5 nt vs 7 nt Experience

[PlutoIsHerFav]

We just got back from the 5 night double dip! It was our second cruise on DCL. Our first was a 7 night Eastern on the Fantasy. The 5 night was perfect for us with two small children and two stops at CC. However, it had a very different feel than the 7 night. We felt we didn't get the same level of customer service. It wasn't bad by any means and I can't necessarily pin point what it was, but we weren't "wowed" - pleased yes, but not as much so as we were on our first. We met a few CMs who seemed annoyed to help us/answer our question, etc. There were other unrelated factors such as it definitely wasn't as relaxed of a cruise (but we know that's due to the itinerary and 3 days at sea versus 1), we had a better dining experience on our 7 nt (servers and table loations), etc. Anyhow, I'm curious as to others' experiences. Did we just get a tired crew, or is there an overall consensus that there's more personal, friendlier service the longer the cruise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just got back from the 5 night double dip! It was our second cruise on DCL. Our first was a 7 night Eastern on the Fantasy. The 5 night was perfect for us with two small children and two stops at CC. However, it had a very different feel than the 7 night. We felt we didn't get the same level of customer service. It wasn't bad by any means and I can't necessarily pin point what it was, but we weren't "wowed" - pleased yes, but not as much so as we were on our first. We met a few CMs who seemed annoyed to help us/answer our question, etc. There were other unrelated factors such as it definitely wasn't as relaxed of a cruise (but we know that's due to the itinerary and 3 days at sea versus 1), we had a better dining experience on our 7 nt (servers and table loations), etc. Anyhow, I'm curious as to others' experiences. Did we just get a tired crew, or is there an overall consensus that there's more personal, friendlier service the longer the cruise?

I've found that the service can vary from cruise to cruise, regardless of length. For the most part your first cruise will always have more of a WOW factor than subsequent ones. Mostly because you don't know what to expect on that first cruise so it's all new. Subsequent cruises, you know what to expect. And, maybe, expect more.

The biggest difference I've found between short (4/5 night) cruises and longer ones is that on the shorter ones, the guest complement is more frantic to "get it all done". Some of that might spill over into the general "feel" of the cruise for everyone.

 

[mikewdw]

We did 3/4 night B2B last year and I would say on shorter cruise the crew just doesn't have time to get to know you as well. Also I wonder if crew might be more tired/worked due to the items that must be done to get crew ready between cruises. If you only have to do a task once week vs every 3,4,5 days it could wear on someone.

 

[Shanti]

We just got back from the 5 night double dip! It was our second cruise on DCL. Our first was a 7 night Eastern on the Fantasy. The 5 night was perfect for us with two small children and two stops at CC. However, it had a very different feel than the 7 night. We felt we didn't get the same level of customer service. It wasn't bad by any means and I can't necessarily pin point what it was, but we weren't "wowed" - pleased yes, but not as much so as we were on our first. We met a few CMs who seemed annoyed to help us/answer our question, etc. There were other unrelated factors such as it definitely wasn't as relaxed of a cruise (but we know that's due to the itinerary and 3 days at sea versus 1), we had a better dining experience on our 7 nt (servers and table loations), etc. Anyhow, I'm curious as to others' experiences. Did we just get a tired crew, or is there an overall consensus that there's more personal, friendlier service the longer the cruise?

It might also have been the particular crew you encountered on those particular ships, rather than an issue related to the length of the cruise. It's hard to tease out a reason for inferior/superior service when comparing two different ships.

We had noticeably better service on the Fantasy this past December than we did during our short cruise on the Magic the year before.

I suspect that the Fantasy currently has some of the best crew in the DCL fleet. I read a lot of trip reports, & hear more compliments (& also fewer complaints) about crew on the Fantasy than crew on any other ship, including in contrast to longer itineraries on the classic ships.

 

[cmwade77]

Honestly after having been on the Fantasy, I feel like you get a much better chance to get to know the staff on the smaller ships. Overall, I like the Wonder with at least a 7 night cruise the best.

 

[Quellman]

Unpacking for Castaway Cay twice is a tough order. Everyone including supplies all have to get off the boat, and then back on, then off, then on. It's a lot of effort, AND the island isn't air conditioned, so they spend a lot of time outside in the heat and humidity, just like you do, just working. I'm sorry you didn't have a super awesome repeat of your first cruise. but I agree that sometimes the staff members you get are just a little off from your personality.

 

[jrabbit]

I'm assuming that this was on the Dream. (Magic in Europe, Wonder in Alaska, Fantasy doing 7, 10 or 11 nights)

And typically on the Dream are a LOT of first time cruisers. Just like first timers at WDW there are generalities that come with being a first timer ...

• DCL: Hot Dang this is an expensive trip - we have to do it ALL!!! And many are pros at WDW so the think that the know the drill ...
• DCL: 3/4/5 night - there's not much time - so we have to do it all NOW!!!
• DCL: Short Cruise - Unpack, play for a day or two then have to pack up ALREADY!!!
• DCL: and the crew is used to the 3/4 night routine. Having to come up with additional activities can cause some issues. Remember, the CM's work really hard - All Of The Time. But with turning over the ship twice per week, they really have two days where they are not On Stage, and that is their down time from the public. Toss in a random 5 nighter and some CM's will have a harder time without having the "Back Stage" time.
• WDW: We've all seen the first timers - Drawn to the Castle like flies but stuck there with their maps, not having a clue what to do next ... just mucking up the traffic flow

and like @PrincessShmoo said ... 1st time is really special - and subsequent cruises can't recapture THAT MAGIC!! They are still great, and happens but it's not like the first time.

and after closing in on 20 DCL cruises, we really enjoy the Classic ships more than the Dream Class. They are smaller and I think that a special type of Magic happens on them that just can't happen on the larger ships.

 

[mathgeek]

We just got back from the 5 night double dip! It was our second cruise on DCL. Our first was a 7 night Eastern on the Fantasy. The 5 night was perfect for us with two small children and two stops at CC. However, it had a very different feel than the 7 night. We felt we didn't get the same level of customer service. It wasn't bad by any means and I can't necessarily pin point what it was, but we weren't "wowed" - pleased yes, but not as much so as we were on our first. We met a few CMs who seemed annoyed to help us/answer our question, etc. There were other unrelated factors such as it definitely wasn't as relaxed of a cruise (but we know that's due to the itinerary and 3 days at sea versus 1), we had a better dining experience on our 7 nt (servers and table loations), etc. Anyhow, I'm curious as to others' experiences. Did we just get a tired crew, or is there an overall consensus that there's more personal, friendlier service the longer the cruise?

I'm assuming you were on the 6/30 Dream 5-night double dip with me? I did this as a B2B on 6/25 and 6/30 b/c I knew 5 nights wouldn't be long enough for me, but I really wanted to do this itinerary.

Having done both a 3/4 night B2B and now the 5/5 B2B on the Dream, I agree with pretty much everything PrincessShmoo and jrabbit said. There is a more "frenzied" feel on this ship with the passengers trying to do everything. Very different than what I've seen on 7 and 8-night itineraries. Plus we had 2 "celebration" type nights in a row with Pirate night fireworks followed by 4th of July fireworks, so that picked up the intensity even more than what I saw on the 6/25 sailing. We also had 2 stops at Castaway Cay, so there wasn't much down time for passengers, unless you stayed on board at Nassau like I did.

I had great service throughout both cruises and was quite pleased with the CMs. But it also seemed like there were a lot of large families traveling together combined with a lot of first timers, and a lot of those large families were first timers which didn't help. I just got out of the way and did my own thing. But I do have that advantage traveling solo. I also went out of my way to help out the CMs by cleaning up after myself and also always smiled and said hi to them, and some of them noticed and thanked me for it.

 

[bbel]

The dream always has a much higher percentage of first time cruisers, which, as a CM you ended up answering the same questions and sorting the same problems and doing the same activities on the same days at the same time all the time, it's not a bad thing, but can be draining and repetitive. Also, they usually do shorter cruises which doesn't give crew enough time to 'train' those guests, and honestly, when you're used to doing 3/4 day cruises, it's a lot more effort to get to know guests in a way that you easily can on longer cruises.
Also, for a lot of departments the dream is seen as the 'training' ship, so while not all new crew go there, they have a larger percentage and larger turnover of crew.

One more thing, recently, some departments have started moving crew around, whether they want to transfer or not. I know a few people who have only ever worked on the classic ships, literally travelling the world, and are now suddenly visiting the same three places twice a week (castaway doesn't count as your working, and Nassau is...Nassau), so i think that would have some impact on morale in some way.

The dream is a lot more focussed on work and doing things right, i think because there isn't much else to focus on, on other ships I feel they're a little more relaxed within certain departments, new ports can be used as rewards and incentives, there's nearly always something different coming up to be excited about, and that makes the CM have a different attitude to work. Again, not bad, just different. But that might mean that you get the proper and right treatment but not necessarily delivered in the same way...

I know a lot of crew love the dream and request to go there, it's great for saving money and often has more activities, but I also know crew who's reaction to the dream is, ok, I'm here, I'll just ride this contract out...

That went on longer than I expected haha. Hope it make sense...

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

Thank you all for your responses! Like I said, we had a wonderful second cruise and loved the itinerary, but it was just different from our first. I think you all are right in that the first cruise is always the most magical as you don't fully know what to expect! Also, I totally get the quick turnaround and how repetitive it must be for the crew. This cruise did have some more magic than our first, such as a lot of random character sightings in the hallways, Donald playing peek-a-boo with my one year old, etc. We are pretty laid back guests and go out of our way to be friendly to CM, clean up after ourselves, etc.

We're trying to decide whether to book another 5 nt double dip next summer or go back to the Fantasy. The 5 nt is great for budget and two CC stops, but we sure loved the more laid back feel of the 7 night!

I'm assuming you were on the 6/30 Dream 5-night double dip with me? I did this as a B2B on 6/25 and 6/30 b/c I knew 5 nights wouldn't be long enough for me, but I really wanted to do this itinerary.

We were on the 6/25 sailing! Two double dips B2B would be amazing!!

 

[amk43]

But I do have that advantage traveling solo. I also went out of my way to help out the CMs by cleaning up after myself and also always smiled and said hi to them, and some of them noticed and thanked me for it.

You weren't by any chance at table 59 in the ERAER rotation, were you? If so, hello from table 58.