Hubs and I have been one one cruise, back in early 1995. It was on the American Hawaii Cruises, which stopped after tourism dropped because of the 9/11 attacks. It was fantastic, and we loved it. But, the ship only held something like 180 passengers, which was perfect for us. There is no way either one of us would get on one of those humongous cruise ships that carry multiple thousands of passengers.

We would do a river cruise, but that's about it. So, between "beach or cruise," I'd have to say beach!!

Beach....always a beach!! And for the reasons given by imstillchloaecat above. And because I like to plan my vacation adventures, not have them scripted for me by a cruise director.

I live a stone's throw from the beach and have been maybe five times in my life. My favorite time to go is in winter, to one of the more deserted beaches and walk and look for driftwood, etc. I have never been on a cruise. We were in Galveston a few weeks ago, going to the doctor, and drove down the street that goes along the waterfront and two cruise ships were in and about to embark, and lots of people were around, walking into the dock area with their suitcases, etc. I wished I was one of them. I don't care a thing at all about the shows or any of the entertainment. I would like to go....eat the food....and stay in my cabin most of the time and relax. I am not social enough to want to mingle with a bunch of people.....I can do that but at the time, the only thing that interested me was to have a quiet place to stay, and I have heard the food is really good. My two favorite things...quiet and food. My daughter's mother-n-law took the whole family on a cruise. I wouldn't have thought that would appeal to Erin, but she said she really enjoyed it. She said she didn't think she would, but was pleasantly surprised.

So, I would take the cruise.

I hadn't thought of a river cruise.....I would like that a whole lot more.

Can I do both? ;)

I've never been on a cruise, but the beach is boring for day-after-day vacation. You can see lovely sunsets from a cruise ship, and avoid the sand.

LOL!! I live a block from the beach and I have yet to get bored with it. It is ever changing!! And the sand is one of the reasons I like it - walking bare foot in warm sand is like getting an endless foot massage. It's magical!

I've always loved the beach so that would be my choice of those two options. My favorite getaway would be a cozy cabin in the mountains, with spectacular views and a lake with a rowboat tied up to the dock.

We've been on a bunch of cruises, and we enjoy them. Mostly because we've been able to get glimpses of places we might like to return to. We steer clear of the mega ships, no thank you. Since we have our own boat now, we will go to some of those ports on our own.

The beach is boring after a couple of days.

Beach for me.

Cruise for sure. I am not a beach person despite living a few minutes from it. I love looking at the ocean though and that's accomplished nicely with a cruise.

I love the luxury of first class cruises. I haven't been on the luxury ships yet but we had a fancy suite for our honeymoon and the difference in service was remarkable.

True. On Norwegian there is the top part of the ship called The Haven. those people have their own pool, dining room and butler service. Much different than the rest of the ship.

I think that what I didn't like is what has mentioned above. Thousands of people. Maybe we would have liked a smaller ship. The convenience was not having to fly to the port, but that meant a whole day until you reach warmer weather.

If I try again but with a luxury smaller ship.

Not a beach person and don't think I'd like a cruise unless it was going to Alaska.

I like the beach but only if there are interesting activities like snorkeling, etc. Otherwise it gets old fast. I love cruising (in the Caribbean especially) largely because you do get some beach time, but there are also plenty of other things to do.

I’m with you, Janey. I want to stay on the beach, I don’t want to have get in the car at all or tote a bunch of stuff. Staying at our friend’s beach house really spoiled us. I love to walk on the beach and look for sharks’ teeth or other treasures, hear the gulls, see the dolphins, egrets, pelicans. If it could come with no people, it would be perfect. Cruises look way too crowded. Dinner looking at the sunset from the yard, bliss.

No cruises for me. I'm a beach girl.

I love the beach.

We have been on 2 cruises since 2012 (a third one coming up in October). They were big ships and I thought I would feel "crowded" but I was happy to find I just did not feel that way, other than the old people butting in front of me at the buffet! Overall, people are pretty distributed throughout the ship. We'll see if the next cruise feels similar (same ship as our first cruise).

DH and I have taken at least a dozen cruises: Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexican "Riviera", Mediterranean, Baltic, etc. We did some of these more than once, and none on a mega-ship/container-barge. Our cruises were 10 - 14 days. Our last cruise was in 1995 -- largely because so many of the affordable cruises today are on gigantic ships. We built a home in 2001 and bought our Maui condo the same year. Now we use the condo three months in winter.

If you had selected Beach Vacation in Hawaii this winter, you could have regretted it. The whole state has had prolonged periods of rain. Maui is out of official drought for the first time in decades. There have been 30 MPH winds and an 8-day stretch of vog that covered all the islands. (When the NE trade winds die, southerly winds bring a fog of volcanic gasses from the active volcano on Big Island.)

You might have some poor weather on a cruise, but you're moving on, and a ship can detour around problems. If you love beaches, you can try them in many locations while you live as free as a child -- all you needs catered for you on the ship. You can see Third World locations without having to eat, drink or sleep there.

There are people who retire to live on ships: Room, board, medical staff, disembarking to enjoy various ports. Unlike a retirement home, you meet people of all ages who may be transient, but not because they are dying off around you.

Beach all the way. I grew up with summers at the beach and I still love it.

I've never been on an actual cruise, it was always a yacht outfitted for divers. I'd take a dive boat, as they're called, over a beach vacation any day!

I grew up near the ocean and have always loved the beach and all the things you experience. But I also think a cruise is the most relaxing vacation for us, being older travelers. Have enjoyed 36 cruisrs in many parts of the world. A very reasonable cost for time and food. Trips to beaches can be arranged without the cruise company, tours by locals are easy with a few other couples. You have lots of dining and entertainment options. It is surprizing how the cruise lines handle large groups of people. If you plan your days to not be in the first group off and the last on before sailing away, it is stress free. A trip to Bermuda by ship would be a great one to try first.

@marcopolo5 - out of curiosity, how "old" are you, since you listed yourself as an "older traveler?"

DH and I are both 51 and can't even stomach the thought of a cruise. We do our own thing, never go on "package tours" of anywhere, plan our own journeys, buy our own admission tickets to places we want to see, and do it all on our own schedule. I can't even fathom trying to stick to a set schedule with a random group of people. lol

I took an Alaskan cruise last May. I was so bored. Too many days at sea with nothing to do but eat. The entertainment wasn't that interesting, and i didn't get enough time ashore. And dodging all the people with walkers got annoying. I used to be a beach person but had melanoma in 2014. Now I avoid the sun unless I'm slathered with sun block and covered up. Sorta takes the fun away going out in the sun like that.

I definitely prefer a cruise over the beach. I'm not really outdoorsy and I love a cruise for traveling to distant locations without having to leave "home." Being pampered with wonderful meals, housekeeping and attractive surroundings doesn't hurt either. I have never felt confined while on the ship and enjoyed it all.

Beach. It's one of the reasons I can't imagine living too far inland and have no desire to move.

I am 100% in agreement with Imstillecloecat's posts on this thread. The confinement of a ship would drive me batty. Scheduled stops and tours are not my thing. I'm too free spirited for that. I do like day trips on boats. Sailing, whale watching etc.

An extended river cruise would be something different I might enjoy. I've only been on short ones that only last a few hours. Last one was a steam wheeler. Of course while the guests were wining and dining topside I got someone to let me tour below decks. Got to check out the engine room, check out the boilers, the machine shop, get a history of the restoration and get up closer to the wheel beyond the do not enter zone. I was in heaven. LOL

DDIL gets to go out on week long voyages on research vessels. I'd love to be able to do that.

Did one cruise, got sea sick! I’ll take the beach.

We've rented beach houses with groups of friends several times. It can be more or less fun depending on who you are with. One group their entire plan for the week consisted two things: laying on their back on a beach lounge chair, and laying on their belly on a beach lounge chair. Boring. With a different group we spent a lot of time on the beach, but also went hiking, and biking and kayaking, and usually had group meals cooked by one couple or another in rotation. Those trips were much more fun.

I've long thought I would not like going on a cruise. Mostly because of the crowds of people, but also because of the endless opportunity for them to squeeze more money out of you. Want a drink? That will cost you, a lot. Want to arrange a shore trip? That will cost you too. And the shows and organized shipboard activities and the casino hold no attraction for me at all.

However several years back (2011) my wife signed up to teach on the Semester at Sea ship, which was administered through our university at the time. I went along for a nominal additional fee, but had no official duties whatsoever. Our trip was a special short-term voyage that consisted of a month-long trip around the Caribbean. She taught class for about 3 hours a day during the 10 days the ship was at sea, and had to plan two class-related shore trips, but other than that when we were in port we were free to do as we pleased.

Since she was faculty, we lucked into being assigned one of the deluxe sky suites on the top deck, that had a queen sized bed, a marble-lined bathroom with a bathtub, a living room area, a mini-fridge, and our own private deck. Additionally we were allowed to buy wine or liquor in port and bring it back to the ship (with a limit of one bottle per person per day in port) Another feature was that they replaced the casino with a substantial library for the students on board.

Another big attraction for that trip was that the ship only held a maximum of 800 passengers (academic staff, faculty and students) so it was much smaller than the current commercial ships. One advantage to that is we could go to ports that were too small for the large commercial ships. One consequence of that is that since the locals in those ports weren't endlessly inundated with throngs of tourists, they actually seemed happy for us to be there, (as compared to Nassau, Bahamas where several giant ships dock every day, where the locals seemed to have an attitude of give us your money and get back on your damn ship)

That voyage was one of the best experiences of my life, but I still think I wouldn't like a commercial cruise.

Cruise....I also get bored at the beach...I am not a sand and surf person.

I'd rather cruise than beach. We've participated in 15 cruises and never once did we have a bad experience or feel confined. The beach is okay for a day, but there has to be more attractions to interest us, otherwise we like train travel.

This summer, we'll be on the beach for one day and the rest of two weeks we'll be traveling the Michigan/Lake Superior shoreline enjoying some fresh fish meals, craft beers, delicious wines and of course local attractions.

Neither for me.

Sue

Beach for me!

Flamingo, we love the beaches in Costa Rica for that reason. Never, ever crowded where we go!

Imstillchloecat, I will be 76 in Sept. We started travelling in our early 50 s when DH retired from Army. Figured we would go often while we could pick up the suitcases. Glad we did, travel can be hard work :). We go with the attitude there will be glitches. Will not let it bother us and we will get through it. Can 't let every delay or change make you upset. Works for us.

Beach for me! If it's warm, fairly quiet and there's food, that would be the place for me. I think I would enjoy a river cruise though.

Beach for me, I could walk forever and would get involved with the local wildlife groups if I lived near a beach. But me and Toto are stuck in Kansas!

Brushworks - that UP drive is soooo gorgeous! It's been 4 or 5 years since we were up that way, and it was one of my favorite things about the USA. :)

I was on a cruise once. I am glad I went, but no need to repeat.

Beaches, with a proviso... I absolutely adore Maine's rocky shoreline. Yeah, I wish the ocean there was a little warmer, but I love the crashing waves, and the shoreline hikes and the cawings of distant seagulls. Don't need expanses of sand to be happy...

Don't need the programming of a cruise, either. Or lots of people around.

Beach - ocean, lake, river. I am never bored around water.

We're less than 20 minutes from the Pacific and I have just about unlimited access to a waterfront home there. The only problem I can have with our PNW beach is the temp, it isn't always as warm as I'd like ;0)

Cruises don't appeal to me although I'd take a European river cruise. My SIL has done that one twice, and took the Mississippi River cruise last year - she recommended that one too. One of the mega cruise ships on the ocean wouldn't work for me, it would be like looking down at the water from a condo and I want to be closer than that not a few decks above.

I could live on a boat, although I'd miss the garden.

At this point I would have to say beach. We took a cruise 36 years ago for our honeymoon, and enjoyed it. I'd rather have my RV and go where I want, when I want now. We dry camp in the desert, with or without friends, camp by the lake or river or ocean when we want. I love being near water, just don't expect me to swim or get my face wet! I might enjoy the smaller crafting cruises, though. I can spend the whole time with people who like to knit, crochet, and head.

Beach, all day every day!!!!

Beach. But I grew up going to the gulf coast with my family as a kid and have great memories doing that every summer. Still go on occasion and love to walk in the sand.

We did an Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seward a couple of years ago on a small ship and really enjoyed it. But we were mostly hopping from port to port in the inside passage and doing a lot of things at the port calls on land. Not so much on the boat except eat and sleep and relax which was fine. The food and service was wonderful and we really didn’t find it crowded at all. I would not enjoy a large crowded ship. But we have been thinking about a river cruise in Europe.

Don't enjoy crowds, so do not think I would want to be confined on a cruise.

I grew up along the shores of Lake Erie, we were at the beach a lot. I currently live about three miles from the Gulf of Mexico beaches and I don't go, too many people.

For those who don't know me here, the missus and I cruise. In our 22+ years of marriage, we have cruised for 476 days (yup, got a list). We would be on a cruise now except that the missus had to have surgery and we canceled our trip from San Diego to Lima, Peru and back.

We like to travel and cruising gets us to places we have not been without hours and hours of air plane confinement. Our cruises that a planned for this year: Vancouver to Ft. Lauderdale (through Panama Canal again) for 22 days on a ship that holds a maximum of 2000 passengers; then in November, we sail from Venice, Italy to Ft. Lauderdale for 29 days on a ship that carries a maximum of 670 passengers. Yeah, several of those ports we have been before, but it will allow us to explore places we have yet to experience.

Next March, we have planned a trip from Buenos Aries, around the cape, up the west side of South America, through the Panama Canal (again) and finally in to Ft. Lauderdale, 1500 passengers should be about it.

Many of the ports of call have beaches (they're on the water ya know), and many passengers get off and go to the beach and back on the ship. The next port of call, they repeat it. I can see the sunrise and sunset most days without obstruction and there are enough opportunities to sit in the sun if I wish.

And...cruising does not necessarily have to be expensive (although it can be). We cruised from Ft. Lauderdale to Montreal in 15 days last year for a total of less than $3,000 (cruise & food only). Several years ago, we were on a ship from 42 days, from Ft. Lauderdale to the Mediterranean and back) and the total cost was less than $9,000. Most people don't want to be away that long, thus the moderate cost.

Sandy ocean beaches are fun for a day or two, then I'm done. Rocky beaches with rocks to pick up, tidal pools to explore, keep me happy for weeks on end.

I've never wanted to go on an ocean cruise because you'd be out of sight of land, how can that be a good thing? (LOL). I am tempted to try a river cruise ... either the Columbia for its geology and natural beauty, or one of the European rivers for the history and architecture. They are pretty costly for my budget, however, so not sure I'll ever do it.

edited to add: some of these cruises do sound tempting, especially Bob's and Jim's. Food for thought and dreaming....

@jim_1 Zone9A - I found your comment that "cruising gets us to places we have not been without hours and hours of air plane confinement" followed by "22 days on a ship" just a leeeeetle bit ironic. Gimme 12 hours on a plane for 22 days on the ground, going wherever/whenever. lol

Why is it ironic? I think it's a completely different experience. I guess some people can find cruise ships confining but it's nothing like an airplane. The only thing scheduled on ships are the ports. People can choose when to eat, what to do on the ship, if they want an excursion in port or if they want to do their own thing or even just stay on the ship.

I've always found cruises to be very freeing. I can lounge around in bed, reading and watching the ocean and ordering room service, or I can go swimming or participate in any of the scheduled events, or I can go into port and do a planned excursion, or just wander on my own. I've always thought it was nice to explore an area for a day or two, have a nice dinner, go to sleep and wake up in a whole new area to explore. You don't have to worry about all of the logistics of traveling to multiple places, especially in foreign countries.

I think it's also useful to identify areas I'd like to visit later for longer times, and which are worth skipping.

I'll take both, and enjoy them equally!

Beach. I've been on two cruises in the Carribean, and don't care for another one, but the river cruises in Europe look interesting.

I've been on seven cruises, and to lots of beaches. I will definitely take the cruise! If you cruise to the Caribbean, you have beautiful beaches at the ports of call.