The Differences in Cruise Travel and Air Travel

By Erica Kritt, The Cruise Web Team.

Photo by Gibson Goff

Travel! Just the thought of it brings images of the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower to mind. It conjures a sense of inspiration and

excitement. For some it might mean trying new foods, learning new customs or meeting new people. But travel can also bring up images of long lines, lost luggage or crying babies.

Working in a travel agency, I have learned that there is a key difference between cruise travel and air travel and that is comfort. While traveling by plane is the fastest way to get to your destination, traveling by cruise lets you savor your travel experience.

Here are a few key differences you will experience if you travel through the Mediterranean on a cruise, versus flying over it:

Time Commitment

• Air Travel – You will spend many hours in the airport, just to get through security for a flight that could last less than an hour depending on where you are departing from. Each flight you take traversing the many countries of the Mediterranean will make you repeat the waiting game.

• Cruise Travel – A cruise can last from 2-nights to more than 100-nights. However, while you are onboard the ship, you have a new home- sleeping in a bed in your stateroom, dining in the dining room and being entertained in the lounge or theater. The ship staff and crew serve as your guides, taking you from port to port, so you don’t have to go through boarding and unloading at every stop.

Boarding

• Air Travel – One of the biggest travel complaints is the hassle of going through airport security. With the diversity of flights and the amount of air travelers, this process becomes a hectic one. Passengers must remove their shoes and belts to make it through to the terminal, among other inconveniences, which are sure to stress you out. If you are flying a relatively short distance, say from Spain to Italy, this will eat away at the time and rob you of your much-deserved relaxation.

• Cruise Travel – Security lines still exist with cruise travel, but because each ship boards at its own time there isn’t a mad influx of people traveling in 12 different directions. Once you are on the ship, there are only small security checks for you to disembark and embark at each port, with no long lines. This makes the process much more smooth, stress free and frankly, enjoyable.

Comfort

• Air Travel – First class has leather seats, but for the average coach flyer you’ll be smushed into a tiny seat. The leg room is minimal and you’re bound to offend the person behind you if you recline your chair.

• Ship Travel – Each passenger on-board is assigned to a stateroom. Now, some passengers choose to sail in spacious suites the size of their own homes, while others will opt for traditional ocean view or inside cabins. Although these more modest rooms are smaller than most hotel rooms, you will still have a comfortable bed, a sitting area with a vanity, plus your own private bathroom. You’ll have plenty of room to stretch out.

Food

• Air Travel – Airlines have cut back a lot on their in-flight meals. Many airlines even charge extra for a signature packet of peanuts during a flight. For those flights that do serve meals, it’s hard to get a quality lunch or dinner because the planes cannot accommodate a full kitchen.

• Cruise Travel – The food, and abundance of it, is a trademark of cruise travel. Ships are known for their formal dining rooms and lido deck buffets. Many cruise lines are also offering specialty restaurants where there might be an extra charge to dine at the steakhouse, or seafood restaurant on-board.

Comparing these two modes of travel isn’t necessarily a fair fight because they serve two separate purposes. However, for those that have never experienced travel via a cruise it’s worthwhile to consider all of the aspects of travel that are taken care for you when you set sail.

Erica Kritt works at The Cruise Web. The Cruise Web is a travel agency that specializes in cruising. The expert cruise consultants focus on providing travelers with the best value for their time and money in finding and booking a cruise vacation!

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