Cruise vs Resort

JBKempf Posted: Jan 31, 2005 11:51 AM

Cruise vs Resort

I have been hearing a lot of good things about Sandals and am now considering one of them for our HM.

If someone has been to both a cruise and a resort can you compare and let me know the pros/cons. Plus any reccommendations!!

Thanks!!!

nov04LIbride Posted: Jan 31, 2005 11:54 AM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

My vote is for resort--I like being settled in one area, being able to have more time to explore, see the sights, etc., instead of hours in a port. To know that once you are there you can relax! Plus, I just don't like the motion of the ocean.

jantany26 Posted: Jan 31, 2005 11:56 AM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I like a resort better especially because I know that I would like to go sightseeing. a cruise is not good for us considering my hubby gets seasick very easily.

likeitis Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:06 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

It's really a personal preference. Cruises are like floating cities where thousands of people get on and off at once and bombard island towns. I find even the 'nice'cruises to be cheesy. On the other hand, a cruise will get you to a lot of places you might not otherwise go, some of them offer very decent if not great food, and it can be exciting to travel by sea. You'll probably have to try a cruise at least once to decide if it's for you.

JBKempf Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:07 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I've been on 2 cruises but never have been to a resort. I liked the cruises and love being able to see different places...but not sure what to do...do you get bored at resorts???

dpli Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:12 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

You'll be on your HM - how can you get bored?

septbride05 Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:13 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

Hi,
I've done both the cruise and the resort. For a HM I would do the resort because you don't have a time limit. If you were doing a multi island cruise you are limited to the time on the island whereas in a resort there are no limits so you can relax and not have to worry about time.

nov04LIbride Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:23 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

Not at all bored at the resort--we went scuba diving, cliff diving, parasailing, on shopping excursions...There were plenty of options, but I enjoyed most lying on the beach drinking daiquiris!

AnniesSS Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:36 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I voted 'Other'...

I'm afraid to take a cruise cause I may get seasick (I get sick in the back seat of cars and on small boats )

And FH wants to do sightseeing... so we are going on a group tour that is sponsored by friends of mine This way, we aren't committed to going where everyone else is going and we have an experienced tour guide of the area we are going to... in our case, Italy!

leighdvm Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:45 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I've done both -- and while the food was awesome on the cruise and it was great to see a bunch of islands in one trip, I didn't like the cramped rooms, and the way I panicked if we were late getting back to the ship. I'm definitely going to a Sandals resort on my HM.

lauren16 Posted: Jan 31, 2005 12:47 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

This is a great question - I was going to post the same question! I'm torn between aruba for the week or a week long southern caribbean cruise. I love the thought of seeing a few different islands, and we'd even have one FULL day (8am-1am) in Aruba. It would be exciting to see 3 other islands too though.

I wonder if the boat is relaxing enough? Also, I've never done a cruise but the boats are so big i hear the motion isn't an issue (hopefully).

I'd like to guess that there's no wrong choice - and that either will be wonderful. Whatever you don't do now, you can plan it for your one-year or something. I'm curious to see people's responses also...

SomethingBlu Posted: Jan 31, 2005 02:03 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I picked other.

I have heard that cruises can get really expensive because alcohol and bottled water are not included, the same goes for most activities and the 'specialty' restaurants. I would hate to have to pay a huge bill or any bill at the end of my HM.

I am a big fan of all inclusive resorts, and am going to one myself. With that said, there are lots of other options (all over the world!) for all-inclusive. Sandals limits you to the Caribbean and reviews (on www.tripadvisor.com and other review sites) seem to be all over the board, some love it, some hate it. If I was to go to a Sandal's resort, I would only consider: The Whitehouse in Jamaica, The Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Antigua and the Royal Bahamian - but those are very pricey and you can do 5*, 5 diamond resorts on all 4 islands for less. In my research I found so many awesome all-inclusives that had better reviews, but I also believe that you'll be in a happy state of mind during the HM so you'll have a great time anywhere...sorry for the novel! If Sandals is what you want, then go for it, just read as much as possible so that nothing surprises you. I have heard that Couples Negril is realyl awesome and the activities (scuba diving, trip to Dunn's River Falls, snorkeling, etc) are included, while Sandal's makes you pay for them (they're the same company).

I'm not sure I helped... or

Websites I love:

www.tripadvisor.com
www.discount-all-inclusive.com
Hayley at www.beachbumvacation.com (I booked my Mexico HM with her, but she specializes in Sandal's and visits them monthly, great to talk to just to get feedback even if you don't book)
www.lhw.com
http://tinyurl.com/3mso8 (this is theknot's HM bio, it has tons of reviews on lots of places)

Good luck!

1017Bride Posted: Jan 31, 2005 02:34 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

Both are great. It depends where you are going for the cruise. We went to Hawaii and while it was a great ship and great excursions, many of the people were a whole lot older than us.

SFP0214 Posted: Jan 31, 2005 03:08 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I liked the cruise but if you imagine your honeymoon lying on the beach you wont like it. You are on the boat most of the time. You get 1 day.. as in daylight on all of the desinations and sometimes it is a very short day. If you like gambling, clubs, spa services then the cruise is great.

I AM CRUZN Posted: Jan 31, 2005 03:18 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

WE ARE GOING TO ARUBA FOR 6 DAYS AT THE WYNDHAM ALL INCLUSIVE AND THEN WE DECIDED TO GO ON A CRUISE. I HAVE BEEN ON A CRUISE BEFORE BUT FH HAS NOT SO WE OPTED TO DO BOTH. WE FIGURED THE FIRST WEEK AFTER THE WEDDING WE WOULD RELAX ON THE BEACH AND THEN THE CRUISE WE WOULD PARTY A LITTLE MORE. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR DECISION!!

JPbride Posted: Jan 31, 2005 03:55 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I voted for resort. I have been on two cruises and I always found that there were ALOT of lines for food and to get a spot by the pool was always difficult unless you were up real early. Plus on a cruise there is always a chance of hitting bad weather and getting sea sick.

gNi1125 Posted: Jan 31, 2005 11:01 PM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

I voted for resort. I personally do not like boats or ships.

Goldi1021 Posted: Feb 01, 2005 12:42 AM

Re: Cruise vs Resort

As a major sufferer of motion sickness, I would prefer a honeymoon based on land. I have been on cruises before and had to be placed on the patch which left me disoriented and dizzy. I constantly felt as if I was walking slant ways. In addition to that I had dramamine and compazine. You never know what the water can be like on cruises. Why should 'praying to the porcelain G-d' be a reminder of your honeymoon? For me, it would be a huge risk.