Please tell me that I am not crazy...

[SwimMom2]

Something like 2 years ago, my husband and I booked an Eastern Carribbean cruise on the fantasy with my in laws. DH was not into the cruise idea at all, but he enjoys WDW, especially Epcot, and my in laws love cruising. My kids were 7 and 1 at the time, and when I made the reservation, 3 and 9 seemed light years away.

Fast forward a few months. My in laws backed out, and the first Norway cruises came out. I somewhat impulsively called DCL and moved my reservation to the Magic 7 day Norway cruise. Got a cat 4b. Bear in mind my husband and kids have never been on a cruise before and I have only been on small ships a few times, never a major cruise line.

Now this cruise in 2 weeks away. I am a bit worried that I have bit off more than I can chew. Of course we are going regardless. I know I will only be disappointed if my expectations are off. Is this way too much for a first cruise? If so I might cancel a port adventure or just dial back my expectations on what we can do. We are old pros at WDW, not overloading and enjoying the small stuff. Will this experience help on the cruise or is it totally different?

 

[JimGA]

Ypu will enjoy it, relax and have a good time.

 

[bcwife76]

Why would you be crazy for booking that cruise? It sounds amazing Have a great time!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Well, you may be getting biased opinions on this board, but I don't think it's crazy at all. DD and I both want to go on that cruise, but it will have to wait a couple years.

 

[kiford]

It's a bit more exotic than most first time cruises which are most often to the Caribbean but I think you're stressing over nothing. Disney is great at handholding first time cruisers through the whole experience. Ports are, in my opinion, a bit more important when you're in locations like the Mediterranean or northern Europe than in the islands but that could be a lot of fun. Your kids may not get much out of the ports since they're quite young but they'll likely respond to your mood and enjoyment. Just take the time to enjoy the ship when you're not on excursions and relax, relax, relax. Let Disney take care of you. It's what we most like about DCL.

 

[kiford]

It's a bit more exotic than most first time cruises which are most often to the Caribbean but I think you're stressing over nothing. Disney is great at handholding first time cruisers through the whole experience. Ports are, in my opinion, a bit more important when you're in locations like the Mediterranean or northern Europe than in the islands but that could be a lot of fun. Your kids may not get much out of the ports since they're quite young but they'll likely respond to your mood and enjoyment. Just take the time to enjoy the ship when you're not on excursions and relax, relax, relax. Let Disney take care of you. It's what they do best and what we most like about DCL.

 

[Mousche]

Our first cruise ever - on any cruise line - was last year's EBTA, ending in Barcelona. Twelve nights, with six in a row of nothing but ocean around us ... lots of people thought we were nuts to start off like that. It was the trip of a lifetime - all five of us from my mother-in-law to my 4-year-old son LOVED it. In fact, we are still in the mourning period from our second cruise, which we finished a couple of weeks ago; this time we brought my parents and brothers along.

Disney is great at logistics - everything went smoothly. And if you are uncertain about anything, there is no shortage of cast members (and veteran cruisers) who are happy to answer questions.

 

[GeneMachine]

You are going to have a GREAT TIME! Relax and enjoy yourself!

 

[Four Swampers]

You'd be crazy not to do it! We did our first DCL cruise as a three day; I did not think I would like it, but I did it for my girls. Hated leaving the ship. Our second cruise was an 11 day Med. You will love it. Also, we'll see you onboard! That is our first cruise of a B2B. Sending you a private message.

 

[Four Swampers]

Hmmm, can't figure out how to message you, so I'll just put it here:

Welcome to Norway cruise! I am a pediatrician in Toledo, Ohio. My wife has been on 15 DCL cruises, I've been on 10, and our two daughters have each been on 8. On this cruise and the Baltic cruise immediately following, we will be joined by my parents and by friends: a family of five. If you have any questions, feel free to message me or call our stateroom: 6652. The castmembers on the ship are wonderful. You will not want to leave.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hmmm, can't figure out how to message you

SwimMom2 only has 5 posts. Need 10 posts to start a conversation (what PMs are called on the new boards)

 

[Four Swampers]

SwimMom2 only has 5 posts. Need 10 posts to start a conversation (what PMs are called on the new boards)

I thought that was the issue. Thanks for confirming! Now if I can just remember this, I won't spend five minutes trying to figure out the impossible the next time this happens.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I thought that was the issue. Thanks for confirming! Now if I can just remember this, I won't spend five minutes trying to figure out the impossible the next time this happens.

 

[disneymath]

My first cruise ever was a 7 night Alaska in 2011 (on DCL) with my parents.

My second cruise will be the 11 night Norway & Iceland this June/July. My sister, brother in law and their kids are also coming along - it will be all of their first time cruising.

As others have said, you'll be fine.

 

[Flossbolna]

I am taking my sister on her first cruise on exactly the same cruise you are booked on. I think it is a great cruise for a first timer.

Just remember that you can't do everything on the ship, there are plenty of activities and you will have to make priorities. I think since we won't have horribly long port days, the cruise will not be as exhausting as many Mediterranean cruises. Also, not sure which port adventures you signed up for, but I remember that a lot involved not that much travelling and were not that long.

Have a fantastic cruise! You are NOT crazy!

 

[DisneySisters]

You'd be crazy not to do it!

I was going to say the same thing. OH, you are going to have SUCH A GREAT TIME. I wish I could be a fly on the wall, except Disney has no flies, just fairies. Please give us a report when you get back!

 

[ctnurse]

First off you aren't crazy. Like you DH and I knew WDW like the back of our hands. We were married there and also had a vow renewal. We had been talking FOREVER to book DCL. After tons of research, we decided to book the 12 night Baltic cruise on opening day last year. Then in January we found a great VGT rate, so 60 days out we booked on the Fantasy, and had the most fantastic time. We traveled with DS, 11 and DD, 1&1/2. We all love DCL! Please report back after your cruise and tell us about the fabulous time you had.

 

[SwimMom2]

Thank you so much for your replies, esp your experiences. Moushe, that is so cool that you started with a transatlantic. CT nurse, that sounds a lot like us. I bet the Baltic will be stunning. Disneymath, that cruise would have been my first pick if the timing worked. Iceland!

Thanks Fourswampers. Are you going to Sunmore Village? I would think your girls would love that (depending on their ages). My 3 year old LOVES Frozen, so he and I are going on that one while DH and my older one go to Giske Island with the Viking Village.

I am so appreciative reading everyone's experiences and advice on this board. Since I haven't gone yet, i don't have much to offer, but when I get back I will let you all know how it goes.

 

[Four Swampers]

Thanks Fourswampers. Are you going to Sunmore Village? I would think your girls would love that (depending on their ages). My 3 year old LOVES Frozen, so he and I are going on that one while DH and my older one go to Giske Island with the Viking Village.

.

No Sunmore for us. The girls love Frozen, but at 17 and 15 years old they won't fully appreciate Sunmore. Glad to hear you have excursions in place: in Europe, excursions really make the cruise.

 

[Mommb]

If you are experienced and comfortable with Walt Disney World, the cruise should be easy. I find Disney Cruises (of which my family has taken 8, with our two kids at ages ranging from 3 through 15) much simpler to plan than park stays. At the parks, if we don't get to someone's favorite ride, it's a crushing disappointment, and figuring out where we will want to eat dinner 6 several months in advance (and then making sure we're in the right location at the right time) is frustrating.

Onboard a Disney Cruise, you could plan nothing at all in advance and still be fine, because most activities require nothing more than showing up. A few did require tickets, which you can read about in the Navigators each day and pick up at Guest Services. There are a lot of things going on, but you can do as many or as few of them as you want. On a first cruise, your family won't even worry about what they could have done but didn't -- they will be too busy enjoying what they do.

In ports, Disney has port adventures well choreographed. They will involve waiting (to disembark, to load the bus, to wait for people to return to the bus after a stop) so it would help to carry books or something else for the kids to look at while waiting. There will be lots to look at once you're moving, though.

It's a matter of individual preference, of course, but given the choice between the Caribbean and Europe, I would definitely choose Europe, even with kids. (We have twice booked Caribbean cruises with Disney and switched to Europe -- the Mediterranean in 2013 and the Baltic this year -- as soon as European cruises were announced.) Disney will be sailing the Caribbean every year (and practically every week) for years to come, so if your family enjoys this cruise, you can do the Eastern Caribbean for your next cruise. Although Disney is going back to Europe next summer, there is no guarantee you'll have a chance at Norway in later years, so going now is definitely not crazy!

Have a wonderful trip.