3+4 on Dream vs. 7 on Fantasy?

[andied]

ok. We need help deciding on our cruise next summer. I see advantages and disadvantages to both. I'd love some input of those who have done back to back cruises!

3+4 on Dream

Pros:
* 2 stops at Castaway Cay
* We get to Gold on first half of B2B so we'd be gold on the second sailing.
* Star Wars stuff in Oceaneer Club - kid would be thrilled

Cons:
* how much of a bummer is disembarkation/embarkation for 2nd cruise? I know we're only off the boat for a short time but it seems like a bit of a wasted day I.e. 2 muster drills, etc.
* 2 stops in Nassau - however we would just consider this days at sea so maybe it's not a con.
* Onboard booking discount only applies to first half.

7 on Fantasy

Pros:
* different ports (but we don't always disembark)

Cons:
* don't get to gold until following cruise

Cost is about the same so that's not really a consideration.

 

[ldo]

Fantasy. Different shows, no repeats, better ports, more relaxed atmosphere. Unless you have a pressing need to be Gold.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

ok. We need help deciding on our cruise next summer. I see advantages and disadvantages to both. I'd love some input of those who have done back to back cruises!

3+4 on Dream

Pros:
* 2 stops at Castaway Cay
* We get to Gold on first half of B2B so we'd be gold on the second sailing.
* Star Wars stuff in Oceaneer Club - kid would be thrilled

Cons:
* how much of a bummer is disembarkation/embarkation for 2nd cruise? I know we're only off the boat for a short time but it seems like a bit of a wasted day I.e. 2 muster drills, etc.
* 2 stops in Nassau - however we would just consider this days at sea so maybe it's not a con.
* Onboard booking discount only applies to first half.

7 on Fantasy

Pros:
* different ports (but we don't always disembark)

Cons:
* don't get to gold until following cruise

Cost is about the same so that's not really a consideration.

Well, what advantages do you think you'll get by being Gold on the second leg of the B2B? The perks involved with that are: booking excursions/check in at 105 days out instead of 90 days (but you'll not get to take advantage of it for that cruise); additional gold level gift (currently it's a tumbler).

If you pick the right Fantasy cruise - there's a whole day devoted to Star Wars (I know you said summer, but it's a possibility of you're flexible with dates).
Personally, I don't really care for the turn around day. You still have to get up early, and you may be off the ship as long as 2 hours (reboarding just before the regular boarding time). And you have to "break in" a whole shipload of new passengers.

We've also found the mentality of "must. do. everything." from the passengers is much more pronounced on the shorter (Dream) cruises than then longer (Fantasy) cruise.

Onboard booking for future cruise(s) - cruises less than 7 nights you pay a 20% deposit, 7 night cruise deposit is 10%. And the amount of OBC for 7 night is higher than for a 3 or 4 night one.

 

[ktb2002]

Having done both a Dream B2B and numerous Fantasy 100 % go with the Fantasy if price is nearly the same. As mentioned above the Gold benefits will not help you for the second leg.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Do 7 day. Get your gold and do a B2B next time, when you can take advantage of your gold perks.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Fantasy. You will be wasting a day with a disembark/re-embark and visiting Nassau twice if you go on the Dream. Nassau alone is a deal-breaker for us!

 

[timrousbeastie]

Fantasy by a mile. 7 days fly by quickly either way so my priority would be to relax on the ship and avoid the unnecessary stress of getting off and back on. And the two stops in Nassau would be a bummer for me: I'd rather have the option to pick one or two other destinations for port adventures.

To be very honest, although it may not be a popular opinion, I consider DCL's loyalty program non-existing. I travel a lot and my memberships in various hotel, airline, and other programs, which I try to make the most of as a hobby, really make a big difference. Our family also happen to have 3 DCL cruises behind us and could reach the gold tier the way you are considering. Honestly, though, the thought didn't even cross my mind before I booked our 4th cruise on the Fantasy. In fact, I didn't think of it either when I booked our cruise after that with Royal Caribbean. Eventually, we'll probably get to gold with DCL in 18 months or so, but that will be entirely by accident.

 

[su_A_ve]

Fantasy, hands down!

 

[CM Dad]

Well, what advantages do you think you'll get by being Gold on the second leg of the B2B? The perks involved with that are: booking excursions/check in at 105 days out instead of 90 days (but you'll not get to take advantage of it for that cruise); additional gold level gift (currently it's a tumbler).

If they were Gold on the second leg, they could go to the Castaway Club reception (since that is the 4-night cruise). And they could also get a discount in the onboard stores (10% if I remember correctly)

 

[su_A_ve]

If they were Gold on the second leg, they could go to the Castaway Club reception (since that is the 4-night cruise). And they could also get a discount in the onboard stores (10% if I remember correctly)

And a second 10% discount on future cruise...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If they were Gold on the second leg, they could go to the Castaway Club reception (since that is the 4-night cruise). And they could also get a discount in the onboard stores (10% if I remember correctly)

Well, if the Castaway Club reception is important to them, sure. We've done a few, and I'd still suggest going with the 7 night over the B2B. If OP has plans to buy a lot in the onboard shops, that could be helpful. But not everyone does.

 

[scgustafson]

The final bingo jackpot is much larger on the 7-night!

Also, there are fewer lost newbies you will have to deal with on the 7-night, as most people on Disney Fantasy are repeat cruisers, and you will only have one load of newbies and not two like on the back-to-back. No repeating of ports, menus, or shows. More sea days, because that is the best part of cruising.

 

[tigerlily2009]

ok. We need help deciding on our cruise next summer. I see advantages and disadvantages to both. I'd love some input of those who have done back to back cruises!

3+4 on Dream

Pros:
* 2 stops at Castaway Cay
* We get to Gold on first half of B2B so we'd be gold on the second sailing.
* Star Wars stuff in Oceaneer Club - kid would be thrilled

Cons:
* how much of a bummer is disembarkation/embarkation for 2nd cruise? I know we're only off the boat for a short time but it seems like a bit of a wasted day I.e. 2 muster drills, etc.
* 2 stops in Nassau - however we would just consider this days at sea so maybe it's not a con.
* Onboard booking discount only applies to first half.

7 on Fantasy

Pros:
* different ports (but we don't always disembark)

Cons:
* don't get to gold until following cruise

Cost is about the same so that's not really a consideration.

Have you been on both ships before?

 

[CM Dad]

The final bingo jackpot is much larger on the 7-night!

But on the 3+4 you get two chances at a final jackpot

 

[CM Dad]

And a second 10% discount on future cruise...

True, I hadn't thought about that benefit. The one time my wife and I did a B2B, we ended up booking 5 placeholders, which have since been turned into 5 reservations on the Fantasy next summer. Bringing the kids and grandkids on a cruise to celebrate out 40th anniversary. Only 4 of those (2 from each leg of the cruise) got the full benefits of discount and reduced deposit, but they all got the stateroom credit. I will probably reshop that 5th room on an upcoming cruise.

With B2B you could end up booking 2 staterooms each for 2 separate future cruises.

 

[Quellman]

I have had the pleasure of doing both itineraries that you have posed questions about. I'm sorry this will be a huge ramble, but it is what it is.:

There are certainly many more pros and cons than what is listed. We did the 3 day, then the 4 day. (It saves parking costs) and also the 4 day is more relaxing than the 3 since people have 1 more day to get used to the ship. The turn around time isn't bad. If you really wanted to you could be one of the first off the ship and go see some other sights that day. Our biggest issue was the repeated menus, though you throw in a Palo night, a Remy night, and a night of room service, you wouldn't notice. The muster drill is seriously a small thing to be concerned about. On the second cruise, if you have the same stateroom, you won't even have to pack up your stuff. So the first day, instead of running around, you can just hang out somewhere. We had to change staterooms, and our new host had our room cleaned and we were able to enter it when we reboarded. The serving team can be the same for both cruises at your request, so you have the same servers the entire time. On our B2B, it was really a B2B2B so the same servers were with our family for 11 days, we received lots of extra things from not just our serving team, but the head server as well when it came to dining in the main dining rooms during non-dinner hours. The activities are almost clones one right after another cruise to cruise. This makes it easier to try and do everything they offer since you know they will be doing it again in a few days. If you get to know the cruise staff, they will rememebr you from cruise to cruise as well.

Since the price is about the same, you need to consider how the itinerary matters to your family. With the 3/4 you truly only have one day at sea. Some people love the sea days for ship motion and general fun. Though unlike port days, that you treat as sea days, everyone is still on the boat. So you can expect the upper decks to be a bit more crowded, though there may be more activities around. Castaway Cay is essentially a beach that is easy to access, unlike trying to get to some beaches at the ports of call. And of course it is all included in your cruise fare, so you aren't spending anymore to enjoy it, as you could with an excursion.

Our 7 day cruises are always Eastern, so we enjoy the extra days at sea. It is wonderful to really get into a rhythm on the longer cruises. Whether it is gym, breakfast, nap, snack, lunch, pool, snack, show, dinner, karaoke, or just doing trivia every day. People on these cruises are generally repeat cruisers so they know how it works, or they have enough time that they aren't rushing around 24/7 trying to do everything in only the 3 days they have for vacation. There are also variety acts that take the stage instead of 7 nights of Disney shows.

I will also mention the ONE TOP SECRET INSIDER TIP WITH REGARDS TO THE FANTASY for summer 2017!!!!
The Fantasy is rumored to go into dry dock in April 2017. The time frame for this April 29, 2017 and May 19, 2017. So there could be the possibility that Star Wars areas would be added to the kids clubs. There will likely be a full ship refresh of carpets and common areas. Potentially enchanted garden retheme. Maybe also an update to shows.

 

[andied]

Thanks everyone! We've been on both ships already and have done both a 4 day Bahamas and a 7 day Eastern.

We love sea days and would not get off the ship in Nassau - thus treating it like a sea day. Even if we go on the Western, we likely would not get off in at least one port as we've been to all the places a couplet Imes (on vacation and other cruise lines).

Right now, we're leaning toward the 7. To add an addition wrinkle, my sister and family is thinking about coming with us. If so, it will be the 7.

 

[waggles02673]

For us we love B2B and have been fortunate to find them for considerably less then 7 nights on the Fantasy. We love the Dream but we also sail in Concierge so you get the upgraded Concierge sundeck on the Dream that the Fantasy does not have until she goes into dry dock (i hope). We also have become good friends with the Concierge staff and we get 2 Palo dinners as platinum members. We also love 2 days on CC in a cabana on SB. If the price were equal for the same cat room I think we would do the Fantasy for a change of pace.

 

[CM Dad]

The serving team can be the same for both cruises at your request, so you have the same servers the entire time. On our B2B, it was really a B2B2B so the same servers were with our family for 11 days

While you probably can have the same servers for all the legs of your B2B2B2.... cruises, there is a chance that they are at the end of their contract and will not be available. On the one B2B that we have done, the head server talked to us on the last night to ask it we anted to keep the same servers, and whether we want to switch from a table shared with others to a private table. My wife has some dietary restrictions so she didn't want to have to break in a new serving team and we have enjoyed meeting new people on our cruises, so we kept with a shared table.

 

[Quellman]

While you probably can have the same servers for all the legs of your B2B2B2.... cruises, there is a chance that they are at the end of their contract and will not be available. On the one B2B that we have done, the head server talked to us on the last night to ask it we anted to keep the same servers, and whether we want to switch from a table shared with others to a private table. My wife has some dietary restrictions so she didn't want to have to break in a new serving team and we have enjoyed meeting new people on our cruises, so we kept with a shared table.

Good Catch! Our server's last day on his contract was coincided with disembarkation day for us. So it certainly is a possibility.