Has anyone regretted taking cruise?

[DCLDVC1]

I think your plan of combining a 4 night cruise with a few days at WDW is perfect. That's exactly what we did for our first cruise and we had a great time. None of us had cruised before so we wanted to get a feel for it before we committed to a longer cruise. Go for it! I think you're kids will end up loving it.

 

[CamColt]

My first cruise was my honeymoon, on the Big Red Boat in 1995. I really didn't think I would like it but DH convinced me to give it a try and we could work in WDW too. Well, 21 cruises later (18 of them DCL), I can say I'm addicted. A cruise is definitely a different experience and it is not for everyone, but you wont know if you don't give it a try.

My kids are now 20 and almost 17 but around the tween years was when they crossed over to preferring cruising over the parks. They could do without the parks all together now as long as we cruise.

 

[IBLarsen]

I think your plan of combining a 4 night cruise with a few days at WDW is perfect. That's exactly what we did for our first cruise and we had a great time. None of us had cruised before so we wanted to get a feel for it before we committed to a longer cruise. Go for it! I think you're kids will end up loving it.

Thanks! Did you do your park days before or after cruise? Trying to think through the psychology of the kids mind set Will they be happier to go on cruise after they have done what they really want to do (the parks) so they can relax and enjoy the cruise after exhausting them in the parks, or save the parks for the end so they are still looking forward to the thing they want to do most....

 

[IBLarsen]

My now 11 yo DD has used Sea Bands for years and absolutely swears by them. She doesn't like when they get wet, so she takes them off to shower, and she can tell after a few minutes when forgets to put them back on. You only need it on one wrist, but she wears both so they keep working even if one gets shifted out of place. I also take along regular Dramamine for my 8yo DS. He gets motion sick all the time (mostly in cars and/or stressful situations). He has side effects from the Dramamine, but when he wears Seabands too, he only has to take a quarter of a tablet so almost no side-effects. Most adults seem to have fewer side effects with Bonine, but it is up to your pediatrician whether your kids are old enough to take it, 12 yo is standard. Whatever you do, please take along meds or get them from the front desk as needed. It is ridiculous to suffer through motions sickness when the treatment is so easy.

Thanks for the tips! I haven't researched anything on this topic yet so that helps!

 

[JP350Z]

No "regrets" on either of our Disney cruises but I do feel the money spent is excessive. Yes we can afford it but I feel a little bit ripped off from a price standpoint. For example our Disney 7 night Western fantasy cruise in June 2016 with airfare, tips, bar tab, excursions etc was well over $6000 for a family of 4. I just booked a week stay in Jamaica at an all inclusive (the same all inclusive Disney uses for day passes) called Jewel Runaway Bay for $3880 all in with EVERYTHING.

 

[aggiedog]

I'll be a small voice of dissension. I also agree that the price is becoming unreasonable. So, for money spent, I'd currently do something else that gets me more vacation for my buck than a DCL cruise. Our Merrytime cruise was stupid expensive for how the kids felt about it - some regret there.

We've done 2 DCL cruises - 7 night Baltic and 4 night Merrytime over Christmas.

As for cruising in general, I quite like my floating hotel room that takes me new places every day while someone else cooks and cleans! I'm not a fan of sea days, when I'm with the kids. My 11yo ds did not love the kids club, and I didn't want him to roam the ship unsupervised all day (I admit he did parts of the day), which left me with a bored kid if he wasn't swimming. My 13yo dd, on the other hand, LOVED the club and could have spent 24/7 there playing video games. My 17 yo twins do not like to cruise, all told, but did love the Baltic ports.

Strangely, the kids all voted down another cruise over Christmas, while that was my favorite part - again, no cooking or cleaning for what's usually a hectic time for me.

The kids are experienced WDW travelers. I'd say the older ones would prefer WDW, the youngest is happy anywhere with a pool, and the middle could go either way. A cruise is definitely a different vacation than WDW - less physical, more relaxed, less "thrills."

 

[DCLDVC1]

No "regrets" on either of our Disney cruises but I do feel the money spent is excessive. Yes we can afford it but I feel a little bit ripped off from a price standpoint. For example our Disney 7 night Western fantasy cruise in June 2016 with airfare, tips, bar tab, excursions etc was well over $6000 for a family of 4. I just booked a week stay in Jamaica at an all inclusive (the same all inclusive Disney uses for day passes) called Jewel Runaway Bay for $3880 all in with EVERYTHING.

I don't think that's a bad deal at all.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Thanks! Did you do your park days before or after cruise? Trying to think through the psychology of the kids mind set Will they be happier to go on cruise after they have done what they really want to do (the parks) so they can relax and enjoy the cruise after exhausting them in the parks, or save the parks for the end so they are still looking forward to the thing they want to do most....

On that trip we did the parks before the cruise. In your case, I'd do the parks after so that have that to look forward to if they don't like the cruise. I don't think they'll want to get off the ship though!

 

[missyp]

Mine were 10 and 14 on our first cruise. I regretted not taking the plunge earlier. They love it so much. Now my oldest is 18 and is beyond bummed that he can no longer go into the Vibe.

 

[mevelandry]

I think a Disney cruise is a good introduction to cruising if you don't know if you are going to like it. Worst case scenario you'll really enjoy the Disney part.

DH and I were intrigued by the cruises and that is why we tried it.

We found it to be so much more relaxing than the parks (in a good way). You'll have your Disney 100% but stress free.

Turns out we are now fans of cruising, with or without Disney.

 

[mevelandry]

Thanks for the tips! I haven't researched anything on this topic yet so that helps!

Just make sure they start taking dramamine (or bonine) BEFORE the ship starts moving. We learned it the hard way. LOL

 

[bumbershoot]

Has anyone felt a bit ambivalent about the cruise before hand and ended up loving it, or has anyone thought it's really not worth it after going???

Many people feel that way about many things and it works out. It's very common for people who are planning their weddings and honeymoons to suddenly feel weird about it, like it's not going to be worth it etc. And then it works out. Doing the unknown is scary. DCL is expensive, and it's scary to throw that much money at something you know nothing about.

My DD11 gets seasick on regular boats and I'm a bit worried about being stuck for that long if she doesn't feel well.

It dodsn't mean she'll necessarily feel sick on the big ship. But definitely get a few things worked out. Get some kid-OK western medicine in case she needs that. Get some real ginger candy to suck on. Get the seabands. My MIL was getting a little seasick her first night on HAL and her server noticed because she really knew what it was that she was feeling. The server brought a bowl of salt and some sliced green apples. Told MIL to dip the apple into the salt and eat it. Worked a charm, pulled her right out of being ill, and she was fine the rest of the cruise.

Thanks! Did you do your park days before or after cruise? Trying to think through the psychology of the kids mind set Will they be happier to go on cruise after they have done what they really want to do (the parks) so they can relax and enjoy the cruise after exhausting them in the parks, or save the parks for the end so they are still looking forward to the thing they want to do most....

There is truly no perfect way, and no way to know what will work the best. I personally love a long vacation and would try to do both before and after.

I also agree that the price is becoming unreasonable.

Which is 1/4 of the reason we don't have DCL planned, and choose Royal and in the future Celebrity. Having Mickey, Jack Sparrow, and Cinderella onboard just isn't worth it for my family, and I prefer the physical aesthetics of other ships more.

Turns out we are now fans of cruising, with or without Disney.

Same. Whatever gets me on a big boat, babeeee!

 

[Princess Merida]

Love Love Love Disney World!! We have two DD4 and DD9 and we took our first Disney cruise in September. It was 7 nights Eastern Carribean on the Disney Fantasy. By about the 5th night I was ready to get off the boat. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy myself and I will cruise again with Disney, but it will be a 4 night cruise 4 night Disney World stay. Cruise food is great! Service is well the best it's Disney. The ship is extremely beautiful, shows excellent. The part that's missing for me is the castle fireworks, the magic, and the rides. While we had fireworks at sea it's not anywhere near the magical feeling of standing in front of that castle. I also love rides like a lot!!! While the aquaduck is nice it's not a thrill ride. I think your choice to mix it up the first time is a good choice. It could go either way. I was left with the feeling of something missing even though it was great. My husband and daughters thought that cruising was the best thing ever even though my daughter missed a few of their favorite rides.

 

[tlprice]

I wasn't sure if I'd like cruising so I also started with a 4 day on the Dream last December. I was afraid I'd get seasick (I get carsick and seasick on ferries and smaller boats). I took Bonine the first day and was fine and never used anything the rest. I did find later that sea bands and ginger are amazing and I like them much better than meds. We did 3 days at Universal before and 6 days at WDW after. Like others have said, 4 days was good to get us hooked and we took a 7 day on the Fantasy in October/November with 2 days at WDW before and 2 days at Universal and 1 day at WDW after. We are now booked for our 3rd cruise, a 7 day out of Puerto Rico on the Wonder so no before or after WDW. We will see how that goes. We have been to WDW so many times in the last 10 years that I'm a bit over it and ready for something different. Cruising I think is it. I like being able to see different places but have my bed, stuff, and food travel with me instead of me lugging it around from place to place. My ultimate goal is a Mediterranean cruise, but I'll probably have to do non-Disney because it is just WAY too expensive.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Four nights is way too short! Our first cruise ever was 7 nights. Our second cruise was 4 nights. Never again for such a short cruise. I think your family will LOVE the cruise!

 

[xlxo]

I have 2 cruise regrets...

• not discovering cruising sooner. Inside cabins are bargain compared to road trips.
• when the credit card bills comes the next month. Especially with the pixie dust premium not charged by other cruise lines.

 

[sc426]

I have had no regrets cruising on DCL. However I have also been on a Carnival cruise and a RC cruise. Both of those I will never go back to. I am now a loyal DCL cruiser. But the credit card bill coming in the mail the month after the cruise..... well..... I just pay it and move on

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We are big Disneyland and Disney World lovers (been many times) looking to take our first cruise in summer. Kids are ages 11 and 13. They have always wanted to go on cruise, but now that we are actually talking about doing it, the kids are saying they would rather spend the whole time at WDW. We are looking at doing the 4 night on the Dream. Has anyone felt a bit ambivalent about the cruise before hand and ended up loving it, or has anyone thought it's really not worth it after going??? We will fit in a few days at WDW also.

Our kids were 10 and 11 for our first cruise, (3 night Dream), have done 5 since and 3 more booked for 2017. We no longer do WDW for a few days before or after because we'd rather take longer cruises and we no longer have AP's to DL, (we live in AZ), because they would rather cruise 2 times per year than one with several trips to DL.

The only vacations we want are cruises now. The thing they most enjoyed at the beginning was the feeling of independence being on the ship. We let them wander off together for short periods of time at the beginning and they loved it! Granted, they spent most of their time next to the soft serve machine!!

It's a different kind of fun from the parks and is heavenly for relaxation.

We don't know where we're going yet but we do know we will spend our summer vacation on a ship in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Disney, RCCL, and Carnival all have new ships coming out during that time frame and we plan on experiencing them.

Book it and don't look back!

 

[Jenscruise]

We are doing our 3rd cruise, would be much higher if we could..but we adore them.
have done WDW many times, and finding lately it's becoming so much work! All the planning of everything from rides to meals.
We just find the cruises to be pure enjoyment and relaxation!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

No