WWYD: AI vs. a cruise

[IrishBelle]

DH and I are planning a trip for around Jan/Feb.  We've been to AIs before in Mexico and Cuba and enjoyed them.  Each time was with another couple.  We had planned to go to another AI but now DH is thinking he would rather go on a cruise since it will just be us this time.   Neither of us have been on a cruise before.  WWYD?

[GilliC]

At the AI, how much time did you stay at the resort, versus going out to explore?
If you're the type to go out on an adventure every day, the sea days might bore you, since you're limited to relaxing or shipboard activities.

Did you prefer to hang out at the beach or by the pool?
Even though you're in the middle of the ocean, it's poolside swimming and sunbathing on the ship.

How much do you drink, and do you mind keeping an eye on your spending while you're on vacation?
If you don't think about it, your tab can be quite a shock at the end of a one-week cruise.

Do you prefer to be a more social couple?
There are plenty of activities on a ship that make it easy to meet people if you prefer a more social vacation.

[IrishBelle]

Oct 5, 2013 15:47:16 GMT -5 GilliC said:

At the AI, how much time did you stay at the resort, versus going out to explore? In Cuba we did 2 day trips off the resort. In Mexico we took a taxi into Playa Del Carmen one day and wandered around. 
If you're the type to go out on an adventure every day, the sea days might bore you, since you're limited to relaxing or shipboard activities. Ironically I'd be ok with this but I don't think DH would be

Did you prefer to hang out at the beach or by the pool? We'd hangout in either spot but swim in the pool only.
Even though you're in the middle of the ocean, it's poolside swimming and sunbathing on the ship.

How much do you drink, and do you mind keeping an eye on your spending while you're on vacation? I don't drink much anymore.  DH likes to drink but I think it would be less than usual given that he wouldn't have a drinking buddy. 
If you don't think about it, your tab can be quite a shock at the end of a one-week cruise. That's what I'm afraid of. 

Do you prefer to be a more social couple?  I'm fine with it just being the two of us but DH is more social than I am.
There are plenty of activities on a ship that make it easy to meet people if you prefer a more social vacation.

All good things to think about.  Thank you!

[monkeygirl18]

Agree with pp's questions. We've done a cruise once and we've done AI's ever since. Honestly, way more bang for you buck at an AI (at least in my opinion and from our experience). We honestly were bored to tears on our cruise and spent a crap load on drinks (we each had only two alcoholic beverages per day). The time on each island on a cruise is minimal (our longest was 8hrs the shortest was 3hrs). Personally, we prefer to fly to an island and spend a whole week there exploring and relaxing. Our typical is 7 nights 8 days and we do three excursions (one of which is generally go off on our own and exploit vs going with a group). With an AI you can be as social or non social (we fit the second one) as you want to be. Our most expensive was Sandals Antigua coming in at 8k for everything, our least expensive was Cancun coming in at $5600 ( both with 2nd to the highest level rooms). Our cruise came in a $7k (carnival suite) by the time all was said and done (same # of nights as our AI's).

[Deleted]

Eh I disagree with monkey. We spent splurged on our honeymoon cruise and spent about 3k. Most of that $$ was on massages. If you are big drinkers then you may spend quite a bit more. I can't imagine spending 7k on a cruise. I am going on 3 this yr and will spend less than 3k total.

Anyway I always think cruising is the best bang for the buck. Unlimited entertainment 24 hours a day, unlimited food all included in price. Of course spa treatments, gambling, alcohol is extra. I consider myself a cruise guru. PM with questions or tag. I think everyone should try them at least 1x. But with that said DH hates cruises.

[spindle92]

I have done many AI's and did my first cruise this past January and will never cruise again.
It is just not my thing. Way to organized and too much planning involved for my taste.

If I feel like going for a run on the beach, on a cruise I have to wait until it is a day we are docked and then schlep shit to the beach. At an AI I can just throw on my clothes, hit the beach, get a great breakfast and be poolside in no time flat.

I am a big drinker and my alcohol bill on the cruise was ridiculous.

[IrishBelle]

Lots of great information and something for DH and I to talk about. Thanks everyone!

[Norticprincess]

A few of the cruiselines have introduced drink packages again, They are more than we usually spend, but we aren't big drinkers. You don't have a bill surprise at the end. I don't think the drinks on board are very pricey. (You can get them without the collectible glass) they are fairly close to things other than dive bars at home.

[Deleted]

If you want to do more activities and prefer food over alcohol-cruise.
If you just want to lie on a beach and prefer alcohol over food-AI.
My husband and I went to one of the most highly rated AIs in Mexico last year-Secrets Maroma. It was gorgeous but the food sucked and we loved the food on a Celebrity cruise we went on. We also don't drink enough to get our money's worth. The cruise also stopped at St. Marteen, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, which we thought were more interesting than the Cancun area of Mexico. You can also easily make friends on a cruise if you feel like being social, especially if you share a dinner table.

[natsnow]

I've done a few AIs (secrets maroma beach and le blanc spa resort) and just went on a cruise last winter. Like pp, I probably won't cruise again, unless it's Alaska or something. It was so crowded and I felt like I was constantly being corralled. We frequently had trouble finding 2 chairs next to each other at the pool, because people would "save" them with a book or towel and leave for hours at a time. It depends on what you like, but I would definitely pick a nice AI over a cruise. Plus, the food we had on the cruise was not good to put it nicely (Royal Caribbean) and the food we've had at the AIs has been great. I also like being able to go back to the room for a break if I need it, which you can't do super easily on port days on a cruise.