Decisions, decisions...

[Makayna]

So, I just found a four night cruise for $100 less than the 3 night cruise that we have booked for next September.

The four night is in April, 2012 on the Magic.

The three night is in September 2012 on the Dream.

Pros of the April Cruise:
Four nights versus 3.
$100 cheaper (not MUCH of a pro, but hey... it's something).

Cons of the April Cruise:
It's on an older ship.
We wouldn't be sailing for our 1 year anniversary as planned.
We'd be in an inside stateroom instead of an oceanview (because the oceanviews were actually CHEAPER than the inside staterooms). And as such, it'd be a smaller room (not by a lot, but somewhat smaller).


Pros and cons of the Dream in September are obviously reversed from the above, so I don't need to state them again.

What would you guys do?!

 

[indigodisney]

Well I guess I would go on the dream....but I am curious to see it....have you been on the Magic before?

happy travels to you!

 

[LollieFollie]

I'm probably no help. I'd rather cruise sooner than later and for as many nights as possible.
I guess if I had to pick one I would go with the Dream in September if it's for your anniversary. April is almost a year off, who knows, maybe you'll be able to book onboard the Dream for your next cruise

 

[kcashner]

I would do the 4 night cruise. Having been on both, I can assure you that a 4 night is FAR nicer than a 3 night. Remember that a 3 night is really only 2 1/2 days, and that is just not enough time.

Check what you believe about the sizes of the staterooms. On the Magic, an oceanview cabin is the same size as a cat 10. Is is minimally larger than a cat 11. On the Dream, there is more variation of cabin size.

While the Dream has all the newest bells and whistles, the Magic remains an amazing ship. You won't be disappointed.

Another way to think of it is in the "cost per day" calculations. Since your transportation cost will likely be about the same and the 4 night cruise is less costly...looks like a bargain!

 

[keishashadow]

i don't think twice about sailing in October but September makes me nervous weather-wise

 

[Presley]

I did a 3 night on Dream and if I was in your position, I would choose the 4night instead. The third night on the Dream, we had to pack up and put our suitcases in the hall by 10pm. We ended up skipping dinner because we had second seating and we never got out of dinner in enough time to put out the luggage.

It was the only cruise I had been on, but frequent cruisers kept saying they preferred the Wonder and the Magic. I thought the Dream was spectacular, but since it was my only cruise, I had nothing to compare it to.

 

[Makayna]

Thank you all for your comments! I didn't say (but should have) that the September we're talking about is NEXT September, 2012 - NOT this year. We're still trying to decide what to do. Another aspect is family planning, and April would also fit better with that since it's earlier and there's less chance of me being too pregnant to cruise.

Well I guess I would go on the dream....but I am curious to see it....have you been on the Magic before?

happy travels to you!

No, I've never been on any ship. We're doing the Wonder THIS September for our honeymoon. But the trip we're talking about here would be our second trip.

I'm probably no help. I'd rather cruise sooner than later and for as many nights as possible.
I guess if I had to pick one I would go with the Dream in September if it's for your anniversary. April is almost a year off, who knows, maybe you'll be able to book onboard the Dream for your next cruise

Yeah, April's a year off, but the September we're talking about is a year and a half off.

I would do the 4 night cruise. Having been on both, I can assure you that a 4 night is FAR nicer than a 3 night. Remember that a 3 night is really only 2 1/2 days, and that is just not enough time.

Check what you believe about the sizes of the staterooms. On the Magic, an oceanview cabin is the same size as a cat 10. Is is minimally larger than a cat 11. On the Dream, there is more variation of cabin size.

While the Dream has all the newest bells and whistles, the Magic remains an amazing ship. You won't be disappointed.

Another way to think of it is in the "cost per day" calculations. Since your transportation cost will likely be about the same and the 4 night cruise is less costly...looks like a bargain!

You make some very valid points - especially about it only being 2 1/2 days. I did check on the room sizes. The one we have booked in the Dream for September 2012 is 204 sf and the one in April is 184 sf. So, the one on the Dream IS bigger.

I guess I think I'd be a little upset to lose the oceanview room we have booked for the September cruise. I planned carefully and got one with the giant porthole with the window seat. If we did the Magic in April, I'd lose that. That, and we'd have more time to save up if we did September 2012 versus April 2012. But at the same time, I think we'd both enjoy 4 nights WAY more than we would 3. I don't know... I'm still torn.

 

[Loriekins]

my family LOVED the Magic & I can't imagine only 4 days, let alone 3!
My vote is for the magic.

 

[Makayna]

i don't think twice about sailing in October but September makes me nervous weather-wise

Why is that? Is that hurricane season? When IS hurricane season?! (Sorry... stupid So Cal to Midwest transplant here who's only been to the East Coast once )

 

[mommy2tati]

Why is that? Is that hurricane season? When IS hurricane season?! (Sorry... stupid So Cal to Midwest transplant here who's only been to the East Coast once )

June thru November (sometimes longer)

 

[Makayna]

June thru November (sometimes longer)

So the April one would be better for that reason too, I take it?

 

[bitlerzx4]

we are doing a 3 day in dec and i hope the weather stays "calm"