First Disney Cruise w/ CV restrictions - Worth it?

[Cheburashka]

as someone who has done a lot of DCL cruises, I don't feel good about recommending it to others right now.

Have you actually sailed since reopening, though, to be able to share an opinion about the actual experience and not just want you think the experience would be? I sailed in late October and thought the experience was good, and I've cruised 6 times before. Some things, such as the redesigned safety drill, automatic private table at dinner, and a less crowded ship, were significant improvements. There were a few drawbacks, such as reduced selection at Cabanas, no hammocks in the non-cabana section of Castaway Cay, and no hugging characters. Most things were the same: the experience at Castaway Cay was just about identical to the experience pre-Covid (minus hammocks, which were always hard to get, anyway), you still get twice daily maid service in your stateroom, the dining room food & service were just as good, the shows were good, there was still a fireworks show, etc. It always felt like a Disney cruise.

Candidly my biggest fear is with the new Dis leadership, cruising will go the way of the parks with nickel and diming, and more for less . Id like to experience before that happens.

I've done both DCL & WDW before and after reopening. DCL is a LOT more like it used to be, compared to WDW. I can't really recommend WDW to friends right now, because of all of the cutbacks (not Covid protocols, just the cutbacks). One is hoping to plan a first time WDW trip for her & her family and wants me to help her plan the trip since I've been so often, and I'm going to have to warn her that it will be a reduced experience compared to the old trips I used to gush about. I don't feel the same way about DCL, having cruised both before and after reopening. Some people just can't stand wearing a mask at any time, and if that's you, then you shouldn't go because you do have to wear them indoors when you're not dining. But otherwise, the experience is a lot more the same than it is different. Given the massive changes in our society in the past two years, DCL has remained remarkably constant.

Time is rapidly getting away from all of us as parents. We can't get the time back

This 100%. For those with kids who are on the fence about going because the clubs or character meets might not be exactly how you want them, keep in mind how long it might take for those to go back to normal, if they ever do go back to normal. Do you really think Covid is going anywhere? It's January 2022: did you think we'd still be living like this back in March of 2020? Do you really think there won't be another variant scare later this year, next year, etc.? How long will society take to collectively decide to go back to normal life despite the high likelihood that Covid is never going away? Your kids could be grown and gone by that time, and you could be left wishing that you'd vacationed with them anyway.

 

[DianaMB333]

Right now, they're doing a mini welcome show immediately when you embark the ship and enter the atrium. Each group of 20 or so passengers gets its own show. There is no big welcome show on the pool deck right now.

Thanks!