Why Cruises Are the Best Vacation Value

We have always found that cruises are the best value. It is just simple math. The average cruise costs about $100 a day per person, or $200 a couple. This price includes the comfortable cabin, all meals and snacks, Broadway style entertainment, dancing, deck games, swimming, exercise sessions and many other free goods and services.At today's inflated prices, a vacation trip that involves staying at a hotel of comparable quality would cost at least $350 a night, more than 50% higher than the total cruise cost for a couple. Meals, entertainment, ground transportation and all the other city expenses would raise the overall price to at least $300 a day per person. And it still couldn't match the bargain price of a cruise.

Resort area food costs would be considerably more if the travelers eat meals at upscale restaurants ashore of similar quality to the fare served in shipboard dining. This daily food expense ashore can't come close in value to the continuously free shipboard snacks and the famed midnight buffets. Other free shipboard amenities, such as games, swimming, sunning and spas, would add considerably to the cost of patronizing the same services at city hotels or private facilities.

Another advantage of the cruise is that once the bags are unpacked and clothing hung in closets, that's it for the entire vacation. When the ship makes port calls, passengers can go ashore and sample the culture and sights of different lands and people. They can purchase escorted excursions, or venture on their own at whatever costs they decide to spend, if anything at all.

Finally, in addition to giving the best money value, cruises provide the constant service, quality dining, entertainment, relaxation and trouble-free vacation that cannot be found at any price at any resort city or hotel on shore.