Difference Between 4 day and 7 day Cruise

[lbcrosby]

We have taken a four day Disney cruise before and are planning a seven day cruise on the Fantasy in a few years. We were curious what they do differently on the seven days in the way of shows and dining. On the four day we had three different restaurants and one repeat where they did the Pirate night. Also, are there any other tricks of the Disney trade we should know about on a seven night?

Thank you.

 

[sayhello]

We have taken a four day Disney cruise before and are planning a seven day cruise on the Fantasy in a few years. We were curious what they do differently on the seven days in the way of shows and dining. On the four day we had three different restaurants and one repeat where they did the Pirate night. Also, are there any other tricks of the Disney trade we should know about on a seven night?

Thank you.

Um, 3 days? Sorry! I couldn't resist!

As far as the dinner rotation goes (and assuming you mean a 7-night cruise and that it will work the same way it does on the Magic and the Wonder) it just gets "extended". You'll go to 3 restaurants, go to those 3 a second time (in the same order), and then go back to the 1st restaurant in your rotation for the 7th night. The menus will be different each night, but you just keep repeating the same 3-night rotation.

On 7-night cruises or longer, they also offer High Tea at Palo on Sea Days.

Sayhello

 

[JohnO]

Well there are two additional shows I believe. You have a lot more going on around the ship. We started with a 3 night, then took a 4 night, which was great. We recently did a 7 night Eastern Caribbean which was incredible. I wouldnt want to do less than a 7 night cruise now.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Hello neighbor. We're in extreme northeast Thornton so the post office keeps thinking our city is Brighton.

We'll be on an Eastern on the Fantasy in June 2012 as well - but ours is the first one that month whereas you'll be going later in the month.

Anyway, here are some other differences between the 4 and 7 nights (we've done two of each).

As PP's have said, you keep repeating the same rotation. That's a little different than the 4 night where you repeat one night. For example, a typical 4 night is PTTA. A 7-night might be more like PTAPTAP. You will get the 3 regular meals and Pirate NIght menu, as well as meals like Captain's Gala (i.e. lobster night), the Till We Meet Again Menu and another feature menu. What's different is that all three restaurants have the exact same menu on those nights so lobster night could be in AP, Lumiere's or Parrot Cay. That's different than the regular menu nights where each one serves a different menu than the other restaurants.

Also, the 7-nights have true formal nights and semi-formal nights instead of a "Dress up" night. Honestly, it's not that different except the menu itself is unique and more people seem to dress up on the longer cruises.

The 7-nights will have more matinees on Sea Days. I didn't see a matinee of the evening show on the 4-night. The evenings also have some variety acts and different feature shows. We've seen magicians and comedians on the 7-night cruises in addition to the more traditional DCL shows.

YOu will also get a character breakfast one morning similar to Chef Mickeys - it's held at Parrot Cay.

The 7-nights are practically twice as long as the 4-nights (6 full days vs 3 full days). You get more time to relax and the ports are better than Nassau!

I like the 7-nights much better as the ship actually goes somewhere. The 4-night is just a very slow moving circle. (Imagine a big circle up to Nebraksa down to western KS and back to Denver. Instead of prairie, it's water.) The ship actually travels quite a distance on the 7-night cruises and the Sea Days are needed for travel instead of just slowing down for a crawl back to PC.

Enjoy your 7-night cruise. You won't want to go back to shorter ones afterwards!!

PS - Is your avatar picture your DS doing some mutton busting?

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I've got a very similar picture of my small fry doing some mutton bustin! It's so cute! He made it to the next round, but decided he didn't really want to try it again

 

[wdwmickey]

I had no idea there were so many Denver area people on the DCL board For the seven night cruise do folks dress nicely for dinner each night? I see formal and semi-formal listed, but am wondering about the other nights. Will we need a suitcase with dressy clothes for dinner? I'm assuming "Colorado casual" won't be appropriate. Thanks

 

[dorkeemn]

For the non-special (special being Formal, Semi-Formal, and Pirate Night) nights - people get away with almost anything for Dinner dress - jeans, polo shirts, dockers - just no shorts for men and no flip-flops for anyone.

Other differences between the 4 and 7 - More Bingo games and higher jackpots on the 7 nighter. More Disney behind the scenes (we had a VP of Imagineering on ours) - Behind the scenes tours of the ship (adults only); More variety of shows on the 7 night cruise - actually had comedy acts come on board for the shows (non-disney)

We did 2 4 nighters - and a 7 - we'll never do a 4 again - unless absolutely have to due to kid's schedules.

 

[*pixie*]

I had no idea there were so many Denver area people on the DCL board

Not Denver, but Northeastern Colorado here!

We went on our first cruise back in October. On the DCL bus back to airport, a couple of families sitting ahead of us struck up a conversation as they were both from Colorado. My DD looks over at them, leans over to me, and says "I've seen those kids before when playing Gold Crown in Denver!".

Can't believe what a small world it is!

 

[lbcrosby]

Thanks for all the information. We love the idea of a 7-night cruise (sorry not days) as we love relaxing on the ship with not having any where you have to be. We did 4-nights the first time around as we did a land and sea package but agree that the 7-night cruises are better. On a 4-night cruse just about the time you figure out which way the bow of the ship is you are getting off it for the last time. I am excited about High Tea on the ship as my sister and I do tea at the Brown Palace here in town and my DS keeps asking when I am taking him. I guess we will see if he still wants to go to tea when he is 13 as that is how old he will be on the trip. We loved touring the galley the last time we were on the ship so it will be fun to get a behind the scenes look at other places.

It is funny that a lot of you are from Colorado. Yes, that is my DS mutton bustin. He did it twice - once at the Stock Show and this picture is taken at the Adams County Fair grounds. That was the end of his career. The dirt is hard and not brought in special for the event so it was quite hard when he hit and the sheep stepped on him for added measure. At 11, however, it is the only cute picture I have of him that he will allow me to showcase.

KSDisneyDad it would have been fun if your family and ours were on the same cruise considering we live so close. The week we picked will be not only our 17th wedding anniversary but also the 4th of July.

Well, thanks again for the insights.

 

[remlap]

I am excited about High Tea on the ship as my sister and I do tea at the Brown Palace here in town and my DS keeps asking when I am taking him. I guess we will see if he still wants to go to tea when he is 13 as that is how old he will be on the trip.

You have to be 18 to eat a Palo; brunch, dinner or tea.

 

[lbcrosby]

Well that won't work. I am not sure I can convince my husband to have tea. Do they serve coffee at tea?