Made a sudden booking, now panicky. Help?

[JJsmama]

Since I am here on the DIS and have been for years, it wont surprise you that I am a planner. However, I just did something extremely unusual and booked a cruise within an hour of getting the idea. Yikes! It has been a crazy year for our family and DH and I are about to start Tax Season (Dh's business) and we decided to give an (after April 15) cruise to each other for Christmas, which is a few days away, so I just booked it. I think I can change things for a few days, if needed.

I booked the Magic 7 day Eastern. we have been on Magic twice and Wonder once, but it has been years. I have not been on Dis at all researching this. Can you believe that?!

Was I wrong to not book the Fantasy, who has the same itinerary for the same price? Is it lots better and lots more to do? I thought CC would be less crowded on the Magic???

How do the Adult areas compare? We will be first time without kids.

I booked Mid Ship verandah but just saw that Aft verandah is $400 cheaper. Is there lots more rockin and rollin back there? Are there ship fumes?

Any other advice? Has DCL even gone to Tortola yet? Know nothing about it.

 

[Ofinn]

I book all our cruises at 2-3 months out. I'm not sure why you are panicking? I prefer the Magic over the Fantasy. If the Magic is cheaper I would stick with it. Price being the same I would give the Fantasy a try. Adults areas are fine on both ships. I would save the 400.00 and go with the Aft. I prefer Aft over midship because it's closer to everything. If it's rough you will feel it all over the ship. I don't know if location matters so much. I haven't been to Tortola yet so I have no advice for you. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[WIFamily]

I can't answer most of your questions, but will share my thoughts on Magic vs Fanstasy. We cruised the Magic in 2007, and the Fantasy in 2014. We booked the Magic while on-board the Fantasy. We enjoyed the Fantasy immensely, but wanted to get back on the Magic since it's major renovation.

The Fantasy was great, but there were times it felt crowded. It is the newest ship, the largest ship, and we would sail it again without hesitation. I think you're spot on with CC and the size of the ship. We didn't have an issue with crowds there. We felt it more on the major parties like Pirate Night and also Cabanas and the pool deck on Sea Days.

One thing that I really liked on the Fantasy was the adult pool area and Satellite Falls. I'll probably miss that, but I do think the Magic's adult pool is larger and has more space.

DCL has gone to Tortola yet, however, for the Magic in 2016, April 3rd is the first sailing.

 

[com_op_2000]

OP, relax you are going on vacation.
Take a deep breath.
Last minute trips are the bomb! Even though this is not really, really last minute.
Take this trip without the usually pre-planning pressures and trying to do everything. You can go on a more free flowing trip and do some unexpected things as they come up. Maybe create a new experience for DH and you. Take a look at your future and use this trip as a test at empty nesting.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Since I am here on the DIS and have been for years, it wont surprise you that I am a planner. However, I just did something extremely unusual and booked a cruise within an hour of getting the idea. Yikes! It has been a crazy year for our family and DH and I are about to start Tax Season (Dh's business) and we decided to give an (after April 15) cruise to each other for Christmas, which is a few days away, so I just booked it. I think I can change things for a few days, if needed.

I booked the Magic 7 day Eastern. we have been on Magic twice and Wonder once, but it has been years. I have not been on Dis at all researching this. Can you believe that?!

Was I wrong to not book the Fantasy, who has the same itinerary for the same price? Is it lots better and lots more to do? I thought CC would be less crowded on the Magic???

How do the Adult areas compare? We will be first time without kids.

I booked Mid Ship verandah but just saw that Aft verandah is $400 cheaper. Is there lots more rockin and rollin back there? Are there ship fumes?

Any other advice? Has DCL even gone to Tortola yet? Know nothing about it.

Adult areas "better" varies. The actual pool area (pool size, and kids traveling through) I found better on the Magic class ships. Late night venues/offerings I found better on the Fantasy.

Yes, there will be fewer people on CC with the Magic. Also fewer CMs serving the guests.

My experience on the Fantasy in a room towards the aft of the ship - extreme vibration. To the point that the beds were very similar to what you used to find in cheap motel rooms (vibrating beds). This was also evident in the aft dining rooms. We saw glasses of water "dance" off the tables in Animator's Palate on more than one occasion.

 

[bumbershoot]

Check out the ports of call forum on the message boards on cruisecritic.com. Terrific place to find out about, well, ports of call!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just got off the Magic on Friday, and we thought the re do was terrific! The only thing I missed was the Fantasy's absolutely terrific Animation show! Also the Magic's was much better than it used to be, in my opinion nothing is as good as the one on the Fantasy! The musical Tangled was everything I imagined it would be, and that is only on the Magic, but the Fantasy has Aladdin which is also very good!

I would stick with the Magic, I suppose to see Tangled. I myself am on the Magic again in 2016, so I will see it again!

Bobbi

 

[mmouse37]

Been on the Magic many, many times and sailed her even after her reimagining. Been on the Fantasy 3 times. I love the Magic for her charm but I really love the Fantasy for all the bells and whistles. The Fantasy is a gorgeous ship, has great adult areas, more water features and we never felt it too crowded nor did we feel CC was any more crowded than when the Magic is there. For the same money I would pick the Fantasy. I wouldn't care where my location was so I would probably save the $400.

MJ

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for your help. To clarify: I am not thinking that i cant figure things out in the next 4 months--more like, did i choose the right cruise/ right ship and should I change that while i can...kind of feeling...?

 

[Ofinn]

Thanks for your help. To clarify: I am not thinking that i cant figure things out in the next 4 months--more like, did i choose the right cruise/ right ship and should I change that while i can...kind of feeling...?

Yes I know that feeling, but I always go with the best price. Our last three cruises have been on the Wonder because of the price. I've grown to love the ship and the staff. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but I would rather take two cruises on the Wonder than one on the Fantasy. Every cruise has been great. I love all the ships for different reasons.

 

[phinz]

Our first cruise was booked within 15 minutes of us deciding we wanted to check out the DCL page as an alternative to another trip to the World. We got on there, did a search, saw a decent price on a Concierge room and booked it with little to no research. After we did, we both looked at each other and said, "Well, I guess we're taking a cruise. I wasn't expecting *that* to happen." I had never even set foot in this subforum before that.