planning the first cruise, how many nights should I do?

[natxie]

My kids are 12, 10, 8. Never did cruise before. How many nights show I do for the first time?
7 nights is too long?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Do the 7 as anything less is too short. The children will love it.

 

[AnnaS]

If you can, go for the 7 night. 3 and 4 nights are too short. But the time you get settled and start to know the ship, it's time to get off. Out of 7 cruises, we have one done one 4 night and it was in addition to our WDW stay. Of course, 5 or 4 night would be second choice. Happy Planning!

 

[jdb in AZ]

The longer the better -- gives you more ports to explore. My favorites are at least two-weeks.

 

[LoveTheMouse!]

Just did 7 nights for our first DCL cruise. Can't imagine doing less. Loved it!

 

[asamklove]

7!!!!!

 

[Jess_S]

I can't imagine doing less than 7 unless you have limited vacation time or some other reason why an 8 night vacation wouldn't work. (8 because you should fly in a day early to avoid any drama with getting to port on time).

 

[AndreAggie]

We've done 4 nights twice....I'm really wanting to do a 7 next, but the 7 nights haven't fit in our schedule/budget. However, any night on a cruise ship is better than one on land.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My kids are 12, 10, 8. Never did cruise before. How many nights show I do for the first time?
7 nights is too long?

As evidenced, there are a number of us in the "longer is better" camp.

While I agree, sometimes 7 night is just too long for a first timer who's unsure of whether cruising is for them. Yes, there are people like that.

If your vacations are generally along the lines of "go with the flow" then, a 7 night is probably a good way to start. I mean, if you're sure that everyone will be OK with being on a ship for that long.

If you have anyone in your group that's really unsure about it, I would suggest looking for something more like a 5 or 4 night cruise, for a taste. And just be aware, that you won't be able to do everything on that short a cruise (heck, we've been on 11 cruises, only 1 4 night, and still haven't done everything).

For the record our first cruise was a 15 night one.

 

[2-pointdoe]

I am in agreement with the majority. My dd and I went on our first which was 7 nights, DD was 2.5 years. Took DH on his first last month and it was 14 nights, DD now 8 years. Both of them thought 14 nights was too short.

 

[tink1970]

Another vote for 7; 5 if time/money prohibits.

We take little 3 day cruises but treat them as "weekends away" versus a true relaxing vacation. The longest I've done is a 7 day but am more than willing, when DH gives the green light, to go on a 14 day.

 

[GoneWDWCrazy]

Another person to agree. My son and I just finished out first cruise- a 3 nighter. It was WAY too short. We felt so rushed to experience everything, and now I'm left wishing we could get back on ASAP (although I'd probably feel that way anyway). We did the shorter cruise because we went to Disney World after our cruise. Knowing what I know now, I'll never combine the vacations again bc I'll have to cut one short. Unless I fall into lots of money in the future. Congrats on planning your cruise! It was everything o dreamed of and more.

 

[dclpluto]

Actually 7 is too short for your first cruise. But anything is better than nothing. My first cruise was a short 7 night cruise. My second a 14 my third a 15 night cruise fourth a 12 night cruise than I went back to a 7. 7 is way too short especially for your first time. Enjoy

 

[michellekcm]

Our first was 7 nights, and it was amazing. Of course, if I could do longer now I will (we did a B2B2B of 29 nights last year!), but I will only ever do 7 as a minimum.

 

[MPS516]

You posted your question on a board where all of us love cruising and cruising with Disney, it is logical the answers will be as long as possible. If you are worried you or family members may not enjoy cruising than think of any other vacation and how long everyone can tolerate things.

Our girls when your kids age ended up loving cruising and having Castaway Cay as one of our ports of call had a lot to do with that. We hit the island early and stayed until we absolutely had to get back on the ship that evening. Being late spring early summer the weather was perfect, water warn and clear, food plentiful and lots to do. I would suggest ensuring Castaway Cay is included in whatever itinerary you choose.

3 days is too short to really get a feel for whether you will enjoy cruising DCL. 5 days is a good felling things out number and expect discovering a desire for doing longer cruises. 7 is a real good number of nights if you have no fear someone is going to really dislike sailing, can't imagine kids your's age will not enjoy.

 

[BigredNole]

I have been going through this myself. Looking at everything we want to try or attempt to do, 7 nights is the minimum. I know we can't do it in a single trip though.

 

[2prettygirl]

I would not do anything less than 7. The time goes by so fast! We enjoyed the Disney ship so much and if we had the time off saved up we would do a back to back, 2 week cruise!

 

[mernin]

We are booked for our first cruise in Feb 2017, 4 nights. I was looking at 7 nights but my DH was not sold on it so I figured this was a good compromise in case he hated it. We have WDW days surrounding it.

 

[RedSox68]

I agree -- the longer the better. Our very first cruise was on the Wonder for 4-nights (land and sea package back then), and it was way too short. Did it because we weren't sure if everyone would like it or get sea sick. We walked right off and booked a 7-night and eventually a 10-night then did a 24-night back-2-back. It can't be long enough for us -- there's lots on the ship to explore and do on sea days and it gives you time to mellow and relax and not be constantly on the run to do everything in a short time frame.

 

[The Sasquatch]

basically everyone on here says 7 but I think a 3 or 4 night Dream is perfect to see if cruising is for you