4 or 7 day for first timers?

[momof2minnies]

We have never cruised and wondered what peoples opinion's are regarding a first experience. Also do you usually book a flight first then the cruise? How does it work if you are looking at 2005?

 

[two-foxes]

As far as doing a "starter" cruise....we did a 4 night for our first,which I think is a good place to start. It gives you a good taste of cruising, without locking you into a long week. The thing I can say for us is that we wish we would have done a 7 night, we loved it so much, although we in no way regret booking the 4 night for our first.

I don't know what others do, but it makes sense to book your cruise first, lock that in, then wait to do your airfare for specials, etc. We booked our next cruises quite some time ago, and we are yet to book our air to look for good deals and to see where we are at with frequent flier miles....we'll probably book our airfare 2-3 months out.

Some more frequent cruisers may be able to give thier tips on that one, too!

You will not regret booking any length cruise on DCL!!!

 

[dharma517]

We booked a 4 nighter for our first cruise Sep 2004. I get sea sick and was afraid that I would feel confined by being on a ship....so I figured it would be better to stick with the shorter cruise. We are also booked for a 4 nighter in Sep 2005 but that is only because we are bringing a 3 and 4 year with us that time. Not sure how they will be so I wanted to make sure before committing to a week. Have fun!
Jenn

 

[crisi]

We also did the four nighter.

I think its a good start. You'll likely know if your cruise will be ruined by seasickness. Or if you don't enjoy the ship as much as you thought. You may discover you don't like what you thought you would or don't do the things you'd anticipate.

Packing is easier, no formal night and four nights makes for less luggage.

The itenaries are easy - Nassau and Castaway Cay. So if you discover that you aren't an excursion person, you don't have a huge committment.

We did go ahead and book a seven night. The four night is a little short - although I suspect a seven night will seem a little long - that's a long time to live out of a little cabin with kids. My mother - a veteran of several cruises - thinks five nights is perfect.

 

[jrabbit]

Our first cruise was a 4 nighter on DCL way back in its first year (they only had 3 or 4 nights). It was to short (and I do get motion sickness very much - but never on the Magic!!). We had a great experience and have been back serveral times (7 nights, wouldn't do a 3 or 4 night again out of Florida - too much travel from NW for that short of a cruise).

Our experience may have been different if that first cruise was a week or two later - hurricane Floyd came shortly after our cruise. I understand that the Magic headed towards it to rescue the islanders from Castaway Cay before heading to calmer waters.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

momof2minnies, our first was a 7 day, and we enjoyed every minute of it. Part of our decision was that we wanted to take a week long vacation and decided why not let the whole week be all-inclusive on a cruise. The other part was that we wanted to see more ports then we would have on a shorter cruise.
Definitely book your cruise first. Especially if you're booking early. You don't want to be locked into a flight and feel rushed trying to get to the port on time.
If you're looking at 2005, check the DCL website and see what dates are open. Then start checking around for prices. You'll be surprised at how many good deals you can find. Remember you must have your down payment at the time of booking (or atleast within a week or so) and then whomever you book with will give you a date to complete you total payment by. Booking early allows you lots of time to make payments or save up, so that you don't need a huge payment at the end.
Hope this helps.

 

[Ima Princess]

For our first cruise with DD, we opted for the Land/Sea with 4 nt cruise. I felt 3nt would be too short -- I wanted a day at sea to enjoy the ship. But not knowing how DD would do (she's prone to motion sickness), we were nervous about 7. She loved the cruise as much as we did and had no motion sickness issues, so we're booked for a 7-nt next year!

I think 4nt is a great way to start. It'll probably leave you wanting more!

--CC

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Our first cruise was the 7-day. (DH wanted to maximize his vacation time, and boy, am I glad we did.)

After two DCL's, our neighbors asked us all about it as they were interested. They didn't know if their kids would take too well to a 7-day, as it seemed 'too long', and booked a four-day. (I was biting my tongue, didn't say a word.)

When they returned, the first comment was, 'It wasn't long enough.'

We're doing the 7-day with them in May. (The kids are 11, 9 and 9.)