Going to Las Vegas or Taking a Cruise?

[HoosierGuy]

A quick question - if you were going to take a vacation for a week, which would you chose and why? You can go to Las Vegas and vicinity for a week or take a cruise (any cruise) for a week. And lets also say you are paying for this vacation.

Would the choice be hard?

Remember, you can get great deals in Vegas because of all those rooms in those big resorts.

And you can have a great time on a cruise that is generally affordable and gives you great value for your money - food included, room, visiting different places, etc...

Also there is lots of things to do in Vegas for the whole family. And kids generally love being on boats and it's hard to lose your teen on a cruise ship.

What's your choice and why?

[pam]

Been there done that with Vegas. So my choice would be a cruise. Lots of different places to choose from to visit.

[Tyler90AZ]

There is nothing to do in Vegas besides gamble and get drunk. That is why I would choose cruise, also everything is included, except offshore excursions.

[Bini]

I guess I'd choose the cruise, only because, DH and I are frequent Vegas-goers (that's a compliment - we love Vegas!).

It's been several years since I've been on a cruise. Aside from ALWAYS getting super sick when on any kind of boat (no matter what drugs I take), being out on the water is always a fun experience, be it a big boat or a little boat. What I enjoy about a cruise is the convenience of having everything you need at your fingertips. You got cinemas and theatres, game rooms and lounge decks, restaurants and fast food, indoor gym and outdoor pool. And yes, it's much easier to keep tabs on the family and everyone's whereabouts when you're ON the ship. I also like the option of getting off the ship when it's ported and doing excursions. A cruise is the perfect half and half because you get to experience the Vegas entertainment AND you also get to breakaway and explore the area that you're ported in (which, depending on your cruise, could be anywhere in the world - fun!).

[pam]

There is nothing to do in Vegas besides gamble and get drunk. That is why I would choose cruise, also everything is included, except offshore excursions.

So not true. There is lots to do in Vegas besides gambling and drinking. Even lots to do as a family with kids.

[Vort]

If those are my only two choices and I'm paying, I'll probably go to Vegas more often. Needless to say, I don't gamble, so Vegas holds limited appeal for me. But the weather is much warmer in the winter, there are recreational areas in the vicinity, a temple, and in general places to go and things to do.

But if I had the money, I'd go on a cruise. I have been on two cruises, and they were pretty darn okay.

I would far prefer not to lay out $6000-$10,000 to take my family on a cruise, but use that money to take them to Europe (probably France or Italy) and spend two or three weeks walking around the cities, eating at shops, seeing the sites, stuff like that. If Europe is too expensive, I'll gladly accept Mexico. Those are my very favorite vacations, and they need not be expensive once you're there -- especially if you or someone in your group speaks the local language.

[Tyler90AZ]

So not true. There is lots to do in Vegas besides gambling and drinking. Even lots to do as a family with kids.

You are right, the atmosphere in Vegas just makes it feel like that is all to do.

In Vegas there are shows, walking the strip, food, clubs(don't have to drink), circus circus and much more.

[Leah]

There is nothing to do in Vegas besides gamble and get drunk. That is why I would choose cruise, also everything is included, except offshore excursions.

That's "all" there is to do in Vegas if that is your only focus. There are actually a lot of other things to do there. In fact, I was there just a month ago and had an amazing experience where the presence of the spirit was incredibly strong. Yep, in Vegas.

[pam]

You are right, the atmosphere in Vegas just makes it feel like that is all to do.

In Vegas there are shows, walking the strip, food, clubs(don't have to drink), circus circus and much more.

And don't forget the M&M store. Gotta go to the M&M store.

[pam]

If those are my only two choices and I'm paying, I'll probably go to Vegas more often. Needless to say, I don't gamble, so Vegas holds limited appeal for me. But the weather is much warmer in the winter, there are recreational areas in the vicinity, a temple, and in general places to go and things to do.

But if I had the money, I'd go on a cruise. I have been on two cruises, and they were pretty darn okay.

I would far prefer not to lay out $6000-$10,000 to take my family on a cruise, but use that money to take them to Europe (probably France or Italy) and spend two or three weeks walking around the cities, eating at shops, seeing the sites, stuff like that. If Europe is too expensive, I'll gladly accept Mexico. Those are my very favorite vacations, and they need not be expensive once you're there -- especially if you or someone in your group speaks the local language.

I'm totally with you on that. If I were going to be laying out that much money, I would much rather do the same thing. So many more experiences you could have not being stuck on a boat at sea.

[Dravin]

If it cost the same Europe hands down, but, and I realize it depends how close you are to the departing port, a cruise can be $500-$600 per person (for a week). When we were researching our Honeymoon just getting tickets to Europe costs close to twice that, then you need to add accommodations.

Between Vegas and a cruise I'm inclined to go with a cruise based on, rightly or wrongly, the perception that the cruise can be done cheaper or for the same cost of how we'd want to do a Vegas trip. Cruise also sounds more interesting.

Edited April 8, 2012 by Dravin

[HoosierGuy]

Anybody ever compare prices for staying down at Disney (Florida) at one of their resorts? I did a few years ago and the prices were sky high in my opinion.

Yes, the decision between going to Vegas or taking a cruise is probably on the mind of many Americans who want to go on a big vacation.

[pam]

Actually Vegas is never on my mind when I want to go on a big vacation. I live too close to Vegas. It's a weekend thing.

Edited April 8, 2012 by pam

[pam]

Right now the only thing on my mind is: ALASKA!!

July can't get here soon enough.

[marshac]

Cruise- especially in Hawaii. Each day you wake up on a new island ripe for exploration!

[HoosierGuy]

No doubt - taking a cruise and going to Vegas are two of the best vacations in the world!

[Guest]

I have a pretty serious fear of being confined over the open ocean for any length of time, so unless the ship remained docked, I'll probably never go on a cruise. For that reason alone, I'd say Vegas. There is a lot to do there during the day, but there's no way I'd be taking my kids out at night. Also keep in mind i haven't been to Vegas for over 10 years, and it was before I had children.

If I didn't have that fear, I'd love to take a cruise. Either to Norway, or Alaska, or Greece. . . the Caribbean would be nice, too. I'd take sunshine and clear water right now. :) Anyway, the idea of having everything provided and being able to see a few different places is appealing. Minus the possibilities of Titanic-level catastrophe, horrible stomach viruses being passed around the ship, or being marooned at sea with no power.

[pam]

No doubt - taking a cruise and going to Vegas are two of the best vacations in the world!

If Vegas is one of the best vacations in the world..you need to get out more.

[Dravin]

If Vegas is one of the best vacations in the world..you need to get out more.

Yeah, a Vegas vacation is way down on my list of places to visit in the contiguous 48.

[pam]

Yeah, a Vegas vacation is way down on my list of places to visit in the contiguous 48.

It doesn't even make my list.

[Bini]

My most recent cruise was around south America - loved it! I'd do it again one of these days. Unfortunately, as of now you don't get to dock at Mazatlán due to safety precautions but I really enjoyed our stop there. We got to see the old cathedrals, the cliff-divers and the Papantla fliers. Anyway, I love the beach and sunshine, so the Mexican Riviera is the closes thing to the Philippines I've got in a long time! I would love to cruise to Alaska - never been but I have done the Greece cruise - eons ago though, before I was married. For DH and I, Vegas is always cheapest, then a cruise, then overseas traveling.

[pam]

My most recent cruise was around south America - loved it! I'd do it again one of these days. Unfortunately, as of now you don't get to dock at Mazatlán due to safety precautions but I really enjoyed our stop there. We got to see the old cathedrals, the cliff-divers and the Papantla fliers. Anyway, I love the beach and sunshine, so the Mexican Riviera is the closes thing to the Philippines I've got in a long time! I would love to cruise to Alaska - never been but I have done the Greece cruise - eons ago though, before I was married. For DH and I, Vegas is always cheapest, then a cruise, then overseas traveling.

Sounds awesome. I'd love to see the old cathedrals and things like that.

[Dravin]

It doesn't even make my list.

It's tied with Little Rock.

[Traveler]

For over 25 years the highlight of our summer family vacations has been a week long camping white water river running excursion. All of my children are certified guides and we have had as many as 60 people on our excursions. I fell in love with white water rafting on a trip with my brother and watching each night as 3 generations sat around the evening campfire exchanging rafting war stories. I have not found another activity that is so uniting across generations and cultures. One year we had a Tongan family on our trip that was such a great fit we have had members of that family with us every year since.

Every year we try to take a new family that have never been - when it is all over I ask the family if they could go anywhere and do anything next year for their vacation - cost no object what would they do? With very rare exception families have begged to come back on the river next year. What we try to do is get families experienced enough that they can break off on their own.

For a family of 5 the cost for a week activity is about than $500. That is around $100 per person. As a family we have vacationed on 4 different continents - been to Las Vegas, on cruses and many other places - but what my family remembers the most are the river trips.

The Traveler

[rameumptom]

Going to Vegas means you walk past/through gaming casinos, and see the half naked ladies advertising their "shows" on the sidewalks.

You can find a family friendly cruise that does not present bad things to your kids.