cruise or All-inclusive

[jcool]

I am thinking about giving up cruising for a little while for an all-inclusive. Has anyone done an all-inclusive I found one for 12 night for $3,500 with air is that good? In Punta Cana 

[evandbob]

Why not ask this on TA, and look up your specific hotel reviews there?

 

{Yes, I've done many AI's, and at least 20 of them have been in Punta Cana, DR, which is so much nicer than some of the cruise ship ports like Amber Cove in the DR.  You don't say where your air is from, so no way to tell if you have a decent price.  And PC has strings of hotels from 2* to 4* to consider.}

[Cruzlover7]

I am thinking about giving up cruising for a little while for an all-inclusive. Has anyone done an all-inclusive I found one for 12 night for $3,500 with air is that good? In Punta Cana 

I have tried this only once and once was enough for me. I like variety and I found myself somewhat bored and wishing I was on a cruise. Although, this might be the only way to see the Caribbean nowadays. It can’t hurt to try it at least once. Seems like a decent price.


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[Saint Greg]

I think @coevan knows about all-inclusives.

[ULCajunCruiser]

With more info, we might be more help regarding the value.   However, just a thought or 2 from me.   I've done AI's several times, and I've done one in Punta Cana.    I won't be going back there.   My resort was excellent, food was very good, alcohol plentiful, and very nice rooms.   But the beach was horrible.   Not sure if I was there on a bad week, or if it is always like that, but that's the roughest surf I've ever seen at a resort.   Couldn't stay 5 minutes in the water.   You couldn't use kayaks or paddle boards, even sailboats were flipping over!!!   Sitting at the pool is fine, but I do enjoy some beach time!!

[coevan]

59 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

I think @coevan knows about all-inclusives.

 

 

Cruiselover was bored? Wow, there activities day and night. don’t get me wrong, love cruising, but the food is miles above Carnival. Six or seven restaurants from all over the world. Free top shelf liquor, free WiFi, and satellite TV with real channels, swim up bars, tipping is prohibited, except the Spas. Sandals has free diving, snorkeling, sailing, SUPs, kayaks, water skiing, and more. We are booked December 10-20 in Jamaica for our son’s wedding, we live in hope.🙏

[jcool]

coevan 

I keep on going back and forth about this I do not want to lose the money if there no vaccine what do we do? And if anyone wants to answer this please 🙏 do? 

[ULCajunCruiser]

1 minute ago, jcool said:

coevan 

I keep on going back and forth about this I do not want to lose the money if there no vaccine what do we do? And if anyone wants to answer this please 🙏 do? 

What money is at risk???   Most every AI I've looked at recently had some type of refund policy in place for all Covid related bookings.   Flights, well I'm not sure about???   A good CFAR insurance policy is a fairly inexpensive way to protect yourself.

[Joebucks]

Depends on the scenery and experience you are looking for. As with most decisions in life, there are pros and cons.

 

For me, AIs are extremely overrated. There is this burning desire for many people to vacation with everything included for one charge. Again, there are pros and cons to it. You'll want to hangout at the resort to get your monies' worth, yet all of the fun isn't there.

[Banditswife]

we've only done 1 AI, so I am no expert.  Personally it was not for us.  The food was not as good as on a cruise- at least the AI we tried.  There were very few activities like shows or comedy club or casino at the one we tried.  The hotel was pretty & our room was very nice, much bigger than a cruise ship cabin.  Nice pools with plenty of loungers.  We are not big drinkers either, so the free drinks were not appealing to us.  Just my opinion

[xDisconnections]

Given the options, I’d sooner select an all inclusive over a cruise at this current time.

 

Truthfully, I’d prefer to select a property with my preferred hotel group that isn’t all inclusive but will provide a points-earning opportunity and elite benefits while paying a la carte for whatever incidentals I charge. My opinion but I’d rather have the points.

[Illbcruzn4life]

4 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

Cruiselover was bored? Wow, there activities day and night. don’t get me wrong, love cruising, but the food is miles above Carnival. Six or seven restaurants from all over the world. Free top shelf liquor, free WiFi, and satellite TV with real channels, swim up bars, tipping is prohibited, except the Spas. Sandals has free diving, snorkeling, sailing, SUPs, kayaks, water skiing, and more. We are booked December 10-20 in Jamaica for our son’s wedding, we live in hope.🙏

 

I'm hoping right along with you, hoping you get to go and the weddings goes off without a hitch.

 

I was just looking at pictures of Southcoast last night from when my son got married there in 2017.

 

Was also looking at youtube videos of the place as my wife and I want to go back. Son and daughter in law can't go now since they have a little one.

 

Hoping the best for you and your family.

[sanger727]

We rotate trips between cruises, all inclusives, and land trips. We do like all inclusives though I haven’t been to punta cana; we prefer Mexico. 12 days is much to long for your first all inclusive. So much varies by the resort you choose and what day excursions are nearby. As the price goes up, so will the quality of the restaurants and the number of included activities. I have been to sandals h

but have heard they are quite nice. I’ve been to a couples resort and it did include quite a few activities (catamaran cruise, snorkeling trips, scuba, glass bottom boat, etc). 
 

all inclusive cons are fewer activities, less good entertainment. I think food is on par with a cruise ship MDR. Some is better. Pluses are bigger rooms, pools, 24-7 beach access, no need to choose excursions based on whether or not you’ll ‘miss the ship’, a more inclusive vibe where you aren’t scanning your key card constantly.

 

if I were inclined to take a trip now I would definately pick an all inclusive over a cruise. The all inclusives are open, you can book and go now; so I wouldn’t have the concerns about needing to cancel isn’t there. Plus they are so much more spread out so I would feel more comfortable.

[beerman2]

Just thinking 12 days for 3,500.00 isn't the best of places in PC.  The top end ones are usually in the 3,500.00 or higher for 7 days.

 

Would definitely check reviews on the AI. As Coevan said top shelf liquor, the specialty restaurants have always been very good, and they are so spaced out never felt busy.

 

i thought there was enough entertainment to keep us satisfied. If you are 

a pool person there is no comparison to a cruise ship. AI's win hands down. They have pool activities just like cruise ships.

 

Many do offer excursions.

 

I would do one again in a heart beat either in PC or Mexico.

 

 

[elklemi]

5 star Excellence ressorts in Punta Cana have abut 1 get one free plus free airport transfers and great cancellation policy if you want to compare.

[JaxsMama]

I just booked a week in Mexico for November. I'm so ready! 

[JaxsMama]

11 hours ago, jcool said:

coevan 

I keep on going back and forth about this I do not want to lose the money if there no vaccine what do we do? And if anyone wants to answer this please 🙏 do? 

I booked thru apple vacations and purchased their cancel for any reason insurance just something changes and the border gets shut down. It's for the airfare and AI both.

[sanger727]

13 hours ago, jcool said:

coevan 

I keep on going back and forth about this I do not want to lose the money if there no vaccine what do we do? And if anyone wants to answer this please 🙏 do? 

 

When are you looking to book? I wouldn't in a million years book a trip now if a vaccine was a pre-requisite for you.   I can tell you, it's not a pre-requisite for the AIs.  They will taking your money and you'll be able to go now. If you feel like there needs to be a vaccine for you to want to go, then don't book anything.  It's just that simple.  We don't know when there will be an approved vaccine. We don't know how many doses will go the US and in what time frame. We don't know how they will decide who to distribute vaccines to and in what order and whether multiple doses will be required.  There are waaaaaay to many unknowns to plan around a vaccine. You can still plan a vacation, it's purely up to you. 

[my kids mama]

We have been to about 10 all inclusives. Most were in Mexico, but 2 were in Punta Cana.  I think it is a much better idea than a cruise for now.  I have one booked for October (fingers crossed).  I also booked with Expedia and there is a free cancellation clause in case I don't feel safe, or if things get shut down again.  I found a great price of $750 per person at a 4.5 star property in Playa del Carmen, for a week.  This includes the flight from Denver.  Make sure to read reviews, because not all are created equal.  I have learned that I will never go below a 4 star property for an all inclusive.  One of the places we went to in Punta Cana did not have top shelf alcohol, They had vodka, whiskey, gin, lol.  No brand name at all.  The food was also pretty bad at that place. For us, the flight time is just so much shorter to fly into Cancun.  I have been reading reviews about the place we are going to and everyone raves about how hard they are working to follow protocols to keep the guests as safe as possible. By the way, someone earlier said that tipping was prohibited.  Maybe it was at the hotel they stayed at, but not at any of the ones we have stayed at.  Please tip!!!!  These people work hard and they have really been suffering during this time period as the wages are quite low.  Please tip!!!!! Please feel to reach out if you have any questions. 

[jcool]

Elklemi 

That sound too good to be true. But if it is true please show me. 

[coevan]

14 hours ago, jcool said:

Ulcajuncruiser 

I am doing it with Expedia if you know someone else please tell me? 

 

 

Always book direct, never a third party, your cancellation policies are much better

[coevan]

2 hours ago, sanger727 said:

 

When are you looking to book? I wouldn't in a million years book a trip now if a vaccine was a pre-requisite for you.   I can tell you, it's not a pre-requisite for the AIs.  They will taking your money and you'll be able to go now. If you feel like there needs to be a vaccine for you to want to go, then don't book anything.  It's just that simple.  We don't know when there will be an approved vaccine. We don't know how many doses will go the US and in what time frame. We don't know how they will decide who to distribute vaccines to and in what order and whether multiple doses will be required.  There are waaaaaay to many unknowns to plan around a vaccine. You can still plan a vacation, it's purely up to you. 

 

 

We feel much better with 400 people on 40 acres than 4000 people on 3000’ of ship. No hogging chairs, never had a problem, social distancing will be possible, no on a cruise ship. 

[Mike981]

It's been a few years but we have done close to 12 AI's. Most in Jamaica at Sandals, we have also stayed at Couples twice. I would say that the difference between a cruise and an AI are about the same as an AI and renting a house. The location can be close to the same, but pros and cons are different. I have rented a half a dozen houses and have had a great time as well.

Just like a cruise, food can be hit or miss. Our feeling on entertainment at an AI, it often feels like a high school musical when they do their stage shows. I do like that they hire local entertainers, so I give them a break.

If you are a go-go-go person, I wouldn't suggest an AI. Getting in the vibe of the island and taking it all in is great for us.

I just spoke with a friend who we have traveled with several times at AI's and he and his wife stayed at Secrets Cozumel this past winter. They liked Cozumel, but felt the resort was lacking.

OP your price point is under $300 per day WITH air for twelve days. That is crazy low if you are looking for a nice place. BUT - it is all relative. We used to get butler rooms at Sandals, but the attentive service went way down and they are charging $1,000 and above a day just for your room.

[jcool]

Thanks everyone for your help.  

Lllbruzn4life I hope everything works out for you as well. 

[George C]

You normally get what you pay for , we done some inexpensive resorts and also higher end resorts like sandals, after doing several sandals we did hard rock resort in Punta Cana and while the huge resort was nice we were disappointed with quality of restaurants. You will normally get a much nicer room , than your cabin , also on larger resorts Some restaurants can be a mile walk. Also entertainment is way better on cruises.