Cruise vs. Land Trip: How to Choose Your Next Big Trip

If you’re planning a trip to Europe, Alaska or anywhere else with a lot to see, you’ll often have a choice: see it by ship or see it by land. Both can be wonderful. The right answer depends on how you like to travel, who’s coming along and what you want to get out of the trip.

The Case for a Cruise

A cruise lets you see several destinations while only unpacking once. Your cabin, meals in the main dining rooms and onboard entertainment are part of your cruise fare, and your “hotel” moves with you, often overnight. Extras like specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and shore excursions usually cost more, depending on the cruise line and the fare you choose.

• See several places in one trip
• Unpack once
• Something for everyone in multigenerational groups
• A predictable budget for the basics

The Case for a Land Trip

A land trip — whether it’s an escorted tour or an independent trip I build for you — gives you more time on the ground. Instead of a day in port, you can spend a few nights in a city, see it in the evening after the day-trippers leave, and reach inland towns and countryside a ship can’t.

• More time in each place
• Inland towns and countryside are on the map
• Mornings and evenings to explore at your own pace
• More flexibility to shape the route

Side by Side

	Cruise	Land Trip
Time in each place	Usually a day or part of a day in port	A few nights or more, if you like
Packing	Unpack once	Repack when you change hotels
Getting around	The ship does the traveling	Trains, transfers, a rental car or a tour coach
What’s included	Cabin, main dining and entertainment; extras vary	Depends on the trip — I’ll spell it out for you
Destinations	Coastal and port cities	Anywhere, including inland
Best for	Seeing a lot with little effort	Going deeper at your own pace

Questions to Ask Yourself

• How many places do I want to see, and how long do I want in each?
• Do I want my evenings planned, or do I want to explore on my own?
• Is everyone in my group interested in the same things?
• Does a ship sound relaxing, or am I prone to seasickness?
• Are the places I want to see on the coast or inland?

Or Do Both

You don’t have to choose just one. Many travelers add a few nights on land before or after a cruise — time to explore the port city or get over jet lag before setting sail. I can plan the flights, hotels and transfers around your cruise so it all fits together. Leaning toward land? Read Escorted Tour vs. Independent Travel: Which Is Right for You?

How I Can Help

I book cruises with lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Viking, and I plan land trips and book escorted tours too. That means I can help you compare your options honestly and find the one that fits your crew.