Is the Wish 3-night worth it?

[DisneYE]

We're debating doing a 3-night cruise on the Wish early in 2023 for our DD's birthday. - Friday to Monday
We went on the Wish maiden voyage so we're beyond the appeal for novelty.
It's either this Wish voyage or a 3 day park hopping - MK, AK and Epcot. I prefer the cruise because it's obviously more relaxing as you don't have to deal with insane lines or constant walking and massive crowds.
We're in Central FL so going to port is about a 30 minute drive for us.

This particular cruise goes to Nassau and CC. I love Nassau & I like going to Atlantis to relax by the pool and go to the casino for a couple of hours.

But I'm wondering if it's going to feel way too short. We're 'seasoned' DCL cruisers and out of the 14 cruises we've done only the first one was a 4-night and that felt very short. Even the Wish 5-night maiden voyage felt short. I feel like once you go to 7+ night sailings, it's hard to go back to short cruises.

Anyway - is it worth it?

 

[Marthasor]

I've been debating this myself. We did a 4-night Wish cruise a few weeks ago and I could have used a few more days. I think if I lived as close as you do, I would consider the 3-night as long as you are ok not having a ton of time actually on the ship. That's the biggest drawback to me - I like excursions, but also just like downtime on the ship and the 3-day doesn't really provide it unless you skip one of the ports.

 

[Clarkson U]

Just got off 3 nights on Wish today! I think of it as a long weekend getaway which to me is fun and relaxing! I don’t consider going to the parks relaxing or a vacation any more due to all the nuances and genie+ and LL etc. that’s too much work for me!

I would do the Wish and just chill out on it!

 

[OKW Lover]

My answer to this would normally be no, it's not worth it. However, for a special occasion whose date coincides with the birthday I'd go for it.

 

[unrequited23]

It's a 30 minute drive...go for it. No flights, no hotel the night before, just a nice weekend getaway.

 

[MomOTwins]

If you won't be happy unless you can do/see "everything" then I'd wait until you have time to do a B2B.

If you are good with just enjoying the experiences you happen to experience over the course of 3 days, recognizing that you are probably doing/seeing only part of what the ship has to offer, you can absolutely enjoy a 3-night cruise. We've done longer cruises and still enjoy 3 nights. The key is to let go of the Disney "completionist" tendency and just enjoying your time on the ship.

For example, I see people stressing in our cruise group about how they can't experience dinner at enchante or Palo without missing an MDR restaurant, or how they want to do "1920s" dress up at dinner at 1923, but are worried it will be on pirate and halloween night and they won't get to use their other costumes, or how they want to do the "Incredicourse" but it is on Nassau day and they booked Atlantis all day. You can't do it all on a 3-night. But if you can get over the FOMO and say I'd rather do x than y, so I'll do y and have regrets about it, you'll have a great time.

 

[Cheburashka]

I'm wondering if it's going to feel way too short. We're 'seasoned' DCL cruisers and out of the 14 cruises we've done only the first one was a 4-night and that felt very short. Even the Wish 5-night maiden voyage felt short. I feel like once you go to 7+ night sailings, it's hard to go back to short cruises.

Since you don't like short cruises, I wouldn't bother. I do like short cruises, so it would be worth it for me if I wanted to sail the Wish.

 

[DisneYE]

If you won't be happy unless you can do/see "everything" then I'd wait until you have time to do a B2B.

If you are good with just enjoying the experiences you happen to experience over the course of 3 days, recognizing that you are probably doing/seeing only part of what the ship has to offer, you can absolutely enjoy a 3-night cruise. We've done longer cruises and still enjoy 3 nights. The key is to let go of the Disney "completionist" tendency and just enjoying your time on the ship.

For example, I see people stressing in our cruise group about how they can't experience dinner at enchante or Palo without missing an MDR restaurant, or how they want to do "1920s" dress up at dinner at 1923, but are worried it will be on pirate and halloween night and they won't get to use their other costumes, or how they want to do the "Incredicourse" but it is on Nassau day and they booked Atlantis all day. You can't do it all on a 3-night. But if you can get over the FOMO and say I'd rather do x than y, so I'll do y and have regrets about it, you'll have a great time.

We aren't too obsessed with the MDR's or experiences. We just like to go and be on the ship, enjoy the ocean, the shows, go to bars, do a tasting or two if there's spots available...my DD loves cabanas (in this case Marceline Market), eating ice cream and relax by the pool for hours. We appreciate the food on the MDR's but if we miss 1923 or Marvel, we're ok with it. I just think 3 nights is too short and not enough to feel you *really* went on a cruise.
I like @Clarkson U 's approach in seeing it as weekend getaway. But that's a heck of an expensive long weekend. ($3500 for the 3 of us, verandah with insurance but no tips, port adventures or expenses on the ship - so more like $5k...for 3 nights? yikes...)

 

[OKW Lover]

My answer to this would normally be no, it's not worth it. However, for a special occasion whose date coincides with the birthday I'd go for it.

Just for full disclosure, I'm actually doing exactly that in a few weeks.

 

[Mango7100]

The fact that you are only 30 minutes away would sway me to say yes, but after doing a 4 night I realize there is no way I could do a 3 day. 5 nights is my minimum. I’m one of those people who need 1-2 days just to get into relaxation mode, so we would have to get off the ship by then . And I agree it’s a good way to look at it as a weekend getaway, but that is way more pricey than what I typically would spend on a weekend trip.

 

[Clarkson U]

We aren't too obsessed with the MDR's or experiences. We just like to go and be on the ship, enjoy the ocean, the shows, go to bars, do a tasting or two if there's spots available...my DD loves cabanas (in this case Marceline Market), eating ice cream and relax by the pool for hours. We appreciate the food on the MDR's but if we miss 1923 or Marvel, we're ok with it. I just think 3 nights is too short and not enough to feel you *really* went on a cruise.
I like @Clarkson U 's approach in seeing it as weekend getaway. But that's a heck of an expensive long weekend. ($3500 for the 3 of us, verandah with insurance but no tips, port adventures or expenses on the ship - so more like $5k...for 3 nights? yikes...)

@DisneYE - go inside stateroom. My wife and I just did that for a standard inside stateroom room 11519 … it’s just a weekend getaway so pack light and pick a smaller room. You won’t be in it much anyways since at bars, pools, lounges, etc.

 

[Drfate102]

A three night isn't a vacation, it is an extended weekend, and you treat it as such. Less packing, only needing to take 2 days off from work and cheaper. Yes, I think it is worth it. If you do three days park hopping, it will feel far shorter and you will be tired and your feet will hurt.

 

[sethschroeder]

DCL is already expensive then add in a Wish premium and I would never say it's worth it.

That being said likely the best of your choices. Unless you have APs the 3 park day are just as crazy overpriced.

 

[MomOTwins]

DCL is already expensive then add in a Wish premium and I would never say it's worth it.

That being said likely the best of your choices. Unless you have APs the 3 park day are just as crazy overpriced.

Right I had the same thought. Priced out a 3 night disney world trip for an upcoming weekend. Moderate hotel around $400 a night, hopper ticket with genie plus are over $500 per person, add a $100 per person per day for meals and snacks. For our family of 5 that is almost $1000 more than what we are paying for our upcoming 3 night cruise on the wish.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I don't enjoy going to the Disney Parks much anymore. As someone else said, its confusing as all get out and costs so much. Since it sounds like you are Florida residents, you could always look for those discounted tickets that come out in January. Usually its 3 or 4 Days for 200 bucks per person or so.

If you've already done the Ship for the MV and you know the lay of the land, you'll have a jump on all the first timers on board. I would definitely go for the long weekend on the Wish if you want to relax and WDW if you want a more "active" weekend.

 

[DisneYE]

@DisneYE - go inside stateroom. My wife and I just did that for a standard inside stateroom room 11519 … it’s just a weekend getaway so pack light and pick a smaller room. You won’t be in it much anyways since at bars, pools, lounges, etc.

I really dislike inside rooms.
Booked one last year for my MIL and it felt too dark and cramped
We wander around the ship a lot, but I also like to read on the verandah and my favorite activity on the ship hands down is napping in the afternoon with the verandah door open while DD & her mom are out and about.

 

[DisneYE]

I don't enjoy going to the Disney Parks much anymore. As someone else said, its confusing as all get out and costs so much. Since it sounds like you are Florida residents, you could always look for those discounted tickets that come out in January. Usually its 3 or 4 Days for 200 bucks per person or so.

If you've already done the Ship for the MV and you know the lay of the land, you'll have a jump on all the first timers on board. I would definitely go for the long weekend on the Wish if you want to relax and WDW if you want a more "active" weekend.

Do you know if the FL resident discount applies to the Wish as well? I know about it for the other ships, but the Wish being the new shiny ship I thought they excluded it.
Do you happen to know?

 

[slindamood]

We took a 3 night Wish cruise in September for our Grandson's 7th birthday. His younger sister turned 5 a few weeks before and his older sister turned 10 a few days later, so it was the birthday season. We were surprised at just how much we enjoyed it , even though we generally prefer the longer transatlantics. It was different - less packing, less unpacking, no fish extenders or gatherings - just very relaxing family time. We did not get to everything on the ship but did alot. Birthday boy could not get enough of the slide to the kids club and his sisters enjoyed Olaf's picnic. A big Mickey cake for birthday night topped it off. And the entire section of the restaurant sang. It meant flying 7 people to Orlando, a stay at the airport Hyatt the night before. But for a long birthday weekend it can't be beat.

 

[Keyser]

Given that you've been on the Wish already, and are a very experienced cruiser, I would think that it might make it a lot easier to go for just a 3-day trip. Of course, we'd all like longer trips, but if you go into it without a "I need to do/see X, Y, and Z" attitude (since you have probably done all of them recently), you might be able to enjoy the cruise all the more!

 

[JM_97]

The price is a little steep for a 3 night. For me, 4 and 5 nights are the perfect sweet spot. I've taken a 7 night and by the last day, I was ready to go home.

I know the Wish only does 3 and 4 nights, but to me a 3 night feels like you'd be so rushed especially if there's no sea day.