1st time cruisers

[ValerieK]

I am looking in to going on a cruise, probably in Nov. for Dd 4th birthday. Would you recommend a land sea package or 7 night cruise? I am torn, we love WDW, but a cruise would be a nice change also.

I get motion sickness pretty easily, would a 4 day cruise be better the first time, I would hate to spend all that money and be sick the whole time.

I have so many questons, I don't know where to begin.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We took our first cruise in 1999 and were hooked. The only cruise we have had any problems with being seasick was the Eastern Carribean 7 day. We were told that this might have been because you fo further from land on this one. My Dd uses sea bands occasionally and other than that dramamene works well.

You need to decide what you want to do as far as visiting the parks. If that is a priority then the 7day land sea is your answer. We have done the 7 day cruise only for the last 3 years. It is 7 days of pampering and fun. We miss going to the parks but the cruise has all the disey touches except the rides.

Passporter has published an excellent guidebook for the cruise which we found useful even on our 5th cruise with Disney. We did the 3 day and it was sooo much fun we did the 4 because we felt we did not get to see and do everything. We have done 3 of the 7 day cruises and still see and do new things each time.

Enough babbling I say do the 7 day cruise and visit the parks next year or the year after.

 

[Zandy595]

Valerie ~ Our first Disney Cruise we did the 3 day because I wasn't sure about the seasick thing either. I didn't feel well a couple times and took the SeaCalm medicine they had on the ship (for free). It worked great, but if I had a drink it would put me right to sleep. A friend of mine told me she always uses the patch you put behind your ear (from your doctor). She says it doesn't make her sleepy at all when she drinks. The last day of our cruise we were wishing we had done the 7 day because it was so great we didn't want to leave.

 

[ValerieK]

Thanks for the info, I am leaning toward a 7 day, but my Dd birthday is either on departure day or arrival day. I guess it probably doesn't matter to her. I am worried about taking Ds out of school, he starts middle school next year and I am not sure how he is going to adjust.

I have the passporter for WDW and love it. I will check out the one for the cruise.

Thanks for the information!

 

[jrabbit]

the patch you put behind your ear

The patch does have other side effects and can violently effect your body. If you get a prescription for this, be sure to try it out long before you go on the cruise so you and your doctor will have an opportunity to try something else.

I'm one that gets very motion sick. I have never had a problem on the ship (on the small snorkeling boats-yes)

 

[minniemouse1]

Our first cruise we did a 3 day and it was too short. Our last cruise we did a 7 day and still feel it wasn't long enough! I would go on the 7 day and go to WDW next year when DD is a little older. We love the parks too but my 3 y/o who was 2 1/2 on our cruise in October still asks atleast once a week to go back on the boat. Next April is sooo far away fo all of us.

Whatever you choose have a great time.

 

[Pootsie]

Last summer we spent 5 days at WDW and then took the 3-day cruise with my DH, DS8 and DD4. My advice would be to do either the cruise or the parks not both, ( until they are older). By the time we got to the cruise my DD was sooooo exhausted from our hectic days at WDW that she was taking 3 hour naps on the ship and she never naps!! ( and I missed many activities staying in the room with her) ....
We are going on the 7-day Western in October and I am hoping that she will be able to hold up better, and we will have more time to relax and enjoy the ship. The 3 day cruise just flew by..

Either way you will have fun!!

 

[B&T]

WHEN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WENT ON HER 1ST AND ONLY CRUISE (DISNEY OF COURSE) SHE USED THE PATCH. SHE WAS WORSE. SHE FELT DRUGGED AND DOESN'T REMEMBER HALF OF THE TRIP. THE LAST EVENING OF HER CRUISE WAS SPENT IN BED. I'VE HEARD DRAMAMINE IS THE WAY TO GO.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

ValerieK, I hear ya when it comes to motion sickness. (Ask my DH and DD how fun I am when we have to make too many turns while driving! )

However, we're ready for our 3rd DCL 7-day in May, and I haven't had a problem w/motion sickness yet!

I think what helps is the ship's size. (Being as large as it is.) It's impossible to get me on anything smaller.

 

[Zandy595]

Let me tell you (for me anyway) size doesn't matter (when it comes to boats). I listened to all the people who told me that before our first cruise and I got just as sick on the Disney Wonder as I did on my parents 32 ft sailboat.

Thank you for the advice about the patch. I will definitly try it out before my cruise.

 

[ValerieK]

I have never spent a lot of time on a boat any size, so I am not sure what will happen. I can ride in a car and not get sick, but if I read or turn around I get a little sick. I can do rollar coasters, but have trouble on simulator type rides like Body Wars and Star Tours. I will go and see my doctor and talk to him and try things out before we go.