Is the ship you want worth a 20 hour drive?

[FigmentSpark]

It isn't an ear infection. It's a rare disorder of the inner ear. I don't know if I'll ever be able to safely fly again.

That's the thing. There really is no wait until next year in this case. If I ever want to cruise out of Port Canaveral, it's likely that I'm going to have to drive. We're going to Disney World for 10 nights next summer & I'll drive. Adding a cruise onto that trip wouldn't work due to time constraints, and we prefer to cruise during Christmas vacation, anyway.

We never have lots and lots of vacation time available, because I share custody of my son.

Then this is your life and if you want to go on the Fantasy, you'll be driving? If so, you have your answer. We all have various constraints in life. Yours is possibly no flying and no other land options other than driving. Unless you wait until next year when DS can get his licence and help drive, this is it. Go. Enjoy. Work with what you have. You don't have to cut yourself off from things you want because they are difficult, just plan and manage your time driving. It'll take more time, but take the breaks, stop for the night, or two. Unless that's not viable for this trip, then I say take the Fantasy... do look in to renting a vehicle, though. We rent from the airport locations, as they can be cheaper, but if you're a Costco member, price check a variety of areas. What you spend on rental of a new vehicle may end up being less than the fix on your vehicle during or after the trip due to wear and tear or just for the next oil/brake change.

 

[Lisa F]

It isn't an ear infection. It's a rare disorder of the inner ear. I don't know if I'll ever be able to safely fly again.

That's the thing. There really is no wait until next year in this case. If I ever want to cruise out of Port Canaveral, it's likely that I'm going to have to drive. We're going to Disney World for 10 nights next summer & I'll drive. Adding a cruise onto that trip wouldn't work due to time constraints, and we prefer to cruise during Christmas vacation, anyway.

We never have lots and lots of vacation time available, because I share custody of my son.

I'm a single mom and I will say that I sometimes forget how hard things can be on my own. You just don't think about it until it hits you in the face that doing something by yourself is just harder than having a second adult to help out. 20 hours of driving, even split over 2 days, is a lot for one person to handle and the worst part is having to do it on the return.

That said with the new ships coming online, the fantasy/dream may end up out of galveston sometimes too in the next few years.

I really do get it and will push myself to the ends of the earth to give my son the best of what I can afford but I do feel like the 40 hours of driving has the potential to impact YOUR enjoyment of your vacation way more than the bump of being on the Fantasy would be nicer for you. But whatever you decide just have a great time. Time goes too quickly!

 

[Lisa F]

Then this is your life and if you want to go on the Fantasy, you'll be driving? If so, you have your answer. We all have various constraints in life. Yours is possibly no flying and no other land options other than driving. Unless you wait until next year when DS can get his licence and help drive, this is it. Go. Enjoy. Work with what you have. You don't have to cut yourself off from things you want because they are difficult, just plan and manage your time driving. It'll take more time, but take the breaks, stop for the night, or two. Unless that's not viable for this trip, then I say take the Fantasy... do look in to renting a vehicle, though. We rent from the airport locations, as they can be cheaper, but if you're a Costco member, price check a variety of areas. What you spend on rental of a new vehicle may end up being less than the fix on your vehicle during or after the trip due to wear and tear or just for the next oil/brake change.

Since you mentioned renting i wanted to throw it out there that maybe you could do a partial drive/partial train as well - I know the entire route is not efficient but maybe there is a piece of the route that could cut down driving and even allow you to travel overnight while you sleep? Get creative and maybe you can come up with something that makes sense and cuts the driving to something reasonable.

 

[bbn1122]

We drive to vacation destination all the time. We live in NJ. So, traffic to NY, New England and to DC, can be insane. It took me 3 hours to drive 75 miles just yesterday.

If it’s highway driving and you don’t have to deal with traffic, I say do it. Break up your drive with a night or two. Make it an adventure. Maybe take your time and stop off somewhere of interest.

We have driven many times to PC and WDW from NJ. We always stop over night somewhere in Georgia outside of Savannah. And if cruising we stay over in the PC area.

As you said, you can not fly, so driving is your main option of getting to your vacation destinations. Enjoy the trip. Rest when you have to stop often and of course stay over somewhere for at least one night. And of course arrive in PC area the day before your cruise so you can rest up to have a fantastic cruise.
Good Luck. Sounds like your son has a great Mamma!

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

As in - 10 hours of driving, sleep overnight somewhere, 10 more hours of driving? Or 20 hours including the sleep time?

With your ear condition, would driving that long, and it's not just 10 hours it would be equal to 2 days, could there be a problem?

8 - 10 hours driving plus sleep plus 8 - 10 hours driving. I would allot two days for the trip between home & Port Canaveral.

The sudden altitude changes caused by take-off & descent are what can cause my ears problems, so driving doesn't affect them.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

8 - 10 hours driving plus sleep plus 8 - 10 hours driving. I would allot two days for the trip each way.

The sudden altitude changes caused by take-off & descent are what can cause my ears problems, so driving doesn't affect them.

Well, it seems like you're leaning heavily toward the Fantasy trip.

Me, personally, I wouldn't drive 2 days straight just to catch a ship. Especially if I was doing all the driving.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Well, it seems like you're leaning heavily toward the Fantasy trip.

It seems so to me, too. We actually are booked for the Wonder right now, because it was the obvious choice logistically, but with PIF coming up, I've started to reflect and realize that the Fantasy cruise is what I really want. Sometimes you need to talk things over with fellow vacationers before making a decision, and this thread helped me do that.

 

[apathetic]

We live in C. Texas and would absolutely choose the Wonder. Driving to Canaveral isn't worth it unless you are doing other things (WDW) also. The Wonder is a great ship and you will have a great time. The experience in Galveston is great and you won't have 4 dreaded days of driving.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I would not ever choose 18-20 hours of driving over 4 hours of driving knowing that I had to take all of that on myself with no help and no ability to rest during the driving time. There is nothing so attractive to me about the Fantasy/Dream to justify that kind of trip. But we are all different and if it works for you to do that then all I can say is that I hope it goes well

 

[BarlowFamily]

I originally voted "no." After reading your posts and learning about your constraints, I changed to "yes." I think it sounds like a fun trip with your 15 year old. Full of adventures and mishaps that you'll both remember forever. Two 10 hour days of driving won't be too bad, you could listen to an great audio book together, let him DJ for you and chit-chat (do 15 year old boys chat?). Will you stop for the night after the second driving day, before the cruise? Or was your second day of driving Embarkation Day? That would be stressful for me.

 

[DVCjj]

but we're two adults and we tend to drive up to 30 hours without stopping (except for gas and quick bites).

30 Hours? Holy Cow! I can't get DH to drive more than 5. Always fly...no road trips whatsoever. I do like to get to places quickly but occasionally yearn for a short road trip. Even if I drove (with overnight stops), the answer is No.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We want to cruise during Christmas week this year, and the choices of ship are the Wonder or the Fantasy. We've already sailed both, but prefer the Fantasy because we haven't yet seen Aladdin, we enjoy the extra amenities of the Dream class ships, and our last two cruises have been on Magic class ships & we're ready for a change.

The problem is that I currently cannot fly due to an ear problem, so we have to drive from central Texas. The Wonder is sailing from Galveston (4 hour drive), and the Fantasy is sailing from Port Canaveral (18 - 20 hour drive, plus an overnight stop). There are no attractive train or bus options, btw.

I'm leaning towards the Fantasy because it's what we really want, but I'm a single mom driving my 15 year-old son, so it will be me shouldering all the driving.

What's your opinion? Is the longer trip worth it?

I’d definitely do it, especially for the Fantasy instead of the Wonder.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I originally voted "no." After reading your posts and learning about your constraints, I changed to "yes." I think it sounds like a fun trip with your 15 year old. Full of adventures and mishaps that you'll both remember forever. Two 10 hour days of driving won't be too bad, you could listen to an great audio book together, let him DJ for you and chit-chat (do 15 year old boys chat?). Will you stop for the night after the second driving day, before the cruise? Or was your second day of driving Embarkation Day? That would be stressful for me.

Yes, my son likes to chat with me. Yes, we will have a 2nd hotel night before embarkation. Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[apwenger]

Honestly I think asking these types of questions on online forums yields little to no results. You know yourself better than anyone here so only you can make the determination of what you can do. Many people here will say that it is not worth it to them, but that does not mean you find more value in the Dream class ships than they do.

Personally, I have no problem driving for long distances. I have since I was a 17 year old driver. Trips of this length don’t bother me. I would much rather drive long distances to something I like more, than settle for a shorter drive for something I’m not as thrilled about.

 

[phinz]

Also being from Tejas, 10 hour stints are short hops when traveling. Twenty hours in two days? Easy. You get 14 hours to recuperate and rest before the second day. I can remember driving from Houston to Albuquerque in one stint several times.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Go for it. YOLO

 

[diznymom]

As in - 10 hours of driving, sleep overnight somewhere, 10 more hours of driving? Or 20 hours including the sleep time?

With your ear condition, would driving that long, and it's not just 10 hours it would be equal to 2 days, could there be a problem?

It is 10 hours driving, sleep and 10 more hours of driving.

We are from Waco and when we drive to central Florida we stay the night in Mobile, AL. We do not like the drive through the Florida panhandle, so for us it is best tackled in the am.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Do it. Car trips are the best part of the trip. It’s just not as exciting to me traveling only four hours to get to our destination!! We just swapped a “close” cruise (five hours away) for a far one (18 hours away) just for the ports. Neither Disney, but we just were not thrilled with the close cruise.

 

[jscunningham699]

It isn't 20 hours in one stretch. It's 20 hours total, with a hotel night in between.

Yes, I'm from Texas & we're used to driving long distances because everything is so spread out here.

So here are my thoughts. If time is that much of an issue, then obviously a 4hr trip is better than a 20hr trip. We're driving from North of Dallas to Disney the first week of September. We chose to drive because it's my wife and I and our 3 children and financially, flights were just too pricey.

Does your son not have a learner's permit? Driving during the day on the interstate might be an option if he has a learner's permit. I'm not sure what the Texas license requirements are for learner's permits and licenses.

I don't think the 20hr trip is worth it just for a ship. I haven't sailed on DCL yet, but really would love to and I would sail out of Galveston in a heartbeat just so we didn't have to drive to PC.

 

[squirk]

We want to cruise during Christmas week this year, and the choices of ship are the Wonder or the Fantasy. We've already sailed both, but prefer the Fantasy because we haven't yet seen Aladdin, we enjoy the extra amenities of the Dream class ships, and our last two cruises have been on Magic class ships & we're ready for a change.

The problem is that I currently cannot fly due to an ear problem, so we have to drive from central Texas. The Wonder is sailing from Galveston (4 hour drive), and the Fantasy is sailing from Port Canaveral (18 - 20 hour drive, plus an overnight stop). There are no attractive train or bus options, btw.

I'm leaning towards the Fantasy because it's what we really want, but I'm a single mom driving my 15 year-old son, so it will be me shouldering all the driving.

What's your opinion? Is the longer trip worth it?

Oof. We drive from NOLA to PC straight through with no overnight stop. That's 10 hours and is pretty rough, and I am not even the one doing the driving.

Honestly, no. If flying is not an option, and there was no time for sightseeing along the way while driving, I would not opt for the Fantasy. I've sailed Dream-class six times now, so I am sure that has something to do with it, but, man, I am not sure the Fantasy is 32 extra driving hours worth of "better" than the Wonder.