Cruise Vacations vs. Resort Cost Comparison

Land or Sea... Which will it be?

Perhaps the next question should be, "Which will be kinder to my vacation budget?" Many would-be cruise vacations passengers are often surprised to discover a cruise isn't as costly as they perceived. Add to that the fact that cruise vacations are less expensive today than when I booked my first one in the late-1980s and a sea going cruise vacations is a bargain.

But don't take my word for it, let's crunch some numbers. Imagine that I'm contemplating a short vacation get-away and want the best value for my money. For a four-night jaunt, Paradise Islands in the Bahamas is a popular destination and I've chosen a sprawling resort complex to weigh against an average contemporary style cruise. With so many seasonal price variations to deal with, I've selected averages to get an overall feel for comparison

Even modest rooms for two average a whopping $300 per night in the hotel's "moderate" accommodations. Meals aren't included, so I've selected a "gourmet" dining plan that includes a full American breakfast and dinner, which I can enjoy at my choice of a variety of on site restaurants. But I still have to pay additional for lunch. The dining plan is $79 per person, per day, plus an automatic 15% gratuity. Add in a light lunch and meals will cost $200 per day for me and my husband. So far, just a room and meals total up to $2,000. Included is round-trip transportation between the airport and the resort, but little else. For evening entertainment, if we want to do anything more than walk on the beach, stroll the grounds, or watch television, we'll have to pay admissions for shows and, possibly, cover charges for lounges.

Even before I compute the basic fare,  cruise vacations are beginning to look like a great deal because of the available amenities—all meals and snacks (including standard beverages), games and activities, parties, evening entertainment, and sports and fitness activities. My contemporary cruise vacations will cost $1,250, including port charges and taxes.

That $750 difference in the base price goes a long way on a cruise toward extras: shore excursion bookings, drink purchases, spa services, souvenirs, and other things that aren't included, such as Bingo and a bit of casino action. At the resort, you'd still have to pay additional for those

Updated On: 03.12.12