Help us choose our first family cruise!

[lisset005]

Hubby and I have sailed once before on the Magic, (like 15 years ago!) and we are taking our 5 kiddos for the first time next year! We currently have two options but havent pulled the trigger because we keep going back and forth between the pros and cons of each.
Here is a quick recap of our options, we would love any input or suggestions from seasoned pros!

*5 Nights on the Dream in March (early) -Grand Cayman & CC
*4 Nights on the Wish in June (early) -Nassau & CC

Either way we will also be going to Disney World once school is out. We got a great Disney+ Subscriber deal on the March cruise, but I am a little concerned about sailing at that time of year. Obviously nobody has a crystal ball to know the weather for sure, but in general for those who have sailed at that time before how is the weather? Are you able to enjoy the pools? Beach? Ocean water temps?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tntstults]

We have sailed the Caribbean in the spring. Most the Caribbean water will be warm. The weather is warm and you can certainly swim in the pools. However Castaway water likely will be cold. Just from my experience.

I'm not thrilled with Nassau for a stop on your Wish itinerary. We in the past have stayed on the ship for that stop. If you have an excursion planned for Nassua that would make a huge difference.

 

[lisset005]

We have sailed the Caribbean in the spring. Most the Caribbean water will be warm. The weather is warm and you can certainly swim in the pools. However Castaway water likely will be cold. Just from my experience.

I'm not thrilled with Nassau for a stop on your Wish itinerary. We in the past have stayed on the ship for that stop. If you have an excursion planned for Nassua that would make a huge difference.

Hubby and I aren't fans of CC, if we got off the ship we would plan an excursion for sure but lean towards just staying onboard to enjoy the ship. CC is what we are looking forward to most, and quite a few people have told us the water was too cold to really enjoy (vs. a summer sailing)

 

[o&smom]

Hubby and I have sailed once before on the Magic, (like 15 years ago!) and we are taking our 5 kiddos for the first time next year! We currently have two options but havent pulled the trigger because we keep going back and forth between the pros and cons of each.
Here is a quick recap of our options, we would love any input or suggestions from seasoned pros!

*5 Nights on the Dream in March (early) -Grand Cayman & CC
*4 Nights on the Wish in June (early) -Nassau & CC

Either way we will also be going to Disney World once school is out. We got a great Disney+ Subscriber deal on the March cruise, but I am a little concerned about sailing at that time of year. Obviously nobody has a crystal ball to know the weather for sure, but in general for those who have sailed at that time before how is the weather? Are you able to enjoy the pools? Beach? Ocean water temps?

Thanks in advance!

I would stick with the 5 night. One more night always wins in my book. The weather will be very nice in March. Hot and humid in June. We live in the west coast, so we do not like hot and humid.

 

[bobbiwoz]

The 5 night cruise is what I would pick.

 

[Kat_M]

Hubby and I have sailed once before on the Magic, (like 15 years ago!) and we are taking our 5 kiddos for the first time next year! We currently have two options but havent pulled the trigger because we keep going back and forth between the pros and cons of each.
Here is a quick recap of our options, we would love any input or suggestions from seasoned pros!

*5 Nights on the Dream in March (early) -Grand Cayman & CC
*4 Nights on the Wish in June (early) -Nassau & CC

Either way we will also be going to Disney World once school is out. We got a great Disney+ Subscriber deal on the March cruise, but I am a little concerned about sailing at that time of year. Obviously nobody has a crystal ball to know the weather for sure, but in general for those who have sailed at that time before how is the weather? Are you able to enjoy the pools? Beach? Ocean water temps?

Thanks in advance!

id go with the 5 night as well !

 

[Clarkson U]

No brainer - 5 nighter. We have done March sailings before over spring break and it has been great. good water temps and good air temps as well. Dream has lots of great things and I think you all will really enjoy it.

 

[Cheburashka]

Hubby and I have sailed once before on the Magic, (like 15 years ago!) and we are taking our 5 kiddos for the first time next year! We currently have two options but havent pulled the trigger because we keep going back and forth between the pros and cons of each.
Here is a quick recap of our options, we would love any input or suggestions from seasoned pros!

*5 Nights on the Dream in March (early) -Grand Cayman & CC
*4 Nights on the Wish in June (early) -Nassau & CC

Either way we will also be going to Disney World once school is out. We got a great Disney+ Subscriber deal on the March cruise, but I am a little concerned about sailing at that time of year. Obviously nobody has a crystal ball to know the weather for sure, but in general for those who have sailed at that time before how is the weather? Are you able to enjoy the pools? Beach? Ocean water temps?

Thanks in advance!

5 nights on the Dream in March

Better ship imo, longer cruise, better weather imo (less hot), Grand Cayman is a better port than Nassau unless you plan on doing Atlantis Aquaventure in Nassau

 

[Keyser]

Feels like a no-brainer to me: 1 extra night is 25% longer of a cruise!. And Grand Cayman is easily my choice over Nassau (Grand Cayman had the nicest beach I've ever been to). If you haven't been on the Dream, it'll be a new experience just like the Wish would be (right now, Wish is able to charge a premium as the "new" ship).

We visited Grand Cayman in March several years ago (on a Disney cruise from Galveston). The water and weather were great for our trip. Not sure if that's always the case or if we got lucky, but it was a fantastic day. And, in 2019 we visited CC in March, and found it perfectly fine (could swim and spend the day at the beach without problem), and found it more pleasant (definitely cooler but not at all cold) than summer time.

 

[MomOTwins]

We did a spring break cruise last year and it was a double dip so visited Castaway twice. One day was chilly (60s-low 70s) and not pleasant to swim in the cool ocean—we built sand castles on the beach and went back onboard to the heated pools after lunch where we enjoyed no lines on the slides because everyone was onshore (and the view of castaway from the Aquadunk was amazing!). A few days later we went back and it was perfect! Low 80s, sunny and the water felt amazing—still cooler ocean temp than summer obviously but not cold and with the warm sun it was easy to swim all day.

In other words, it is hit or miss on weather. Neither day was bad though—we just did different things. I had an awesome time and I already have another cruise booked for next march!

 

[tink1970]

Another vote for the 5 night-the Dream is new to you, it's longer, Grand Cayman is >>>>Nassau and while it's been a while since we went in March, both locations' weather were perfect.

 

[MamaMermaid]

5 night for sure.

 

[rainbowredpanda]

Another vote for the 5 night as well

 

[Carohs]

We were in CC in February. Our sailing traveled through some weather and you could feel the ship rock back and forth, but we lucked out and had a gorgeous day on CC. The water was cool but not cold, very pleasant! I'm from the west coast so I'm used to cold waters most of the year. CC by comparison was much warmer for that time of year.