3 nights too short/ how to make it count

[Capitalangel]

My family and I are currently booked on the Dream for a three night in Feb. Due to my sons school schedule (and wanting to go on one of the larger ships) this fit the best. We have previously done 5 nights on the Magic and Wonder. We are planning on arriving two days early and spending some time at Kennedy Space Center and maybe an afternoon/dinner at Disney Springs.

My concern is that the 3 day is going to feel way too short. We are planning on staying on the ship most of Nassau day and skipping Palo/Remy due to time. What other tips/ tricks do you more experienced cruisers have on making the three days count? Don't get me wrong, a three day cruise is always better then no cruise but I am stressed about it feeling like I am going to miss something due to no days at sea/ time to explore.

 

[Dug720]

Best tip: Get it in your head now that you cannot do it all.

Figure out 2 or 3 "must dos" and then just take it as it comes.

 

[ktb2002]

Scope out the navigators from previous cruises and decide on what you feel are must dos for your family. Look at deck plans and familiarize yourself with the layout of the ship.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

If the best you can do is a three night cruise the one thing I would suggest is; unless there is an excursion that the family really wants to do, DO NOT get off the ship in Nassau. Just stay on the ship and enjoy as many of the programs that they have going on during the stay there. The ship will be a little more empty and quiet. This is what we had done on a four night cruise but mostly because we have been to Nassau often enough we don't feel the need to get off the ship, 'been there done that'. And as Dug720 posted, you won't be able to do it all.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

We just got off a three-night from the Dream. I have mixed feelings about it. First I thought it was okay, but then I realized everything we would have missed if we didn't get right back on for the four-night (we were doing a back-to-back). Definitely I would not do adult dining, and maybe skip shows if you've seen them already. I was not happy about the selection of movies either. So definitely scope out Navigators ahead of time. Also I would try to orient myself since the ship will be much bigger than the Magic. The first time we went from the Magic to the Fantasy, I kept wasting so much time being confused about which side I was on and which direction I was headed. Definitely take note of the patterns on the rug and if your stateroom is aft, forward or port or starboard. That will save you a lot of time. Also where all the activities you may want to be are on which deck. Could you not do a four-night instead of the three night and days in Cape Canaveral? Whichever you decide good luck!

 

[Shanti]

My family and I are currently booked on the Dream for a three night in Feb. Due to my sons school schedule (and wanting to go on one of the larger ships) this fit the best. We have previously done 5 nights on the Magic and Wonder. We are planning on arriving two days early and spending some time at Kennedy Space Center and maybe an afternoon/dinner at Disney Springs.

My concern is that the 3 day is going to feel way too short. We are planning on staying on the ship most of Nassau day and skipping Palo/Remy due to time. What other tips/ tricks do you more experienced cruisers have on making the three days count? Don't get me wrong, a three day cruise is always better then no cruise but I am stressed about it feeling like I am going to miss something due to no days at sea/ time to explore.

Our first cruise was a 3-night on the Magic and it was great, and felt very complete.

The key is to just relax and enjoy the activities you're interested in doing. Don't fill up your time with things other people call must-dos but you aren't really interested in. Even on a 7-night cruise, you can't do "everything", so don't try.

If you aren't really interested in a specific activity on Nassau, don't go to Nassau just because the ship docks there. Instead, stay on the ship and relax or do an activity you're interested in onboard.

Another tip is to arrive as early as possible on embarkation day, to make the most of that day (bring swimsuits in your carry-on if you want to try the Aqua Duck or pools before they get crowded), and have a full-service, leisurely breakfast in the MDR on debarkation day rather than stuffing food in at Cabanas and rushing off the ship.

Don't spend your time doing laundry on the ship. With a 3-night cruise, you should be able to wait until you get home.

 

[over50visits]

I love any cruise on Disney. Since, just as in the parks, you cannot come close to doing it all, I would relax and savor every moment.

Although some may disagree, for a short cruise I would not stand in lines. Don't stand in a line at the Guest Services desk unless it is absolutely necessary. Don't stand in line for characters or future bookings. If there is no line at any of these, then great. But lines are the least fun thing you can do. and every minute is valuable (absolutely do not spend any of it doing laundry).

Other than that, go to the sail away party, roam the ship, go to the shows, savor the upscale dining experience, sit out on deck, have a fantastic day at Castaway Cay.

Here's my favorite tip for a great cruise: talk with every cast member you can. Treat your servers with respect and you'll get it back many times over. Talk to the guys painting the deck, ask them about their job, about crew life, about the country they come from. If you see someone working on lifeboats, stop and chat with them. Or anyone...a bar server, a salesperson in the shops, your room steward...anyone. You will the see what the Disney experience is, what makes it so different, and you will take some wonderful memories home.

 

[com_op_2000]

1. Relax you are on vacation and you do not want a vacation from your vacation when you get home.
2. Since you are going on the shortest cruise, you will NOT get everything you want done.
3. The PP about checking out the Navigators is a very good idea.
4. Do not plan your time down to using/being busy every minute of the day.
5. Did I mention relax.

 

[Capitalangel]

I would love to do a longer but the one we have is over Presidents Day weekend when my First Grader is already off school Fri and Monday so he would only have to miss the days we go down before (for Kennedy and to make sure we are in town before we sail on Friday). Thanks for the tips on researching where things are. I will also check out Navigators as we get closer. The only show I think we are really interested in would be the new Beauty and The Beast.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

...............
Here's my favorite tip for a great cruise: talk with every cast member you can. Treat your servers with respect and you'll get it back many times over. Talk to the guys painting the deck, ask them about their job, about crew life, about the country they come from. If you see someone working on lifeboats, stop and chat with them. Or anyone...a bar server, a salesperson in the shops, your room steward...anyone. You will the see what the Disney experience is, what makes it so different, and you will take some wonderful memories home.

Agree 100% with these suggestions!
I Love talking to the Cast members every chance I get. It is interesting to hear their story on how they found their way onto DCL, previous job with other cruise lines, their hometown, ask about their family. It's a great way to learn about other people and their culture.

"...nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people." Mark Twain

 

[Trera]

We have now done the Dream numerous times and love the experience so much more because we go on it for a relaxing 3 day weekend. Our DD spends some time in the clubs so we can eat brunch in Palo and lay by the adult pool, we get a cabana and enjoy the entire day on Castaway Cay. We also spend some time on the Aqua duct, catch a movie or a couple of shows and back to work Monday morning.

 

[Justacruiser]

get to port by 11:30
do an activity in the afternoon, usually a movie before the drill
eat dinner, see the show
spend in between time on deck 4 or 11/12
Wake up early and eat breakfast at Cabanas, eat on the deck in back of the ship, take a lap around deck 12
if you have a balcony, sit on the balcony and enjoy a drink
eat lunch at cabanas or quick service
take a walk on deck 4 and sit in the loungers for a while
enjoy from free time on the balcony till dinner
catch the show or go to a movie
sit up on deck 11 and watch some tunnel vision, grab a slice of pizza after 9:30
hit Cabanas at 0700, be off the ship at Castaway Cay by 0900, catch the tram to desired beach
get lunch, while on the island
get back to the ship by 1:30 and get changed and sit on the balcony/deck 4/ or deck 11 (book a dummy cruise for $250)
enjoy the afternoon before heading to dinner and show
go have a seat on deck 11 and watch a movie on the funnel and grab a slice of pizza
get up early on the departure morning and get your bags ready, go up to Cabanas and eat breakfast at 7:00. Head back to your room and grab your stuff at 8 and proceed off the ship

Safe travel home

 

[jrabbit]

Our biggest REGRET about cruising (and other family vacations) was letting school get in the way of a great vacation!! Especially through grade 8!!

KSC is a great place to take your child - lots of science. Walking the streets of Nassau and any other city you visit is a great learning experience. On one of the Caribbean islands we walked around us realize just how Lilly white my family is! We Never felt threatened. We Walked around markets and churches and schools. Was eye opening!

There's more to the world than what school will teach your child. When getting ready for a vacation / trip we asked for the kids lessons before leaving so they could work on them - if we were gone for a week, they would be 2 weeks ahead of their classmates (really). A two week vacation put them even FARTHER AHEAD!! OK granted one of our kids was the high school valedictorian, and the other although was not the best student ... but put her in a lab and voila several patents later a very successful scientist. Bottom line, like most parents we tried not to do to many trips during the school year. Hindsight: that was a mistake!

Sorry to slightly hijack your thread here...

but back on topic (a little )

• You can't DO It All - but sleep is for AFTER your cruise
• You can't EAT It All - but the cruise is a great opportunity to try new to you / different foods - Try It, You Might Like It ("risk free" - your servers will bring you something else if you don't like what you ordered)
• Sunscreen, SunScreen, SUNSCREEN - The SUN IS DIFFERENT in the Bahamas / Caribbean than at home (for most people!)

 

[jrabbit]

I was going to say - be sure to download the DCL Navigator app. But on second thought, put the phones in the safe when you get to the room!! You don't want to accidentally / by habit spend your *** (Mickey Vacation Time) inside your phone! AND take the time to learn how to use the wave phones (They are still on the Dream - right??!!!) This is how the kids clubs will contact you.

Before going to bed each night, review your navigator and make your plans for the next day

On Embarkation day - BEFORE the staterooms open - USE THE ELEVATORS - there are lots of sections closed because of staterooms and you could end up wandering around a LOT (Been There Done That!!) Not that you are going to do this but we needed to get to Meridian to make our Palo ressie (Starting at 1pm lets say). We were on the pool deck but decided NOT to go through Cabanas to get there (first mistake). We walked between mid ship and the aft stairs / elevators trying to get to a place where we could get back up to Meridian - ended up that was all the way down on deck 4.

After the staterooms are open Use the STAIRS - you can die of old age waiting for an "empty enough" elevator.

The shows in the Walt Disney Theater ARE Different than those on the Magic / Wonder - so go enjoy those.

Even though movies on land at the movie theater are expensive, don't "waste" your time watching movies - you can do that at home. IMO same goes for shopping.

If Pirates night is not your thing - its OK to skip going up on deck for the Pirates in the Caribbean show and fireworks. (We've started doing other things then going up -to the top deck - a few minutes before the fireworks are scheduled to start)

Here's what I would do (and have done) on a 3 night cruise
Embarkation Day
get to the port as close to my Port Arrival Time as possible
If planning on swimming / getting wet - wear swimsuits under clothes
Do the kids club check in in the terminal - time and line permitting
Board Ship
Cabanas for Lunch
Go to the pool - Sun Swim Aquaduck
Since this is your first time on the Dream Class ship - send an adult to the ship tour - and for the rest of your cruise they can be the guide
Around 3 - head to the room - Unpack your carryon, get cleaned up for the Safety drill and sail away party - hope that your checked luggage has arrived (probably not)
at 4 - up to the safety drill
Afterwards - go back to your stateroom - maybe your luggage has arrive!!! - maybe yes, maybe no. If yes work on unpacking (quickly) until sail away party - then scoot up to deck for it
Dinner and Shows
Kids clubs, and adults find something to do
Back to the room - get ready for bed, review Navigator

Nassau Day
Breakfast - Cabanas or sit down
Hit the pools
Take a break from the sun - Explore the ship by doing Mickey's Mid Ship Detective Agency
Pool
Goofy Golf - make day put his feet on Goofy's feet when putting!
activities onboard that you are interested in
Clean up for Dinner / Shows / Evening
Kids clubs, and adults find something to do
Back to the room - get ready for bed, review Navigator

Castaway Cay Day
Breakfast
Off the ship - hit the beach
Kids never did Castway Cay Clubs - so maybe yes, maybe no
lunch at Cookies (or Cookies II)
Back to the ship
Clean Up
Start Packing
Clean up for Dinner / Shows / Evening
Put the Luggage Out
Kids clubs, and Till We Meet Again
Bed time

Disembarkation Day
Get up WAY TO STINKING EARLY!!
Breakfast in MDR
Say goodbye to tablemates and serving team
Leave the ship


So in typing this up - here's a thought about unpacking and packing. Try arranging / packing your day's clothes in gallon ziplocks or packing cubes - and skip the whole unpacking thing. It's embarkation day - pull out the correct bag and get dressed. Then for the nighttime activities (dinner and shows), pull out that bag and put on those clothes. Everyone has a bag of clothes for each day and activity. But you probably will want to hang up your slacks, skirts, polo shirts and blouses.

 

[Capitalangel]

I think I just talked my husband into a mini Land and Sea. We might do room only at World beforehand and do the other resorts/ ride the monorail/ go to Disney Springs and then do Kennedy after the cruise since we will be in port so early and flights on Presidents Day are 100 more a person! Does Palo do the brunch on the three day? I thought they only did it on sea days? If so I might have to add it back in on Nassau Day since we don't care about Nassau.

 

[Momee]

Agree 100% with these suggestions!
I Love talking to the Cast members every chance I get. It is interesting to hear their story on how they found their way onto DCL, previous job with other cruise lines, their hometown, ask about their family. It's a great way to learn about other people and their culture.

"...nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people." Mark Twain

Love love love this Mark Twain quote!!!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I don't mind a 3 day- a long weekend cruising with the Mouse? The Best. We tend to use a 3 day cruise to just relax. Unplug, unwind- no dishes, laundry, bed making, dinner cooking. Only pick a few things to enjoy. Rest of the time to sun, read etc. Days seem longer that way! Enjoy your cruise!