Once you started cruising, do land vacations still hold the same appeal as before?

[airlink diva]

While I have done some land vacations in between my cruises, I find that the land vacations just do not have the appeal, the relaxing factor, or the excitement for me that cruising does.

 

I so agree!! Don't get me wrong, I still like going to places where ships can't venture. But when I compare the cost, a cruise comes out ahead. By the time I add the cost of a rental car,gas,hotel and meals, I can cruise for alot less.

I also love sea days on a ship. Nothing is more relaxing than that!!

[iowagirl411]

I love cruises. Love to scuba & have a few(?) coctails, but some things you just can't do on a cruise.

 

Like water rafting on the headwaters of the Arkansas River nearly every summer. We love the mountains.

 

We just got back from Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with 17 roller coasters!

 

How about a wild weekend at Put-in-Bay, OH (the Key West of the north).

 

And the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN.

 

Not to leave out sky diving.

 

I love cruises, but............

[nrdsb4]

I love cruises. Love to scuba & have a few(?) coctails, but some things you just can't do on a cruise.

 

Like water rafting on the headwaters of the Arkansas River nearly every summer. We love the mountains.

 

We just got back from Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with 17 roller coasters!

 

How about a wild weekend at Put-in-Bay, OH (the Key West of the north).

 

And the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN.

 

Not to leave out sky diving.

 

I love cruises, but............

 

Snow skiing in Utah...:)

[T. Advisor King]

I've never taken a cruise that I didn't like, but there are far too many other things to do not to continue taking regular vacations.

 

While I enjoy the cruise ship experience, and there are many entertainment options, it is still a fairly limiting experience.

 

When you take a regular vacation, you have far more of an opportunity to see the area you are visiting and progressively explore (as opposed to researching a single shore excursion in advance). There's also something to seeing a destination at night -- something that's rarely (if ever?) possible by cruise ship.

 

We're looking at travelling to Europe next summer and have discovered the potential of using a home exchange website. It appears that the cost of going to Europe for a month via a home exchange will be less than the cost of a 10 day vacation including a 7-day cruise.

 

I'll continue to take cruises, but there's too many things to see out there to make it the only thing I do.

[jordanaire]

I love cruises. Love to scuba & have a few(?) coctails, but some things you just can't do on a cruise.

 

Like water rafting on the headwaters of the Arkansas River nearly every summer. We love the mountains.

 

We just got back from Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with 17 roller coasters!

 

How about a wild weekend at Put-in-Bay, OH (the Key West of the north).

 

And the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN.

 

Not to leave out sky diving.

 

I love cruises, but............

 

How did you like Cedar Point? It's our favorite amusement park of all time! We use to live about 45-miles from there and went several times each year. The last time we were there was when the "Millenium" coaster opened, and I rode it in the rain! WOW!

 

:cool:Bill

[golfadj]

My first experience with cruising was quite a few years ago and was less than thrilling.

 

I did a great many land vacations between that sailing and my first Carnival cruise.

 

I can tell you that when I visit a familiar island, like Jamaica, there's a small part of my heart that wishes I could stay for several days rather than a few hours but as soon as I'm back on board and the island starts to shrink in the distance that tiny pang disappears.

 

I love the sea. That fact on it's own is sufficient for me to eschew land vacations...

 

:)

 

Eschew???????????????

[lollylew]

I know that for many years, dh and I were never really "taking trips" kind of people (with the exception of the occasional camping trip). Part of this was due to hubby being in school and also because we hadn't really found something that we liked. After taking our first cruise this December, we LOVED it and decided that cruising was for us!! It does also help that we are in better position financially so that we can cruise but mostly, we enjoy it better than any land vacation. Took a cruise this past May and have another booked for next September (with some in between that I am taking with my mom).

 

I like that cruising offers so much to do and see plus the cost is very minimal (IMHO). :p:):D

[pe4all]

Used to do AI's - then "rediscovered" cruising. Now, family doesn't want to do land vacations. We will see what happens this Dec., as, due to dd18's college schedule I had to cancel my NYE cruise on CCL Dream, and will be doing Nassau instead. (Breezes and Comfort Suites/Atlantis) Truthfully, we are worried we will be bored there - have been to Nassau 5x, but couldn't "fit" anywhere else into schedule. Believe me - dd18 is on my s--t list for making me cancel that cruise!:p (and no- won't leave her behind - we travel as a family, as some of you know from my other postings)

[Quampapetet]

I love land vacations way more than a cruise.

 

• You get to be in one place longer (so get to do more and see more and relax)
   
  
• You get a larger hotel room (incl. some with a full kitchen and large bathroom - though I am looking forward to my big aft wrap balcony on my upcoming cruise)
   
  
• You get to eat at different places
   
  
• It is cheaper
   
  
• It is less hassle
   
  
• You're on your own timing for things (not what time you have to be back at a ship or it'll leave you for every port stop)
   
  
• You have a LOT more choices in places to go (not just places on/near an ocean)
   
  
• You don't risk getting sea sick (which I'm sensitive to - thank goodness for Bonine!)
   
  
• Etc.
  

 

Cruises are interesting, unique, and can be fun, but they'll never be my first choice of vacation. (My previous and upcoming cruise are both with a group I'm with, which is why I went/am going.)

[Quampapetet]

(and no- won't leave her behind - we travel as a family, as some of you know from my other postings)

 

And THAT is AWESOME!!! :D My brother and I are both grown up, but we still do vacations with our parents as a family. It is sad to see so many families that hardly even talk to each other these days. You're likely of the same belief that when you have nothing else at all, you always have family. (For us, that includes extended family, too.)

[bplazo]

My daughter and I just did a land vacation in Florida and while it was nice that we spent time together we did not enjoy it as much as a cruise.

[Quampapetet]

I love cruises. Love to scuba & have a few(?) coctails, but some things you just can't do on a cruise.

 

Like water rafting on the headwaters of the Arkansas River nearly every summer. We love the mountains.

 

We just got back from Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with 17 roller coasters!

 

How about a wild weekend at Put-in-Bay, OH (the Key West of the north).

 

And the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN.

 

Not to leave out sky diving.

 

I love cruises, but............

 

Yeah, good list of some of the things you can't do on a cruise! Though I wouldn't be one to try ALL of them (uhm, sky diving?! No thanks!! :p ). I do love roller coasters, though!!

[iowagirl411]

Snow skiing in Utah...:)

 

Although I'm an adrenalin junkie, I eschew any sport that requires boots & mittens and and any form of frozen water. If you can't play in shorts or a swimsuit, then I don't want to play!

 

How did you like Cedar Point? It's our favorite amusement park of all time! We use to live about 45-miles from there and went several times each year. The last time we were there was when the "Millenium" coaster opened, and I rode it in the rain! WOW! :cool:Bill

 

We absolutely loved it! I went with my 5 grown kids. The "Millineum Force" was awsome, but their newest - the "Top Thrill Dragster" was a top thrill. Watching it while waiting in line made me nervous and I've jumped from an airplane!

[cuted126]

I would pick cruising over a land based vacation anyday!! I am truly addicted!:p

[Cactuscruise]

DH does not like water and never had a desire to cruise. I went on a cruise with one of my sisters and then "talked him into" an Alaskan cruise. He was hooked. This was only 3 years ago and now we find that every time we start thinking about vacation, we think about cruising first. We have gone on a couple of land based vacations since, but find ourselves sitting in the hotel at night (except in Vegas), bored out of our minds. We love the "hustle and bustle" of the ship, walking the decks, watching the ocean go by, visiting ports, going to the shows, and even losing a few $$ in the casino. We are 60+ years old and when at home we go to bed about 10 pm or so, but on the ship we stay up much later. Our children think it is hilarious. I wish we could afford to cruise more often, but will keep cruising as long as we are financially able and are both healthy enough to do it.

Just wondered if anyone else feels this way.

 

I've been traveling the world for 45 years,and crusing for 10. While I love cruising it will never take the place of a land based vacation.

[iowagirl411]

Yeah, good list of some of the things you can't do on a cruise! Though I wouldn't be one to try ALL of them (uhm, sky diving?! No thanks!! :p ). I do love roller coasters, though!!

 

Cedar Point has a great collection of coaster in one place. You can ride like 4 (depending on what list you look at) on the top ten in the US.

 

We do all these nutty things as a family. I raised 5 kids as a single mom. It started with an innocent Class III white water rafting trip, which advanced to Class V after a couple of years. The skydiving was a graduation gift for my twin sons - the last to leave the nest.

[Jeafl]

Don't kill me but...

 

As much as I love cruising, there are some amazing land vacations I have done that I have enjoyed as much or probably more. Last October we spent 2 weeks in Hawaii on three different islands and that will be hard to top.

 

I think alternating cruising and land vacations every other year is a good mix for me.

[bfkkbc]

I love cruises. Love to scuba & have a few(?) coctails, but some things you just can't do on a cruise.

 

Like water rafting on the headwaters of the Arkansas River nearly every summer. We love the mountains.

 

We just got back from Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with 17 roller coasters!

 

How about a wild weekend at Put-in-Bay, OH (the Key West of the north).

 

And the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN.

 

Not to leave out sky diving.

 

I love cruises, but............

 

Oh we love Put-in-Bay and Cedar Point!!! 2 of our favorite vaca spots!!!;)

[Nunu]

I like vacationing period. It doesn't need to be a cruise, actually I don't think I could give up the other trips we've taken to only cruise.

[AnnieB925]

We do both. Like you, I had to practically drag my husband on our first cruise. Although we both enjoyed it, we did lots of other traveling before returning to cruising. When we want to really relax we book a cruise. When we want to see a new country or a new part of the US, we do air/hotel travel. We like both, for very different reasons. Our next land vacation will be to France, where we will rent a villa and a car. It won't be nearly as relaxing as cruising, but will be thrilling!

 

 

DH does not like water and never had a desire to cruise. I went on a cruise with one of my sisters and then "talked him into" an Alaskan cruise. He was hooked. This was only 3 years ago and now we find that every time we start thinking about vacation, we think about cruising first. We have gone on a couple of land based vacations since, but find ourselves sitting in the hotel at night (except in Vegas), bored out of our minds. We love the "hustle and bustle" of the ship, walking the decks, watching the ocean go by, visiting ports, going to the shows, and even losing a few $$ in the casino. We are 60+ years old and when at home we go to bed about 10 pm or so, but on the ship we stay up much later. Our children think it is hilarious. I wish we could afford to cruise more often, but will keep cruising as long as we are financially able and are both healthy enough to do it.

Just wondered if anyone else feels this way.

[pe4all]

And THAT is AWESOME!!! :D My brother and I are both grown up, but we still do vacations with our parents as a family. It is sad to see so many families that hardly even talk to each other these days. You're likely of the same belief that when you have nothing else at all, you always have family. (For us, that includes extended family, too.)

 

Yes - family is everything. We had a tragic loss 3 years ago (Sept. 20) when my SIL suddenly passed away at age 39. Left her dh, and a 5 and a 6 year old. The family rallied around, and to this day they have joined us in our travels. Life is too short - friends come and go, but family will always be there to help.:)

[Shipshape7]

DH and I avoided cruising for the first 20 years of our marriage. We love it now but our reasons were actually valid (1) we both get seasick easily and the remedies make us feel drowsy and (2) we like to visit long enough to get a real feel for places, stay in charming inns with personality and eat the local cuisine. We like to go hiking and not worry that if we get lost we'll miss the ship. BUT there are definitely many things that are special about cruising too.

 

We took our first cruise as a family vacation with our 5 kids. We always chose varied vacations with an eye towards exposing them to unique enriching experiences. With that in mind, I intended to take them on ONE cruise. What happened in our case was that several of the kids were instant cruise addicts. At this point, its become an annual event and nobody is exactly complaining:D I told my oldest the other day that I can't wait for her to have children because DH and I need a good excuse to go on DCL at our age and I want to check out their shows:eek: (Hee, hee, I think we're in deeper than we care to admit!)

[gtalum]

For a few years, we've been on several cruises. Now that our daughter is a little bit older, we'll start doing land vacation again, with a cruise thrown in here and there. The two types of vacations are very different, but we very much enjoy them both. A cruise just doesn't let you get the feel of a place like a good land adventure does.

[charlnel]

We're taking our 3rd cruise this year at Christmas. First was last year over Christmas. Previously, unless visiting family (who live in great places, Las Vegas and New Orleans), we've done all inclusives. We've been to Jamaica, St. Kitts, Punta Cana, Cabo San Lucas and many times to Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. We've loved the all inclusives, but decided to try crusing last year. The price was right and we've olny done short cruises, but were able to take more vacation time that way. We also went to Hawaii when my husband came home from Iraq and stayed at the military resort. Absolutely Beautiful!

 

Will we go back to all inclusives? I would say yes, but we will also continue to cruise. We've really enjoyed the ones we've taken.

Charlene

[grandmato4]

DH does not like water and never had a desire to cruise. I went on a cruise with one of my sisters and then "talked him into" an Alaskan cruise. He was hooked. This was only 3 years ago and now we find that every time we start thinking about vacation, we think about cruising first. We have gone on a couple of land based vacations since, but find ourselves sitting in the hotel at night (except in Vegas), bored out of our minds. We love the "hustle and bustle" of the ship, walking the decks, watching the ocean go by, visiting ports, going to the shows, and even losing a few $$ in the casino. We are 60+ years old and when at home we go to bed about 10 pm or so, but on the ship we stay up much later. Our children think it is hilarious. I wish we could afford to cruise more often, but will keep cruising as long as we are financially able and are both healthy enough to do it.

Just wondered if anyone else feels this way.

 

Yep, same thoughts here although we did take a break from cruising for a few years, not really that we wanted to just didn't fit into our schedules but once we started again we just can't seem to be happy with the thought of anything more than just a couple day land trip. Vacations of a week or longer have to be cruises to make us happy!:D:)