Royal Caribbean vs All Inclusive - a perspective

[Toddcan]

My wife and I just got back from our very first all inclusive in the Cancun area of Mexico. When we started cruising - almost 10 years ago, we thought we had found our dream vacation type!

 

And then we went to an all inclusive...

 

Now.. everyone looks for different things on their vacations. Even we look for different things on different vacations. But, here is our personal view of a comparison between the two vacation types.

 

Based on one week in the summer season (only time we can vacation due to work)

 

Price

Cruise: (Cabin- $2,500)(Drinks $300)(transportation $800). Total $3,600 (6/10)

All Inclusive: (Room - $1,780)(Drinks $0) (Transportation $800) Total $2,580 (8/10)

 

Rooms

Cruise: Very small, with balcony (5/10)

All Inclusive: Huge room with kitchenette, free honor bar, hammock on huge balcony overlooking the ocean, whirlpool tub in room with huge shower. Double sinks, etc etc (10/10)

 

Food

Cruise - 9/10

All Inclusive: 6/10(food was good - especially the regional foods)

 

Pools/Relaxing

Cruise - 6/10

All Inclusive - 10/10. Wow.. we were blown away. 5 pools, could find a pool side lounger with shade any time of the day - every day

 

Entertainment, and things to do

Cruise: 8/10

All Inclusive: 5/10 (not very good)

 

Excursion Options (includes ability to see varying countries/cultures)

Cruise: 9/10

All Inclusive: 5/10 (yes, you can do excursions, but not near as many options - costs about the same as a cruise excursion)

 

Overall (6 important categories to us)

Cruise: 43/60

All Inclusive:44/60

 

So.. for US... they are about the same overall. So, it depends on what you look for in a vacation. If you are all about the relaxing, and catching some relaxing pool time - go for the AI. If you want a lot to do and better food, we will pick the cruise.

 

We loved the AI so much, that we bought into a vacation club. We will most certainly still cruise - but just not every year now :)

[DarthGrady]

My AI experience has been limited to day visits and tours (while on a cruise). From what I saw and experienced, I'd totally agree with your comparison. I would like to do a trip to an AI eventually. I'd probably start with just a long weekend to try it out, and see how well I liked it. Thanks for sharing, it's good to read info like this from other frequent cruisers.

[rstout]

I will add on to this a little, if you don't mind. I think the food depends on where you stay. We had the luxury of cruising on the Liberty of the Seas in April and going to an all inclusive in Mexico in July this year, and I think the food was about even. Cruise food has gone down in quality over the years. Our resort had entertainment, but I agree cruises are better.

 

I agree on the room and pool assessment.

 

Cruises win as far as being able to visit a variety of places, but the benefit of being in one place is that you are not constrained by time when taking excursions. We've been to Mexico multiple times, and this time we decided to research outside tour companies, rather than go with the resort tours. This was a much better option. We did tours that we could never have done on a cruise ship.

 

We love both types of vacations - it's great to have options!

[LissyTx]

Thank you! I appreciate the comparison from someone who has done both recently.

[mcatmcat]

For me all inclusive is a better value ,but I visit a new country while going on the ship

[mrlddst]

I think AI are relative to pricing. This week my inlaws went to an AI in Jamaica for 4 days 3 nights. With the lowest room selected, it was still cheaper to get on Oasis for a week, with a balcony. I have no doubt that this AI is probably high end, but we could not justify spending the money on the AI when we could cruise for less.

 

We would also have had to drive 5 hrs to get a decent flight which still would have cost us over $500 pp.

 

Luckily my son has the best grandparents as he is laying on a beach with them, while we are home preparing for our cruise ;).

[depplep]

Thank you for this perspective. We've been wanting to try an AI for years but were afraid of being let down. I priced the Hard Rock in Punta Cana same time as the Oasis cruise and it came in at $1000 more than we are paying for the cruise with the premium drink package, so the cruise won out again.

[Hotel CA]

My wife prefers AI (for all the reason the OP identified) and I prefer cruises (for the reason also id')-- so we cruise in November and Visit Mexico (usually due to flights costs and variety of choice/price) in late winter or Spring (not during main spring break time) and enjoy both types of vacations.

 

In truth-- either works for us and we both enjoy the variety you get with a cruise and the sheer comfort you get with an AI. Both are really enjoyable albeit for different reasons. In both cases when we leave we always wish we had "just 3 more days..."

[Philly Steve]

Thanks for your insight and interesting comparison.

 

We have also done both and while there is a lot to like about land based all inclusive vacations, for us it's hard to beat the feeling of being on the open ocean.

 

Also, during a week long stay in the Bahamas, we noticed the selection and quality of food declined through the week.

 

Still, we will likely book another land vacation in the future. :)

[papaflamingo]

Like you said it depends on what you are looking for. I have done all inclusive's in my job (I'm an airline pilot and we've laid over 24 hours in Aruba, Cabo, and Jamaica). It's fantastic... for 24 hours. But my wife isn't a "beach person." She doesn't lie in the sun as she is very fair skinned. And I don't for hours on end. What I found most enjoyable at the AI's was the ability to find a chair (or hammock) and relax under a tree or umbrella while enjoying a cocktail of choice. I liked going to meals at my leisure, and picking a variety of eating options.

But for me cruise is king. I love to relax on my balcony and watch the ocean. I like the travel from place to place. I like the service on a cruise ship. And since I'm not one to lay by a pool for hours, cruising is just better for me. Plus I can drive to the port.

So, pretty subjective. Certainly plusses and minuses to each, but both are wonderful vacations.

Edited August 6, 2015 by papaflamingo

[Topo Gigio]

Nothing beats being in the middle of the ocean. Absolutely nothing!

[printingchick]

Thanks for this objective comparison. It's made me think I might want to try the AI experience at some point.

 

As a few others have said, however, a big part of why I cruise (in addition to value and great service) is that I can visit multiple places during the week. Also, I couldn't take 7 days on a beach. I like the beach, but in smaller doses. And the biggest part of the cruise attraction is being at sea. I often wake up during the night and just gaze out the window at the moon reflecting on the ocean. For me, the sea really does call!

Edited August 6, 2015 by printingchick

[sauvichick]

Despite my objections my husband wanted to try an AI in Playa del Carmen. I was OK with it and he was bored on the third day. The trip was very expensive. Nightlife was very limited. We needed to go into town which meant spending more money. The unlimited alcohol also does not appeal to me. I prefer cruising any time due to the variety of scenery.

[monctonguy]

I used to only do AI all over the Caribbean....Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic. I loved it, but once I did my first cruise I was hooked.

 

For me it was the higher end drinks, better food, the entertainment, casino, rooms being done up 2-3x a day etc....the fact you still got to relax poolside but you also got to do the beach at the private island and visit different countries if you wanted to get off the boat.

 

However, for us Canadians...cruising is going to become very expensive compared to AI's now that our dollar is down to about a 35% exchange rate to the USD. My flights alone just to get to the port, can almost cost as much as doing a whole week AI in Cuba.....

 

It's getting close to double the cost to cruise as it is to do AI.......at that point, price will dictate what I do. But if price was the same, cruising wins hands down for me!

[FLCruisin'Mom]

OP, curious as to what resort you were at? There are so many different qualities of resorts in Cancun. I've done AI at both the Omni and Secrets Silversands south of Cancun.

 

While never having cruised before, I love the whole package deal. The drawback to the resorts for me was that after 3 days it was boring. I also didn't like the fact that we had to get transportation to do any excursion- something I am really looking forward to this trip. We are doing the 4 day Enchantment in. October and we plan on snorkeling at every port.

 

I was an airline pilot before kids (hubby is still one) so we don't have to factor in airfare into our budget. We also live 2 hours from Port Canaveral, which is obviously a huge convenience. For our family of 4, the price ends up about the same.

[Big_G]

Despite my objections my husband wanted to try an AI in Playa del Carmen. I was OK with it and he was bored on the third day. The trip was very expensive. Nightlife was very limited. We needed to go into town which meant spending more money. The unlimited alcohol also does not appeal to me. I prefer cruising any time due to the variety of scenery.

 

That was also my wife's experience. I liked it but she was bored and the entrainment wasn't that great.

[boscobeans]

Like you said it depends on what you are looking for. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Certainly plusses and minuses to each, but both are wonderful vacations.

 

My thoughts as well. +1

 

bosco

[George C]

We also do both last 3 years we did a cruise for 7 days and also a Sandals a/I in Jamaica for 8 days. Both are great vacations, what I love about Sandals is it is totally A/I all drinks , all food- 6 restaurants, no tipping allowed (they will fire someone for accepting cash tips). Another huge factor for us is its adult only. Food is equal or superior to MDR. Sandals Whitehouse also has all ocean view rooms. Several pools with swim up bars.

But in general we prefer cruises, top end resorts cost can be as much as a suite on a cruise. Entertainment is a big factor for us they had some music but very limited, they had a piano player that player just 1 hour a night at resort. Much prefer all of RCCL entertainment. We will continue to do both but more cruises than A/I. RCCL should think about getting some swim up bars. This year we had a great RCCL vacation in a GS and will do more expensive vacation at Hard Rock A/I but we are getting a 1700 sq ft suite. Next year we are back to 2 cruises.

[ewenix]

Nothing beats being in the middle of the ocean. Absolutely nothing!

 

I think being on a ship in the middle of the ocean beats it. But to each his own.

[xpcdoojk]

My wife and I just got back from our very first all inclusive in the Cancun area of Mexico. When we started cruising - almost 10 years ago, we thought we had found our dream vacation type!

 

And then we went to an all inclusive...

 

Now.. everyone looks for different things on their vacations. Even we look for different things on different vacations. But, here is our personal view of a comparison between the two vacation types.

 

Based on one week in the summer season (only time we can vacation due to work)

 

Price

Cruise: (Cabin- $2,500)(Drinks $300)(transportation $800). Total $3,600 (6/10)

All Inclusive: (Room - $1,780)(Drinks $0) (Transportation $800) Total $2,580 (8/10)

 

Rooms

Cruise: Very small, with balcony (5/10)

All Inclusive: Huge room with kitchenette, free honor bar, hammock on huge balcony overlooking the ocean, whirlpool tub in room with huge shower. Double sinks, etc etc (10/10)

 

Food

Cruise - 9/10

All Inclusive: 6/10(food was good - especially the regional foods)

 

Pools/Relaxing

Cruise - 6/10

All Inclusive - 10/10. Wow.. we were blown away. 5 pools, could find a pool side lounger with shade any time of the day - every day

 

Entertainment, and things to do

Cruise: 8/10

All Inclusive: 5/10 (not very good)

 

Excursion Options (includes ability to see varying countries/cultures)

Cruise: 9/10

All Inclusive: 5/10 (yes, you can do excursions, but not near as many options - costs about the same as a cruise excursion)

 

Overall (6 important categories to us)

Cruise: 43/60

All Inclusive:44/60

 

So.. for US... they are about the same overall. So, it depends on what you look for in a vacation. If you are all about the relaxing, and catching some relaxing pool time - go for the AI. If you want a lot to do and better food, we will pick the cruise.

 

We loved the AI so much, that we bought into a vacation club. We will most certainly still cruise - but just not every year now :)

 

i have done both. I will do both in the future. My experience about all-inclusives that I struggle with the food. I struggle with the quality of the booze in mid level AIs, such as Riu. High end all-inclusives still struggle with food. Entertainment is pretty much bad at AIs. I probably prefer staying at nice resorts that are not all inclusive, that are near proper cities where you can drive to different restaurants to eat. This is probably more expensive than either a cruise or definitely an AI. That said, to me that is the best vacation if you are wanting to go to a beach or island.

 

There is so much more to vacation though than a beach for us, that typically this is our least desireable type vacation. We travel to experience new things and I cruise RCI to use their flowrider and to see new things.

 

Good luck with the travel club... I avoid those like a plague. YMMV. JMHO.

 

jc

[my3guys]

We love BOTH so we alternate between our favorite AI in Cancun one year and then go on a cruise the next year.

[birdlord]

I appreciate this post as I often wonder which might be the better value. Having the luxury of only being <1 hour away from the NJ coastline, we can spend anytime we want on a beach (summertime, obviously) so the beach experience is not THAT important to us, though we do love the beach. And we do take advantage of at least one beach day on a cruise. I just often wondered if 5-7 days in a row of it would get "old." Of course, relaxation really never gets old. I don't know -- food for thought, for sure. Thanks for your insight.

[bigque]

We did a resort on The Grand Bahamas Island once for a whole week and it was alright the first couple of days but by the end of the week we were ready to home! On the other hand after a week on a cruise we are never ready to go home and wish could stay on. We also like waking up in a different place every day and even though we are usually there from like 8-6 or so, we really enjoy it. We are not big time hang out at the beach people so we usually take tours and hear about the history and culture of the ports of call. It may only be a 9 or 10 hour stop but we have got to go to places that we may never had thought of vacationing to but have now seen some places that we said we would like to go back to for a non cruise vacation....possibly an AI! :cool:

[north29]

Good Job, on the report/comparison.

We cruise to see the world, visit places on cruise ships that we could never afford to do individually and if we like some place we go back on our own or a more extensive tour. I, at this time of my life, still prefer the cruise experience, even if it is the same itinerary, we are still able to do new things to do/visit. Maybe after a few more years, and if the price of cruise lines continue to climb, we will look for alternative travel experiences.

[goneclear]

WE love both. We find AI's are a little more personal and romantic and usually do these for our Anniversary. We have only used the Sandals Brand and done it at several Caribbean islands. The nice thing about it is some islands have several hotels and they transport you between them so you get to use the other facilities. They call it "stay at one play at all". very cool concept.

WE also love cruising and find it more a social holiday and usually do it with friends.