukes :p I would do the Hawaii vacation for your price anyday :D

 

Alaska Air just started its service out of Bellingham (BLI). I think the total cost for the airfare was $1,650, so yes it was great. We've paid over $3k to get to Hawaii before. The hotel was about the same amount -- around $200 a night for a 1 bedroom suite (us in the master bedroom and the teenagers in the main part of the hotel room). The hotel is all-suite with full kitchen, so it was quite a deal. We don't do the "four in one room" thing with teenage kids for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who is ... uh, "enthusiastic".

 

We found groceries in Hawaii were noticably more than at home, but it still ends up being a rounding error if a week's groceries cost $315 when it would have been $225 at home. We always ate breakfast in the room, which was great, because everyone can eat at their own pace and you don't have to get everyone together and "up" to go out. Personally, I like sitting on the balcony with a glass of cold juice. We could see whales when we were up the first morning, before we started adjusting to the time change.

 

Most of our lunches were out, on the beach or something like that. Usually pretty light stuff -- I don't think we ever did a "sit down and be served" meal for lunch. Although sometimes we'd just have some fries or something as a snack and have an early dinner back at the hotel. I can think of three nights where we ate out. In total, including drinks, fast food, groceries and restaurant meals, we spent about $100 per day.

 

I find a cruise is like paying half a vacation (air fare) just to get there, then paying the full cost of a vacation again for the cruise. If it was just the cruise part, it would come in as pretty cheap for what you get. But it isn't. On regular vacations, we tend to pick places where there is a lot to do without having to invent contrived "excursions". For example, we rented a car for three days and went snorkelling one day, went to Pearl Harbor (and my son and I went to the Pro Bowl) one day and we drove around Oahu one day. The cost of the car worked out to about $17 per person per day, including gas. The snorkelling at Hanauma bay was less than $10 per person. Pearl is free, although we paid to go on the sub. The Pro Bowl tickets weren't cheap, but that was more of a one-off.

 

I compare that to typical cruise "excursion" costs where you're paying $50-$80 per person, per day and even more. Those costs add up. We paid $800 for our excursions on our last Carnival Caribbean cruise. The costs of doing fun stuff in Hawaii are almost negligible. We spent less than $300 over 8 days, excluding the Pro Bowl tickets. I appreciate that you can "do it yourself" and avoid the pre-packaged excursions when you're on a cruise. That does tend to be more our style. But that gets tricky. It is one thing to go to Expedia a month before your trip and book a car for three days in Hawaii. It is another thing to try to figure out how to rent a vehicle for a day (with all the unknowns like insurance and liability) in three differnt ports in three different countries on a Cruise. In practical terms, few people will do it, so you're stuck on an excursion, taking a taxi to a beach (or somewhere like that), or hiring a car and driver.

 

I like taking cruises, probably as much as the original poster. But I wouldn't consider it exceptionally good value for the money.

[gettyssd03]

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 live in Upstate NY, we go on 2 cruises a year and rent a large beach house on Topsail Island NC every summer. Believe me it cost me more to do the beach house in the summer. I am paying for 7 days of eating out at least two meals a day, plus snacks, and beverages at the beach house, entertainment and so on, all of which is included in a cruise. Almost all hotels in Miami have a free shuttle and unless you are staying in south beach they are all well priced.

[Larry'sLady]

In my opinion, it is a great value for my husband & I. I went to Myrtle Beach last year for 4 nights with my DD & DGD & spent over $1000 on just me. I had no entertainment, and only had dinner out each night. We had to deal with traffic as well. Nobody made up my bed or brought me room service. I did not see any exotic ports, only a crowded beach. I was bored. We used to go to the Outer Banks or MB every year. No more. I love the pampering & excitement on a cruise. We drive to port & are retired. If we had children it may be a different story. Hope everyone enjoys their vacations no matter how u choose to spend it.

[TheGrandparents]

In our short, 4 cruise history I have always wondered what it would be like to be in a port for several days instead of a few hours.

A couple years ago we decided to find out and stay at an AI in Cancun.

It was a lot of fun, especially since all drinks are included.

On the 3rd day I was relaxing on the beach with a Corona when I noticed a Carnival ship cruising by.

 

At that point I wished I was on the ship, headed off to another location.

 

Funny how no matter what you are doing you kinda wish you were doing something else.

 

 

The grass is always greener I guess..........................

[steveNcindy]

Sure most AIs have sit down restaurants most requiring 24 to 48 hour advance reservations.

 

AIs are a great deal for shoveling at the trough falling down drunk types, but aren't such a good deal especially for families.

 

Wow, I just returned from a beautiful 5* in Punta Cana where no reservations were required, lobster was on the menu every night, and my room was 800 sf plus balcony directly into a private pool area.

 

Much less than I would have paid doing B2B in a balcony room when you factor in flights, on board spending, etc.

 

Didn't see any falling down drunks and I missed the shoveling at the trough feed night as well (is that kind of like you see at the lido buffet:confused:)

[CanadianTwosome]

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 think you're confusing 'inexpensive' with 'good value'. In my opinion, for something to be a good value, it means that I'm getting a lot for each dollar I'm spending. For us, cruising absolutely gives us that.

 

We travel in the winter to get away from the cold. No matter what kind of vacation we take, that means flying, so to examine the value of a cruise I only compare it to what else I would be doing if I wasn't on a ship. So, how much would a land vacation cost me at the same time of year in someplace warm? Generally I've found that cruises win out every time, especially since we tend to book inside cabins. Just eating on a land vacation is a huge expense, while as much food as we could possibly consume is included in our cruise fare. If we want to visit more than one location we have to pay for the additional travel, while sailing from port to port is included in our cruise fare. If we want to experience entertainment of any kind, we either have to pay a premium to stay at a resort that includes something extra, or we have to find something that appeals to us and pay for it. We also tend to need a rental car for a land vacation, assuming we're not staying at an 'on site' resort hotel, which again usually costs more than average.

 

So... for us, cruising definitely provides excellent value for our dollar. Is it inexpensive? I guess that depends on your idea of inexpensive. Is it the least expensive inclusive (accommodations, meals, entertainment) vacation I can find? For the last five - now six - winter vacations I've planned, it sure is. :)

[T. Advisor King]

I think you're confusing 'inexpensive' with 'good value'. In my opinion, for something to be a good value, it means that I'm getting a lot for each dollar I'm spending. For us, cruising absolutely gives us that.

 

We travel in the winter to get away from the cold. No matter what kind of vacation we take, that means flying, so to examine the value of a cruise I only compare it to what else I would be doing if I wasn't on a ship. So, how much would a land vacation cost me at the same time of year in someplace warm? Generally I've found that cruises win out every time, especially since we tend to book inside cabins. Just eating on a land vacation is a huge expense, while as much food as we could possibly consume is included in our cruise fare. If we want to visit more than one location we have to pay for the additional travel, while sailing from port to port is included in our cruise fare. If we want to experience entertainment of any kind, we either have to pay a premium to stay at a resort that includes something extra, or we have to find something that appeals to us and pay for it. We also tend to need a rental car for a land vacation, assuming we're not staying at an 'on site' resort hotel, which again usually costs more than average.

 

So... for us, cruising definitely provides excellent value for our dollar. Is it inexpensive? I guess that depends on your idea of inexpensive. Is it the least expensive inclusive (accommodations, meals, entertainment) vacation I can find? For the last five - now six - winter vacations I've planned, it sure is. :)

 

Those are all good comments, Cdn-T, but I just wanted to pick up on a couple points you made. I agree with the critical distinction between "inexpensive" and "good value". I'm not sure the original poster is confusing them, though. If two options are equally appealing, then the cheaper one is the better value -- at least from that person's perspective. That is what makes these debates difficult. What is important to one person is not important to others. For example, plenty of posters seem to put a huge premium on the value of not having to cook food (which to me is no biggie).

 

I've seen a few people referring to the volume of food they can consume "for free". But it seems to me that there is only a certain amount of food you can healthily eat. The access to any more food above that is surely of no value to anyone. So if the point is that the cruise fare includes three square meals and some snacks if I feel like it, then fine. But I'm not sure how access to unlimited food (above and beyond that amount) provides any benefit to any passenger. And, of course, the food isn't free, it is merely "included".

 

I've seen a few postings that try to compare a cruise to an equivalent vacation that involves flying from one port city to another port city (i.e., "to get the same thing on a land vacation, I'd need to pay for all that air travel"). However, the point isn't that you are trying to replicate a cruise without the cruise ship, so it is not really a fair comparison. That would be similar to saying, "if I'm on a land vacation, I can stay out in the city as late as I want. If I'm on a cruise and I want to stay at the port after the ship leaves, then I have to pay to have myself transported to catch up to the ship the next day". There are pros and cons of cruises. One of the pros is that, typically, you get to visit a number of destinations. The offsetting con is that you don't get to spend much time in any one location. You can't compare the pro to a regular (land-based) vacation without also comparing the con. If you always prefer to spend less time in more different locations, then cruises will be more valuable to you. But it is not the case that cruises are more valuable merely because they typically involve more destinations.

 

As for the car rental comment, I couldn't pass up the chance to ask how car rentals could "usually cost more than average". Isn't the amount they usually cost, by definition, the "average"?

[southernbreezes]

If I wanted to do dishes, cook, clean and watch TV I can just stay home. But for vacations I love to be out on the open ocean, eat out for every meal, go to the casino, visit the beach for a few hours here and there and never, ever have to drive myself anywhere, I enjoy meeting new friends, seeing new places - The list goes on and on!

 

Yes indeed - Cruising offers a great value as opposed to doing the hotel/resort thing.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Taters

I agree with you, my wife can take the week off with me, she only has to get dressed for dinner. Maid service 24/7 is worth the total cruise price to me we are going on cruise number 59 in April.

[southernbreezes]

Those are all good comments, Cdn-T, but I just wanted to pick up on a couple points you made. I agree with the critical distinction between "inexpensive" and "good value". I'm not sure the original poster is confusing them, though. If two options are equally appealing, then the cheaper one is the better value -- at least from that person's perspective. That is what makes these debates difficult. What is important to one person is not important to others. For example, plenty of posters seem to put a huge premium on the value of not having to cook food (which to me is no biggie).

 

I've seen a few people referring to the volume of food they can consume "for free". But it seems to me that there is only a certain amount of food you can healthily eat. The access to any more food above that is surely of no value to anyone. So if the point is that the cruise fare includes three square meals and some snacks if I feel like it, then fine. But I'm not sure how access to unlimited food (above and beyond that amount) provides any benefit to any passenger. And, of course, the food isn't free, it is merely "included".

 

I've seen a few postings that try to compare a cruise to an equivalent vacation that involves flying from one port city to another port city (i.e., "to get the same thing on a land vacation, I'd need to pay for all that air travel"). However, the point isn't that you are trying to replicate a cruise without the cruise ship, so it is not really a fair comparison. That would be similar to saying, "if I'm on a land vacation, I can stay out in the city as late as I want. If I'm on a cruise and I want to stay at the port after the ship leaves, then I have to pay to have myself transported to catch up to the ship the next day". There are pros and cons of cruises. One of the pros is that, typically, you get to visit a number of destinations. The offsetting con is that you don't get to spend much time in any one location. You can't compare the pro to a regular (land-based) vacation without also comparing the con. If you always prefer to spend less time in more different locations, then cruises will be more valuable to you. But it is not the case that cruises are more valuable merely because they typically involve more destinations.

 

As for the car rental comment, I couldn't pass up the chance to ask how car rentals could "usually cost more than average". Isn't the amount they usually cost, by definition, the "average"?

Wow, I hope you are not at my table for dinner, this makes no sense to me.

[Room Service!]

I'll say it again. "Good value to me", without all the dissecting. Geez!

[bythehex]

I have 10 and 13 year old boys. That is absolutely true! :)

 

And I'll bet if anyone asked a 10 and 13 year old boy which they'd rather do - spend a week at their great Aunt's house in the woods, or a week on a cruise ship - that they'd prefer the week on a cruise ship. :D

[TheCalicoCat]

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.....

 

Maybe you should cruise out of NY or Baltimore - both are more than doable from the Jersey Shore then you can eliminate the flight & hotel...

[nbsjcruiser]

When I first read this I thought the OP has made a valid point regarding flying and so on. After all, its all personal choice. But just for fun I asked my brother what he and his wife paid for 10 days in the Dominican. It was 3K per person. so they paid 6000.

 

So now lets compare our recent 7 day eastern on the Liberty plus 2 days pre-cruise in Florida plus 1 post cruise in Florida. So we're comparing 2 10 day vacations here.

 

Balcony cabin - $1500

Air round trip from Portland Maine - $600

Hotels + rental car in FLL pre cruise and Miami post cruise - $730

Spending money that included all food and entertainment pre/post and during cruise- $1200

Gas and food to drive from our home in NB to Portland Maine and back - $150

Luggage fees - $100

I'm also adding an extra $200 for stuff that maybe I missed - but I dont think I did miss anything.

 

Total - $4480

 

Now, we could have saved $100 on hotel by flying in one day early instead of 2. We also could have booked an inside at about $500 cheaper. So if we wanted to do it on the cheap I'm thinking we could have done it for around $3800. That is quite a bit less than the $6000 for a very nice all inclusive for 10 days. Of course they could have booked a cheaper all inclusive too but I think if we compare the 2 10 day vacations as purchased, they are a fair comparison.

 

Our 10 day cruise - approximately $4500 with 3 days in Florida, 1 day in each of San Juan, St Thomas, Grand Turk and HMC.

 

10 days at the same beach in the Dominican - $6000

 

We got to see 4 ports and spend almost 3 full days in Florida. We saw an NHL hockey game and had a really nice day on Hollywood Beach. The all inclusive folks spent 10 days looking at the same beach every day. No comparison. Ours was by far the better deal and the better vacation. the only thing that might sway it would be if we were heavy drinkers. Then the pendulum might swing back a bit but we're still at a $1500 difference and that would buy a pile of booze even on a cruise ship.

[Warm Breezes]

And I'll bet if anyone asked a 10 and 13 year old boy which they'd rather do - spend a week at their great Aunt's house in the woods, or a week on a cruise ship - that they'd prefer the week on a cruise ship. :D

 

My kids chose a cruise over Disney World when they were 7 and 10:D.

[Minouli]

We live in Quebec and during the summer months, we do drive to southern Maine and rent a small beach house for a week for much less than it would cost 4 of us to cruise. It's very relaxing, we don't cook much (toast or cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, bbq a few nights and eat out the rest), I don't make beds while on vacation, just the dishes once a day. We would not consider cruising in the summer when the alternative is so affordable and enjoyable.

In the winter, cruising is a good value for us because that's the price we pay to escape the cold. And every time I've compared prices for nice AIs vs cruises, the prices are very similar (not to mention we just prefer cruising!).

[westcruzer]

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.....

 

OK let me understand this...you don't think it's a good value but yet you still spent the money on it? Not a smart move in my book.

 

Everyone has values of vacations. You are not even comparing apples to apples. No matter what vacation you compare ANY vacation is going to cost more compared to staying with family. No Brainer.

 

Also in comparison to renting a big home with a few families may also be a good idea but now you are forced to be with others when to some a vacation is being with your family only.

 

In comparing a vacation where you can drive to vs. a cruise you have to fly? Again not even close. Why don't you select a cruise that you can drive to? Now compare. A much better comparison don't you think?

 

You have to keep things comparable to consider value.

[SANDYJABS]

I think you missed my point........you didn't have to eat at Dukes. Downtowwn Waikiki (Lewers St.) is full of all kinds of eating venues from cheap to expensive, all in walking distance of Dukes.

Outrigger Reef Waikiki is right above Dukes........you can stay there waay cheaper then what you paid for that cruise. But like you said you wanted a taste of all islands so that was best for you. But you really need a week for each island to get a taste IMO.

Lol, I guess I should have wrote that we had to eat at Dukes, just to say we ate at Dukes ;) it was something I wanted to do while in Hawaii. Yes we could certainly have had a cheaper meal other than Dukes, sorry I didnt really clarify that in my post.

[swimmom32]

there are cruises out of Bayonne NJ as well and RedHook Brooklyn..

[bobbyleduck]

I've been reading all of this for a couple of days, and have come to the realization that most of what all of you have had to say is true.

 

We don't cruise a lot, by Cruise Critic standards. Just seven cruises in 20 years, but we have managed to become more frugal with each cruise. Does a cruise cost as little as spending time at our own home (a staycation, if you will), which is located in resort filled Central Oregon? Absolutely not! Do I enjoy stay at home vacations? Absolutely! Do I enjoy cruising! Yes! Why can't we do both.

 

Our last cruise was a b2b, last Sept/Oct aboard Carnival Spirit, from Vancouver to Hawaii, and then Hawaii to Ensenada (two 12-day cruises).

 

We drove to Portland and stayed with my parents, who, along with my brother and sister and their spouses, were going on the same cruise. We took the train from Portland to Vancouver, where we stayed two nights in a condo. We cruised to Hawaii, and circled the islands for 13 days, before heading back to the mainland. When we arrived in Ensenada, Carnival picked us up and took us to San Diego for our flight home. We spent the night at my parents home (the best unofficial b&b on the planet), and then drove home. We were on vacation for 28 days, and our total cost with driving, train, cruise, car, van rentals, gas and food while in the islands, and plane travel from San Diego to Portland was just $3,800 (give or take $10), and that included $480 in gratuities. So, for two people and 28 days of vacation we spent less than $68 per person, per day.

 

Was it a great value? Absolutely! How did we do it for that price? That's another story for another time. Was it cheaper than spending the time at home and doing all kinds of fun things. No, it wasn't! But, was it worth it? Every penny of it! We had fun! We had some not-so-welcome drama! We met a bunch of wonderful new Cruise Critic friends on each of the two cruises. We had multiple visits to the five island stops, which gave my brother, sister, and their spouses, who had never been to Hawaii the opportunity to see a little more than they would have on the standard 14-day cruise to and from the west coast. Would I do that cruise again? Probably not. We've been to Hawaii seven times, and I want to do something different, so when air prices come back down to earth we will look into a Mediterranean cruise including the Greek islands.

 

Have fun cruising! Have fun on other vacations! Spend what you can afford, and don't go into debt for vacations. If you have to save a little longer for the cruise you want, then do so and enjoy your own home while you wait and save. It really doesn't matter how everyone else does it, because it is your vacation.

[mommyto2kids]

I think the first responder had it right when he/she commented on comparing apples to apples.

 

I would consider driving to a friend's cottage a good value compared to renting a cottage for a week.

 

For my family of 5 I see cruising as a good value compared to AI resorts and our favorite Disney for the total cost of our vacation.

 

If you are feel that you get the same enjoyment from driving to a cottage and hanging out with friends then a cruise may not be a good value for you, but it does not mean its not a good value for comparable tropic vacations.

[valtandc]

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.:)

 

 

now that's a deal. around when do you travel?