Let's face it, most of us don't have enough disposable income to make a mistake when it comes to choosing how to spend our yearly vacation. Like buying a pair of shoes, we must weigh all of the options available and find the one with the best feel, fit and affordabilty. When it comes to choosing between taking a cruise and staying at a resort, we, as vacationers, must take very seriously the many different aspects of each that will come together to either give us the vacation of our dreams or our nightmares.

ADVENTURE
Personally, when I go on vacation I not only enjoy my time lounging by the pool, but I also like the possibility for discovery; I like to be able to get in my rental car and drive around a little bit to experience all of the little out of the way places and restaurants that give each destination thier own unique flavor. While it's true that most cruises have "port days" where you can get off of the ship and do a little exploring, the time restraints can be a little limiting. On the other hand, most cruises have several different port destinations for you to enjoy, which means that you get see a few more places.

I have a good friend who takes at least four cruises every year, and she has been everywhere from Ireland to Mexico, and she is the first to admitt that cruises are somewhat limiting for those people who really like to immerse themselves in a location. For instance, if you take a cruise to Mexico, you're really not going to get to explore Mexico, rather you will enjoy the ammenities of your ship and one or two port days that will allow you to spend ten or twelve hours in a couple different places. So, when it comes to "adventure", staying on solid ground is probably your best bet.

STRUCTURE
If you like leaving the decision making to someone else, taking a cruise is a wonderful way to spend your vacation. From the moment you step on board, even if you're taking one of the now popular "freestyle" cruises, you are pretty much handing over the reins, so to speak, when it comes to how you spend your days. Pre-planned activities and meals that occur at designated times are typical of most cruises. There is an entire host of things that you can do to fill your days while on-board, and it takes very little, if any planning...and let's face it, when you're spending ten days on a ship with thousands of other people, if you don't enjoy participation in group activities, you're probably sunk. This is one complaint that my "cruise

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