A key
aspect to a good and exciting vacation you’ll fondly treasure in your memories
is choosing the accommodations. Some people have no problems as long as they
have a roof over their head, some do appreciate or even need the comfort that a
well-furnished hotel room provides them. For the later types, staying in a nice
hotel resort sounds like the only option, but there is another one I find to be
over-looked: a cruise ship.
I have
experiences with both and would like to compare the two based on my experience.
Perhaps you might consider some of these points before planning your next trip.
The price tag
Neither of
them has a price that would be affordable to anyone, but there is a belief that
cruises tend to cost more than a hotel. Or at least, that’s what I thought.
However, if you just look at the staying price, you realize that the hotels can
be a lot more expensive. What usually ramps up the cost of a cruise is the
transport to and from the ship itself.
Ships can
also be a cheaper option for a family vacation. In hotels, you mostly lose the
status of ‘child’ at 14 and have to pay full price from then on out. On a
cruise ship, that status lasts up till 18 years, and children can stay for
free.
Of course, I
advise you to check that before booking the vacation, as it may differ depending
on the company or hotel.
Accommodations
Personally,
I didn’t notice a jarring difference between a cabin and a hotel room. Most
ships could be described as floating hotels anyway. The main difference might
be just the size as cabins tend to be a bit smaller. However, there is still
plenty of room for you to get all dressed up and ready and the cabins do have
their very own bathroom, so there are no worries about having to share.
Although,
if you are in need of a lot of space and like spending a lot of your time in
your room, I suggest the hotel.
Food and
drinks
Ah, very
important, but a very subjective topic. Some people can eat anything while
others are more selective of their menu. Thus, I won’t discuss the taste and
quality of the food, as it is too specific, but I can say that so far I’ve
always found something delicious to eat in both a hotel and a ship.
I will
mention the presentation however. So far all the ships I was on had a
self-service restaurant and an “a la card” one. The self-service was your typical restaurant,
laid-back and all, but the “a la card” one was something that stuck with me the
most. You received your own table and each table had a waiter appointed to it.
Thus you never had to wait long for service. You had a three-course menu, each course
having different dishes to choose from. Spending on the occasion, you might even
receive a little show, as was the case when all the waiters brought in a Baked Alaska
cake and set it aflame in front of us. It was very tasty too.
I don’t
have any memory of such a grand display at the dinner table in any hotel resort
I’ve been to. There was usually a theme for the dinner every night, but nothing
so grandiose and eye-catching. The best case I can make for hotels in terms of
food display is a time at a hotel where they would serve a big cake e very night,
usually shaped like a figure. Like a lizard or a crocodile or a snake for
instance.
What is there to see?
If you are
searching for a way to see as much as you possibly can in the most comfortable
manner, I would say you should choose a ship. Hands down. Not only will you wake up in a different city
every day, but you’ll also have a good night’s sleep while getting there. The
ship company also offer guided tours on land, but you are also free to go
off-board on your own and take some time to explore at your own pace. Just keep
track of the ship’s schedule.
However, if
you plan on getting deeper into the local culture or just wanting to go out on
an evening stroll into town whenever you feel like it, then the hotel might be
a better option for you. If nothing else, you won’t have to worry about forgetting
the time and it sailing off without you. But that does mean you won’t see Venice
today and Barcelona tomorrow.
Order of conduct
I’m only bringing
this up because a lot of people believe that cruises are for the rich that
dress in evening gowns and tuxedos as soon as the clock hits 6 and enjoy their
friendly banter with a glass of champagne with golden flakes in it.
That is not
true. If a cruise is in your budget, you won’t have to worry about having to
spend extra money on formal wear for every evening and take classes on posh behavior
so you’ll know with which spoon to eat. Most of the time guests just go about
in regular t-shirts and shorts. They might dress it up a bit for the evening
dinner, but you certainly won’t get kicked out of the restaurant if your suit
is not a custom-tailored brand. Minor elegance is enough should be enough, like
just wearing a plain shirt. However, if you do want to wear that gorgeous dress
you had to buy for this one occasion and think you would never have the chance
to wear it again; pack it by all means.
Yet, I have
to say the hotels usually are less formal, at least the resorts I’ve been to.
Conclusion
As you may
have noticed, I am highly in favor of ships. If you don’t have a problem with
sea sickness, I see almost no reason not to go. They are probably the best
option for family vacations with teens, as they offer an environment where
parents won’t feel guilty for loosening the leash and the teens will appreciate
a bit more freedom to go to ship’s discos or pool. They are also great for
comfortable travel and exploring.
A hotel on
the other hand might be better for families with smaller children, as they
offer a bit more room for them to run around, and they often include water
parks. They’re also better for people that want to really get into the local
culture and will take time to thoroughly explore the area, or just want to kick
it by the beach.
So, I hope this
helps you when you plan your next dream vacation.
