Girlfriend Getaway -- Cruise or All-Inclusive Resort?

So you're in charge of planning the next girlfriend getaway and you've heard that it's cheaper to go on a cruise than to stay at an all-inclusive resort.  Which option is really the better deal?  Let's break it down.

First, in order to be fair in our comparison, we need to price the two itineraries using the same exact departure date, number of travelers, number of nights and caliber of amenities.  "RIU" brand all-inclusive resorts and Royal Caribbean cruises offer similar amenities, including high quality spa services, entertainment, onsite activities, pools and jacuzzis, but there are some important differences in what's included in the price. 

For the purposes of this illustration, let's look at a group of 4 adults that want to go to the Caribbean for 6 nights.  This group wants to have access to unlimited food and beverages, including alcohol.  Jamaica is on their bucket list, and they want to snorkel during their trip.

OPTION #1: All-Inclusive Resort

Travel dates April 6, 2014 through April 12, 2014

RIU Montego Bay All-Inclusive resort, Jamaica - family room - 6 nights -Total cost for 4 adults - $3,408.00*

Price includes:

• 334 sq ft family suite with 3 double beds and sitting area (bathroom with double sink) 
• stocked in-room mini bar and liquor dispenser
• All meals, snacks and beverages, including soda, juices, coffee and domestic and select imported alcohol
• Non-motorized water sports (snorkel gear, kayak, windsurfing and more)
• Entertainment and activities
• Room service
• All taxes and gratuities

OPTION #2:  CRUISE

Royal Caribbean cruise on Independence of the Seas - Large Ocean View Stateroom - 6 nights

Ports of Call:  Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Haiti

Base price plus port fees/taxes  for 4 adults -  $2762.88*  (Less than $700 per person)

The cruise deal sounds pretty good so far…...

Price includes:

• Large Ocean View Stateroom and 2 twin beds + 2 pullman beds, private bath 
• All meals, snacks and some beverages (lemonade, milk, tea or coffee)
• Entertainment and activities
• Port fees and taxes
• Room service

Guests pay extra for:

• Sodas, alcoholic beverages  
• Mandatory gratuities 
• Any items removed from the mini bar

A glass of wine on a cruise ship will set you back $8-$24 (not a typo).  A 15% gratuity is automatically applied.  A beer is $4.50-$8.00 per bottle and cocktails start at $10.50 each.   Even a Coca-Cola lover can blow through extra cash pretty quick. Guests can purchase an "all-you-can-drink" beverage package, but that will run $45-$55 per person…per day.  Cha-CHING!

Also, gratuities are mandatory on a cruise ship, and the amount per guest is set by the cruise line.  When you check in, you're required to give a credit card number for incidentals.  The average cost of cruise ship gratuities is $11 per day per person.  The $2,762.88 cruise-for-4 will cost a little over $4,100 vs. $3,408 at the all-inclusive resort….and with the cruise option, each guest will have to purchase a tour voucher in order to go snorkeling.  Snorkeling gear is complimentary at the resort.

$2,762.88  Base cost of cruise for 4 adults, plus port fees and taxes

  1,080.00  4 "all-you-can-drink" packages ($45 X 4 adults X 6 nights)

  + 264.00  Gratuities ($11 X 4 adults X 6 nights)

$4,106.88  (not including the snorkeling adventure)

There's also the difference in room size to consider when you have 4 guests sharing very little storage space and one bathroom.  The family room at RIU Montego Bay is 334 square feet.  The "Large" Ocean View stateroom on Independence of the Seas is 175 square feet.  Once all of the beds are pulled out and down in a cruise stateroom, there is not much room to move around.  

Inside stateroom - Royal Caribbean

Outside stateroom - Royal Caribbean

Guest room at RIU Montego Bay

Guests that are content to drink only tea, coffee, lemonade or milk while on vacation can save money with the cruise option. Also, if travelers prefer to visit several destinations, it's much easier to do that on a cruise, because you don't have to unpack and re-pack in between.  

Last, but not least, if you live within 6 hours of a cruise port, and your travel dates are flexible, it will most likely be cheaper to drive and cruise (and purchase the "all-you-can-drink" package) than to pay for an air + hotel package to the Caribbean.  NOTE:  On some cruise websites, The "lead-in" price does not include port fees and taxes, which can easily add $100 or more per person to the cruise cost. Click all the way through to the final screen to compare prices.

I love cruising, personally, but I don't recommend cruises over all-inclusive resorts as a way to save money. Always ask your travel agent to give you an itemized list of any fees that you might have to pay in addition to the base cost of the vacation before you put that deposit down on your trip!  Your girlfriends will thank you.

*Prices quoted as of 7/10/13 for point-in-time comparison purposes only for 4 adults, for the travel dates specified; prices subject to change and do not apply to groups of 9 or more travelers.