August is here. There is still time to get away on vacation. Should you fly to a resort destination or book a cruise? Let us start with the assumption you live in or near a homeport city. Now we consider the pros and cons.
Total expenses. What is your vacation going to cost you? Let us assume you are getting away for a week, possibly adding in the weekend at the other end. Assuming you would take a taxi to the airport or cruise terminal, what are your total expenses going to look like?
Flying: If this was a restaurant meal, you are dining a la carte, ordering and paying for each course separately. You have airfare, hotel and meals during your stay.
Cruising: Assuming you sail from your city, a cruise is largely an all-inclusive vacation. Your transportation, room and board are included in your baseline pricing.
Conclusion: The cruise wins this round.
Surge pricing. If you are heading off on vacation in August, you are not alone. Everyone wants to fly. The hotels are full.
Flying: Airfares will be expensive. Hotels are priced for the high season.
Cruising: Many cruise lines offer sailing soon savings. You can get a deal.
Conclusion: The cruise wins this round.
Range of destinations. Where will you go on vacation? What destinations have you loved and want to see again?
Flying: Assuming you are OK with connecting flights, you can fly anywhere in the world you choose. It might cost you, but you have a wide range of destinations to choose from.
Cruising: Assuming you are sailing from your homeport city, you can only go where your ship goes. Your options are limited.
Conclusion: The flying vacation wins this round.
The boredom factor. Will I be intrigued and challenged? Always discovering something new? Will I be sitting around the pool, waiting for lunch or dinner?
Flying: You might have always wanted to visit this tropical island, but once there, you are bored after two days. You are stuck for five more days.
Cruising: Some cruises visit a new port every day. There is always someplace to explore.
Conclusion: The cruise vacation wins this round.
Sense of community. Will I make new friends? Will some of these connections endure after the vacation?
Flying: If you have watched The White Lotus you have seen resort guests tend to stay as family or individual units. Resorts are generally not set up to promote group activities.
Cruising: Ships are seagoing resorts. For some reason, timelines are compressed at sea. You see the same people over and over. The ship organizes plenty of activities. Making connections is easy.
Conclusion: The cruise vacation wins this round.
Language barrier. Will I be a stranger in a strange land? If I get lost, can I count on finding people to help me? Will I feel isolated?
Flying: If you head to a major world capital, you might find the people speaking English and customer facing staff seeking to sell you something. You can feel isolated if you leave the resort.
Cruising: Assuming you board a ship in your homeport city, the prevailing language should be English. If you take a shore excursion tour, it will likely be in English.
Conclusion: The cruise vacation wins this round.
There are many reasons to choose a cruise vacation, especially if you are planning on traveling immediately.
Editor’s Notes:
If you’d like to get a quote and book a cruise, see Browse Cruise Ships and Cruise Lines
CruiseCompete and its member travel advisors provide many curated cruise and land deals, offers and amenities on over 50 cruise lines with over 500 cruise ships sailing all around the world.
Also see Shore Excursions – Ports, Day & Weekend Trips
Cruise Information Portal – All Things Cruise
Cover photo Cruise ship at Key West’s Mallory Square with schooner on sunset cruise in background ©Dennis Cox/WorldViews
