I don't get why Disney doesn't offer longer cruises...

[katyringo]

So- we have booked our first Disney cruise which is a 7 night one way from Galveston to San Juan with stops at both islands.

We booked this cruise due to length, ship, and destination.

However we were considering pushing this cruise out another year (changed our minds). But maybe I'm not looking right or maybe they haven't released everything but I feel like the offerings for Bahama cruises is... meh.. for 2026. There is nothing in 2026 longer than 5 nights for the Bahamas or really for any US port. Seems that's pretty standard for Disney cruise? Maybe it's just our vacation style but when you have the fly from the mid west 5 nights in probably the minimum we would do, not the max. And based on how our current cruise has jumped in price and is nearly sold out, I think people want longer Bahama cruises. We will probably fall in love with DCL after this cruise so may deal with the 5 nights but I guess that's something that surprises me as someone new to DCL.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

DCL is slowly expanding their horizons as their fleet grows but still aren't super adventurous in their itineraries. Most of the longer cruises are still TA/TP cruises or over in Hawaii/Alaska. They have done a few longer cruises in the Caribbean and hopefully that will become a bigger thing as they have more ships to play with.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So- we have booked our first Disney cruise which is a 7 night one way from Galveston to San Juan with stops at both islands.

We booked this cruise due to length, ship, and destination.

However we were considering pushing this cruise out another year (changed our minds). But maybe I'm not looking right or maybe they haven't released everything but I feel like the offerings for Bahama cruises is... meh.. for 2026. There is nothing in 2026 longer than 5 nights for the Bahamas or really for any US port. Seems that's pretty standard for Disney cruise? Maybe it's just our vacation style but when you have the fly from the mid west 5 nights in probably the minimum we would do, not the max. And based on how our current cruise has jumped in price and is nearly sold out, I think people want longer Bahama cruises. We will probably fall in love with DCL after this cruise so may deal with the 5 nights but I guess that's something that surprises me as someone new to DCL.

We've done 13 DCL cruises - one 4 night; two 5 night; two 7 night; one 10 night; one 11 night; two 14 night; and one 15 night cruises.

DCL does offer longer cruises. And sometimes you can B2B shorter ones to make a longer cruise. We booked a B2B 7 night Western/Eastern Caribbean cruises along with a 4 night Bahamas two days prior, making a 20 day trip out of it. And also did a 10 night Med B2B with a 14 night WBTA for 24 nights onboard.

 

[Mommb]

Disney offers 7-night cruises in the Caribbean throughout the year. In January through May of 2026, the Treasure will be alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

If you search strictly for Bahamas cruises, you will see mostly 3-, 4-, and 5-night trips because the stops in the Bahamas are just Nassau, Castaway Cay, and Lighthouse Point.

Disney also offers 7-night cruises to Alaska and 7-night and longer cruises in Europe. There are also occasional longer cruises to Hawaii, across the Panama Canal, and across the Atlantic. Many families are reluctant to take kids out of school for more than a week, so the target audience for Disney cruises probably prefers shorter cruise.

 

[katyringo]

I don't think I clearly articulated what I meant..

They don't have a single cruise that I can find that is 6-7nights that stops at both castaway cay and lighthouse point in spring 2026.

But that could really just be a me thing..

 

[sponica]

I don't think I clearly articulated what I meant..

They don't have a single cruise that I can find that is 6-7nights that stops at both castaway cay and lighthouse point in spring 2026.

But that could really just be a me thing..

The itinerary you're currently booked for is to reposition the Magic to Port Everglades from her winter/early spring in Galveston via San Juan and it's super unique to be that long and include both private islands.

 

[katyringo]

The itinerary you're currently booked for is to reposition the Magic to Port Everglades from her winter/early spring in Galveston via San Juan and it's super unique to be that long and include both private islands.

Yes. I think that's my point. I don't think it should be that unique. It's sold really well.

 

[katyringo]

I guess what I'm trying to articulate is some folks(me) really like simple. I don't want to go to Canada or Europe. I like the simplicity of the disney islands. I'd like a simple US port option that goes to both islands that is longer with more sea days.

 

[lanejudy]

I guess what I'm trying to articulate is some folks(me) really like simple. I don't want to go to Canada or Europe. I like the simplicity of the disney islands. I'd like a simple US port option that goes to both islands that is longer with more sea days.

It sounds like you'd love the old NYC cruises to the Bahamas -- I think those were 8 nights with a port stop at Port Canaveral/WDW, Castaway Cay, and maybe Nassau, with 5 days at sea. I'm not sure they sold all that well because they were in the fall. It's been quite a few years now that itinerary was offered.

Maybe try B2B Bahama cruises, 3-4-or-5 nights each out of either Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale. Those will include stops at CC or LP and Nassau (many guests just stay onboard at that stop), plus a day or two at sea. Actually, I see several 4-night cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in 2026 that are just the 2 private island stops (CC and LP) and a day at sea. Pair that with either a 3-night or 4-night and you'd get another stop at CC plus Nassau or a sea day.

 

[katyringo]

It sounds like you'd love the old NYC cruises to the Bahamas -- I think those were 8 nights with a port stop at Port Canaveral/WDW, Castaway Cay, and maybe Nassau, with 5 days at sea. I'm not sure they sold all that well because they were in the fall. It's been quite a few years now that itinerary was offered.

Maybe try B2B Bahama cruises, 3-4-or-5 nights each out of either Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale. Those will include stops at CC or LP and Nassau (many guests just stay onboard at that stop), plus a day or two at sea. Actually, I see several 4-night cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in 2026 that are just the 2 private island stops (CC and LP) and a day at sea. Pair that with either a 3-night or 4-night and you'd get another stop at CC plus Nassau or a sea day.

Yes we would like the NYC ones! We did a carnival from NYC to Bahamas.. loved it!

 

[JM_97]

They always do 7 night West and East Caribbean cruises with a few 10 or 11 night South Caribbean cruises. Panama Canal cruises are more rare, but they are usually 15 nights. Transatlantic sailings are usually 14 or 15. Europe/Med has a couple of longer sailings. Repo cruises in the Pacific can get long.

Disney's bread and butter consists of those short or medium length cruises from Florida, but there are definitely longer sailings with more adventurous stops if you know where to look.

 

[tvguy]

Shorter cruises are more profitable. You are putting more people on the ship over the course of a year. That means you sell more souvenirs. On a 7 day everyone buys their DCL tee shirt. But by using the ship for a 3 day, and a 4 day in the same week, twice as many people are buying that tee shirt. And it makes the cruise more affordable from a fare standpoint. Someone who can't afford a 4 day, might be able to afford a 3 day. Someone who can't afford a 5 day, might be able to afford a 4 day. Someone who can't afford a 7 day, might be able to afford a 5 day.

 

[auntlynne]

@tvguy pegged it.

And not only are Bahamas cruises meh for 2026, this is what they have been offering since I started in 2007 (and probably since DCL started in 1998).

I hold to the idea that there expectation was not to build a large repeat customer base, but to lure people to FL to do a combined WDW + DCL vacation. New visitors are probably more likely to spend dollars (soft sales) than repeaters. That’s a good source of income for all cruise lines (and lower alcohol sales, no casino for DCL).

But a longer Bahamas cruise? I can’t think of anyone who offers that. Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, and the private cruise islands (or beach - Bimini or Princess Cay next to Lighthouse Point) don’t seem to be packaged by themselves. If you get much longer than 3-4, you find the added days are Sea Days to get to Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, or Mexico, Caymans. I looked up Bahamas cruises for the rest of this year. Beyond the 3- and 4-night offerings, you start getting those additional ports.

Those short cruises allow more people to cruise. Lower price and fit into a week’s vacation. Add a few days before or after in origin city…. It’s been working for years. Seven nights takes more than a week of vacation. I think you understand that from previous post.

You have picked cruising with DCL during a time of pretty big growth. Now it’s time to figure out which ship is going where and how Lighthouse Point works out.

Why offer cruises to both Cays if you have people willing to do two cruises with only one of the beaches offered on each? Probably not the best things from a consumer view.

If you added 2 or 3 nights in San Juan to the 6- or 7-night cruise, you would end up with a longer vacation / use of flight.

As for hitting both Cays on a cruise, maybe in the future. But I think that will be few and far between. Used to be Double Dips were rare. They still might be.

 

[katyringo]

I get it but I can wish!

We did a carnival cruise out of NYC in 2014 that stopped in Florida, two Bahama stops, and back to NYC. When we stopped in Florida my husband and I went to universal. Imagine a Disney cruise that stoped at PC and did a Disney day? I'd love it.

 

[auntlynne]

I get it but I can wish!

We did a carnival cruise out of NYC in 2014 that stopped in Florida, two Bahama stops, and back to NYC. When we stopped in Florida my husband and I went to universal. Imagine a Disney cruise that stoped at PC and did a Disney day? I'd love it.

If only you had a wayback machine - since that has been an option in the past - on DCL.

Maybe it will happen again. Are you good at waiting?

 

[katyringo]

If only you had a wayback machine - since that has been an option in the past - on DCL.

Maybe it will happen again. Are you good at waiting?

Got nothing better to do...

 

[auntlynne]

Got nothing better to do...

I don’t think I have held out with no cruise while waiting for my dream version to be offered.

 

[katyringo]

I don’t think I have held out with no cruise while waiting for my dream version to be offered.

Well I didn't say we wouldn't go while waiting...

 

[lilsonicfan]

I always thought the rationale is that it just doesn't take very long to get from Florida to the Caribbean/Bahamas... so a longer cruise just means kinda wandering around. And I agree it is also very much about profit.

Even the 14 night WBPC cruise we did in 2022 didn't stop at Castaway

 

[Ronneeaght]

If only you had a wayback machine - since that has been an option in the past - on DCL.

Maybe it will happen again. Are you good at waiting?

I went on a five night Bermuda cruise from NYC for my first Disney cruise in 2019 to see how we would like it. Came back thinking, “Yes! Let’s do the 7 night to Florida and the Bahamas in a couple years” Been waiting since then for it to come back. Get my hopes up each release, ha.