quote:

If it was profitable, don't you think they would have thought of it already?

Someone did think of it. I'm trying to remember the details. When I started as a travel agent in 1986, there was a ship doing just that. I THINK it was NCL's Sun Viking, sailing to somewhere where people got off the ship, and picked it up again for the return trip the next week.

Personally, I never had any clients do it, and I'm not sure it lasted very long.

Sandy

NCL had a Sun Viking too? I know RCCL did.

There are boutique cruises in the south Pacific that combine a cruise on both sides of a resort stay on Fiji. Blue Lagoon Cruises is the company. Not true cruise ships though - more like coastal cruisers with 75 passengers.

What I don't understand is that the people into "all inclusives" don't consider a cruise ship to be an all inclusive. I suppose the liquor isn't included in the cost but I imagine you are paying for that in the higher price of a resort.

To me, providing the food, the entertainment and the room IS all inclusive as I need it to be. THEN I get the added benefit of waking up in a different location each day or so. All for a price of about $150 pp / per day. Sounds like and all inclusive bargin to me. AND I don't have to pay more expensive airfare to get to the resort.

That's what might be nice about this idea. You don't have to spend the money to fly to an exotic location because you only have to get to the US port. Ft Lauderdale, Miami, New York whatever and then the cruise portion takes you to the island (or destination) and brings you back. Let's face it, the swimming pools on ships are small. They don't have swim up bars. You can't go on a long hike (unless you like walking in circles) And you get to really experience the island for a few days. Then, you get back on the cruise ship and you enjoy that as well. I think the cruise companies could generate additional cruisers by winning over the all inclusive crowd by giving them the cruise experience which we (as cruise addicts) have fallen in love with.

Sodey

I can see Tom, that you'd love the idea. If there were enough interest by the general public and not a huge hassle it would be available through multiple sources to multiple locations. From the replies here, if they're a reflection of interest, you'd be alone or among very few in that interest. I have absolutely no interest in doing the cruise/resort combination. I'd simply rather be accommodated on the ship throughout my vacation on a cruise. If I wanted or felt the resort was a better experience or offered me more bang for my buck, I'd book a resort. Combining the two creates issues like the having to pack and unpack as stated previously as well as port congestion issues. In addition it would be a nightmare for the Customs officials. There would be those who wanted to extend their stay, meaning no shows at the ship for the scheduled trip back among other problems. Most cruise line websites have tabs that say "Contact us" you can click on and make recommendations. If you feel strongly enough about it, write them and propose it. If people are willing to pay significantly more for such an option for all the trouble and loss of revenue that it would create in extra staffing for Customs and the cruiseline in baggage handlers among other things, they may try it. Don't expect, if you see such an option for it to be affordable. It would likely cost much more on a per day basis the either a cruise or resort stay. For a good example of this extra cost look at a resort/cruise combo at Disney. They own both products and the combo week is proportionally much higher than a week on a ship and they are not even all inclusive. For the resort portion you have to pay for all drinks and meals or a meal package. When you add other factors in like their transportation from airport to resort, resort to ship and ship to airport, also all extra, you get a very expensive week. Now factor for the add'l revenue needed if you don't own the resort and you've got something the average traveler would not pay the difference in cost for. Even if the cost were the same, I'd still take the cruise.

Cheers, Neil

Tom,

I guess proposing your idea here is like pitching an idea for a vegan menu at a cattlemen's convention.

Here's the problem. (I know, it's my problem) Like Gary, I'm a cruise addict. But, sometimes when in port, I think, "It would be nice to spend a couple of days on this island and really explore it". But, when you price out a 2 or 3 night stay on an island and then throw in the air fare on top of it. Plus, I don't want to spend a week. Two or 3 days is enough. I get bored quickly and a ship keeps me moving to the next place. I'm just trying to find a way to get to do both. I will contact the cruise lines and I'm sure they will come up with something just for me. (yeah, in my dreams!) When I'm in Tahiti this August, I think we spend one night in a hut over the water while in Bora Bora. So, I'll get to see what that's like and what kind of hassle it was to pack and unpack.

Sodey

well if I have to answer,
the answer is NO
why?
If you stay on port for two days:

* most activities on the ship will be close, casino, stores, etc

* If I can stay on an all inclusive resort for two days on an island port,
what use do the ship have?

* Normally, on the caribbean, all inclusive hotels are cheaper than a 7 day cruise,even with airplanes fee, for example Dominican Republic.

* The cruise ship is a destination also and the mechanic of the system will not work if I can travel normally during my vacation.

Hi it would be a definate no from us we have done al inclusive and of course cruising and the beauty of the cruise for me is waking up nearly ever day with a new island to see and no unpackingand of course the facilities on the ship cannot be beaten so I will stick to the cruising,nice idea for those who are just interested in drinking but not for us.
Julie

quote:

NCL had a Sun Viking too? I know RCCL did.

I'm thinking the ship was NCL's Sunward II, doing 3 and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas. My memory is that folks could get off the ship in the Bahamas, and pick it up again when it came back.

Sandy