Need Help. Do We Sail Again 1 Year Later??

[Shooter]

Myself, DW & DS (8) just sailed on our first cruise on the Magic's eastern trip in October (10/5). We had an absolute fabulous time. Loved everything about it and wanted immediately to go again but on the western cruise in November 2003.

After sometime I'm having second thoughts. Family still wants to go but here are my thoughts.

1) It's the same ship - Nothing new to discover.

2) It's the same itinerary onboard. Same dining rotation with the same menus & same shows. Mostly the same staff.

3) My son does move up another level with the labs but how much difference can there be?

4) We were so inexperienced to anything that we were about to encounter that nothing seemed to go wrong. Wouldn't we have much higher expectations this time that it increase the chances of us being disappointed? I know we would not enjoy the shows as much.

There is the fact that we would be seeing entirely different ports with the exception of Castaway Cay, where I could spend a week at. We would be meeting new people which is always a real treat for our family.

You can see by my signature that we've done WDW (00) and Universal (01) along with the eastern Magic cruise (02). We work hard to save for these trips and we want to be as happy as we have with the last three but I'm thinking a week in the Caribbean at a Beaches resort is the best new experience. Maybe on Turks & Caicos. All inclusive. No tips. Kids activities and 12 miles of sand.

I don't know. I have to offer an option. Any ideas? Son wants to do western and then WDL and then he says we will have done all the Disney stuff.

 

[pal2pluto]

My DH is a real "been there done that, didn't lose anything there, so I don't need to go back" kinda vacationer. We did the Magic in January and were blessed with the $99 tickets for the Wonder in the fall. I thought he'd not want to go as we had been to Nassau 16 years ago and well....been there done that. I had told him that I planned to stay on the ship on Nassau day and pretend it was a day at sea. Well we all went, and it was so fun to see him as soon as we got on the ship. He sprinted up the stairs with the biggest grin, because he knew where he was going and "felt like he was home".......he actually said that!

This time, we did more room service and took it to aft deck 7 (we had a cat. 11), strolled more, went to shows (dueling pianos) that we didn't see before, went to midnight movies, watched the adult games by the adult pool, sat in the hottub together......certainly there are things you missed/didn't do because of time constraints. There is just so much to do!!!! We didn't do any spa stuff either time, would have loved to do the chef demos again, wine tasting again, try champagne brunch, tea..........gosh, I can think of so much we would do again!

Thats my opinion................

 

[disny4ever]

My DW and I have done 3 Disney cruises and I look forward to booking our 4th. Each cruise has been different and exciting. Even if I were to go back to the same ports there are sooo many different excursions to do that you should be able to have a new experience each time.
Although a week on a beach sounds good too, I love to cruise and look forward to going on the Western Itineray with DCL. I hope you and your family come to a decision that everyone enjoys.

 

[AnnMorin]

We are doing cruise number four this December. Cruise number one was a land/sea package in April 2001-liked it so much cruise number two was a 7 day Dec. 2001 that was so fun we did a 7 day December 2002 and are doing another 7day December 2003. There are so many things to do at the ports and so little time there I think I could cruise 20 times and still never get board. But then again I love to cruise

 

[Gillian]

The Beaches resort you are talking about does sound nice, but make sure it is the type of place you are looking for. I've read A LOT of mixed reviews! It's big, crowded (seasonal), and the service is not DCL Of course, that doesn't mean it won't be beautiful & fun, but do read up on it. It's a very expensive place, even for an all inclusive.

If you're looking for a non-Disney cruise option, also check out the Royal Caribbean line. Less expensive than Disney. They have a great reputation, good food, good kids clubs & a lot of newer ships. The Voyager class ships (voyager, navigator, explorer) are huge! They also have newer but smaller ships. Radiance & Brilliance, I think.

 

[Shooter]

Thank you for all of the help.

You've definately given us a lot to think about.

Gillian, do you think Beaches will be crowded in November?

 

[mmouse37]

We have sailed DCL 7 times already, 6 on the Magic, 1 on the Wonder and we have another Magic booked for July.

Part of the charm of Disney is returning to something familiar. We do not have to think to much on this cruise. We know what to expect as far as quality and service. We always manage to find different things to do each cruise. Some we participate in everything, some we just relax on deck all day.

Our three teens have all gone thru the kids clubs at various levels and now my oldest DD was able to experience the adult clubs and shows the last two cruises and it was a completely new experience for her. We enjoyed her company with us as well when we attended the adult theme nights.

Another plus for us is getting to know the crew so well by returning so often....alot of them feel like family to us and they enjoy seeing us as much as enjoy seeing them!!! How many other vacations can you go on where several people greet you when you board and say....WELCOME BACK...WE MISSED YOU!! It is a special feeling.

Go again and enjoy!!! Discover new Magic!!!!

MJ

 

[Gillian]

I really don't know how crowded Beaches would be in November. I'd guess it's like Disney, with bigger crowds around Thanksgiving. Probably a search on Google would help more than me!

Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter where you go!

 

[edith76]

We've been on 5 Disney cruises and have 2 more planned. We always seem to find new things to do and new people to meet. It is nice to know our way around the ship and "not feel obligated to rush around trying to fit everthing in".

 

[dis4me]

Shooter
We have done 3 Disney cruises-2 Eastern the last one western. I felt that on the last cruise we had done everything that we wanted to do.It was still fun doingthe things again but we decidedwe wanted to do something different. I love Disney especially the service and quality, however this year we are taking a break and trying an all inclusive.
We booked Beaches Turks and Caicos for Nov. The prics were comparable to a cat 4 room. My kids are very excited about the sega dream center and the kids clubs there.I hope they are not disappointed.
The info I received from the resort was that it is all you can eat and drink, all nonmotorized water sports included. Excursions are avilable for an addition charge. No tipping allowed.Sorry I can't be of any more help. Just wanted to let you know I feel the same way.
We will proablaby go back to Disney in 2004. I have checked ohter cruised but the rooms seem so small I can't imagine comparing to DCL.

 

[Hopelessly Hooked]

IMHO, November is a very good time to do a 7-day cruise. I think we had the most fun on our 2nd cruise. By then, we knew the ropes better. We knew what we liked and didn’t like. DS6 was more confident in the kids club as he knew the ropes. We felt confident enough to do our own excursions and loved it. Even if you repeat the same itinerary, you can make a completely new trip out of it by trying different excursions.

Because of a work conflict with the Western sailing, we repeated the Eastern for the 3rd time. We tried something new – going to Anguilla -- which we loved. We did something old also – Trunk Bay. This time we arrived on Trunk Bay beach at 9:30 and left at 2:30. Still not enough time.

We have gone in November, January and early February. We found the most pleasant weather was in November (your mileage may vary). As November is before the Caribbean high season, the beaches and towns were much less crowded than January.

 

[edith76]

How long did it take you to get to Anguilla? Did you take a ferry - and from which side? We are probably doing the eastern for the 3rd time in Jan. and I was trying to think of something different to do. We did Trunk Bay on the first eastern. We did the excursion and while it was nice, it was way too short a time on the beach.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ohhhh my.... You are indeed facing a tough decision! I have simply drooled over those incredible beaches on Turks and Caicos. That is definately my next 'dream' vacation. Emphasis on the word dream because, at those prices!!!

Okay, here is my take... DH and I are really really looking forward to our cruise on the WONDER with DS(5).... And, yes, I think a second cruise with a whole different itenerary and countries.... Plus, there would indeed be differences for your son in the LAB. (compare navigators on Castawayclub.com.....) Plus, there are reports of a new show to begin next Aug-Sept.... plus, there is the new menu at Parrot Cay. And, it would indeed be a stress-free, fun, relaxing, and wonderful vacation the second time.... As, you would not be rushed to do everything that you may have done before. I know that I have one favorite vacation spot on a beach, and I have a wonderful time returning there for the second and third time!!!! I know that I will be really happy with the accomodations and service at this resort, have a great time, and as one poster said, it feels like home.... Low stress!!!

So, our plan is to go on the Disney cruise with our son... Then I am 'dreaming' of taking a short trip to Turks&Caicos one day, just DH and I, when DS is a little older.... That way we can stay at a smaller, less crowded resort there (as we would not be needing the kids club.) And, boy there are some nice ones! You are right.... BeachesT&C looks beyond incredible!!! But I too have heard a few mixed reviews... The kind of things that you might hear about a resort that huge, so many people there that it is hard to provide great personalized service... November would probably be great, but I probably wouldn't want to travel there during high season.

 

[dis4me]

Edith76 You beat me to it.I was just going to ask that question.My husand had said if anything he wanted to do the Eastern again.More options to see something new.Many people have mentioned to me how beautiful and unspoiled Anguilla is.I would love any info on getting there as well.
We did Megan's Bay in St Thomas and Trunk Bay and St John-- Absolutely Gorgeous.

 

[AnnMorin]

I have not done Anguilla yet but have been researching it and fully intend to go come December. It really will not be that costly or hard to do. There is a ferry from the french side of St. Martin that travels hourly, it is about a 20 min. ride. I know where I want to go and will bring my own snorkle gear. the cab fares are regulated and the cabbie will return for you at appointed time. I am so looking forward to something different and my friend's boss who goes there every year said Anguilla has the most beautiful beach he has ever seen-very unspoiled!

 

[Towncrier]

Our first cruise was the inaugural 7-day eastern back in August 2000. We had a great time and figured that it would be a long time before cruising again. We were wrong. In January 2002, we did the 7-day eastern itinerary again. Even though we stopped at the same ports and were on the same ship, everything seemed much more relaxed. I would venture to say that we enjoyed our 2nd 7-day cruise even more than the our 1st one.

My wife ended up on three Disney cruises in 2002. The 7-day that I mentioned above, and two 3-day cruises, the first in October with her mom and the second in November with me. She cruised on the same ship with the same itinerary 5 weeks apart. And enjoyed both 3-day cruises thoroughly.