Cruise Ships vs. Resort Hotels

There are so many changes in both the cruise line and resort hotel industries, that this list can never truly be complete.

Both cruise ships and resort hotels offer:

1. spa services
2. fine dining
3. children's programs
4. fitness centers
5. exotic destinations
6. pools, saunas, and jacuzzis
7. fixed expenses
8. additional small charges

There are many differences, however, between a cruise ship and a resort hotel. Cruise ships offer:

1. auctions
2. rock climbing
3. ice skating
4. 24-hour pizzeria
5. special dietary needs met
6. small amount have ever cruised, only abut 10%
7. 98% customer satisfaction
8. port charges

And, the differences are many. Here is just a partial list of how they differ:

1. Cruise ship shows are Broadway and Las Vegas style; resort shows are local entertainment styles
2. Cruise ships offer 24-hour room service; resorts have limited times
3. cruise ships exclude liquor and soft drinks; resorts include at least the less expensive ones
4. cruise ships have casinos; only a few resorts do
5. on many cruise ships now, you can eat when you want. at resorts, reservations are merely optional, unless it's a highly popular restaurant
6. cruise ships are known for extremely friendly waitstaff; resorts have just average personality waitstaff. The highly friendly ones are not as common as you may think
7. cruise ships have multiple dining location options; resorts have one, if any. Although, some of the higher-end resorts do have 2 or 3 restaurants
8. cruise ship menus are on a rotating schedule, approximately every 24 days; resorts usually have set menus and buffets, except for special theme nights
9. when entering your cruise ship state room, you unpack once, and that is all. When you arrive at one of your resorts on your multi-country tour, you have to pack and unpack each time
10. cruise ships have much smaller rooms; resorts have spacious rooms
11. on cruise ships, tips are added onto the price, but may be removed, added to, or adjusted as necessary. At resorts, you typically tip when you leave.
12. finally, for business meetings, cruise ships offer free meeting rooms and equipment; resorts charge premiums for their equipment and meeting rooms
    
    Another thing cruise ships do, which resorts do not, is charitable promotions. For just a little extra per room, a charity can raise a considerable amount of money with charitable cruises. That extra premium, plus a donation for the cruise line itself, gets donated directly to the charity!
    
    For more information about the charitable cruises, or to book your own cruise or resort vacation, come visit me at:
    http://kingarthur.traverustravel.com/index.asp