Coastal cruising generally implies that one is in a smaller region (usually well-known to them), with less variation and the ability to better choose time and place of anchoring. Usually more choices available, also - and marinas/moorings if things really go bad.

People out cruising far and wide do anchor near coast lines, but must meet a wider variety of conditions and not always have good and plentiful choices - let alone anything resembling a marina or proper mooring. Open roadsteads, marginal bottoms, unescapable weather systems, etc.

A good example is Chesapeake cruisers, where smallish danforth-type anchors with a short length of chain are the most common. Cruising that large area almost always involves anchoring in a protected creek with a mud bottom.

Throughout South and Central America, however, finding boats with a danforth-type on a short length of chain is as rare as hen's teeth.

Mark