Carnival vs. All-Inclusive

[Bers]

I’ve been on several cruises, all Carnival, and they have been my only real major form of vacation that I have taken. Mainly because I wanted something where I didn’t have to do a lot of planning and I was never sure an all-inclusive resort would be enjoyable for me, fearing I’d be bored. However, my mom, who has been my vacation partner throughout, said she would like to try a resort and so we booked one for this coming January for 7 days. Because I had always been interested in the cost comparison between the “cost effective” Carnival cruises and an all-inclusive, I thought I’d share for others, too. BLUF: A Carnival cruise is, for my mother and I, the winner by a smidgen, at least my most recent one. This does not include any extras like dining, Cheers, shopping, etc, so YMMV. Really, any extras would just about put us equal to or greater than an all-inclusive. Hope this helps those who are wondering the same thing. Below are the numbers:

 

Cruise

-Panorama Carnival Cruise fare – 7 day – 8C Balcony (7268) – choose your own room location (after taxes/port fees/tips): $2,306

-Airfare (St. Louis to Long Beach): $908 ($454 x 2)

-Insurance (The Trip Insurance Store): $261 ($106 for myself, 44 yo – trip and medical; $155 for 73 yo mother – medical only)

-Hotel: $170

-Lyfts (to and from airport/hotel/cruise terminal): ~$210

Total: $3,855

 

All-Inclusive – Using Southwest Vacation Packages for the Paradisus Cancun for 7 days (prices have since the booking raised)

-Resort + flight (booking did not break this down): $3,354 ($1,677 x 2)

-Car rental: $278

-Insurance: $250 ($125 x 2 – did not ask for age, etc.)

-Lyft to airport/return home: $120

Total: $4,002

[pcvtmom]

Interesting comparison, by the numbers!  I've done both, and was not at all impressed with an all inclusive resort. I thought the quality of food and drinks was less than that of Carnival. (I'm always amazed at the people who bash Carnival for their food!) I also like the variety of activities offered and the wonder of having new ports or days at sea, as opposed to staying "put" for the duration.  I know there are many who prefer all inclusives, but I'm not one of them. Thanks for breaking it down for us.

[mz-s]

It really comes down to the extras you need on a cruise vs. what's included in an AI. And of course the fact that they're really totally different kinds of vacations so they're not really comparable. But on a dollars-and-cents basis, it's not as cut and dry as it used to be. AIs are really competing against cruises right now.

[aborgman]

To make a true comparison - you'd probably have to add all the things that are included at the AI, but cost extra on a cruise.

 

Things that AI comes with a cruise does not:

 

Alcohol (including in room mini-bar restocked daily)

Wi-Fi

24-Hour Room Service

Golf greens fees

 

 

[sparks1093]

3 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

Golf greens fees

 

 

There are no greens fees for putt putt golf.🤣

 

OP, thanks for the 411!

Edited December 11, 2023 by sparks1093

[Sarcastic Mama]

My husband asked about this and I actually have worked it too.  Ours was a little different, we priced 5 adults, drink package on ship, we don't need airfare for the cruise as we live in Houston, but even with all the little things, it still was comparable. For us it comes down to the experience of the cruise. We enjoy the sea days and going to the different ports.   

[teknoge3k]

We enjoy both but really enjoy cruising more. In 2020 and in 2021 when cruises weren't happening because of Covid, we still wanted to take our vacations. So in July 2020 we went to the Dominican Republic to Sanctuary in Cap Cana and spent 2 weeks. Then in May 2021 we went to Seadust in Cancun for a week. Then in July 2021 we went back to Sanctuary in the Dominican Republic for a week. We REALLY enjoyed both AIs we went to and have gone a few more times since. We were missing our cruising but they weren't sailing because of Covid. We needed option for vacations. That turned us onto the AI world. We still prefer cruising just for the fact that it allows us to be in a different port several times during the vacation rather than just at one place.

 

When we go to Sanctuary we do explore the other parts of the DR such as Santo Domingo and Higuey which we really enjoy and in Cancun, we hit up Isla Mujeres which was different. 

[Bers]

40 minutes ago, aborgman said:

To make a true comparison - you'd probably have to add all the things that are included at the AI, but cost extra on a cruise.

 

Things that AI comes with a cruise does not:

 

Alcohol (including in room mini-bar restocked daily)

Wi-Fi

24-Hour Room Service

Golf greens fees

 

 

Makes perfect sense. It didn't make it into my list because these aren't things we typically use, so we could take it or leave it. 

[sanger727]

There are a couple things out of balance. First, you shouldn't rent a car in Mexico, so all you would need is transport to/from hotel. Like a cruise vacation, if you leave the resort you would usually do so on an excursion. 

 

The included drinks has some value, even if you aren't a big drinker. Unlike on a cruise, your soda and specialty coffee should be included.

 

Also, a cruise ship can't touch the space you have at an all inclusive. Your room will be bigger, can walk out to a large pool and large beach area.

 

We enjoy both vacation types, I wouldn't make the decision over a difference of a few dollars. It's whether you want to spend a week in one place with a lot more room and go out on a few excursions; or see multiple places over the course of the week.

[klfrodo]

I enjoy AI's as much as a cruise. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

 

My only feedback would be to double check and ask yourself, Do I really need the rental car. I say this for a few reasons and mostly due to safety. Rules of the road are different in Mexico. Rules of liability are very different. Rules of insurance are very different also. I can't say for sure in your instance but $280 looks to good to be true. Many times, the quotes you receive for a car rental in Mexico include no insurance when in fact it's mandatory. They then add the required insurance at the desk when you go to pick up the car and the price balloons above the budgeted amount. Also, where do you plan on driving to? Are there other alternatives to that destination. Refueling the car is different in Mexico also. You cannot refuel your own car and gas stations have been known to rip off tourists at the gas station by not resetting the pump to 0, etc.

[mz-s]

Yeah don't really need the car rental and most AIs that I've researched have transportation to/from the airport...and a Carnival balcony is an ocean view room obviously - but is otherwise absolutely not comparable to even the cheapest room at an AI. But any way you slice it, it's not apples to apples.

[cruiserbrianj]

We were just talking about AI vs cruising the other day when carnival hiked up the WiFi again. I used to think the cruise was always going to be the better bargain but I'm not so sure anymore. Again, this is all dependent on how "you cruise" but we like to do a specialty dining once (or twice), don't always get the Cheer's package but we do purchase alcohol, we get the WiFi package (usually 2 to split between 3 people and then there's the hotel the night before. Once you add all that up, it's pretty significant. The only thing preventing us from doing an AI at the moment is, at least for us, the flights stink! As soon as you start customizing a flight the price skyrockets. There was one that I looked at, the only "included" flight had you leaving at 8pm only to arrive at 1pm THE NEXT DAY! You mean I'm paying for a day that I'm not even there? No chance. Anyway, we love cruising and the positives far outweigh the negatives but the AI's are on our radar.

[five.]

I'd already have switched to an AI if it was just me. Wife keeps dragging me on cruises.

[staceyglow]

Here is the big difference for me.

 

I have never paid anywhere near $2300 for a  7-day cruise, not even on a "fancier" line, and I can't imagine that I ever would.

 

At that price, it most definitely would make sense to look at alternatives.

[Drazil65]

Also, a cruise ship can't touch the space you have at an all inclusive. Your room will be bigger, can walk out to a large pool and large beach area.

 

All this may be true but the AI does not take you to 3 or 4 different places (without intentionally booking something outside of the AI which in most cases will cost extra).  There are pros and cons for each type of vacation.  

 

We have done several AI's over the years with our favs being in Cancun (our overall fav is Fiesta Americana Grand in Cancun) and the DR.  For us the cost is apples and oranges because there is no plane fare included when we cruise as we have 6 plus cruise ports within easy driving distance that suit us just fine and go to the places we enjoy.  We like both types of vacations but probably enjoy the convenience of cruising a little more so end up doing that more often.   

Edited December 11, 2023 by Drazil65

[Bers]

2 hours ago, klfrodo said:

I enjoy AI's as much as a cruise. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

 

My only feedback would be to double check and ask yourself, Do I really need the rental car. I say this for a few reasons and mostly due to safety. Rules of the road are different in Mexico. Rules of liability are very different. Rules of insurance are very different also. I can't say for sure in your instance but $280 looks to good to be true. Many times, the quotes you receive for a car rental in Mexico include no insurance when in fact it's mandatory. They then add the required insurance at the desk when you go to pick up the car and the price balloons above the budgeted amount. Also, where do you plan on driving to? Are there other alternatives to that destination. Refueling the car is different in Mexico also. You cannot refuel your own car and gas stations have been known to rip off tourists at the gas station by not resetting the pump to 0, etc.

The rental was really an ask from mom, and we don't plan on venturing far from home base and only with a mapped out plan. I have driven in the fast-paced chaotic countries, third world included, though TBH, it was with the military and with our own vehicle so the thought of all the details that goes along with a rental has certainly caused a bit of....contemplation, but I'll take each situation as it comes. My last trip to Tampa pulled the same insurance scam on me that you're speaking about, so I'm familiar with that nasty scene. I do appreciate the warnings. 

 

I certainly understand these two vacations are not complete parallels, but they're certainly similar and I thought I could help others who had the same curiosity that I did. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by Bers

[cxr133]

I have done both.

 

My son got married at Paradisus cancun in 2021   very lovely very nice place.  WOULD pick over the mexican riviera cruise.

 

Panorama cruise is fun not to be missed    Mexican riviera was not my favorite.

 

NOW if it was a choice between any of the caribean/bahamas ports then i would say its a toss up  

 

[cxr133]

2 minutes ago, cxr133 said:

I have done both.

 

My son got married at Paradisus cancun in 2021   very lovely very nice place.  WOULD pick over the mexican riviera cruise.

 

Panorama cruise is fun not to be missed    Mexican riviera was not my favorite.

 

NOW if it was a choice between any of the caribean/bahamas ports then i would say its a toss up  

 

added:  you may get bored just sitting around the Paradisus beach /pool al lweek so there may be excursions that would cost exttra

 

1. pirate ship dinner

2 day trip to isla mujeres

3. snorkel party catamaran to isla mujeres

4. xcaret eco park 

5 mercado for lunch 

6 downtown cancun  for dinner or margatriaville cancun for dinner 

7. tulum

8.  Akumul for turtle snorkeling

[sanger727]

1 hour ago, Bers said:

The rental was really an ask from mom, and we don't plan on venturing far from home base and only with a mapped out plan. I have driven in the fast-paced chaotic countries, third world included, though TBH, it was with the military and with our own vehicle so the thought of all the details that goes along with a rental has certainly caused a bit of....contemplation, but I'll take each situation as it comes. My last trip to Tampa pulled the same insurance scam on me that you're speaking about, so I'm familiar with that nasty scene. I do appreciate the warnings. 

 

I certainly understand these two vacations are not complete parallels, but they're certainly similar and I thought I could help others who had the same curiosity that I did. 

 

If you decide to rent a car, be sure you educate yourself on the many common scams.

 

The 1st one being the insurance

2nd, is the game where when you refill your gas tank, the gas station employee pocketing your larger bills and telling you that you didn't pay enough

3rd its common for the police to pull cars being driven by Americans over on their way to the airport. They will have some "violation" that you committed and you can either fork over cash or have to go to the police station to receive a citation.

 

If you don't plan to venture far out, taxis and transfer companies will be much easier and cheaper. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by sanger727

[Earthworm Jim]

3 hours ago, staceyglow said:

I have never paid anywhere near $2300 for a  7-day cruise, not even on a "fancier" line, and I can't imagine that I ever would.

 

That doesn't sound out of line for 2 people in a balcony. And includes taxes/port fees (say $150 pp, so $300) and tips (~$200 more). Which leaves $1800 for the cruise for two people, so $900 pp.

 

If you've never paid nearly $900 pp for a balcony you're a better shopper than I am. Or maybe you get casino rates.

[Saint Greg]

I’m guessing you’re a non-alcohol, soda, coffee drinker. Non-internet user. Non-specialty dining person. Because all of those things were included at my all-inclusives but not at carnival.

 

[staceyglow]

52 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

That doesn't sound out of line for 2 people in a balcony. And includes taxes/port fees (say $150 pp, so $300) and tips (~$200 more). Which leaves $1800 for the cruise for two people, so $900 pp.

 

If you've never paid nearly $900 pp for a balcony you're a better shopper than I am. Or maybe you get casino rates.

No casino rates.  I play my free play that I get as a Plat and that's it.

 

But we are bargain hunters.

Edited December 12, 2023 by staceyglow