1st-time couple?

[0ilymom]

Hubby and I have been talking about trying a cruise in a few years. It's something we want to do without the kids. We don't drink, probably won't use the spa. We are normally very casual people, but he seems excited about dressing for dinner while we're there.
I'm wondering which experience might work well for us? If you could go back and plan your first cruise again, would you select a longer cruise or shorter? Which destination would you choose?

Thanks!
Rachel

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hubby and I have been talking about trying a cruise in a few years. It's something we want to do without the kids. We don't drink, probably won't use the spa. We are normally very casual people, but he seems excited about dressing for dinner while we're there.
I'm wondering which experience might work well for us? If you could go back and plan your first cruise again, would you select a longer cruise or shorter? Which destination would you choose?

Thanks!
Rachel

I'm not sure I'd change anything. We did a 15 night Panama Canal cruise for our first DCL cruise. The one thing I'm happiest about is that I didn't know about DISboards or any other cruise forums before we took our cruise.

Not saying that using the forums isn't a good idea, it just wouldn't have been for me. I would have been so obsessed with doing the "right" things that I wouldn't have enjoyed either the planning or the taking of the actual cruise.

We looked over the options just using the DCL information we could get, made our plans, and went with them.

 

[diznymom]

Our first was a 5 night double dip on the Dream. We went to Castaway Cay, Nassau and Castaway Cay again. The only thing I would change about that cruise would be the excursions on Nassau.

 

[Angeejoe]

Our 1st cruise was a 7 night cruise & I felt the 7 days allowed us to just settle in & relax. We didn't did any excursions & just got off at each port to walk around- I'm happy that we did this.

 

[cruisehopeful]

My first cruise was a 3 night, so I'd rather have gone on a 4 night. Also, it was on the Dream during the first month she was sailing. They had some issues. I had a great time, but probably would have had an even better time on the Wonder or the Magic.

 

[Lunarias]

We did an 8 night cruise to Alaska and it was perfect! Long enough to relax but not overwhelming, and we did an excursion in 2 of the 3 ports, leaving us one port to shop and wander. Honestly we really want to go back it was the best destination!

 

[dreadpiraterose]

My husband and I had each done shorter cruises with our families when younger. For our first cruises as adults, we did a 7 day on the Fantasy. It was glorious. I definitely recommend the longer cruises, so you have time to unpack and really relax. We're not big spa people or drinkers, and we always found plenty to do and see. Go for that 7 day or more!

We've always sailed the Caribbean. Always enjoyed it.

 

[Agent 86]

Our first cruise was a three night Caribbean cruise.

If we could do it again, we would have done a seven night Caribbean cruise. We did three nights because we weren't sure that we would enjoy it - but we both loved it more than either of us imagined.

 

[dclpluto]

The longer the better for your first cruise.
My first one was a short 7 night cruise. Than next one was a 14 night the next one after that was a 15 night. Than I went back to 7 night cruises for a little bit. Go on the longest cruise you can afford for your first cruise.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Our first cruise was a three night Caribbean cruise...

We did the same, but we so loved it, the only one since the first, not 7 nights, was a 5 night Key West cruise. We are about to do number 9 at the end of February.

 

[jlemieu1]

You sound similar to my wife and myself. We don't drink or spa and gamble much.
We love DCL and we doing our 6th cruising without kids. Great entertainment and fabulous service. To top it off we are not even Disney nuts

I recommend 4 day minimum, 7 is better

 

[0ilymom]

Thank you all for your replies!
I am very much one to read and discuss much. Then, we pick the "must-do" activities and relax around them. I rest in knowing I'm not missing something for not knowing about it, and that we've chosen what is best for us. (I am the planner, while hubby prefers spontaneity.)
Hubby is certain we will love a cruise (he's right, because we enjoy any time we are together, walking a store, dining, or anything)....I have to keep reminding myself that I won't be sitting there wishing I'd brought a box full of books. ;-)

 

[Scherzermk]

I had to laugh at this last line about wishing for a box of books because that it exactly what I did wish for on my first cruise. I did a 7 night RCI and was bored out of my mind. I refused to cruise again until my dd asked to go on DCL. Wow what a difference! We only did a 3 day because I was worried about the boredom. I can say on Disney that never crossed my mind. We quickly booked a 7 day for this year and can't wait.

 

[KayKayJS]

Our first cruise was last March - 7 day Western on the magic.

AMAZING.

We did excursions in Cozumel & Grand Cayman and it was perfect. I would recommend 7 days. Most relaxing trip of my life.

 

[jlemieu1]

Thank you all for your replies!
I am very much one to read and discuss much. Then, we pick the "must-do" activities and relax around them. I rest in knowing I'm not missing something for not knowing about it, and that we've chosen what is best for us. (I am the planner, while hubby prefers spontaneity.)
Hubby is certain we will love a cruise (he's right, because we enjoy any time we are together, walking a store, dining, or anything)....I have to keep reminding myself that I won't be sitting there wishing I'd brought a box full of books. ;-)

That is funny because I was the one pushing my wife into cruising to (and doing the FE later). She is hooked now. She feared that she would be bored to tears being stuck on a ship. The best note I'll give you as a first time is don't stress out the details and try to do too much. Just let the magic happen

 

[hoffman1]

We did the 4 day for our first cruise. It was a good length of time to try it out and see if we liked cruising. I had nagged DH for years to go on a cruise but he was not sure he would like it. Now, I think he likes it more than I do. LOL Now, we do the 7 day cruises.
What would I do differently? Book an excursion in Nassau. I decided we would just wing it (after I had taken some advice here on the boards). We grabbed a cab and went to Atlantis to see the free parts and look in the shops. We walked around the back of Atlantis and walked along the public beach. Then we came back and shopped around the port area and went to the straw market. I know a lot of people don't even get off the ship in this port but we wanted to look around. If we had booked an excursion, I think we would have been more comfortable and maybe would have seen/done more.