4 day vs. 7 day

[CSX2]

It's vacation planning time and we (myself, DW & DD(6)) are having trouble deciding between a 4 day cruise with 3 days at WDW or a 7 day cruise. If we do the 7 day we probably would not be able to afford any time at WDW. We have already done the 4 day twice and loved it both times.

Do you think 7 days on board is to much for a 6y/o DD? Are there good kid related activities at the ports-of-call for the 7 day?

What would you do?

(P.S. A European trip with Paris as the focus is also on the table.)

 

[disneyholic family]

ok...i can't comment on the cruises as our first is in the summer..
but as for europe...
i know lots about that...
i live on the european side of the atlantic now...
and my first trip to europe was when i was 7 years old (on the queen mary no less)...
i loved it at the age of 7, but we spent 3 months in europe and it wasn't exactly a tourist visit...
but i did enjoy it (and remember it to this day.....many many many many years later)....
however i still would advise against the european trip until she's a bit older.....
it's a bit young to enjoy at the age of 6...
unless you were thinking of leaving her at home...
not that there aren't spectacular things for her to do in europe....
however i think she'll enjoy it much more when she's a bit older and can appreciate the incredible beauty of cities like Paris...
i took my kids to paris for the first time when they were 11 and 14.....and they totally adored it.....
of course we did one day in Paris Disneyland.....very much like Disneyland (but with French people cutting in line.....a culture shock sort of experience).....
then of course, there's the city of science, but your daughter's too young for that....(they have a lot more written in english than they used to but i still had to do a lot of translating of the various exhibits....but as i said, it's geared to junior high/high school more than elementary school)...
and she's far to young to enjoy places like the louvre and the garden of the rodin museum (my kids made us go back to those two places repeatedly)....
there's a nice busch gardens type park in paris....that's called....wait......i'll think of it...Asterix.....it's like six flaggs/kings dominion/cedar point if you're familiar with those....
let's see...
in london she'll adore the dinosaur museum (not the official name but what i call it in my laziness).....and of course, even a six year old enjoys the changing of the guard and all of the royal nonsense...
the netherlands is relatively kid friendly, with some fun theme parks to visit....however, if you have a problem with smoking you'll die there.....actually, in europe in general....no smoking hasn't arrive on these shores....not really anyway....
there are no-smoking signs but that's it....if you ask someone to stop smoking in a no-smoking area they'll get all huffy.....
so if that's a problem for you, be forewarned.....
that was probably the worst problem for my kids...going into restaurants in paris and being asphyxiated by the smoke...
so...
bottom line, if you can postpone the paris/europe trip until she's a bit older i would...
unless you're considering club med in europe...
they have some very lovely family oriented club meds in the french alps....really really nice with tremendous activities for the kids.....although they all speak french which might be a problem for her (though growing up traveling all over the world, it never seemed to be a problem for me.....you get really good at talking in sign language..)
so you might want to consider club med in europe.....either summer or winter....and then with a couple of days in paris just to get your fill of the most beautiful city in the world (ignore the inhabitants...and watch out for pickpockets.....some of the worst i've ever encountered...or rather the best)....
or another alternative is joining up with a family tour of europe....
although i still think those tend to be geared towards teenagers more than 6 year olds....
after saying all that , personally i'd go for the cruise and WDW....

 

[magic]

We have taken 3 cruises with other cruise lines and are taking our first Disney cruise (7 days) March 9. Last year we spent 10 days for spring break in Paris with our 10 (almost 11) year old son and our 21 year old neice. He loved Paris, but I am afraid he would have been bored at a younger age. We too visited Euro-Disney for one day and I have never seen him so excited for a day out of the museum circuit. Paris has to be one of the most wonderful places to visit but probably best when a little older.

When I was young, my family lived in Europe for 3 years. We traveled extensively (I was 8 and 9 and then again 11 years old), I remember these travels vividly and have many stories to tell my son. So I guess it really depends on the children.

This year we decided on 2 days at Universal and then a 7 day cruise. I have been extremely stressed from work over the last year and felt that a cruise would allow us all an opportunity to unwind and relax, something that a European trip doesn't allow.

So I guess it really depends on your children and what your family wants from the particular vacation. I would highly recommend exposing your children to Europe, but if you need to relax a 7 night cruise might be what is best.

 

[4nana]

Hi CSX2,
Tough call! We had the same dilemma when we started our planning and we chose the 7 day cruise simply because we felt it would be too much to keep up with 7 g/kids (ages1-15) at WDW. From the brochures there seems to be never ending pleasure for all ages on the cruise. Now the ports may be another story. We did the Europe thing this past October. We had a wonderful time and it was a great experience, but I think the g/children would have been bored...unless you're talking Disney in Paris Good luck in your choice and I do hope you get some other opinions.

 

[disneyholic family]

one more thing about paris, though this is also true about WDW....
expect to do a LOT of walking...
the ONLY way to enjoy paris is to walk and walk and walk and walk and walk and walk.......and then walk some more...
my family loves walking together, so it's not an issue...
but i'm not sure how well a 6 year old will do...
also, it depends on when you go....
remember that summer in paris is HOT and not everything is air conditioned...
you have to be very careful when you book a hotel that your room is in fact air conditioned.....(not a problem if you're going top of the line, but you should be aware that this can be an issue)...
i really think that a 6 year old is just too young to enjoy paris...
i suppose she'll like the ride to the top of the eiffel tower and a boat ride on the seine, but still she'll appreciate all of that far more when she's older....
as for 4 day + WDW or 7 day....
well, i would want my WDW fix.....on the other hand, i'm sure seeing the different ports of call is nice...
as i said, i've never been on either cruise, but i have been to most of the places both ships visit.....in my opinion, the bahamas is the least interesting place to visit.....probably at the bottom of my list of places to go.....i'm only going there in the summer because that's where the ship goes...
on the other hand, the 7 day does go to some interesting places that i would actually go on my own without the ship....(and have gone to in the past)....
in any case, i would assume that the reason anyone does the 7 day cruise is to have more time on the ship (rather than actually where it's going).....since you've been on the 4 day already you should have an idea of what that's like and whether you'll like more of it....
another thing to consider in the future....
a european cruise...although most of the ships that do that are not megaliners....so you might not like it as much.....
the truth is i really do think you should take her to europe, but wait a few years.....

 

[bkline]

I'd vote for the 7 day, since you have already tried the 4 day. We took our DS (7 at the time, the same age group your DD would be in) and he loved it. If you go to www.disneycruiser.com you can see the children's navigator for the 5-7 age group. You ask about activities while in port for DD, but there are also some good shore excursions for her. My DS enjoyed the Golden eagle Catamaran in St. Marteen. It's about an 1 1/2 hour boat ride, then an hour plus of beach playing or snorkeling, then the ride back. On Castaway Cay, the children's club is set up on the island, so DD can enjoy her friends or family.

 

[daltonsdodisney]

This will be our first cruise, but we're doing the 4 night Wonder at the Springtime Magic rate, then 3 nights at WDW, which I was able to use a code and get a moderate for $94/night. It was just hard for me to be that close to WDW and not go, so that's how we came to our decision. I also think you can have the best of both worlds. After cruising, we won't feel let down, we'll be off to a new adventure! On the other hand, I've heard some say that the 3-4 day cruise just goes by too fast.

 

[kplatt]

Originally posted by bkline
... My DS enjoyed the Golden eagle Catamaran in St. Marteen. It's about an 1 1/2 hour boat ride, then an hour plus of beach playing or snorkeling, then the ride back...]

Wow, 3 hr. catamaran ride (round/trip) for about an hour at the beach?? I'm glad I saw this, as I would much rather have 3 hrs. at the beach with an hour's ride!!! We'd like to go to St. John, as we've spent a heavenly week vegetating in St. Thomas at Sapphire Beach two years ago, but I'd prefer maximum beach/snorkel time.

What are the travel times for the other excursions??


And a question about the St. Maarten beaches...

Are there beaches where we are less likely to encounter nudity/toplessness? My 9-yr. old dd is very much into modesty these days, while 11-yr old ds will be getting the infamous "5th grade sex-ed talk" the day before our cruise!! (And please, I don't want to start a controversy... just some facts???) : )

Karen
Wonder 11/01
Magic 03/02 (documents have arrived!!)
Wonder 11/02

 

[CSX2]

Thanks for all the great replies!

I think I share the general feeling that 6 is a little young for the European vacation (I went at age 10 and had fun). I would really enjoy 7 days of cruising, especially with the new ports. When I asked my DD this morning if she wanted to go to WDW or DCL her reply was "Why can't we do both!"

Maybe we can manage the 7 day cruise and a couple days at WDW if really plan and save.

Let's see... Mac & Cheese for dinner for the next six months...

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by kplatt

Are there beaches where we are less likely to encounter nudity/toplessness?

Generally, the only beach where nudity is common is Orient Beach (there are others, but not on the list of beaches you're likely to consider). Toplessness may occur on almost all other beaches, but is less common on the Dutch side than on the French side. And it's least common at Great Bay Beach, which is the closest beach to the ship.

 

[disneyholic family]

kplatt...

funny about that topless thing...
ever since we moved here many years ago, my husband swims with his glasses on....

my kids were stunned at the beginning but now don't even notice....(unless i happen to point out some age-challenged woman fighting gravity who should definitely cover up.....europe is a strange place....)....

 

[cruzindon]

Having been on both, I would definitly vote for the 7 day. The 3 and 4 are just too short.

 

[kshabare]

Just got back today and we were among many saying we would rather do 7 days with our children than go back to WDW while they're young. First couple of days DS7 was reluctant to go to Oceaneer's Club. After 2nd time of finding something structured to do (instead of general activity time) he had an awesome time. They even made Flubber! We'll go back to WDW some day but not until he's older. Go on the 7 day - you'll be surprised how much money you can save by having everything paid up front. You will have to pay for tips & pictures (if you wish) but you can come away on top!

Kim & Norman ºOº