3 day cruise question

[WINTER]

Is a three day cruise a good amount for a first timer? Or does a 4 day cruise better in the long run?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is a three day cruise a good amount for a first timer? Or does a 4 day cruise better in the long run?

IMO, 4 is better than 3. Of course, for me, my preferred minimum length is 7 nights.

On a 3 night cruise, you board afternoon the first night. Night 2 in port, night 3 at sea (or in port), and you get off early the next morning. Really only 2 1/2 days onboard.

4 night cruise, you gain a whole day more.

 

[DSLRuser]

We did a 4 days cruise 14 years ago as our 1st, it seemed right.

Did a 7 day cruise on RC 2 years ago and it was too long.

Leave for a 3 day cruise on DCL Friday, hope it is not too short, but the price was right.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

A 4-night cruise is better. Like @PrincessSchmoo said, 3 is just barely time to unpack and pack back up.

 

[OKW Lover]

IMHO, a 3-night is not worth it. As @PrincessShmoo noted above you really only have a couple of days to experience the ship. There is so much to see/do that you may leave disappointed.

 

[JWelch62]

If you can afford the time off, and the extra cost, a 4N is definitely better than a 3N.

 

[Calantha]

We just came back from a four-day cruise and with all of the restrictions, I think it was the perfect length. One day at Sea, one day on Castaway Cay, one day at Nassau… no chance to feel like there wasn’t a lot to do. But I definitely didn’t want to get off on the last morning!

 

[dvcjoe]

If you can afford the 4 day, that would definitely be our recommendation. On a 3 day, just when you get used to the ship and are really enjoying it, it will be time to disembark.

 

[Cheburashka]

Is a three day cruise a good amount for a first timer? Or does a 4 day cruise better in the long run?

A 3-night cruise is great for a first cruise or an extended weekend getaway. I've sailed three 3-night cruises (as well as longer cruises) and enjoyed each one. They tend to work better for my schedule because they can be sailed over a long weekend, whereas the 4-night requires a full week be taken off of work because they typically start on Mondays. If I'm taking a week off of work, I want to sail a 7-night, not a 4-night. So the 4-night cruises were never worth it to me for that reason.

Keep in mind that you asked this question on a cruise board filled with die-hard cruisers, so most here will advocate for a longer cruise every time. Some of them have never even sailed a 3-night cruise, and will put them down anyway. But each time I've cruised 3-nights, there have been lots of people onboard and everyone seems to be having fun, so I'm far from alone in my opinion that they're worthwhile.

The claim that "you only have time to unpack & pack & then you're off the ship" is silly and false. Unless it takes you a day and a half to unpack, and another day and a half to pack. Another bonus of a short cruise is that you can pack light.

 

[jvncnt]

The first cruise we took with our then 9 year old son was a 3 night, 4 day and we thought it was the perfect length to see if cruising was something we would enjoy as a family. Loved the amount of time on the ship and visiting 2 ports. We have been back since, but we thought it was just right.

 

[pjsmith67]

To me, a 3 day cruise is not worth it. But, since we live in the midwest, we have to travel pretty much halfway across the country for any cruise. Maybe if we lived within easy driving distance I would feel different...

 

[closetmickey]

We just traveled from the West Coast for a three night cruise. It was our 10th cruise – four of them have been for three days or less. Always worth it!

 

[Lillebelle]

I think it depends on how far you have to travel to get to the ship. We did a 3N out of a port that was an hour flight from where we live and I was actually surprised at how much we were able to do and enjoy in that amount of time since we usually prefer longer. I'd struggle with 3N being worth it if you have to fly or drive a full day each way before and after the cruise, but if you can get there easily, I think either is viable.

 

[dreynolds1982]

I've only ever done 4-nt cruises but agree with what others have said. I don't think a 3-nter would be long enough to full relax and appreciate everything. Of course I would love an even longer cruise, but I feel like 4-nts give you enough time to soak everything in, especially with the day at sea.

 

[auntlynne]

I stand by my routine answer: 3 is not enough. Yep, unpack, turn around and you are packing again. Its only 2 full days of cruising.

But if the price and the schedule (usually over a weekend) work better for you, 3 nights is better than No nights.

 

[bobbiwoz]

For a first timer, I think a three night is worth it. If you find you don’t really like crushing, I think a full day at sea would feel very long!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

7 is better than 4 which is better than 3 BUT 3 is better than zero

I used to be against 3 nights as too short but our schedule doesn’t allow longer cruises currently so 3 nights work great as the kid misses 1 day of school at most (we live close enough she makes it to school on time Mondays) we only have to take 1-2 days off of work (easier to get than 4 or 7 days) since the 3 nights are on our days off-

and you can often do a few a year vs one longer one (cost wise etc) so they definitely have their place..

 

[Cheburashka]

If you find you don’t really like crushing, I think a full day at sea would feel very long!

A 7-night cruise would be misery for someone who finds they dislike cruising, particularly due to claustrophobia or seasickness. I took my mother on a 3-night cruise with us once, and it was clear afterwards that was all she could take. She felt confined onboard (the Disney Dream in a verandah stateroom- go figure), and had a hard time with the occasional mild rocking and mild vibrations. It just wasn't for her. She'll probably never cruise again and a week would have been miserable for her.

A 3-night cruise is a good trial for a first timer, particularly when it's a group of first timers with different personalities and different levels of physical tolerance.

 

[Cheburashka]

I stand by my routine answer: 3 is not enough. Yep, unpack, turn around and you are packing again. Its only 2 full days of cruising.

You must be a very slow packer and unpacker lol. One whole day spent unpacking, and another whole day spent packing. How much does one need to pack for a 3-night tropical cruise, beyond a few changes of clothes and a bathing suit?

 

[Disneyland_emily]

You must be a very slow packer and unpacker lol. One whole day spent unpacking, and another whole day spent packing. How much does one need to pack for a 3-night tropical cruise, beyond a few changes of clothes and a bathing suit?

agreed- we use packing cubes so ‘unpacking’ takes maybe 5 min- then packing is about the same. Unused stays in the cubes and used goes directly in the bag.