Coworker just went on a 4-day quick cruise. Looking at 8-10 day cruises for my tenth wedding anniversary after hearing her rave about it. They're shockingly inexpensive compared to all-inclusive resorts. We would NOT be bringing kids along. give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Good...I enjoyed the food Bad...you're trapped on a boat until you hit the destination, and depending on which cruise the shore leaves last about 8 hours. Ugly...you're trapped on a boat. Oh, and be careful of the "cheap" prices. Some cruise lines nail you at the end. We did 3 and my wife will never go again. She absolutely hated them. We only did it for our kids.
If the all inclusive drink plan is available, get it. Otherwise your bar tab at the end will piss you off. I’ve been on 4. Had a great time on each one. Never felt trapped on the boat. Shore excursions get pricey. Best times I’ve had was when I went with no schedule or agenda. You can get wrapped up in sight seeing trips and shore trips that you don’t get a chance to really relax. For each port, find a beach spot away from port, grab some sand, and get drunk.
The drink plan was WAY cheaper IMO... but - when I’m on vacation - I drink like a silly mofo hashtag vacation PJ don’t care
The good: There's always food and booze available at all hours The bad: The toilet's drain can barely accommodate a mouse-sized turd lol
I think you'd be better off doing a four day cruise and then just stay at the last destination for another 4-5 days and make your own travel arrangements home. I feel like having 8-10 days of structure would be a bummer. I'm pretty sure if I go to hell when I die, it's a big ass cruise ship. I would lose my mind on one of those things, but I know a lot of people who really enjoy them. To each his own...
Between the previous threads on here, and various personal accounts I've heard- a cruise is high up on my "not to do" list.
I didn't enjoy it and probably will never go on a big cruise line again. Everything I don't like about Disney is amplified on a cruise ship. I think I would enjoy an expedition style cruise or something smaller.
I've been on 2 different cruises and enjoyed them. Each one stopped in Cozumel and everybody in my group both times said they would have preferred stay there for a week. Not sure how the all-inclusive stuff works in Mexico but if it's anything like the cruise I would just do that.
Cozumel is pretty good. Scuba diving is primo and the food is very good. We did an all exclusive at Park Royal hotel twice and enjoyed it.
i searched for previous discussions and did not find anything relevant. Lots about cruisers, and the two frauds claiming to have been lost at sea for 5 months, but nothing about an actual cruise ship.
We did riviera maya for our honeymoon. I hate international travel. The anxiety-driven control freak in me will not leave the resort in Mexico. I want Mexico prices for some place safer, and English-speaking. Personally, I would enjoy Canada or Alaska, but the wife will demand a beach.
Ive done the all inclusive resorts a number of times, always enjoyed it. Did a cruise once, that was enough. As for the resorts, i have been to Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, Dominican republic. Some of those a couple times. I like the Excellence Resort brand, good bang for the buck, adults only. If you scuba, Sandals may be worth the extra $ since scuba is included. Most of the resorts say snorkeling is included, but it is crap, off the beach. Sandals has dive boats. I just like being able to relax and not be nickle and dimed to death. So the all inclusive is good for me. Only have to get over my natural cheapness once, rather than every meal and drink.
Hell, for ease rent an airbnb in the Keys. Compared to a cruise, you'd have plenty of money left over to rent a boat for a week too and tie it up at your rental. Yeah, yeah, the hurricane just hit. From what I've seen the Keys are coming back strong. And prices will be cheap!
I'm not a fan, but TONS of people are. The ships are freaking fascinating from an engineering perspective. Here are some thougths; While comparatively cheap, cruise lines AND THEIR RESPECTIVE passengers are NOT created equal. I never even thought about this aspect until I was shipmates with thousands of other people...wow. Drink package. Period. Upgraded dining package available? Do that too. WIFI package? You probably should too... Imagine being held captive in a time share jail; you are. The cruise line hawks jewelry, art, future cruise packages at reduced cost...beware. HEALTHY competition for prime poolside chairs. If you can get an all adult cruise, do it. Take advantage of the ports AND SIGN UP EARLY as the good activities fill quickly. You will be sold everything on the private beaches you go to despite the fact that the beach and cruise line try to hold that to a minimum. You're trapped on a boat. If you don't like doing shit except sitting and drinking all day, you're gonna dig it.