Ideal cruise length for a first timer?

[Blue32]

I apologize if this question gets asked a lot. I could not find a whole lot while searching. Is there a cruise length that you feel is ideal for a first time cruiser?

Family of four and we all love Disney but none of us have ever cruised before. Kids are ages 8 and 6. We are considering either a 5 night Caribbean on the Wonder, or a 7 night Caribbean on the Magic in Feb.

I know everyone on this forum loves DCL, so it may be silly to ask here about cruise length. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I apologize if this question gets asked a lot. I could not find a whole lot while searching. Is there a cruise length that you feel is ideal for a first time cruiser?

Family of four and we all love Disney but none of us have ever cruised before. Kids are ages 8 and 6. We are considering either a 5 night Caribbean on the Wonder, or a 7 night Caribbean on the Magic in Feb.

I know everyone on this forum loves DCL, so it may be silly to ask here about cruise length. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

If you can go for the seven night there more relaxing the shorter ones your off just after you start and no relaxing days.

 

[owensamo]

We've done 4, 5, 7 and 14 night cruises. Our first cruise was a 4-night cruise, mostly because of timing and price - plus DMIL and DH weren't sure if they were going to have motion sickness issues. It was a good introduction given we weren't sure we were going to like it. I think 4 is the minimum to ensure that you're enjoying the trip without having too many days to be miserable if you don't!

The good thing about a 4-5n cruise is that you get a little taste of everything - at least one sea day to see how those are, some port days to enjoy, and a day at Castaway Cay. They're just long enough to get your feet wet with DCL cruising, but also allow some park time if you think you need it.

That said - we've gotten addicted, so now DH won't cruise for less than 7 days at a time - and prefers longer. Our 5n cruises were back-to-back (B2B) for 10n total, and 2 of our 7n cruises were B2B as well. Our next cruise is a 12n. We keep talking about trying new cruise lines, but we feel comfortable with Disney, and if they keep expanding their offerings to the areas we want to visit, we'll probably keep sailing them!

Wow. That was a lot of random advice which boils down to - no less than 4. If you're concerned about sea sickness or confinement or simply not liking cruising, no more than 5. If none of that concerns you, 7 is a great place to start!

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[darkwing818]

If you can go for the seven night there more relaxing the shorter ones your off just after you start and no relaxing days.

Absolutely.

 

[theotherlostprincess]

I would say 4 that way you have some days off the ship to do activities (like bahamas and castaway cay) and a day on and if you or your group get sick or decide you dont like it you wont be stuck there for an entire week. Then if you love it you can go for longer next time and know if you want to maximize your time on or off the ship

 

[gumbypee]

Definitely seven!!! There is do much to see and do and time for relaxation. Seven days will FLY by

 

[ludari]

I apologize if this question gets asked a lot. I could not find a whole lot while searching. Is there a cruise length that you feel is ideal for a first time cruiser?

Family of four and we all love Disney but none of us have ever cruised before. Kids are ages 8 and 6. We are considering either a 5 night Caribbean on the Wonder, or a 7 night Caribbean on the Magic in Feb.

I know everyone on this forum loves DCL, so it may be silly to ask here about cruise length. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

I would select a trip that is best for your schedule and budget and not really worry about which length is best for a first time cruiser. However I would definitely stay away from those two day cruises to nowhere unless you are doing a back to back cruise. To give you a little insight into my first cruise it was 10 days long and my first Disney Cruise was 14 days long.

I hope this helps.

 

[cris0809]

We did a 7 for our first and I feel like it was perfect. 5-7 night cruises are a nice length. Not sure I would have liked it as much if I only had done 3/4 nights. It can feel very rushed.

So 5 is good but if you can spring for 7 it will give you the best idea of what cruising is all about. It allows you truly to relax and unwind.

Have fun!

 

[Starwind]

Our first was 4 nights with a full day at sea, on the Disney Dream.

Our rationale for the cruise length: it was long enough to give us a good idea of whether we liked cruising or not, but not so long that we were stuck on a ship if we hated it; and the day at sea gave us an idea of what that was like, whereas a 3 night cruise would not have that.

We fell in love with cruising and while on board booked a 7 night on the Fantasy, which we will be taking in November

Although the 4 night was "too short" because we loved it so much, I think it really was the right length for a first cruise, all things considered.

-SW

 

[jburge12000]

Our first cruise was a 3 night after 4 days at Disney World. Kids were about 5 and 8. We had never cruised and wanted to see how we enjoyed it before committing to a long cruise. The tears were flowing from both kids when we had to get off the ship and even my wife wanted to see if they had room available on the next departing trip to extend our cruise. I think the age you have is perfect for enjoying everything the cruise has to offer. The Caribbean ports have a lot to do with kids that everyone can really enjoy. I would recommend the 7 day trip.

 

[kiford]

DH wasn't sure he wouldn't be seasick and whether there was enough to do on a cruise or too many kids so we did 4 days to test it out. He wasn't seasick, there was so much to do, and we hardly even realized how many kids there were on board. We've booked #9 for next year and may do another one or a B2B before then. I believe, like others have mentioned, that four days gives you an idea of whether you will be sick or bored, whether you like the leisurely pace of a sea day or visiting ports, how well you do in a small-ish room (especially if you have kids), and where you like to go. The only time we've done less than 7 days since that first one was a 3/4 day back-to-back so I don't really count that as a short cruise.

 

[cajunprincess]

On our first cruise, we did a 7 day, and I was going stir crazy by the end. Then, I did some 5 and 4 days, and I enjoyed it so much! I think I'm finally ready to go back and do a 7 day since I've learned how to enjoy them. I had always heard how great they were and to do a 7 day first. For me, though, I'd recommend trying a 4 or 5night first.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think a 4 night, if it has a day at sea, would be a great way to start.

Bobbi

 

[OKW Lover]

I think a 4-night is the minimum to try for a first cruise. Anything less doesn't really give you time to get into the cruise "groove" so you can really appreciate things. Longer can wait until you've decided if you like cruising.

 

[HarperCruisers]

We started with a 4 night and feel it was the perfect length to test our sea legs. I have many issues with motion sickness and didn't want to overcommit if I couldn't handle the movement. Now we wouldn't think of doing any less then 7 nights

 

[scrapshappen]

I have motion sickness issues with flying, roller coasters and riding in a car so I was very worried about cruising. Nevertheless, our first cruise was 7 days and now I can't imagine going for anything less than that. We would have stayed on for another 7 days if we could have.

 

[ubish00]

My first cruise was a 5 night cruise. I had travelled quite a bit but wasn't sure I would like cruising. Needless to say by the end of the second day I wished it was longer. Not surprisingly, I have cruised a few times since then.

Did my first cruise with a two year old last November and again it was a 5 night cruise. I was taking her away from her parents for a week and wasn't sure how she would handle it. Like the other kids she cried when it was time to go.

I would say don't worry about doing for a 7 night cruise. You will most likely love it. The longer cruise allows you to take things at a slower pace should you want to.

Either way you can't lose. You must do what you are most comfortable with.

Enjoy whichever length you chose.

 

[jennlindsey]

Just did my 1st cruise (yay!) and it was 7 days -- felt like the right intro length (with 3 port days in Alaska). I think it also depends on how far you have to travel to your departure port -- we are on the West Coast, for example, so enduring 2 long air travel days for a 3 or 4 night Caribbean just doesn't make sense.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DH wasn't sure he wouldn't be seasick and whether there was enough to do on a cruise or too many kids so we did 4 days to test it out. He wasn't seasick, there was so much to do, and we hardly even realized how many kids there were on board. We've booked #9 for next year and may do another one or a B2B before then. I believe, like others have mentioned, that four days gives you an idea of whether you will be sick or bored, whether you like the leisurely pace of a sea day or visiting ports, how well you do in a small-ish room (especially if you have kids), and where you like to go. The only time we've done less than 7 days since that first one was a 3/4 day back-to-back so I don't really count that as a short cruise.

New ships are very well stabilised all four ships try to avoid bad seas and storms, a midship middeck location is best away from vibration of engines and the vibration of the sea. Get fresh air and view the horizon. For most people it isn't an issue people over worry and over medicate if worried seek medical advice from professionals. Sickness is more likely to overeating and over drinking first day than the seas.

 

[mhconley]

Our first and only cruise so far was a 7 night Western Caribbean on the Fantasy and we loved it. We got extremely lucky and it was sunny and calm for the entire cruise. The only motion we felt was almost imperceptible when rounding Cuba. I am still a little leery about cruising in inclement weather or rough seas. We'll see how our Eastern Caribbean is next June.

I thought 7 days was the perfect length. I'd love to do longer cruises with more sea days.

Martin