How to Decide on Which Cruise

[2prettygirl]

When looking at cruises, do you pick a cruise based on destination or ship? We have only sailed DCL 1 time and loved the experience upon the Fantasy. We sailed East Caribbean, which was our 2nd time visiting the ports but we enjoyed them so much the first time on a Carnival cruise that we sailed them a 2nd time when doing Disney. We are sailing West Caribbean this fall on Carnival cruise and I am excited to try new ports but I guess you can say I am a Disney snob and just wish I were sailing Disney. So with that said, we are wanting to sail Disney again next fall and trying to decide on where to sail. As much as I would love to do the California Coast or Mexico destinations, they are not offered on the Fantasy, which is the ship we would love to sail again but just returning from a West Caribbean cruise this fall and want to change it up a bit, will we be crazy for sailing East Caribbean for a 3rd time on the same ship we have sailed before? I feel like we should change it up a bit but I am not sure how well we will like the other ships when we sailed Fantasy first and enjoyed her so much!

we look at itinerary first too, but the Fantasy is the only ship we haven't been on yet so I think that will heavily weigh into our decision for 2018

Like others have said: Destination / Itinerary and time of year and Cost . All Disney ships are great. Yep if you've only sailed on the Fantasy, the prospect of going on the older, smaller ships seems scary. But the Magic and Wonder are Great Ships as well as the Fantasy.

With DCL's current itinerary of the Dream doing 3 & 4 nights, with way to many first time cruisers (that are on the once in a lifetime cruise and have to do it ALL NOW), I avoid the Dream. I like to relax. Too many stressed out people on the Dream for me.

The Magic & Wonder don't have all of the bells and whistles of the Dream / Fantasy. To me those are just distractions. I really like the Mid Ship Detective Agency on the Fantasy, but again there's a lot of people doing that so the hallways and stairways are busier and more crowded there. I enjoy interacting with the crew, other ship mates and relaxing. I can do all of those things easier on the Magic / Wonder.

Oh yea on all ships I do NOT have to: Cook, Clean, Shop, Menu Plan, House Maintenance - so its ALL Good!!

I've been on all 4 ships and they are all great. We base our trip on itinerary.

We've made most of our decisions with either itinerary or date as the priority, depending on the situation. When we decided to do a Med cruise, we looked at the itinerary and then at the dates. We like to do a pre or post cruise when DW attends an annual conference in Orlando and then dates are the priority.

The ship becomes important only if it becomes a choice. We prefer the Classic ships and will take one of them before a newer ship if it's an option.

I think we spoiled ourselves by sailing on the Fantasy first. We will have 2 girls, ages 8 & 11 at sailing, would they be disappointed in the Magic or Wonder after sailing Fantasy?

 

[jrabbit]

I think we spoiled ourselves by sailing on the Fantasy first. We will have 2 girls, ages 8 & 11 at sailing, would they be disappointed in the Magic or Wonder after sailing Fantasy?

I've always wanted to spend time in the kids clubs on any of the ships - they look like so much fun, but I'm way to old to be allowed in.

Depends upon what your kids want. Avengers Academy is on the Magic (and maybe other ships as well). Isn't the Millennium Falcon on the Magic as well?

and in my experience, kids ages 11 - 14 really weren't that interested in the clubs, the Edge for the tweens didn't happen until my kids were 18 and older.

 

[jrabbit]

...

well that was pretty narcissistic - I just quoted my self

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We have a cruise booked in 2018 (still pretty far out) on the Vista! I am excited to try her but once again, I know that Carnival doesn't quite live up to the expectations of Disney but still excited!

We went to our Vista cruise with no preconceived expectations and were pleasantly surprised. Now our expectations for any cruise line is its going to be fun but different from all other cruises, that way there's no let down.

 

[Sir William]

I've always wanted to spend time in the kids clubs on any of the ships - they look like so much fun, but I'm way to old to be allowed in.

On our first cruise we took advantage of the open house in the kids' clubs. We got to the Vibe and I was ready to spend my entire cruise right there. Not because of the activities, but because it just felt so comfortable. I'm sure once the teens arrived I'd be looking for the exit, but it was nice and relaxing when we visited on embarkation day.

 

[seacruise]

I think we spoiled ourselves by sailing on the Fantasy first. We will have 2 girls, ages 8 & 11 at sailing, would they be disappointed in the Magic or Wonder after sailing Fantasy?

I wouldn't think so, we went on the Fantasy first and then found out we actually liked the smaller ships better. We have two girls as well (6 and 9) and they haven't complained about their cruises on the Magic.