Cruise 4 or 7 days

[bonnielynn]

This is our first cruise and after reading some of this board I wonder if I should have started off slow and then went to the 7 nighter!
We are booked for 7 night Eastern Carribean cruise October 29, 2005.
My question is should I have started off on the 4 night cruise to see if I would get sick or if my children (8, 16) will enjoy it.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[b&j's_mom]

Our first cruise was a four day. It was a good starter cruise for us because we have such young children - 2 and 5 years old. In a few years we will go again, but we will do a 7 day. I think that you guys would be great to have a 7 day with your children being older. As for seasickness, I don't know. We never had any problem with that.

Julie

 

[musicgirl]

I understand your concern. We did a land/sea for our first cruise because I get so sick. If I were to go on a first cruise again......I would do the 7. Just my opinion.

Here are my own hints for seasickness if you are prone.

Start taking something (bronine, dramamine, I use dramamine less drowsy) before you go. I take 1 the am of the flight and then 1 the afternoon so it is always in my system, even on days in port. Now if it makes you too sleepy, well this might not work.

I also have an electronic wristband that when placed correctly is suppose to help even if sea sickness has started. I used these when I felt the boat rocking. You can use the regular cloth ones found in drugstores, but I never knew if it was in the right place. you do with the electronic ones.

The one day/night that I felt the rocking, I stayed in the adult pool which was at the time a wave pool and I didn't feel the rocking. I also didn't go into the theater on that night. If you want to see the show, it will be on the tv in your room.

For me, a person who can get car sick driving myself, I won't ever worry about it again.

With any meds especially for the kids, check it out and maybe even try it out before you go so you will know how it will effect everyone.

 

[bonnielynn]

Thanks for all the info. I think I am mostly scared about getting sea sick and spending above our limits. My husband likes to be able to drink/eat what he wants on vacations. I figure my 16 yr old will be in the arcade ($)....

I am not sure what meds will work for me, but I know that I get sea sick on any boat...

 

[rsjj]

our first cruise was a 7 day...our DSs were 2 & 4 at the time...

our reasoning...since we were flying out there...might as well go for the whole thing! and we debated about 3/4 land/sea vise versa, but thought that would be too exhausting for our DSs, especially the land portion of the vacation. you know, wait in line, all that walking, wait in line, etc. so we just thought we might as well stay on the ship the whole time, and enjoy ourselves.

as for seasickness...try green apples. that worked for us! our pediatrician recommended, along with benedryl. but we never used the meds, just green apples, and we were fine. i'm sure everyone reacts to the ship's rocking motion differently, but wouldn't hurt to try green apples. and they are delicious, not to mention good for you!

 

[logan1_2000]

And we wore the seasickness patches behind our ears and were fine the entire time. Never had a night of seasickness until heavy seas, probably 16-18 feet, in 24 knot winds, on the first night, crossing the gulfstream, on our 4th cruise, 3rd DCL cruise. And we had stopped using the patches after the first cruise.

WE have done the Eastern and are doing it again next month. It is a great cruise. On a 4 nighter, just about the time you start to figure out what you like and how to maximize your enjoyment, (and just about the time your server starts to bring you your favorite drink w/o having to ask and starts bringing you extras because he or she has gotten to know what you like), thats when it is time to pack up and go home from the 4. So good for you for going for it and booking the 7. Tell yourself that the per day cost is lower on the 7 than on the 4.

Re: the arcade--I dont know if the teen club has PS2, like the oceaneer lab does--but because the oceaneer lab had the PS2, my son, 8, soon to be 9, spends very little in the arcade--$20, maybe $25 on the 4 day--no too bad I thought--in January.

Spending can be managed--we're not big drinkers, we dont do the excursions and instead hit beaches on our own for a modest amount--a cab or two, a water taxi or two. We've never done Palo--though we will next time--and on one cruise we went overboard on shutters, and 2 years later still hadn't put the photos in frames, so we bought no photos last time. You will likely want to get a couple souveniers.

Good luck w/ having great weather and a great cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

Thanks for all the info. I think I am mostly scared about getting sea sick and spending above our limits. My husband likes to be able to drink/eat what he wants on vacations. I figure my 16 yr old will be in the arcade ($)....

I am not sure what meds will work for me, but I know that I get sea sick on any boat...

Check out this recient thread on sea sickness

Now for the "spending part". Check out this thread. Be sure to read the entire thread before going I can't help you too much with the "drinking" part. The drink of the day is usually about $3.50. Others are pretty reasonably priced. Now for the food part - eat what you want, how much you want -- it free Well, not FREE, but you've already paid for it. I use the cruise to try out new foods without the monetary risk involved at home (if I don't like something). Here, if you don't like your first choice, order something else. They're happy to bring out whatever you want!!

Make the 16yo use his own money in the arcade. My guess is that he won't spend a lot of time there. I've never been in there but reports are that the games are pretty old / ancient. They have PS2's in the Stack (the teen club).

I too get very sick on any boat, but remember, the Magic is a SHIP. There is a big difference. The ship has stabilizers that remove most of the rocking and rolling you would normally feel on a boat. True, it's not smooth as glass, but it's not bad. I've gotten sea sick on every snorkeling excursion that I've taken that has involved a boat. Luckily, I've slept it off on the way back to the ship. And I have NEVER had any trouble on the ship. I usually forget to take my meds after the second day onboard and haven't had any trouble. Remember, I do dramamine every day at DL and WDW!!

 

[wingawh]

I have done 1 of all three cruises (3,4, and 7 day). If you are going to have to take time off from work you might as well go for the 7 day. doing the 4 day requires 4 days off.

As for sea sickness...learned something new about the green apples. We will have to try that.

All the best!

 

[TheWog]

No, you will love the 7 night.

 

[bonnielynn]

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

This is our first cruise and after reading some of this board I wonder if I should have started off slow and then went to the 7 nighter!
We are booked for 7 night Eastern Carribean cruise October 29, 2005.
My question is should I have started off on the 4 night cruise to see if I would get sick or if my children (8, 16) will enjoy it.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Each cruise (4-night and 7-night) are such a different experience IMO. The ports, the activities, etc. We started with a 7-night and have no regrets. Since then we've taken 3 4-night cruises and now have a 7-night cruise booked for next year. When we do the 4-night cruises, we like to add on a few days at Disney either before or after. That makes up a really wonderful vacation. The 7-night cruises are long enough of a vacation for us, though, and we don't tack on WDW before or after these.

With your kids' ages, I wouldn't be too concerned about the length. There is so much to do and see during your 8 days.

Have fun! -- we'll be cruising two weeks before your cruise next year!

 

[poconoboatniks]

Our first cruise was a 7 night Western cruise, second 7 night Eastern & third 4 night Wonder. Each was very nice and enjoyable. I agree with the comment about the 4 night. You are just getting your bearings and it's time to get off.

Whatever you decide, you will have a great time.

Enjoy!
Poconoboatniks

 

[Mom24Princesses]

We've been waiting for five years to take our first cruise so when the time came to book it I really wanted to do 7 nights. We have 4 children and I figured that we would never get a real taste of the whole experience trying to find the right activities for so many people in only 4 nights. It came down to the $$ and we were able to do it. (2 cabins $$$ "in season" we're a couple of school teachers)

THEN after I'd totaled everything we had enought left to book a 20th Ann 4 night for DH anmd I. SO we will get to do to different boats and all 10 weeks apart. Now I am spending too much time thinking about it and they are over a year away.

I believe if your $$ and schedule will allow it go with 7.

My 2 cents.

Have a Magial Day
Melanie
MºoºM 24 Princesses
AS 8Ns 96, ASM 8Ns 98, POR 6Ns 01,
ALM 8Ns 03, Pop 4Ns 04, CSR 9Ns 04

DCL Magic Cabins 7505<>7507
April 1-7, 2006

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DCL Wonder Cabin 7500
20th Ann. Cruise
June 11th 2006

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[Donalds_best_pal]

Our first cruise was a 7 night. Thought we might get bored or not like it. We loved it. None of us got sea sick also. 7 nights goes so fast and doesnt seem long at all. Our 10 night didnt even seem long enough. lol We are going on a unplanned 3 night this november. It will be short but since we know we have more booked it will be fun.

Matt