 What is an All Inclusive Vacation?
What is an All Inclusive Vacation?
By Wayne Bass
Cruises appeal to many travelers because they are considered all-
inclusive vacations. Pay one price and receive accommodations, meals,
entertainment, and transportation between island and port
destinations. Most cruises do not cover shore excursions, alcoholic
beverages, and gratuities.
Many land-based resorts also refer to themselves as all-inclusive.
These properties offer a different set of included amenities. So what
does it really mean to be all-inclusive?
If you've been debating the merits of cruise and resort vacations,
we've come to your aid. We've compared the all-inclusiveness and
considered the pros and cons of both resorts and cruises to help you
choose a vacation. The question of whether cruising or land based all-
inclusive offer the better value for your money and which is the
better choice for your travel preferences. Is one that largely depends
on what you expect?
Advantages of a Cruise:
Different ports of call
No need to pack and unpack, take your hotel room with you.
Entertainment, Casinos, Spas, Children Programs.
Great food, Relaxation at sea;
Advantages of a Resort (Land Based):
Relaxed on your own schedule
Most have private beaches to soak up the sun.
Use of non motorized water equipment.
Gratuities and drinks are usually included in the base price.
What's included?
All-inclusive cruises and resorts tend to include different amenities
in the base price. Book a mainstream cruise, and you'll receive
accommodations, all meals and snacks, certain beverages at meal times,
use of the ship's facilities (such as the pool, kids club, and fitness
center), onboard activities and entertainment, and transportation
between ports-of-call. You will have to pay extra for certain types of
soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, gratuities, spa treatments, shore
excursions, airfare, and airport transfers. Luxury lines may include
gratuities and alcohol in their base price.
Book an all-inclusive resort package, and you'll receive
accommodations, all meals and beverages, nightly entertainment, access
to the resort's facilities, use of all non motorized water-sports
equipment (such as snorkeling gear, sailboats, and windsurf boards),
and gratuities, higher-end properties, such as Sandals and Super
Clubs, often include scuba diving in the cost as well.
Jose Perez the Owner of Travelersbest.com in Miami, Florida says "they
are both considered all-inclusive it really depends on the taste of
the customer and what they are looking for, he makes it clear that he
offers all types of vacations. He explains further that a good Travel
Professional seeks to develop the best fit for the traveler and
selects vacations from that information".
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