Is a 3 night really even worth it?

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I have mentioned that we plan to book a 3 night for February 04 with my step-children who will be 11 and 14 at sailing. I just returned from a 4 night last week, and was not disappointed to return home because my children had me ready to jump overboard (just too young I guess). We really cannot afford a 4 night so soon. I really don't want to make them wait much more than a year either- we are pushing it at 14 months. So financially, the 3 night is the most feasible. But I WONDER if it's even worth it? The posts are always downing the 3 nights. I can see our two step-children doing a lot on their own (they are very well behaved and I would never worry about this misbehaving or ruining someones vacation). For that reason, I expect that we will have a very relaxing and restful vacation and it will seem much longer than the rushed 4 night I was just on.

Just was hoping to hear someone say that a 3 night cruise is better than 7 nights at WDW (which the kids have done several times and will be doing this spring with their mom).

 

[atigeg]

As a veteran of 27 Disney cruises, of which all but 4 have been 3-nighters, I would have to say YES YES YES!!!
Granted, the cruise goes by much too fast, but we've found that it's the best way to maximize our vacation days and afford to sail a lot. It will go by in a flash, but you will have so much fun. Just know that you will be on the run, trying to do all sorts of fun things in the time allotted. I was really sad that the 80s party is on the last night because we had to miss it on our last trip due to needing to get up early the next morning for disembarkation. But other than that, we packed in just about everything that we wanted to do. It is still too short? Yes. But is it still worth it? DEFINITELY!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[chucknrita]

The difference in price for our four-night on Dec. 15 (it's almost here!) versus the three-night on Dec. 19 was only $150. I know, $150 is still a lot of money for some people but the price is what made me switch from three to four nights. This is for me, DH, DS 17 and DS 3. If I may ask, what is the difference in price for the dates you're planning to cruise? That extra night might just be worth it.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

Well I certainly wouldn't be fussing over $150! Lucky you!

The difference for us is $885.00, which we could use to pay for our airfare.

 

[chucknrita]

Yes, that's a very big difference! Hmmm...I wonder why? I hope everything works out for you regardless of which cruise you decide to take!

 

[CamColt]

Ive never done a 7 day, but my first cruise was a 4 day(not DCL). Since then I have done 2, 3 day Disney cruises and yes they were worth every minute of it. Yes, it went by fast, and no we didnt get to do everything, but what we did for those 3 days was great.
3 days on the ship are better than 3 days at home.

 

[tecdavidt]

Yes, it gives you a chance to see if you like to cruise. My husband did, we even missed the first night because of a snow storm that delayed our flight out of St. Louis. We didn't make it to the "Fantasy" Carnival ship until 3:00 pm the second day! He loved it. That was back in '99. Cruise no. 12 is coming up March '03. Go. Kathy

 

[kasar]

Three day cruises work for us. Because of our schedules we like to do several "small-ish" vacations throughout the year instead of one long one. We are the type to jam everything into a few days and crash once we get home, we get restless after a while on a longer vacation. Believe me, if you do it right, you can do just about everything and you won't feel cheated in the least.

Good luck.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

The reason for the bigger price difference may very well be school vacation. That week in February typically is a school vacation week. Also, I'm really not sure here, but I wonder if our 14 year old qualifies for the adult rate?

It's really not important that I see everything. There are a few things that I would like to do and see that I wasn't able to do this time, but the thing I want the most is to just sit on deck and enjoy a cocktail. Would you believe me when I say I couldn't even do that this last week?!!!

Thanks everyone for your contribution here. You've definitively put things into perspective for me.

 

[Tluvs2talk]

My hubby and I have been on 2 - 3 day cruises and really had a good time. Of course I think longer cruises are better, but I'll take a cruise any way I can go.

 

[rae519]

A three nighter is especially good if you have never cruised before and are unsure if you would like it or not. We used the 4 night park/3 night sea package the first time around - later the 7 night sea and just because it's Christmas, the 3 night park/4 night sea package.

But I echo the comment - "I'll take a cruise anyway I can go"!

Rae

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I think you all have made a good point about a 3 night cruise being the better way to go for a new cruiser. My husband really didn't care much to go with me this past cruise because he wasn't sure he'd like sailing (though I am thinking the he thought the idea of being home alone in a quiet house was intriguing, lol). So I think a 3 day will be better for him.

 

[westjones]

We also have to consider 'time' as a factor. With the 3 day we use weekend nights. That means less time from work for DH. ALSO, we bought into the DVC and if you want to combine a cruise with a WDW visit, the 3 day cruise falls on the nights with the highest point values, so you can visit WDW on the Sun, Mon, Tues and Weds before the cruise and using the lower point values, and then go on the cruise that following weekend being gone on Fri and Sat nights (which would have eaten up DVC points at the resort).

Is it worth it? YES! It is more fun to be on for longer? YES! We did a 7 night last year (we have also done a 3 and 4 night). This coming year we have two 3 days scheduled. I am HOPING that in 2004 we get to do another 7 day, but they haven't come out with the fall 2004 schedule for the 7 day cruise yet and I am anxiously waiting to see what cruise falls on my twin daughters' birthdays (the Wonder is scheduled to be in dry dock in Sept. 2004 so the 3 or 4 day isn't even an option). My twins have spent their 7th, 8th and 9th birthdays on the cruise, we are scheduled for a 3 day on their 10th birthday in 2003! We want to make this a family tradition!

Debra

 

[OkieDisney]

We like the 3 night because we are DVCers and it is over the "expensive" weekend point time!!!!

Karen

 

[prymsu]

although i will always try to go for a seven day, having done 3, 4, 5 and 7 day cruises, a three day cruise is better than no cruise at all! Time flies by quickly!

 

[cathy59]

A 3-day is better than no days for sure -- but you are always left wanting for more....

As for price deals, "low season" usually runs from the week after New Years until around February 10th - 14th. The next day starts the "high season."

So if you are looking at mid-February dates, keep in mind that the week before might be a lot cheaper than the next week. The same goes for air fare and hotel rooms.

Good luck!

 

[Lisa D]

I was really happy to see this post! I just scheduled a three-day for our first cruise after MUCH deliberation about 3 versus 4 days. I chose the three day for the following reasons:

1. This is our first cruise and DH is very apprehensive - it was easier to talk him into just 3 nights.

2. The whole DVC issue about using points over the weekend - I was able to book 4 nights at BWV for less points than 3 nights over the weekend.

3. My two DS love WDW so much that three days there would not be enough, and if we would add on extra Disney days it would mean missing more school for them.

I've got a whole ten months to wait but I'm so excited!

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

Hi Cathy

If I weren't traveling with my two step-children, I would definitively seek out a 'low season' rate, but there is no way that my husbands ex-wife would consider taking the children out of school for us. We wouldn't even ask. She and my husband share legal custody, but it's not worth the fire if you know what I mean.

The good thing about the February 3 night cruise is that it will fall on my 31st birthday! I figure growing old won't feel so bad if I have a cruise to look forward to, lol.