Can You Have Too Many At-Sea Days on a Disney Cruise?

[JJZMgailey]

If you had asked me this question a year ago, or maybe even a month ago, I would have told you that there could never be too many at-sea days during a Disney Cruise Line vacation. You may have heard me gushing about how much I love at-sea days years ago when we first started The DCL Show, but things have changed slightly in light of my last cruise onboard the Disney Fantasy.

Read the rest of my article here https://dclfan.com/onboard-activities/can-you-have-too-many-at-sea-days-on-a-disney-cruise/

 

[LaDonna]

Just got through listening to the dis unlimited podcast…. Made me a little nervous as my first Disney cruise will be next year In September on the Fantasy. Luckily, Nassau is the last port on the itineraries so that’s a little better. Hopefully the dry dock will make for some improvements

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I just got off the 15n repo Sydney-honolulu followed by the 9n honolulu-vancouvet. First week: terrible weather (rocking with pools closed, monsoons etc. And 4 of the 5 seadays of the second cruise terrible weather as well with cold, wibd, rain.
The first cruise had like 10 seadays and they keot us busy! Never got bored… second cruise they had briught pirate night, formal night and frozen night all dorward to the portdays cause they know the weather on the crossing gets bad… that left us with 5 boring seadays… barely anything more than on a regular 7n cruise… trivia, arts and crafts,!even not a whole lot of character meets…. Same ship, same cast, b2b cruises and such a huge difference

 

[SnowWhite2]

Sounds like you aren’t a sea day person. Two sea days on a 5 day cruise is nothing. I didn’t read anything negative besides the weather/rocking. DCL is heavy into trivia, drawing characters and bingo. Was there a movie in the theater to see? I will say on our PC cruises, they had unique activities during sea days. A good book and a lounger on Deck 4 is also a good sea day. A day pass to the rainforest is also an option. I love them and look forward to 3 of them in a few weeks on the Magic.

 

[Joanna71985]

Nope. I love sea days (to me it's the more, the better)

 

[cruisehopeful]

I get bored after one sea day.

 

[dreamer17555]

The mini review on DisUnlimited of the cruise was rough. I was on the Fantasy in Sept and I am surprised to hear them all say how much she needed a dry dock over and over especially since I was on the Dream in Jan & Feb and noticed very few dry dock changes beyond the Edge kids losing their space in the funnel and the Cantina (which is okay but not as good as the Wish ships). If I was considering cruising with DCL for the first time I would be rethinking it after hearing them.

But to answer the question- Sea days are a great chance to hit the pools, rainforest room, play trivia, take a drawing class, meet characters, shop, catch a movie, do a pub crawl, enjoy a book, play shuffleboard, do a round of mini golf, shoot some hoops, or (my favorite) take a nap. maybe with room service after. I also love meeting my fellow cruisers and a sea day hanging at the quiet cove pool with a drink of the day is a wonderful opportunity to do that.

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

Your Dumbo drawing is adorable! You need to frame that.

 

[Cfabar1]

We love being on the ship…. The only thing that isn’t great about sea days is everyone else is on the ship with us….

We often don’t even get off the boat on 3 night cruises….

 

[JJZMgailey]

Just got through listening to the dis unlimited podcast…. Made me a little nervous as my first Disney cruise will be next year In September on the Fantasy. Luckily, Nassau is the last port on the itineraries so that’s a little better. Hopefully the dry dock will make for some improvements

Have you been on a cruise other than Disney before? I find that some folks love the rocking of the ship as it rocks them to sleep, whereas others don't like it at all. If your stateroom is all the way aft or all the way forward, that can also make a big difference. This was the first time I've ever been in a stateroom that was almost at the very aft of the ship.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Sounds like you aren’t a sea day person. Two sea days on a 5 day cruise is nothing. I didn’t read anything negative besides the weather/rocking. DCL is heavy into trivia, drawing characters and bingo. Was there a movie in the theater to see? I will say on our PC cruises, they had unique activities during sea days. A good book and a lounger on Deck 4 is also a good sea day. A day pass to the rainforest is also an option. I love them and look forward to 3 of them in a few weeks on the Magic.

I am actually very much a sea day person, but staying onboard when we were in Nassau made for three full days on the ship, and I think that combined with the high winds, was a little too much for me. Thank goodness I wasn't feeling any seasickness at all. My roomie gave me the non-drowsy Dramamine before bedtime, and I think that saved me!

Movies were available in addition to the other activities, but I'd seen the ones that were playing. I'm totally booking a day pass to the Rainforest Room on my next cruise, though!!

Have the best time on the Magic!

 

[JJZMgailey]

The mini review on DisUnlimited of the cruise was rough. I was on the Fantasy in Sept and I am surprised to hear them all say how much she needed a dry dock over and over especially since I was on the Dream in Jan & Feb and noticed very few dry dock changes beyond the Edge kids losing their space in the funnel and the Cantina (which is okay but not as good as the Wish ships). If I was considering cruising with DCL for the first time I would be rethinking it after hearing them.

I'm not sure that dry dock changes are what's needed, to be honest. I think the location of our staterooms at the very aft of the ship combined with the high winds were the primary issues. I hadn't been on the Fantasy since 2018, and it's been a few years since I sailed on the Dream. It's so hard because the ship's movement affects everyone so differently.

But to answer the question- Sea days are a great chance to hit the pools, rainforest room, play trivia, take a drawing class, meet characters, shop, catch a movie, do a pub crawl, enjoy a book, play shuffleboard, do a round of mini golf, shoot some hoops, or (my favorite) take a nap. maybe with room service after. I also love meeting my fellow cruisers and a sea day hanging at the quiet cove pool with a drink of the day is a wonderful opportunity to do that.

Oh my goodness, YES! Yes to all of this – such a great list of everything there is to do. I forgot about shuffleboard; I need to give that a try next time!

I'm 100% with you on a nap and room service afterward, especially when we have late dining at 8:15!

 

[LaDonna]

Have you been on a cruise other than Disney before? I find that some folks love the rocking of the ship as it rocks them to sleep, whereas others don't like it at all. If your stateroom is all the way aft or all the way forward, that can also make a big difference. This was the first time I've ever been in a stateroom that was almost at the very aft of the ship.

Yes 2 carnival in middle…never experienced sea sickness thank goodness

We got cabin 8643 which is like 3/4 of the way back I think considered aft

 

[CaseyCruiser]

I love being able to relax at breakfast during a sea day. Or brunch works too!

 

[dreamer17555]

I'm not sure that dry dock changes are what's needed, to be honest. I think the location of our staterooms at the very aft of the ship combined with the high winds were the primary issues. I hadn't been on the Fantasy since 2018, and it's been a few years since I sailed on the Dream. It's so hard because the ship's movement affects everyone so differently.

Oh my goodness, YES! Yes to all of this – such a great list of everything there is to do. I forgot about shuffleboard; I need to give that a try next time!

I'm 100% with you on a nap and room service afterward, especially when we have late dining at 8:15!

The aft staterooms on the Fantasy (even in good weather) can be rough with all the vibrations. I know DCL has tried to fix it during a previous dry dock without any luck. I am so sorry you were seasick. I would not wish that on anyone- it is absolutely miserable.

Add shuffleboard to your next cruise list! Hanging out on deck 4 is so lovely and its a really easy game to learn! I bet you would have a bunch of fun playing.

 

[Joanna71985]

The aft staterooms on the Fantasy (even in good weather) can be rough with all the vibrations. I know DCL has tried to fix it during a previous dry dock without any luck. I am so sorry you were seasick. I would not wish that on anyone- it is absolutely miserable.

Add shuffleboard to your next cruise list! Hanging out on deck 4 is so lovely and its a really easy game to learn! I bet you would have a bunch of fun playing.

I haven't been on the Fantasy in years. However, my last cruise on the Dream, I was almost Aft as one could go (there were only a few staterooms to the right of mine). And the vibrations were HORRIBLE! Luckily I don't get seasick, but it was not fun shaking that much

 

[Cfabar1]

I haven't been on the Fantasy in years. However, my last cruise on the Dream, I was almost Aft as one could go (there were only a few staterooms to the right of mine). And the vibrations were HORRIBLE! Luckily I don't get seasick, but it was not fun shaking that much

We were midship or close to the front of aft on the Dream and had bad experiences with vibrations castaway cay morning. Rest of the time, not so much.

Never had a similar experience on Magic or Wish.

 

[happycamper47]

Not if you've been in the Navy.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Amen

 

[insureman]

We've been on 30 DCL cruises with 3 of them being transatlantic so we really enjoy the sea days.