Vacation Planning Question

[OrioleMagic]

I am planning a summer vacation and need some advice.

I have a wife, an18 year old daughter and a 14 year old son.

My wife says, "I only want one thing, and that is to swim with dolphins." She then gets this faraway look in her eyes...

The kids are content with a beach experience, which we haven't had in a few years.

Option 1: Carnival Fun Ship Cruise out of Baltimore. Swim with dolphins in the Bahammas.

Option 2: Fly to Miami, rent a car and drive to Key Largo. Get nice hotel room. Swim with dolphins, snorkel, parasail, boat ride, relax, eat at restaurant of choice... no lines.

Which will likely be less expensive?

Which will be less hectic?

What am I missing? What else should I consider?

Is it stupid to vacation in Florida in the summer? Are there other locations that I have not mentioned?

Thank you very much.

[mweb]

Without looking it up. I'm guessing the cruise out of Baltimore will be much cheaper due to lack of airfare, car rental, and the benefit of "free" food.

I'd personally much rather do option #2, but that's mostly due to my preference in vacation style.

I believe you can swim with dolphins in Miami as well. Also in Orlando and Cozumel just to name a couple other places I know of.

[OrioleMagic]

Without looking it up. I'm guessing the cruise out of Baltimore will be much cheaper due to lack of airfare, car rental, and the benefit of "free" food.

I'd personally much rather do option #2, but that's mostly due to my preference in vacation style.

I believe you can swim with dolphins in Miami as well. Also in Orlando and Cozumel just to name a couple other places I know of.

Thanks! I agree with you. I'm not so interested in a cruise. Too many lines for excersions and customs. I also don't like so many people. (But this vacation clearly isn't about what I like.)

[NewMarketSean]

Jamaica.

It's probably as cheap as or cheaper than a cruise when you factor in alcohol on a cruise ship and you can get all inclusive deals in Jamaica so the cost of things don't keep adding up like they do on a ship.

You can plan excursions to do pretty much anything from your resort, including swimming with dolphins. I did a zip line tour through a mountain jungle and it was amazing.

It all depends on what you're into, but if I am going on vacation I want as much time on the beach as possible. Not 3 days of travel time to the beach and then a few hours docked at port.

You can get to Jamaica in 3 hrs. Leave at 7 AM and you'll be on the beach by noon.

[allstar1579]

I am planning a summer vacation and need some advice.

I have a wife, an18 year old daughter and a 14 year old son.

My wife says, "I only want one thing, and that is to swim with dolphins." She then gets this faraway look in her eyes...

The kids are content with a beach experience, which we haven't had in a few years.

Option 1: Carnival Fun Ship Cruise out of Baltimore. Swim with dolphins in the Bahammas.

Option 2: Fly to Miami, rent a car and drive to Key Largo. Get nice hotel room. Swim with dolphins, snorkel, parasail, boat ride, relax, eat at restaurant of choice... no lines.

Which will likely be less expensive?

Which will be less hectic?

What am I missing? What else should I consider?

Is it stupid to vacation in Florida in the summer? Are there other locations that I have not mentioned?

Thank you very much.

Take them to the Outer Banks instead and just be sure to tell your wife to be careful with those "dolphins" she's swimming with, that they bite.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I would recommend against going to Florida in the summer personally.

[OrioleMagic]

Jamaica.

It's probably as cheap as or cheaper than a cruise when you factor in alcohol on a cruise ship and you can get all inclusive deals in Jamaica so the cost of things don't keep adding up like they do on a ship.

You can plan excursions to do pretty much anything from your resort, including swimming with dolphins. I did a zip line tour through a mountain jungle and it was amazing.

It all depends on what you're into, but if I am going on vacation I want as much time on the beach as possible. Not 3 days of travel time to the beach and then a few hours docked at port.

You can get to Jamaica in 3 hrs. Leave at 7 AM and you'll be on the beach by noon.

Thanks. I will look into this. Getting 4 passports is the only negative. I think it would add 500 bucks to the cost, but we would be good for a while.

Take them to the Outer Banks instead and just be sure to tell your wife to be careful with those "dolphins" she's swimming with, that they bite.

Great idea, but it won't work. We've been to OBX numerous times.

I would recommend against going to Florida in the summer personally.

This is something I was concerned about due to the heat, but wouldn't Jamaica or the Bahammas be very similar? I think if it were me, I'd try Bar Harbor, Maine or similar, but I can tell you that won't work. LOL

[NewMarketSean]

Thanks. I will look into this. Getting 4 passports is the only negative. I think it would add 500 bucks to the cost, but we would be good for a while.

You'd need passports for the cruise too. And yeah, they'll be good for 10 years so at least there's that.

This is something I was concerned about due to the heat, but wouldn't Jamaica or the Bahammas be very similar? I think if it were me, I'd try Bar Harbor, Maine or similar, but I can tell you that won't work. LOL

The Bahamas is always very breezy, but it will be hot. Jamaica will be hot, but it's the Caribbean. Drink some Red Stripe to cool off!

I can also recommend a place in Jamaica if you'd like. Let me know.

[OrioleMagic]

You'd need passports for the cruise too. And yeah, they'll be good for 10 years so at least there's that.



The Bahamas is always very breezy, but it will be hot. Jamaica will be hot, but it's the Caribbean. Drink some Red Stripe to cool off!

I can also recommend a place in Jamaica if you'd like. Let me know.

That would be great. Is there a link? Post here or PM....

[weams]

Budget of more than 3K?

That would be great. Is there a link? Post here or PM....

If not, you can still make your wife's bucket experience and enjoy family time together if you think out of the box.

[NewMarketSean]

That would be great. Is there a link? Post here or PM....

I went to Royal Decameron All Inclusive resort in Jamaica. It's like 5 mins from the airport, so very convenient. They had a good beach area, plus a seawall area which was good for snorkeling. There was an inflated raft about twenty yards out from the seawall for dives and flips into the water. The food was decent, but nothing special. Most times AI resort food isn't wonderful...especially at the buffets.

The resort was a little older, but the people were really friendly and they kept it clean. And most importantly, it was cheap when I went there about 6 years ago. I know we spent less than $2000.