Is a three night cruise worth it??

[jennyjinx3]

I think if your family ....especially kids ...have not cruised before a three night is a good start. That is what we are doing. We are starting at WDW 4 days prior. However as I read these boards I am realizing our fun will be packed in. We are trying to decide between staying on ship Nassau day or getting off and doing dolphin encounter. I want to enjoy and we will be paid in full in a week so it will be exciting to look at activities etc.

We are also trying to decide the same thing about Nassau and the dolphin encounter! Please let me know what you decide and how it goes!

Our first cruise was a 3-night (our two kids were 4 and 6 at the time). We were apprehensive about whether our family would enjoy the cruise and nervous about getting seasick. We loved it, booked a 7-night while we were onboard and never looked back. Knowing the cruise was so short was part of the motivation for us - we didn't want to get stuck for longer if we hated it or were sick the whole time.

If 3-night cruises were so awful, Disney wouldn't sell them and people wouldn't buy them. You'll have a great time. But if you don't, you'll be back on shore before you know it. Don't stress about your choice.

Thanks a lot, and we are going to leave it a 3 night like our original plan. You all give great input.

 

[Mitzzie]

We are doing a 3 night February 21. We have been on 2 other cruises both being 7 nights but we have never had the 3 year old with us. Going to try out cruising with him and if it goes well we will book a longer one for next year. We are very excited.

 

[meajuly5]

We did a four night combined with 4 days park and I loved that. Did quite a bit on the ship and had time to relax. Dolphin encounter was great

 

[tweis]

So I just have to ask this question again. I know it has been asked before, perhaps even by me!

Is a three night cruise worth it? I am really hoping that we as a family would be able to tell from this cruise if the experience is something we want to repeat.

I would love to hear again about your experiences with the three night cruise. Anyone care to share??

I hope so because I just booked one this morning on the Dream! It will just be DH and myself this time and since we sailed on the Dream this past June we aren't really stressing over fitting everything in. We just plan to relax. We are combining this with a stay in Savannah and St. Augustine since we will be driving to the Port from GA.

I hope you enjoy your cruise!

 

[cris0809]

We have only done 4 night and 7 night cruises and sailed most from Port Canaveral less than 1 hour from our house. So take into account the fact that it is zero hassle for us to sail AND we're not the 'oh my goodness only two weeks will do' type. We also do not sail with children in our party.

Having done quite a few 4 night cruises, I feel that 3 would be entirely too short. It seems trying to fit all the things we normally would do make for a much more frantic pace and a much less relaxing vacation.

Would I turn down a free 3 night cruise? No. Would I choose to book one? No.

Just my $0.02

 

[elaine amj]

We're planning a 3 night. We've done a 5 night Royal Caribbean. We were actually planning a 9 night Royal Caribbean before we decided to switch to Disney. The 7 night was just so far out of our price range we had to cut it out of consideration. We hoped for the 4 night but for our dates, only the 3 night worked out. So 3 night it is on the Dream! It's going to be short, it's going to go by super fast, but we know we'll have a blast. I'm a bit sad giving up a 9 night for this 3 night....but it's Disney, and it will be worth it

We will spend some time in Florida before - have not decided what we will do - but more than likely it won't be Disney. I looked into it and it just adds too much to our costs, especially since we would only be able to do 6 days at WDW (we typically do 10-12 day trips). We think maybe beach bumming in Fort Lauderdale (would be the cheapest option) or else Universal or Sea World.

 

[algae]

Would I turn down a free 3 night cruise? No. Would I choose to book one? No.

That's a good way to put it

A 3-nighter is good to get a feel for cruising, but it feels very rushed. By the time you are settled in, it's time to pack and put your stuff outside your room for pick-up.

On DCL, we went from 3 to 4 to 7's. I don't see us going back to 3 unless it's a special theme sailing or something.

 

[jhowell08]

To me, ANY time on a ship is time well spent!

 

[Ilion]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;47092461]Is it better than no cruise? Definitely! But you will leave wanting more!![/QUOTE]

We left our 7 night cruise wanting more! You always want more!

 

[TJDisneymama]

I agree with those who say the 3-night is a good "tryout" cruise to see if everyone likes it. DH and I have only been on 1 cruise in our lives (much smaller ship on our honeymoon) and the kids have never been on one. So, I'm 99.99% sure it will be much too short for DH and I, but I really don't have any idea if the kids will love or hate it - I can't even begin to guess what they will think! So I wouldn't want to do something longer and have them end up hating it. I also wouldn't travel from MA to FL for just a 3 night cruise, and would def. combine with a WDW trip, which we're diong for 6 nights pre-cruise.

 

[jennyjinx3]

I agree with those who say the 3-night is a good "tryout" cruise to see if everyone likes it. DH and I have only been on 1 cruise in our lives (much smaller ship on our honeymoon) and the kids have never been on one. So, I'm 99.99% sure it will be much too short for DH and I, but I really don't have any idea if the kids will love or hate it - I can't even begin to guess what they will think! So I wouldn't want to do something longer and have them end up hating it. I also wouldn't travel from MA to FL for just a 3 night cruise, and would def. combine with a WDW trip, which we're diong for 6 nights pre-cruise.

This is exactly what we are planning too! I hope your trip is magical! Come back and report if you feel like it!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;47092461]Is it better than no cruise? Definitely! But you will leave wanting more!![/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. DW and I are doing a four night Dream cruise only so we can say we have seen the ship. But I'm sure four nights will be way too short. Can't work a BB into our schedule for 2013.

 

[OrlandoDisneyFan]

One of my favorite cruises was a 3 night when just I and my 7 year old daughter went, leaving Mom and 3 year old son at home.

It was the perfect length for some serious quality time with her and I, yet she did not have time to start missing her Mom.

The whole three days, we were never apart, and I just did whatever she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it.

 

[Mikeyto_96]

I haven't been on a 3 or 4 nt cruise, just a 7 and an 8 coming up in 9 days. I would suggest though doing at least a 4 that includes a full day at sea. This way you can experience a couple ports and a sea day. For me a sea day is just as fun as port days as you never know what you might see at sea. Most of your 7 day and longer itineraries include at least 1 sea day, most of them 2 or more. Good Luck!

 

[Nikisha421]

I hope it is since we are going on our first Disney cruise in 91 days. How bad can it really be. Enjoy yourself with what time you and wi definitely think it's worth it !!!!