Too many cruises?

[disneywonderfun]

I am sitting here waiting for the Fantasy to depart and started to think how many times I have been in this situation. It is not that I am not grateful and fortunate to have been on all four Disney ships, however, we have already looked at the Navigator and decided what things we do not want to do! We booked this cruise as our oldest child is almost 13 and wanted one last cruise where she could be in the kids club.

I again do not want to sound ungrateful, but I think we will skip DCL in 2014 and then hopefully feel up for it again in 2015.

DWF

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I am sitting here waiting for the Fantasy to depart and started to think how many times I have been in this situation. It is not that I am not grateful and fortunate to have been on all four Disney ships, however, we have already looked at the Navigator and decided what things we do not want to do! We booked this cruise as our oldest child is almost 13 and wanted one last cruise where she could be in the kids club.

I again do not want to sound ungrateful, but I think we will skip DCL in 2014 and then hopefully feel up for it again in 2015.

DWF

Where's my violin....

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I guess the alternative is you are poverty stricken, on govt assistance, and live in sickening conditions. Hmm, I think I might go for another cruise and suffer through the same menus and activities. I'm just saying.

 

[su_A_ve]

I am sitting here waiting for the Fantasy to depart and started to think how many times I have been in this situation. It is not that I am not grateful and fortunate to have been on all four Disney ships, however, we have already looked at the Navigator and decided what things we do not want to do! We booked this cruise as our oldest child is almost 13 and wanted one last cruise where she could be in the kids club.

I again do not want to sound ungrateful, but I think we will skip DCL in 2014 and then hopefully feel up for it again in 2015.

DWF

Don't understand... Because your teen can't go to lab/club you won't go? What about Edge? Or is it that you put the kid in the club to have alone time? If so, I would cruise adult only and save the money...

Looks like you started this cruise on a negative tone - it'll go downhill if you keep thinking about it that way. What about simply setting a lounge chair looking at the ocean and just relaxing?

 

[sayhello]

First world problems! Can't say I'm too sympathetic! But I agree. If that's how you feel, you need some time off from DCL.

Sayhello

 

[jdb in AZ]

I think OP is just saying too much of a good thing.

It's o.k. to take a break.

 

[clten]

We are leaving on our 32-36th DCL cruises in two weeks. We are looking forward to this as much as we did our first. Are a lot of the activities the same ol' same ol' -- YES. But do we find things to entertain us and enjoy in spite of that -- Absolutely. Not every cruise has gone smoothly, we haven't always enjoyed every entertainer/show we've attended, haven't always loved our tablemates nor our servers/room host. But after every cruise (bar one -- the Dream inaugural), we have walked away saying that we had a great vacation. Sometimes we are just lazy and hang out doing nothing. Sometimes we get more involved. A lot of time you'll see us playing games or reading on the public decks just so we can soak up the atmosphere of being at sea. We attend activities, tastings, whatever and enjoy meeting other guests, running into guests we've cruised with before or crew we've met on previous cruises. Whatever it was, there was one consistent factor -- we went into it thinking it was going to be our best vacation ever.

Are there things that I wish DCL would do to add variety for those of us that cruise often. I do (and they did with the platinum experiences but then they took them away). But I also understand they are entertaining a lot more people than just us and there are people who have favorites that are different than ours and would be disappointed if some things were changed (that's the fine line Disney in general has to walk in the parks and on the ships -- the parks wouldn't be the same without "It's a Small World"; the cruise wouldn't be the same without the noon update and sounding of the horn).

I understand you may have hit cruise fatigue. And it may be time to do something else for a little while even if it might be to try a different cruise line with activities you haven't tried over and over. But I hope you go into this cruise with a positive attitude and look at the Navigators and see the activities you will do, not the one's you won't.

 

[super mike b]

We can't get enough! Every cruise has something different that makes it special. I would go just for all the exitment that the new cruisers generate. We love to watch the families exploring the ships for the first time.

 

[disneywonderfun]

I think OP is just saying too much of a good thing.

It's o.k. to take a break.

Yes, I think you understand at least what I mean. I am clearly not saying that I am unfortunate sitting in my cabin right now. What I am saying is that my level of enthusiasm has lessened more than I expected. What I meant with regard to my daughter is simply that she wanted one more cruise with her brother in the kids club before she turns 13, so that is why we booked this cruise. I am sure she will have fun in the edge but she loves her little brother so much she wanted To be with him. How can you refuse that!

Anyway, I am sure we will have fun, but the novelty for me has diminished, perhaps not unexpectedly.

Maybe I will be one of those people who have been on 30+ DCLs but not for a while!

DWF

 

[EPCOTatNight]

I guess the alternative is you are poverty stricken, on govt assistance, and live in sickening conditions. Hmm, I think I might go for another cruise and suffer through the same menus and activities. I'm just saying.

Really? That's the alternative?

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[martikus]

We choose to cruise a variety of ships and cruise lines for just that reason. It can't get "old" if you are always trying a new ship. Now they aren't all great, or up to par with Disney, but we always have a blast checking them all out.

 

[TChrist05]

OP--I know how you feel. My DW and I went on our 32nd DCL cruise on 9/21 on the Fantasy. WE are always excited on the anticipation of our cruise. Once on the ship I question myself that maybe we should take a break. We already have a cruise booked for December and an Alaskan cruise in June on the Wonder. A couple of days in I start to really relax and unwind and those feelings seem to go to the back burner. We ended up booking another cruise for next November. That said - a break for a year is not the worst thing. We have done that with Walt Disney World - we go every other year. That has worked for us. Whatever you decide to do just feel comfortable with your decision.

 

[dpswift]

Yes, I think you understand at least what I mean. I am clearly not saying that I am unfortunate sitting in my cabin right now. What I am saying is that my level of enthusiasm has lessened more than I expected. What I meant with regard to my daughter is simply that she wanted one more cruise with her brother in the kids club before she turns 13, so that is why we booked this cruise. I am sure she will have fun in the edge but she loves her little brother so much she wanted To be with him. How can you refuse that!

Anyway, I am sure we will have fun, but the novelty for me has diminished, perhaps not unexpectedly.

Maybe I will be one of those people who have been on 30+ DCLs but not for a while!

DWF

There are many other things that your family can enjoy besides cruising. Take a break and do something else. Explore other alternatives and check back in a year to see if any new itineraries are offered. I think that is Disneys biggest problem right now. There are not enough different options. Last year we went on 2 cruises both went to Nassau. On our Disney cruise(the first was on another line) I did not get off the ship. For a good part of 2014 all 4 ships are in the same area. 2 of which are doing the same itinerary.

DCL is great but there are other places to go. I know they have added some but they are very limited.

 

[silkie8]

I'm having a hard time processing what is said in these posts. Many people, and I am one of them, scrimp and save to take a vacation - much less a Disney Cruise. My first will be in Feb 2014.

Your daughter is blessed and lucky to have had so many DCL trips. I do not mean to sound 'harsh', but if you don't want the ride, don't buy the ticket.

If you buy the ticket, enjoy the ride.

Choices.

 

[jjje]

Why not just take a different type of vacation? You're lucky enough to be able to afford so many cruises that you've become bored so why not try something new? If DCL is boring you then see some of the 99.9% of the world the cruises don't cover.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There are many other things that your family can enjoy besides cruising. Take a break and do something else. Explore other alternatives and check back in a year to see if any new itineraries are offered. I think that is Disneys biggest problem right now. There are not enough different options. Last year we went on 2 cruises both went to Nassau. On our Disney cruise(the first was on another line) I did not get off the ship. For a good part of 2014 all 4 ships are in the same area. 2 of which are doing the same itinerary.

DCL is great but there are other places to go. I know they have added some but they are very limited.

I agree. We try to mix other things besides WDW or DCL. Over the years we did Yosemite/San Fran, Grand Canyon/Sedona, Niagara Falls, Williamsburg/VA Beach, & Shenandoah Valley, VA.
It's been 5 yrs since we went to Sedona and the kids still ask to return. Next summer we'll probably do Northern AZ & Southern Utah. My older ds will be 17, have his driver's license & if we ride ATVs he can ride alone instead of on the back of dh's.
I love Disney but there's more to life & the world than just Disney all the time. I feel like I'd be doing my kids a huge disservice to limit vacations like that. Still on our bucket list is Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone & Hawaii.

My family is totally parked out and DCL'd out. Too much of even a good thing makes it not so special anymore. I'd go tomorrow in a heartbeat just for the (almost) guaranteed good service & ability to lay back & veg. Other cruise lines make me wish I booked DCL instead. I still have dummy dates but I'll save them a while until they start to miss it.

 

[MillauFr]

Anyway, I am sure we will have fun, but the novelty for me has diminished, perhaps not unexpectedly.

Just like everything else in life. We got a season pass to Disneyland and went 3 times in one year. It did start to get a bit boring.

I think Disney Cruise should have the ship stop in Port au Prince Haiti and we could get some perspective on how most people on this planet live. I feel very lucky to be able to live in the US.

 

[Donna3271]

I get what the OP is saying. I LOVE DCL, and can keep going. My husband however is fed up with the itineraries and is tired of the same shows.

Whenever DCL comes out with itineraries, I have to cross my fingers for new ones.

That being said, I will still be cruising DCL. My kids and I love it. My hubby has no choice but to come.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Just like everything else in life. We got a season pass to Disneyland and went 3 times in one year. It did start to get a bit boring.

I think Disney Cruise should have the ship stop in Port au Prince Haiti and we could get some perspective on how most people on this planet live. I feel very lucky to be able to live in the US.

Would you believe in the early 80's we were on NCL's Starward and we stopped in Porta Prince Haiti ! What an eye opener ! I could write a book !

 

[HappyGirl2578]

I think OP is just saying too much of a good thing.

It's o.k. to take a break.

I Agree! Explore other areas, cruise ships, lands.