All-Inclusive: Cruises vs. Resorts

Did you know that “Childfree Travel” only promotes preferred resorts that are all-inclusive? Sometimes all-inclusive resorts can get a bad reputation for offering a low-quality, cookie-cutter product at a bargain-basement price. While those properties do exist, they are the complete opposite from the luxury, all-inclusive products in our portfolio. During the month of March we are going to explore all-inclusive travel and discover some of the amazing features our childfree resorts offer for our clients.

I have recently had some potential clients come to me asking if I sell cruises. In fact I don’t sell cruises, I can but I choose not to. I find all-inclusive resort vacations to be a better value for clients and such, I have decided to specialize in this area. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against cruises, I have been on several of them and plan to go on two more before I die (Alaska & Panama). However when deciding which product I wanted to promote to my clients (who trust me to steer them in the right direction) they were not my first choice. A big reason I have for feeling this way? I think they are misleading.

Let’s start with price. To use as an example, I priced a standard 7-night Caribbean cruise with RCCL out of Galveston, TX. The lowest stateroom category prices at $952.00 per person. This does not include the taxes which are an extra $90.00 per person, so the actual cost is $1042.00 per person. Then once you board the cruise will add gratuities for their staff, automatically. This cost is and additional $84.00 per person, now we're at a total cost $1126.00 per person, almost $174.00 per person more than advertised. When you are given an upfront price for an all-inclusive (from my agency anyway), that’s the price, there are no hidden fees or taxes and gratuities are included.

Second, the stateroom categories are confusing for the average traveler. On my sample sailing the ship is the Navigator of the Seas there are: seven interior stateroom categories, three ocean view categories, six balcony categories and three deluxe categories. That’s 19 room categories, just about more than double a standard resort. These categories are all based on ship placement: lower decks vs. upper decks and/or front vs. middle vs. back of the ship.

Third is the quality of the accommodations. Check out one of my previous blogs and you’ll see what types of accommodations are available at the upscale properties we feature. On this cruise for example, the interior room you’re paying over $2200.00 for is a 150 square foot space with two twin beds that convert to a Royal King size bed, sitting area, vanity area, and a private bathroom. Yes, that’s it. Oh wait, I almost forgot - this is an interior room so there is no window in this type of room.

Fourth, cruise lines sell themselves as all-inclusive but they really aren’t. They don’t include all the beverages, most food and some of the activities. Let’s start with food. It used to be that cruise lines included all food, period. That started to change several years ago with the announcement of Specialty Dining. These are separate restaurants with a la carte dining that include off the menu options or a surcharge. The following dining options that cost extra are: Chops Grille (Steakhouse), Izumi (Asian), Sabor (Mexican), Giovanni’s (Italian), Mystery Dinner Theater and Johnny Rockets (American, Hamburger). What’s left, traditional dining rooms, a coffee shop, a lunchtime café and 24/7 room service (where a fee may still apply).

As for beverages – please understand that they are not included. Therefore they offer six beverages packages ranging from bottled water (yes, a drink package for water) to the “Ultimate Drink Package” which includes cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, tea, juice, soda, etc. The ship also has Wine Tasting package which you also need to pay for. (Please remember, these types of drinks are all included at our featured resorts).

Then there are activities, yes cruise lines provide plenty of activities for guests to partake in but they are not all included. Here are the ones you must pay extra for with RCCL: fitness classes, dance classes, cooking demos, jewelry making, scrapbooking, etc. They also don’t include tours (some of our resorts do) and while you can catch a promotion such as a $25 - $150 shipboard credit, that’s nothing on the $1500 resort credit some of our properties offer.

All this being said, here is the main reason we don’t offer cruises: THEY ARE NOT CHILDFREE!!!

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