HELP!! Dream, Magic or Wish? We can't decide BEST cruise option

[lisset005]

Fellow Disney Fans

We are planning on taking our kids on their first cruise and Walt Disney World trip next year but I am having trouble pinning down exactly what we want to do and when. I’m worried about the water temps/weather in early March being warmer enough for a cruise, hubby and I specifically are most excited for their private island, Castaway Cay and read the temps can be hit or miss

For those who have traveled to FL and/or taken a cruise in March I would love your input! We are seasoned Disneyland pros, but our kids have never been to WDW or on a cruise (hubby and I have sailed once pre-kids)
We will be driving from TX, 5 kiddos. 2-15 years old.
Here’s ours options and my concerns/thoughts. I’ve added as many details as possible for those who are familiar for input.

Option 1:
5 night Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream (Grand Cayman + Castaway Cay) over spring break. Port: Miami. Kids would miss one day of school, concerned about the weather, and specifically the ocean temps and being able to really enjoy the beaches (*especially at CC!) and the pools on board.
+10 days at WDW end of May/June.

Option 2:
4 night Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish (Nassau + Castaway Cay) end of May. Port: Canaveral. Shortest cruise, but it’s the new ship.
+6 days at WDW after cruise.

Option 3:
5 night Disney Cruise on the Disney Magic (Nassau + 2 days at Castaway Cay) mid/end June. Port:Miami. Magic is the oldest ship, but a double dip at Castaway Cay is on my bucket list.
+6 days at WDW after the cruise this would push us a few days into July at the parks As of now we will be required to test before boarding so we don’t want to do WDW before and risk picking up and not being able to cruise.

*We have our cruises booked so we do not need help with any of that. Thank you!

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

For me it would be a toss up between Options 2 and 3. Having sailed in March previously the water at CC was far too cold for swimming. The weather was nice but it was a "Sunbathing and gorgeous views" not a swimming day for sure.

If you want a newer ship/more bells and whistles go for the Wish. More of a standard Itinerary but less driving/more convenient if going to WDW.
If you want more days at Castaway, go for the Magic. The double dips are WONDERFUL. I did a 4 night in 2019 and loved it. No issues with chilly water in June for sure!

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

 

[lisset005]

For me it would be a toss up between Options 2 and 3. Having sailed in March previously the water at CC was far too cold for swimming. The weather was nice but it was a "Sunbathing and gorgeous views" not a swimming day for sure.

If you want a newer ship/more bells and whistles go for the Wish. More of a standard Itinerary but less driving/more convenient if going to WDW.
If you want more days at Castaway, go for the Magic. The double dips are WONDERFUL. I did a 4 night in 2019 and loved it. No issues with chilly water in June for sure!

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

Thank you! Based off of reading others experiences I think we are going to cross out the Spring Break option. We don't want to spend so much money and end up not being able to really enjoy beach days, especially at CC! Hubby and I are looking forward to going back to CC most!

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Thank you! Based off of reading others experiences I think we are going to cross out the Spring Break option. We don't want to spend so much money and end up not being able to really enjoy beach days, especially at CC! Hubby and I are looking forward to going back to CC most!

Option 3 for sure then! You won't regret a double dip. That second day on the island changed the way I looked at it for the future and I only loved it more.

That second day lets you really soak in the atmosphere and lets that "Bahamian relaxation" really take over because no matter what happens the first day at CC, you have another right around the corner.

 

[Cheburashka]

I would definitely go in March. May/June will be hot and humid. March will be very warm but not too hot to enjoy bicycling on Castaway Cay, for example. The ocean water at CC will be cold (not too cold for swimming, but some people only like swimming in warm water), not the air. If you must have warm ocean water at CC (Grand Cayman will have warm water either way), then sail in the summer. Sea lice are more common in the warm early summer waters than in the colder March waters, though. You're also more likely to get rain in early summer. March is in the middle of the Bahamas' dry season.

 

[Cheburashka]

Having sailed in March previously the water at CC was far too cold for swimming. The weather was nice but it was a "Sunbathing and gorgeous views" not a swimming day for sure.

I usually sail from late December to mid-March and there are always tons of people swimming, including us.

OP and other newbies, keep in mind that is just the PP's opinion about not liking to swim in cold water. Some people will only swim in warm water but that's a preference. The water is never too cold to swim safely on Castaway. I'm from central Texas and we often swim in our natural cold water springs here, and the CC waters in winter/early spring are similar to that, maybe a little warmer than what we're used to in central Texas. Once you immerse yourself in the water, your body adjusts and it feels fine. And the air is so warm there's no issue with getting out and walking around wet comfortably. I'm not alone in my opinion because the beaches and Pelican Plunge are always packed on those trips.

 

[greensombrero]

I went to check the water temp charts and the water is similar in Jan and March at Castaway. We enjoyed it in Jan just fine it never gets cold at Castaway like say California beaches where the water in Mar is quite cold. I think water temp perception really varies based on where you may be from. If you are used to California beaches or mountain lakes Castaway is quite warm year round.

That being said I’d do option 3 because we love the Magic and there is something about starting with the original ship. Also I personally think a 5 night cruise is the way to go for your first. Gives you more of a chance to experience it all and honestly a double dip at Castaway would be incredible.

Also sailing out of Miami is fun. The port terminal may not be Disney but the sail away scenery is far more interesting. We’ve done fly into MCO and sail out of Miami the drive between Miami and Orlando isn’t bad.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I usually sail from late December to mid-March and there are always tons of people swimming, including us.

OP and other newbies, keep in mind that is just the PP's opinion about not liking to swim in cold water. Some people will only swim in warm water but that's a preference. The water is never too cold to swim safely on Castaway. I'm from central Texas and we often swim in our natural cold water springs here, and the CC waters in winter/early spring are similar to that, maybe a little warmer than what we're used to in central Texas. Once you immerse yourself in the water, your body adjusts and it feels fine. And the air is so warm there's no issue with getting out and walking around wet comfortably. I'm not alone in my opinion because the beaches and Pelican Plunge are always packed on those trips.

We Sailed March 6th - 9th, 2020 on the Dream. The water and Air temps were in the 50-60's. They were handing out blankets as you got off the ship instead of towels.

There was no one in the water.

 

[epcotrulz]

Dream or Magic.

 

[Cheburashka]

We Sailed March 6th - 9th, 2020 on the Dream. The water and Air temps were in the 50-60's.

The water temperature at CC never goes below about 75 degrees. Water temps do not fluctuate the way air temperatures do.

Spring break is mid-March, which is warmer than early March. We've sailed there twice in mid-March in recent years, and it was hot both times. We've sailed 5 times in late December/early January, and the air was very warm each time. Cool air temps happen occasionally at CC but are a rarity. Mid-March onward, they're virtually unheard of.

 

[BamaGuy44]

We Sailed March 6th - 9th, 2020 on the Dream. The water and Air temps were in the 50-60's. They were handing out blankets as you got off the ship instead of towels.

There was no one in the water.

No way the water temps were in the 60s, much less the 50s. But even 75 degree water can feel pretty cold. We've been to CC in December when the air temps were in the upper 50s and windy. Still plenty of people swimming and snorkeling. I'm not gonna say it's pleasant for the first 10 minutes or so, but after that it was fine. The kids seemed to barely notice.

If there was really nobody in the water that day, it was a rare occasion indeed.

 

[Intr3pid]

We sail in Jan and Feb all the time - and the CC water is wonderfully warm relative to our Northeastern winters. The most value of our trip down south, so to speak!

By March/April, we are thinking Hawaii and west coast.

If your kids have never been on a DCL cruise, try not to do the cruise before the parks. They will have wowzer of time at sea, and the parks will be an anti-climax. If you need to spend more vacation time after the cruise, plan some at a relaxing resort.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

No way the water temps were in the 60s, much less the 50s. But even 75 degree water can feel pretty cold. We've been to CC in December when the air temps were in the upper 50s and windy. Still plenty of people swimming and snorkeling. I'm not gonna say it's pleasant for the first 10 minutes or so, but after that it was fine. The kids seemed to barely notice.

If there was really nobody in the water that day, it was a rare occasion indeed.

Thats what was announced. I still wouldnt recommend a cruise in march if you are concerned about weather temps.

 

[BamaGuy44]

We sail in Jan and Feb all the time - and the CC water is wonderfully warm relative to our Northeastern winters. The most value of our trip down south, so to speak!

By March/April, we are thinking Hawaii and west coast.

If your kids have never been on a DCL cruise, try not to do the cruise before the parks. They will have wowzer of time at sea, and the parks will be an anti-climax. If you need to spend more vacation time after the cruise, plan some at a relaxing resort.

I've always liked doing parks first. The ship is just so nice and relaxing after all the hustle and chaos of the parks. But I do see the value in doing after, it takes some of the sadness of getting of the ship away when you know you're going back into the "bubble" for a while instead of going home. So the only solution s do parks before AND after

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I would not worry about testing, its highly unlikely there will be any testing next year. Norwegian dropped all protocols this week, the others will follow shortly most likely.
I agree about Mid March, it can be hit or miss. The water will still be cold at CC, but swiming on the ship will likely be much warmer since the pool water is so much warmer.

 

[Intr3pid]

I've always liked doing parks first. The ship is just so nice and relaxing after all the hustle and chaos of the parks. But I do see the value in doing after, it takes some of the sadness of getting of the ship away when you know you're going back into the "bubble" for a while instead of going home. So the only solution s do parks before AND after

For us, parks these days are too crowded and tiring to enjoy our vacation. If we want to extend our vacation after the cruse, we head to a resort - and not the parks.

 

[BamaGuy44]

For us, parks these days are too crowded and tiring to enjoy our vacation. If we want to extend our vacation after the cruse, we head to a resort - and not the parks.

I get that 100%. We still enjoy the parks, but do them at a slower pace and not "commando" style like back in the day. But trending toward getting more and more of our Disney fix in non-park settings. Resorts, Cruises, and we can't wait to try some of the non-park Disney resorts since we're DVC members now. Hilton head, Aulani, Vero Beach.

 

[goofy4prez]

Perhaps my opinion is flawed because I'm from NE Ohio, but there is nothing that would keep me out of the waters at Castaway Cay in any month of the year. The coldest water temperature average is 73.9 and that is in January. The average water temperature in March is up to 75.2 degrees. The average air temperature in January is 76 degrees and in March it is 78 degrees. None of this scares me away at all. In fact I'm all in. I personally think this is much more desirable than June when the average temperature is 88 degrees and the water temps average 84.8 degrees. I have a cruise in December and have a cabana reserved. The month of December the average air temperature is 77 degrees and the water on average is 76.6 degrees.

With all that said, I pick option 1. More days at sea and more days at WDW = Win Win!

 

[Marthasor]

If your focus is CC, my choice would be the Magic. You will get two days at CC and the island will not be as crowded as the Magic holds less people than the other ships you are considering. I've sailed on Wish, Dream, Fantasy and Magic and Magic remains my favorite DCL ship. Especially for a first cruise - it has the potential of being the least overwhelming for your children.

 

[EliOliAli]

We are hoping to go on different cruise next time but LOVE the magic for our young daughter (we've sailed on it when she's been 1,2 and 3.
Pools on the ship are heated
She loves the 'Mickey mouse club house' and 'toy story' room of the kids club.