Ocean Cruise vs Resort Holiday: Which is the best value?

An ocean cruise, or a resort holiday - which one should you choose? It’s a good question! 

While each type of holiday has its pros and cons, ultimately it depends on what type of holiday you're looking for. If you want to experience multiple destinations in one trip, then it’s hard to beat cruising. However, if you’d prefer to focus on immersing yourself in one location, then a resort is the obvious choice! 

But... which holiday is the easiest on the wallet. We’ve crunched the numbers and found the answer (spoiler alert, it’s a cruise!).

While this might sound like an obvious one... but cruise ships move! Which means you get to visit two, three and sometimes MORE destinations, on one cruise. Take a cruise of the South Pacific for example, on some itineraries, you’ll visit multiple islands across New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji! 

So, how does it compare to flights? 

If you were to plan a holiday flying from Australia, you would need to factor in the price of flying between these island destinations, as well as flights to and from home base, which can quickly increase the price.

No doubt you’ve heard of, or perhaps even experienced, the glorious range of delicious food and drinks on offer on a cruise ship. From magical food halls filled with all the sweet and savoury snacks, entrees, mains and desserts you can think of, to plenty of fine dining options and specialty restaurants – you can be dining in Italy one night, and Japan the next!

But do you want to know my favourite part? Most of it is included meaning you rarely have to reach for your wallet!

While this may sound like an obvious one... but cruise ships move! Which means, not only do you get to visit multiple places in one trip, but you don’t have to pack and unpack your suitcase every time. It’s kind of like picking up your hotel and taking it with you! 

This is also great for the wallet, because it means you don’t have to worry about the cost of transfers or getting from place to place. 

Plus, stateroom class upgrades are often not as much as you might expect, so you could end up in a room more spacious and luxurious than you ever thought you could afford! 

Talk to a Flight Centre Travel Expert about the price of different stateroom classes and which location on the ship might suit you best.

Cocktails taste better on a cruise... it’s just a fact! And the reason for that, we suspect, is largely due to the beverage packages on offer. Many cruise lines offer beverage packages which allow you to get a certain amount of (or sometimes unlimited) drinks for one daily price. Depending on what, and how much you plan to consume, this could be great value for money. But remember, always drink responsibly.

Waterslides, mini-golf, surfing simulators, indoor skydiving, go kart tracks... the list could go on forever! There’s absolutely no chance of getting bored on a cruise. Not a fan of adrenaline activities? There are plenty more options onboard, from table tennis and quoits on the deck to learning the art of cocktail making in a mixology class, karaoke, sports courts, jackpot bingo, dance classes and more!

Fancy a spa treatment? How about a lazy day by the pool? A cocktail with lunch? Maybe lunch on your pool lounger rather than dressing up for a restaurant? On a cruise, all your holiday dreams and requests come true. With kids' clubs and babysitting, spa services and butlers in premium cabins, you really can flop and drop at the click of your fingers.