Many people like to debate the advantages of land-based vacation versus a cruise. When you take a land-based vacation, you might have a great time and be in a beautiful location, but you have to leave the property to explore. And when you do explore, you're going to see a lot of the same.

When you go on a cruise, you have an opportunity to see different lands and cultures. Additionally, you're basically staying in a floating megaresort. When you look at amenities for a land-based resort and a cruise, a land-based resort can rarely compete.

The funny thing about cruises is that the people who say they don't like them are usually the same people that have never been on them. The vast majority of the time, the person who is anti-cruise and finally decides to 'take the plunge' will change their tune. Most of the time, their expectations will be exceeded by a wide margin.

Caribbean Cruises

If you live in the south or east in the United States, you can simply drive to the port. You don't need flights or hotels. Even if you need to fly, it's still nothing compared to traveling to someplace like Alaska or Europe. Not only that, it's going to be more affordable than a traditional resort vacation in the Caribbean.

The benefits of cruising in the Caribbean go well beyond affordability. The biggest advantage is that you can cruise to several islands and distinct locations. If you plan a long trip, you can even see eight islands in one cruise. Whether it's eight or just a few islands, you're going to see, experience, and appreciate the difference in cultures.

For example, if you stop in the Bahamas, you might like the nightlife. If you stop in Curacao, you will fall in love with the architecture. If St. Lucia is part of your itinerary, you can sit on the pristine white beaches while looking out at the turquoise water or up at the Pitons. If you're seeking the ultimate in scenery across the entire island, you might want to go on a cruise that includes Grand Turk. Caribbean excursions are also a big selling point. This includes ancient ruins, snorkeling, scuba diving, off-roading, sailing, and hidden waterfalls.

Alaskan Cruises

Alaska has so much to offer, especially for the adventurer. However, even if you're not an adventurer, you're going to greatly appreciate the views. This includes glaciers, breathtaking coastlines, and snow-capped mountains. It might also include the northern lights, bald eagles, killer whales, moose, and bears. On the adventure side, you can hike, kayak, go dog sledding, and visit rustic cities.

The number one problem with Alaska is usually high prices. This is most certainly the case, but there is a secret that most people don't know. If you take a cruise in Alaska in the fall, which is the offseason, you can find a cruise at a heavy discount since it’ll be a bit cooler. What would you pay for an incredible vacation? An off-season Alaskan cruise will almost certainly come in under that price. 

Mediterranean Cruises

If you're going to take a Mediterranean Cruise, you're going to have to choose between Eastern Mediterranean and Western Mediterranean. Don't worry, you can't go wrong either way. They're just different experiences. 

If you choose to go on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, you will find a lot of architecture from ancient civilizations. Those civilizations include Roman, Greek, Turkish, Persian, and Byzantine. Another big selling point is the Greek Islands, which means beautiful beaches, a party atmosphere on some of those beaches, and superb seafood pretty much anywhere you go.

If you choose the more traditional route, as in a Western Mediterranean cruise, you might end up in Portugal, Spain, the Canary Islands, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, and/or Barcelona. All of these ports are going to offer different experiences, but the big difference between this kind of cruise and the Eastern Mediterranean cruise will be more art, street cafes, shopping, restaurants, and an overall more modern day culture--without sacrificing some historic architecture.