Is 3-Night a good 'test-cruise'?

[JPKnapp]

So before kids, wife and I took a cruise and didn't like it much. So we've stayed away from that type of vacation. But literally everyone talks about how awesome Disney is. In the face of overwhelming evidence, we are thinking we should change our stance.

So we are thinking of booking a 3-Night to test the waters (pun intended) and if we like it, going in with expectation to do onboard booking for 7-Night.

Is this a good plan? Will we get enough experience to base a $8-9K decision? Do you get all the different restaurants?

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

So before kids, wife and I took a cruise and didn't like it much. So we've stayed away from that type of vacation. But literally everyone talks about how awesome Disney is. In the face of overwhelming evidence, we are thinking we should change our stance.

So we are thinking of booking a 3-Night to test the waters (pun intended) and if we like it, going in with expectation to do onboard booking for 7-Night.

Is this a good plan? Will we get enough experience to base a $8-9K decision? Do you get all the different restaurants?

We started with a 3 night on the Dream and enjoyed it but at the end said we wouldn't do it again. Fast forward about 30 days and we booked our first 7 night on the Fantasy and fell in love with DCL, it's now our absolute favorite vacation. We spent a week in Hawaii last June and the whole time we wished we were on a ship instead.

On a 3 night cruise you will eat at each of the 3 MDR's. I would honestly spend a little more and try DCL with a 4 night. The 3 goes by so fast it will make your head spin, plus you don't get the awesomeness of a sea day. Someone recently posted "what does a sea day look like" or something similar to that. I suggest reading it to get an idea of what they are like.

 

[JAM113]

On a three night cruise, the first night you are basically still settling in. Your first full day and night two are fine. Second full day, in the back of your mind, you are thinking that you have to have your luggage packed by 10 p.m. that night. You are off the ship the next morning by 9 a.m. at the latest. If you can book a four night, you have an additional full day and night to enjoy being where you are.

 

[cgolf]

Whether you do a 3 or 4 night, I agree with club Disney and would do a cruise that has at least one sea day. The programming that run on port days is much less than on a sea day. So if you have at least one of each you will get a good feel for what DCL is about. Personally I would go for the 4 night and you may find a better price on the Magic or Wonder. The smaller ships may be good to start on with a shorter cruise because there is less to figure out. We were DCL vets when we first did the Dream for a 4 night, and we finally felt like we had the ship figured out when it was time to go.

Do be careful though not all 4 nights have a sea day.

 

[Savikins]

My first DCL cruise was a 3 day that I got a good rate on. I think it's a perfect starter cruise! 4 day cruises always seem to be a lot more expensive (price per person per day wise) than the 3 day ones for some reason, but if you could get a good price for a 4 day I think it might be a bit more relaxing. I'd totally do another 3 day if I could get a good price and needed a quick vacation.

 

[dclpluto]

When it's time to get off the ship your going to wish you booked a longer cruise.

 

[Hundredacre]

Do 4 night at least

 

[Otimon]

The 3-night will give you plenty of time to decide about a longer cruise.

Book one, take it all in, and just enjoy. Be sure to book onboard for the next cruise you decide on.

Bon voyage.

 

[Starwind]

I have done: 4 night, 7 night, and then a 3 followed back to back with a 4 night.

My recommendation would be to do a first cruise that is a 4 night instead of the 3 night if it fits your budget and schedule.

Why ?

You get to experience a day at sea.

The trip is longer, allowing you more time to experience the ship, the programming, and to relax.

A PP described well the settling in, relaxing, thinking about packing situation of a 3 night, With a 4 night you get an extra relaxing day in there.

We found the 3 night was go-go-go, even if not by us (we were relaxing since we had a B2B), by everyone else. Trying to get as much into the short time you are on the ship.

Now, we still found downtimes when things or places were less busy -- 'course we were seeking those out, so maybe we found more than most people would. Also, we were familiar with the ship, so we knew things like using the forward elevators to get to our room (which was fwd) instead of the mid elevators -- the fwd are usually less busy and on the first day when they announce you can go to your room, you will appreciate the difference.

That said, if all that fits the budget and time is a 3 night, it will give you a good glimpse into what longer DCL cruises are like, but it won't give a complete understanding.

3 and 4 night cruises are long enough to give you some experience and help you decide, but not long enough that you feel "trapped" if you decide you don't like cruises/DCL.

When we did our first cruise, a 4 night, we came off knowing we wanted to do longer.

With the 7 night we knew we wanted to do no less than 7 nights in the future.

Our B2B, which gave us 7 nights, we decided we were right about minimum 7 nights, and oh, how about doing even longer, like 2 7 nights B2B ? We may do just that in fall 2017, or we may stay with just one cruise of 7 nights or longer.

SW

 

[Aby]

Our first cruise was a 7 nighter and we wished it was longer! I'm not sure you really can the best idea of what it's all about with only 3 or 4 days as it's just so rushed! But if you don't want to go for that long I would definitely pick 4 days over 3 if you can, or a 5 day if available when you're looking to sail!

Aby

 

[msb578]

We just did our first- it was 4 nights on the Dream.

It was not long enough to fall in love with it (not sure if that would have happened on a longer cruise). I agree that it either felt like we were settling in or getting ready to leave. The exception was Castaway Cay- we did love that. Three nights would seem really hectic to me.

For us, it's too expensive to experiment with again. We won't be hurrying back. Someday, maybe.

 

[tltay2005]

Our first was a 3 night and it was amazing and with the right planning, and getting up early and staying up late, did everything we wanted. That said, we are a family of three with our son being almost an adult, so we did not have to work around a small child's schedule (naps, early bed time, etc.). Each family is different. Try reading some trip reports. What ever number of nights your decide, hopefully you will have an amazing time.

 

[bethy]

4 nights is ideal if you don't want to take the risk on 7 nights. I haven't encountered too many people who felt trapped on the ship and were dying to get off - ever. But I'm sure they exist. I do think it's rare, though.

 

[ultimate_ed]

I would also recommend going for the four night, especially if this will be making your first impression with Disney cruising. Four nights on the Dream was our first cruise a couple of years ago. Even it felt a little too short.

 

[minorthr]

We are going on our first cruise in Sept. Our son has autism so we decided to go 4 nights. 7 seemed to long just in case it wasn't going well and 3 seemed too short.

 

[crichardson11]

My first and second cruise were both 3 night cruises. We are going again in May this year and booked a 4 night. Our jobs won't allow us to be disconnected for more than a week anyway. Our experience was great on the first two cruises. I did a LOT of trip report reading and planning before our first cruise and we were able to check everything off of our list except for watching a movie. I felt like there was enough time to experience what we wanted to do. I think it just depends on your personality. We also don't mind being on the go during our vacation.

Why were you not fond of cruising in the past JPKnapp? Didn't like being on the water? Not enough to do? Not enough bang for your buck?

 

[Weedy]

If you are going on a shorter cruise I would suggest one of the smaller ships (Magic or Wonder). On the shorter cruises everyone is trying to fit everything in. The smaller ships have 2000 less people so even though the shps are smaller it feels less crowded.

 

[Heard02]

I'd do a 4 night! 3 is too short!

 

[party-of-five]

So before kids, wife and I took a cruise and didn't like it much. So we've stayed away from that type of vacation. But literally everyone talks about how awesome Disney is. In the face of overwhelming evidence, we are thinking we should change our stance.

So we are thinking of booking a 3-Night to test the waters (pun intended) and if we like it, going in with expectation to do onboard booking for 7-Night.

Is this a good plan? Will we get enough experience to base a $8-9K decision? Do you get all the different restaurants?

What didn't you like about your first cruise experience? Maybe fellow dis'ers can address those concerns. How old are your children?

We took our first ever cruise in September. - a 4 night. We had a rough start - getting use to the motion; getting the kids oriented to the ship and who could go to what clubs and where they were; getting settled into a routine with sleeping in, eating during the 2nd dining; etc. We loved our cruise and look forward to doing it again. I was happy we had gone with the 4 night. Yes, we wished it had been longer, but if things didn't take a turn for the better, I would have been happy it was only 4 nights. I think 3 nights would have been too short.

 

[JW9DVC]

Longer. Like others have said. Three is to short. Unless you book a 3 and a 4 right after. My wife wasn't to sure about cruising, then by day 2. She wished we had booked longer. A small getaway at 5 nights works well to.

Depending on budget of course.

JW