3 Day Cruises, Do they seem long enough?

[mrseace711]

We decided a cruise for a quick getaway for my hubby and I would be the best route to go based on prices we want to get away for under $1,000 and still get warm weather We have never even been on a weekend get-a-way so I am lost when looking at these cruises. The 3day seems perfect for us because they are weekend trips, there are a few 4 days that would go into the weekend as well that we are looking at. Anyone that has done a 3 day cruise does it seem long enough? Should we go with the 4 day?

 

[lisaross]

i've done a 9 night cruise and that was not long enough LOL

I say go with the 4 day - the day u depart is not even a day u are off the ship first thing in the am!

 

[rigs32]

If you have enough vacation time, go for a week. It says you're in Indiana, so you'd have to fly down on Day 1, check in (which can take an hour or two), then you have two full days on board or in port, then you check out before 9am and fly home on Day 4. Just as you're starting to enjoy yourself and get used to the ship you'd be checking out.

The cost per day is huge, especially when you factor in the flights.

 

[AmandaRG]

I agree, we went on a 7-night and hated leaving! We are doing a four-night in a month, but I am already dreading it. We have a 4-3 back to back in May, but we are thinking of sticking with longer ones going forward.

I think that even a couple of days is better than none at all! Enjoy whatever you choose!

 

[tinkmom2]

I know the three day I went on on the Wonder went too fast. I would try to go longer if possible. I am signed up with deal places like Kayak and Continental and they send me cruise deals all the time.

 

[mrseace711]

The cost per day is huge, especially when you factor in the flights.

I had not even thought of it that way I would like to leave on a late as possible Wednesday night flight and return evening on Sunday. It is really hard to find something that is fiting that

 

[poohs4me]

For a first time I would recommend a 4-night.

When I wanted to introduce DH to a cruise for the first time, the 4-night was perfect. I agree with others that longer is better, but for some its better to start with a shorter cruise. Try to find one that has a day at sea, so you can experience what thats like as well as port days.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We did 4 nights on the Dream in Feb of this year and it was definitely too short. My granddaughter cried when we had to leave! We're doing 5 nights in March and would do longer if we could!

Teresa

 

[mrseace711]

I will only have 10 days of vacation in 2012 and 7 of those days we are using for Disney in Sept 12 Plus with 4 kids that are active in school activities and church youth clubs we could not stay away too long.

Cruisers what is your preference on booking thru a travel site like cheapcruises, a travel agent, or on the cruise ships website?

 

[bpesch]

For me it really depends on the itinerary for the cruise. I found out the hard way that days at sea are not for me. I was totally bored to death. So if you are hitting ports every day, 3 days likely won't be enough. If you are at sea one of those days, it might be too long!

 

[rigs32]

I like cruisecompete.com

You tell them the specific cruise you want and they contact several online travel agencies. They bid for your business and you decide who to go with. Sometimes the cheapest deal isn't the best. For example, #1 might offer $275pp. But #2 might offer $300 with a $50pp shipboard credit. Deal #2 is actually better.

 

[bettymae1121]

My 1st cruise was a 3 day, my 2nd was a 5 day. Both WAY too short! But...if it's a choice between 3/4 day and no cruise at all...it may be worth doing!

 

[Marionnette]

The first cruise we took the kids on was a 3 night Wonder trip in the Caribbean. It was a great way to find out whether cruising suited them. But it was way too short.

It feels like you are just getting your bearings on the ship when you have to pack your things for departure. Your first and last days are pretty much a waste because you don't board the ship until around 1 PM and don't get your luggage until late aftertoon. If you flew in the day of the cruise, you were up before dawn and you're exhausted. On the final day, you are kind of rushed off of the ship in the early morning so that they can prepare the cabins for the next cruisers. That leaves you with only two full days to enjoy the cruise ship.

As much as I love to cruise, I would pass on a 3 night cruise and save my money for a longer trip.

 

[Irin997]

My parents have a Norwegian 7 day out of Miami booked for the end of January and they only paid $499 pp plus airfare. Something to think about when it comes to what you're paying for.

 

[librarygal]

Most three day cruises just go to the Bahamas. The Bahamas are not in the Caribbean and can be quite cold in the winter. My cruise stopped in Nassau in January and it was at most 65 degrees in the morning. I would do a four or five day.

 

[mrseace711]

So 4 - 5 Days... 65 Degrees in the Nassau!? I am looking for sundress wearing weather... I need to relook at this all over again back to the drawing board

 

[furb & dez]

There is no cruise too long

Avoid the 2- or 3-day cruises like the plague, they are the Walmart-crowd cruises. At a minimum, go at least 5 days, preferably at least 7 if possible.

 

[pigletof4]

You asked how you should book your cruise through a travel agent or through the cruise sight.

I work for Carnival and book cruises for both travel agents and consumers. The pricing is the same for both.

I would recommend looking for a 5-6 day cruise, stay midship. If you are looking for Carnival cruise, and the cruise date is still 3-5 months out check to see if there is an Early Saver rate. The deposit is non-refundable, but if you find a lower price for the same cruise date/ship they will refund the difference back to you in an onboard credit. Carnival is also always running 72 hour sales, sometimes you can get an upgrade stateroom. Usually it means the same category type, inside, oceanview, etc. just a cabin on a higher deck.

 

[elgerber]

We did a 5 day in August, and it was NOT long enough.

 

[JandJ]

Our honeymoon was a 3-night cruise (it was supposed to be 5-nights but there was a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico so we were switched to the Bahamas). Honestly, it was fine for a first cruise. Since then we've been on 5-night and 7-night cruises and they're great, too. I'm glad we did a 3-night the first time because we weren't sure we'd even like cruising (I love it; DH likes it well enough). My in-laws booked a long Alaskan cruise for their first cruise and they hated it. The ship was lovely, they had a balcony stateroom, the food was delicious - they just hated being "stuck" on a ship. So, a 3-night might have been better for them the first time to see if they even liked cruising.

As for booking, we have booked directly with the cruise line and through Crown Cruise Vacations. We're going on a cruise this year and I booked through Crown and saved about $50/person from the cruise line price, plus free travel insurance, and $100 on board credit.

Another great source of information is Cruise Critic - ship reviews, stories from past travelers, and helpful tips.