Is a 4-day cruise difficult after previously taking a 7-day?

[detroitdad]

I'm not holding my breath for any alternate 7-day cruises with the Wonder for 2008, and my wife has expressed that she really would not be interested in 3/4 day back to back cruise to make a 7-day.

This leaves us with the option of seeing if we can afford the Eastbound repo (doubtful - as we are a family of 6) or tacking on a 4-day cruise after a trip to WDW. We went on a 7-day Magic western in Feb 2006 and loved it!

Just curious if you have ever been on a 7-day first, and did just a 4-day on a later trip--- were you disappointed at all? Don't get me wrong, we will have an awesome vacation regardless as we will stay at our DVC villa for 10 days and take our time at the parks (for a change) and then wrap it up with a cruise.

 

[lindakmonty]

I can tell you in a few weeks this will be my 5th Disney cruise. My first was a 4 nighter... but then have done 3 7 nighters. Now w/ds in school we're going to wdw to meet some of our DIS friends then we're going on a 4 night cruise w/just our family. It will be interesting. We're so use to the wonderful 7 nights onboard but 4 is better than none

 

[detroitdad]

I can tell you in a few weeks this will be my 5th Disney cruise. My first was a 4 nighter... but then have done 3 7 nighters. Now w/ds in school we're going to wdw to meet some of our DIS friends then we're going on a 4 night cruise w/just our family. It will be interesting. We're so use to the wonderful 7 nights onboard but 4 is better than none

Yes please let me know what you thought when you return. Have a great trip!

 

[jrose529]

We did a 7 night 2 years ago and will be doing a 4 night and WDW in April . I am worried about the same thing. I know I won't want to leave after the 4th day, but we'll have a wonderful time in those 4 days and have WDW to look forward to afterward!

 

[kcashner]

We did the 14 night repo cruise in August, 2005. Now 7 nights seems too short.

I think the key is that you need to enjoy this vacation--whatever the length--rather than compare it to the longer one. We all have time constraints, and can't always to the "best vacation ever" each time.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

We did a 4-day after doing 7-day cruises and it was not a let down at all. In fact, that particular cruise was perfect.

We booked our 4-day while onboard a year earlier and there was a ton of room catagories and and individual room choices available. We splurged and booked a cat 3 and there was even a cat 2 and the Walt Suite available.

Concierge was great that cruise. We had a tall attractive blond lady (I think from Australia) who was extremely outgoing and did a fantastic job. Had a great time talking with her at the concierge meet. Anyone remember who I am talking about? She wore the white officers uniform.

We had terrific servers that cruise.

I won over $300 playing bingo.

The CMs that week were all very friendly and outgoing.

Okay, so no formal or semi-formal night and obviously not as many shows or onboard seminars but we still had pirate night.

You're doing the right thing making the cruise part of a bigger vacation so its not like the 4-day is the "only" thing you are doing.

Go for it.....

 

[Stinasmom]

We went on a 7 night West Coast to Mexico back in 6/05. We included some time at Disneyland and Legoland. But since we live on the West Coast, hauling to Florida is a much bigger deal.
Since we wanted a full week in Orlando, we followed it up by a 4 night Wonder trip so we could be home in time for Christmas.
Answer:
Yes, 4 nights was too short --- but, here is my reason:
I just didn't have enough "ship" time! This was because we chose to off the ship for the better part of the Nassau Day as we got a day room at Atlantis, swam in the pools, and toured the grounds.
And--- we were treated to a second Castaway Cay day because the weather on the first day was not good. This left us with no "sea day." We kept our Palo brunch reservations but moved them to as early in the day as possible because we wanted to hit the island (again) but this time in the sun.
Lots of people tried to cancel spa visits for the same reason.

So-- If you didn't want to be off the ship for very long in Nassau, and had a nice day at Castaway Cay, then had a leisurely sea day on the way back, you might feel differently. Also, we found that looking forward to the cruise even though we were having so much fun at the parks was a super plus!

I do have to say that I thought the "crowd" on the Wonder was different from the Magic. I think there are more people who wouldn't be able to take a 7 night+ cruise for one reason or another. There was more hussle and bussle, you don't get to know your servers (and vice versa) as well. Overall, it is "Wonder"ful to be on the ship, of course, but not as relaxing and friendly.

That said, we are going to try for a 14 night repo next!
Let me know if I can clarify anything or answer any other questions!

 

[detroitdad]

Thanks for the replies. I do appreciate the different opinions.

 

[JanDave]

Hi Detroitdad:

We first cruised the Magic (4 day) when it was doing 3 and 4 day cruises. We've been on several 7 day DCl cruises since then, but we also have sailed on the Wonder for a 3 day and 4 day. We have another 4 day coming up this year for the DVC member cruise. The shorter cruises are not a let down other than the fact that the days go by so fast, but so do the days on a 7 day. We've added time atWDW before and after our shorter cruises. We enjoy doing that so we don't have to get back to reality so soon. Also, to cut some costs, you may choose to stay on the ship when at Nassau. You and your children will enjoy having the ship almost to yourselves.

By the way, I live in mid-Michigan, near Lansing.

Let us know what you decide!

Jan

 

[detroitdad]

Hi Detroitdad:

We first cruised the Magic (4 day) when it was doing 3 and 4 day cruises. We've been on several 7 day DCl cruises since then, but we also have sailed on the Wonder for a 3 day and 4 day. We have another 4 day coming up this year for the DVC member cruise. The shorter cruises are not a let down other than the fact that the days go by so fast, but so do the days on a 7 day. We've added time atWDW before and after our shorter cruises. We enjoy doing that so we don't have to get back to reality so soon. Also, to cut some costs, you may choose to stay on the ship when at Nassau. You and your children will enjoy having the ship almost to yourselves.

By the way, I live in mid-Michigan, near Lansing.

Let us know what you decide!

Jan

Yes the 7-day does go by fast doesn't it? Thanks for the insight, Jan. I think we would probably stay on board at Nassau, unless there is a really nice beach excursion available.

We live in Bloomfield Hills (Detroit suburb).

 

[Belle2667]

We did exactly that. We started out on a 7 night Western Carib. We really wanted to go on a 7 nighter again, but the timing and funds weren't there, so the options were 4 nighter or not at all. Given that choice, I took the 4 nighter.

Knowing it was a shorter cruise, we opted not to go on any Nassau excursions and instead went into town for just a couple of hours in the morning and then played onboard the rest of the day. Really, it was way too short but the other option was really not an option.

Because we want to sail again in the summer months, and the Magic doesn't look like it's going to be around for the summer months for this year or next, we're actually considering heading out to CA (provided the Magic is there) to get another 7-nighter!

 

[micmse2003]

Our very first cruise was on an Eastern 7 night. This seemed to go way to fast. We then booked The 10 day Wonder before we even finished our 7 day. This past September we took the 10 day Southern and could not believe this went way to fast too. Before we left the 10 cruise, we booked another cruise in hopes of Disney announcing a 14 Panama. Well, our dreams are coming true. Now whay happens when we take our 14 day. I guess what I am trying to say that no cruise will ever be lomg enough.

 

[logan1_2000]

Sure, a 7 night cruise is more enjoyable than a 4 night cruise. But don't read too much into that--our cruises, in the order we took them, have been for the following number of nights: 4, 4, 7, 4, 7, 6, 4, 6, 3...and next we have a 4 night Wonder and then we are on a 7 nighter on RCCL.

We spent a good part of the first 4 night cruise wandering around, figuring out what was going on. Now we get on fully prepared and planned, and get the most out of the cruise, and by 1:30 on embarkation day have taken care of what used to take 2 days to figure out.

Or applying the "4 is too short after a 7" theory to the rest of your life--after you took your first week-long vacation, did you swear off weekend getaways for the rest of your life? There is time for both longer and shorter vacations in life.

 

[detroitdad]

Or applying the "4 is too short after a 7" theory to the rest of your life--after you took your first week-long vacation, did you swear off weekend getaways for the rest of your life? There is time for both longer and shorter vacations in life.

Ummm....no, of course not. Not quite sure what that comment's about, but thanks for the "life lesson" nonetheless. My post mentioned that the cruise will be part of a larger vacation so we're looking forward to the entire trip.

 

[LindaBabe]

Just came off a 3 day after doing 2 - 7 days in the last few years. It was painfully short, of course, but also very relaxing. I didn't feel compelled to rush round Nassau - and spent lots of time in the pool, and rainforest. Short and SWEET!

PS and you don't need NEARLY as much luggage!

 

[Mama Twinkles]

Ummm....no, of course not. Not quite sure what that comment's about, but thanks for the "life lesson" nonetheless. My post mentioned that the cruise will be part of a larger vacation so we're looking forward to the entire trip.

I don't think logan1 was trying to criticize or correct you, just inform.