No sea days?

[NJlauren]

I apologize in advance as I am considering our first family cruise for 2019 so I am sure I am going to have tons of questions! Would be me, DH, DD (4 at sailing) and baby to be (8ish months in March 2019)

Looking at some time in the early part of 2019, was leaning towards March or May to hopefully avoid some of the spring break crowds, and get warmer weather then February but open to other suggestions here too.

Currently I am only looking at DCL, and am thinking of a cruise out of Miami but port Canaveral isn't out of the question either. Miami with a 4 or 5 night cruise would allow for 2/3 days to see family before or after, killing 'two birds with one stone type of thing'.

Anyway some of the cruises I am considering have no 'sea days' is this bad. Should I only be looking at itineraries with sea days?

Also all Cruises out of Miami are the Magic ship, if anyone has any comments there as well

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I personally like sea days. It’s a Day when you have no obligations to get up early for shore excursions, etc. It’s a time just to relax at the pool or goto the spa or just take a nap! I love the Dream. It was my favorite ship until I went on the Wonder this January. I am not a big fan of the Miami port, however. I would much rather cruise from Port Canaveral than Miami. It’s much more organized and easier to get to. Whatever you decide, have fun!!

 

[Trera]

I apologize in advance as I am considering our first family cruise for 2019 so I am sure I am going to have tons of questions! Would be me, DH, DD (4 at sailing) and baby to be (8ish months in March 2019)

Looking at some time in the early part of 2019, was leaning towards March or May to hopefully avoid some of the spring break crowds, and get warmer weather then February but open to other suggestions here too.

Currently I am only looking at DCL, and am thinking of a cruise out of Miami but port Canaveral isn't out of the question either. Miami with a 4 or 5 night cruise would allow for 2/3 days to see family before or after, killing 'two birds with one stone type of thing'.

Anyway some of the cruises I am considering have no 'sea days' is this bad. Should I only be looking at itineraries with sea days?

Also all Cruises out of Miami are the Dream ship, if anyone has any comments there as well

Cruises out of Miami should be on the Magic. The Dream leaves from Port Canaveral.

You will have a great time on either ship.

 

[Sunshine2U]

You can't go wrong with any of the 4 ships - they are all beautiful. With small children, you don't need a lot of the bells and whistles of a large ship. I'm not sure of the difference in nursery services.

Many people do not get off the ship at Nassau (or other port) - you can treat that as your sea day. We sail with the ship as the destination so we are among those who look for sea days or stay on board.

March is a good month. May can start to get hot, primarily while in port. But that's variable.

I recommend a veranda cabin. It allows you to breakfast and relax outside while your children sleep. Take advantage of the ability to bring wine and beer on board (if that's your thing) and you're set.

 

[Shanti]

Also all Cruises out of Miami are the Dream ship, if anyone has any comments there as well

Are you sure you aren't mistaken about that? The Magic typically sails out of Miami, while the Dream sails out of Port Canaveral.

 

[NJlauren]

Are you sure you aren't mistaken about that? The Magic typically sails out of Miami, while the Dream sails out of Port Canaveral.

You are right the Magic, will adjust my original post.

 

[NJlauren]

Cruises out of Miami should be on the Magic. The Dream leaves from Port Canaveral.

You will have a great time on either ship.

You are right the Magic adjusted the Original post.

 

[starvenger]

I like sea days in the Caribbean. Lets you chill and explore the ship.

In the Mediterranean, I’ve never been on a cruise there, but I think I’d prefer no sea days there.

 

[Marc D]

I like sea days in the Caribbean. Lets you chill and explore the ship.

In the Mediterranean, I’ve never been on a cruise there, but I think I’d prefer no sea days there.

All the cruises in Europe are very port oriented. Tours start early (like 7:30) and often finish near all aboard time. Sea days are useful to relax and enjoy the ship a bit. We did the 12-nights British Isles last year and the sea days were more than welcomed, especially travelling with a child.

 

[starvenger]

All the cruises in Europe are very port oriented. Tours start early (like 7:30) and often finish near all aboard time. Sea days are useful to relax and enjoy the ship a bit. We did the 12-nights British Isles last year and the sea days were more than welcomed, especially travelling with a child.

Oh yeah, can't disagree there about why you want sea days. But I like seeing the different parts of Europe, so I guess I have a bias towards having those port days, even though I know they'd be long in some ports like "Rome" (which is, what, a 2.5 hour bus ride?).

 

[FSU Girl]

I love sea days and I've been to the Caribbean so often I prefer the ship more than the destination so I wouldn't go there without a sea day. But you can also turn a port day into your own sea day. A lot of people do that at Nassau. Less people on the ship, you can enjoy the pools more. Real sea days can be crowded since everyone is on the ship with no where to go.

 

[KashasMom]

I would be happy to go on a cruise with NO sea days and then make my own. On actual sea days the ship is crowded, especially the small pool! Do take note - as mentioned - that many people stay on when in Nassau (Falmouth is another port where many people stay on).

 

[KashasMom]

Oh yeah, can't disagree there about why you want sea days. But I like seeing the different parts of Europe, so I guess I have a bias towards having those port days, even though I know they'd be long in some ports like "Rome" (which is, what, a 2.5 hour bus ride?).

I agree! We did an amazing 13 night Scandinavia/Russia with our 7 year old daughter and had one sea day. Best cruise ever.

 

[starvenger]

I would be happy to go on a cruise with NO sea days and then make my own. On actual sea days the ship is crowded, especially the small pool! Do take note - as mentioned - that many people stay on when in Nassau (Falmouth is another port where many people stay on).

Wait, which one is the small pool?

 

[KashasMom]

Wait, which one is the small pool?

Haha...well they all are but I was referring to the one that older kids could go in (not the kiddy pool and not the adults-only). The one I'm stuck going in.

 

[Shanti]

Wait, which one is the small pool?

Don't tell me that you've sailed on DCL but didn't know about that other family pool, the really big one.






Lol.

 

[starvenger]

Don't tell me that you've sailed on DCL but didn't know about that other family pool, the really big one.






Lol.

It’s the one alongside the ship, right?

 

[Shanti]

It’s the one alongside the ship, right?

 

[UNDDisney]

We have done 3 Disney cruises to the Caribbean and only gotten off the ship for Castaway and one other port! We travel with extended family and they think we are nuts, but we love the ship and enjoy it when its less crowded. When our kids are older I am sure we'll do excursions/explore the ports on our own (DH and I did when we cruised pre-kids), but the thought of taking 3 young kids (we've always had a child less than 2 years old) off the boat to explore sounds exhausting, and we are going on vacation to relax and have fun together So...you can make any day a sea day as others have mentioned! We finally got smart this year and are going on the Dream 5 night with TWO stops at Castaway!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We love our time on the ship, and for the Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, I'm willing to create my own day by just not getting off the ship at that port. We make our selection of these based on dates and rates, and we mostly ignore the itinerary. Would be different on a European or Alaskan cruise though.

As far as which ship--I like both the bigger ones and the smaller ones.