Merrychristmas cruise is worth the extraprice? vs sailing on March

[DianaMB333]

Hi
we are debating between sailing on Nov vs March... both on the Wish, 4 days, the difference between them is the Merrychristmas decor/theme and US$3.5k (for our party of 10 pax)...

We all love the Holidays of course but does the cruise have special shows/events to justify the tag?

Also what are your thoughts about the weather, on paper it seems that averages are the same, but maybe March could be warmer for the beach ¿?

Thanks!

Diana

 

[Calantha]

but maybe March could be warmer for the beach

FWIW, average temp in the Bahamas in March is 73 and 76 in November. I would think the ocean would be lingering with warmth from summer, as opposed to trying to warm up for spring?

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Depends- pre-C yes there was a difference that to most had ‘monetary value’ but I doubt anyone who cruised 2021 would say that as there was only one (even my 4 year old was bored) Christmas activity-

 

[MomOTwins]

I would do the march cruise if I were you. Even pre-Covid the merrytime stuff wasn't that big of a deal--my kids can visit Santa and make gingerbread men at home.

The one time we sailed in November it was because it was a convenient time for us to travel with school breaks.

I do agree CC is going to be colder in March but we still had an amazing time when we cruised in Spring. It is less time in the water but the beach is incredible and the ship's pools are heated so you can still get your swimming on.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have always enjoyed Merrytime Cruises-and we have booked one on the Wish for this December. I will be disappointed if there are no Christmas activities, but there should at least be a Gingerbread House to see. Maybe, hopefully, things will be more normal by November!

 

[Cheburashka]

Hi
we are debating between sailing on Nov vs March... both on the Wish, 4 days, the difference between them is the Merrychristmas decor/theme and US$3.5k (for our party of 10 pax)...

We all love the Holidays of course but does the cruise have special shows/events to justify the tag?

No, there isn't much in the way of special shows or events during Merrytime cruises. They used to have a ginderbread house decorating activity, but a few years ago it was demoted to a cookie decorating activity, sigh. In normal years there was an atrium holiday music presentation, but I didn't sail this past Christmas so don't know if it survived Covid. Santa used to show up on one day, but I don't know if that has continued, either.

Those cruises are very well themed to Christmas, however. The ship and Castaway Cay are elaborately decorated: huge Christmas tree and life-size gingerbread house in the atrium, multiple other Christmas trees onboard, a massive tree and other decorations on Castaway Cay, Christmassy music playing in the background instead of the standard Disney tunes, crew members wear Santa hats, etc.

We love Christmas season cruises on DCL due to the decorations and the Christmas spirit, but I can't recommend that you spend thousands more in the expectation of getting your money's worth. It will only be worth it to you if you highly value Christmas theming.

 

[Cheburashka]

I will add that we have sailed 4 Christmas or New Year's cruises in the past several years, and have always found the port weather to be warm and pleasant. In the Caribbean, the water isn't cold. On Castaway Cay (northern Bahamas, not Caribbean), the water is chilly but not freezing. Once you fully immerse yourself, your body adjusts in less than a minute (and I'm the type who wears a coat when it's 60 degrees out). But the air has always been warm when we were there, so getting out of the beach water was never unpleasant. The only time I had any issue with that is when riding the Aqua Duck late evenings as the ship was sailing & full ocean wind was blowing. Then it can be chilly getting put of the water, but it never stopped me from riding the AquaDuck at night (which you should try as it's lit up). We sailed once in mid-March & it was warmer, which made it impossible to walk barefoot on most of the pool deck due to it burning your feet (no issue with this in December). But otherwise it isn't hugely different from December, still enjoyable. I have another cruise for mid-Match scheduled this year.

 

[KashasMom]

We've loved the Very Merrytime cruises - PRE-COVID. Very Merrytime is SO much fun...lots of activities from making ornaments to decorating gingerbread cookies. Tree lighting ceremony in the atrium with the characters and Christmas carols, Winter Wonderland Ball with Santa, Mrs. Claus and snow in the atrium. The ship is beautifully decorated with a huge tree and gingerbread house. Characters are decked out in their holiday finest. Families getting their photos taken in ugly Christmas sweaters and/or Christmas pajamas. It's a week long celebration!

Also you can order special holiday decorations that will be in your room when you arrive - and also a special Christmas blanket and pillow to take home.

That being said...I don't think I'd book one now until things are back to "normal". I also wouldn't pay that much extra for it, especially for 4 days!!

 

[Cruzin’Sisters]

Something else to consider is the elevated airline costs for certain weeks around the holidays or school breaks. We are traveling in March and even the hotel prices are lower.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Here's a point of view.

Christmas time is a time people (who celebrate) make special regardless of where they are. So you might as well stay home and spend time with family. March, on the other hand, is nothing special and will pass as such unless you make it special by going on a Disney cruise!

Yes, I've cruised during both times and loved our March cruises as much as our December cruises.

 

[DianaMB333]

Here's a point of view.

Christmas time is a time people (who celebrate) make special regardless of where they are. So you might as well stay home and spend time with family. March, on the other hand, is nothing special and will pass as such unless you make it special by going on a Disney cruise!

Yes, I've cruised during both times and loved our March cruises as much as our December cruises.

Thanks! Any thoughts on the weather? Which might be better for the kids to enjoy the beach..?

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Thanks! Any thoughts on the weather? Which might be better for the kids to enjoy the beach..?

I found the air temperature to be similar, though the water is indeed colder in March than in December.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were on a Double Dip January 3-8. The second CC day was definitely nicer for beach time. So definitely nice days can come either time.