I need to pick your brains!!!!!!

[PENCOYS PIRATE]

HI everyone, well we have just got back from our trip to florida and our cruise seems like a lifetime ago, but boy was it amazing, so amazing that of course we would like to do it again.
I have loads of questions and was wondering if anyone could help me?
We are possibly thinking of doing a 7 day, which type is the best East or West?
Is the Magic as lovely as the Wonder?(silly question I know)
It looks like we will have to go around the middle of August whats the weather like? ( thats probably another silly question ) and do es the ship generally get into the ports etc?
Do you think a 3 and a 4 day cruise back to back would be better
Of course with all these questions I know it's all personal preferance, but it's always nice to find out other peoples views.
Anyother infon regarding the 7 day ie, what things happen etc I would love to hear from you all
Thanks Chucklechops
xx P.S. am in the process of writing a trip report so watch this space

 

[webray]

1st..there is a special area for trip reports..you will get a much better response if you put it over there.

As far as ports..pick according to what ports you would like to visit. You will get good and bad comments on both I am sure.

As far as doing a 3 and 4 day back to back..well, that would be fine, but you wouldn't get to see or experience anything new. Just depends on what type of experiences you are looking for I guess. There is so much world out there to see, I would choose a new itinerary before repeating the same one.

 

[jrabbit]

Back to Back 3 / 4 night crusie: downside - visit Nassau twice, Upside - Castaway Cay twice!! downside: 2 half days (embarkation days). And you get a sea day tossed in there. I believe that doing a 3 / 4 back to back is more expensive than a 7 nighter.

Eastern: two sea days - really 2 1/2 days (sometimes with "tweens" they get a bit ansy during this part of the cruise) then St. Maarten - great beaches, iffy snorkeling - depends upon how much wind there is to affect visibility. Then St. Thomas - lots of great snorkeling and St. John's is AWESOME!! A sea day then back to Castaway Cay with a late night packing up for early debarkation in the next morning. Generally the weather and water will be warmer because you're farther south than on the western (more of a difference during the winter months)

Western: embarkation and arrive around noon on Sunday at Key West. Sea Day then Grand Cayman (great snorkeling and Sting ray city) then on to Cozumel, a sea day to Castaway Cay.

 

[NowaSki]

HI everyone, well we have just got back from our trip to florida and our cruise seems like a lifetime ago, but boy was it amazing, so amazing that of course we would like to do it again.
I have loads of questions and was wondering if anyone could help me?
We are possibly thinking of doing a 7 day, which type is the best East or West?
Is the Magic as lovely as the Wonder?(silly question I know)
It looks like we will have to go around the middle of August whats the weather like? ( thats probably another silly question ) and do es the ship generally get into the ports etc?
Do you think a 3 and a 4 day cruise back to back would be better
Of course with all these questions I know it's all personal preferance, but it's always nice to find out other peoples views.
Anyother infon regarding the 7 day ie, what things happen etc I would love to hear from you all
Thanks Chucklechops
xx P.S. am in the process of writing a trip report so watch this space

Which is better Eastern or Western? Well, you will get a lot of opinions on that topic. We just did the Western and had a GREAT time. We are planning on doing the Eastern in 2007. It all depends on what dates you can go, and which Islands you want to visit.

I've not cruised in August, but that is usually the heart of Hurricane season. But then again Hurricanes can strike almost any time between May and Novemeber.

I don't think doing a 3 & 4 night back to back is better than a 7 night. I assume you have disembark and re-embark in between. Plus, on the 7 night you get either 2 (Western) or 3 (Eastern) full days at sea to enjoy the ship.

Get the planning DVD and info from DCL, get the Passporter, and research the different Islands and schedules. With either choice you should be happy.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Mark

 

[rotary2808]

I highly recommend a seven day cruise. We never did one of the 3 or 4 night ones because we felt it wasn't long enough.

I've only done Eastern cruises. Last year we did one of the special Eastern routes that went to Antigua. This year in Sept. we are doing the regular Eastern route. I like the Eastern since it has one more day at sea. You won't get bored because there is so much to do on sea days. Always something going on.

The only reason I can foresee that the ship couldn't get into a port in August was if you had a hurricane. Slim chance, but it could happen. That is no big deal. Our cruise last year was during Hurricane Jeanne. They sail around it, the seas may still be a little choppy and on Friday the storm was in the Bahamas and getting close to Florida so we didn't make it to CC, but DCL made sure there was plenty still to do on the ship. I think in August you'll have an awesome time and even with the hurricanes I still don't think I'd pick any other time to cruise.

Now I've never seen the Wonder except in pics, but both are beautiful ships and except for a few differences and a different style (the Magic is Art Deco, the Wonder is Art Nouveau) they are exactly the same. I only cruised Disney, but I think they are the most beautiful cruise ships out there. And the horn is something else. If you ever get the chance to hear either ship have a horn battle with another ship, that is fun. The other ship will shut up after our horn blows "When you wish upon a star." You can't beat Disney.

Go for it and have an awesome time, you'll never regret that decision.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

We have done the Western twice - Only reason being, my husband did not want to be stuck on the ship for two days in a row! Sea days really aren't his thing - Although, next cruise we are going to do the Eastern (Unless a special Med. cruise is announced!)

Karen

 

[tarheel_girl]

I've done both the Eastern and Western cruises. I love the Eastern. The three days in ports, ST. Thomas, St. Martin, Castaway Cay are awesome. The best in my opinion are the sea days. I really missed that on the Western. I also did not like Key West at all! It was so hot that day. It was also still in the US so no duty free shopping. I also saw things that are not very 'family oriented'. If I ever do the Western again, I will treat the Key West day like a sea day. Also, the Virgin Islands are beautiful! I'm sure there are people who don't love the Eastern because of the extra sea day. You won't be bored on sea days....tons of stuff to do! I have cruised in June and October. I am cruising next August. I wouldn't worry about a hurricane. I travel to Fl every August. I've been in one hurricane in 30+ years. I realize there may be one 'out there' but DCL will do the best job of going around it. Have fun no matter where you choose to cruise!

 

[ImNarek]

My DH and I did 2 land/sea cruises before Disney started to the 7day option. In 2003 we did a 7-day Eastern, and had a blast! The snorkeling is better in St. Thomas than St. Martin, but both stops were fun.

This year we are doing a 7-day Western.

The seven days are soo nice because it stretches the vacation out.

 

[mommasita]

and glad to hear your trip was that fantastic...I knew it would be..

We prefer the eastern for the ports of call, as well as the extra sea day...If a western fit better I would do that too of course, just prefer one is all..I feel that travelling that far for us, it is really only worth it to do the 7 nighter....we LOVE it.......

I was also on the same cruise as Rotary, and it is all true..OF course there is a chance of a Hurricane, but the best place to be is on the ship...We had amazing weather....It will be hot in August, but the boat is a great place to deal with that...

I hope you rebook, and am anxious to read the trip report...

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Tracey!

Great to hear you had a fab time! Can't wait to hear all about it

There is another way to get 2 stops at Castaway Cay you know! I am doing a 7 night Western cruise next August (yes, I finally caved in and booked!!!!) and there are two stops at CC. I can't wait!


Take care,

Karen

 

[clten]

I've sailed both the Magic and Wonder. They are pretty much identical so it is like a strange kind of Deja Vu. I may be partial because I sailed the Magic first (and more often than the Wonder) but I think the Magic is a little nicer. (All ships doing short cruises wear faster because of the number of turnarounds they do.)

I would do a 7 day on the Magic before I did back to back cruises on the Wonder for a couple of reasons. First, the entertainment on the Magic is geared for 7 days, you wouldn't have the same shows, parties, etc twice in one week. There are things like the Art of Entertainment series or Navigation series that Disney only has on the 7 day cruises because of the sea days. Also you get different menus in the restaurants so you aren't eating the same menu twice within a week. Also I personally wouldn't want to go to Nassau twice in a week! As far as which is better Eastern or Western, that's a personal choice. I think there was a poll here a couple of days ago and the reaction was mixed, with most people preferring the Eastern just because it had the extra sea day. Either one will be a good choice.