3 or 4 day cruise?

[BobnSue]

We have two DD's ages 5 and 7, it will be their first cruise - Which cruise would be better 3 day or 4?

[Fantasia Sam]

7 !!!! :teeth:

We just did the 4 night and we were more than happy but we so wish we had booked the 7 nighter, we didn't want to get off.

From what I hear on these boards the kids absolutely love cruising there are so so many things for them to do in their clubs you may want to cruise longer just so you can plan to spend more time with your children ;)

BTW Welcome to these fabulous boards :wave:

[Wishing on a star]

At least the 4 night!!!! That is what we have booked. You are barely unpacked before it is time to start packing on the three nights.... Also, If you want that 'sailing' time, book the 4 night with the day at sea. Otherwise you are sitting at a dock in port every day. If you are booking way ahead ( get those early booking rates!!!) and there are no 4days including Freeport listed, remember that DCL may possibly renew their contract with Freeport (as they have in the past...) and then every other week will indeed be a Freeport stop instead of the day at sea.

In planning our cruise I have looked at all the schedules and navigators, etc... And, seriously... there is a difference between the three night, or the Freeport - and the 4 night with a day at sea. Seems like there is that extra time and the scheduled activities flow so much better - as opposed to haviing Castaway Cay, Disney Dreams, the kids show with Mickey Mouse, and the popular last night reservations at Palo all crammed into that one last afternoon.

[Luckymommyx2]

Go with the four! Personally I have never met anyone that went on a three day and didn't wish they would have gone on a four. Even four makes me want a seven day. Your kids will be fine I'm sure. :D

[albiats]

If you consider that your cruise starts at 5pm on embarkation day and ends at 8am on the day you leave, I made the following calculations:

3 day cruise - 63 hours
4 day cruise - 87 hours
7 day cruise - 159 hours

So that means you achieve 38% more cruise time with the 4 day over the 3 day.

The percentages for the 7 day cruise are:
7 day is 152% more than the 3 day
7 day is 83% more than the 4 day

Based on that criteria, the 4 day is a better experience for a little more money.

Based on personal experience, we enjoyed the 4 day cruise with a day at sea much better than the 3 day. It's a different experience to be cruising during the day rather than being docked at port.

hope that helps