Shorter cruises more frequently vs longer cruise?

[AnnaS]

I like to get settled in......first and last day don't even count. I prefer longer. The shortest was a 4 night Double Dip (with a WDW stay - one time). One 5 night - out of NYC - it was good since we did not need to fly. One 11 N. Med and the rest 7 nights. A 7 night almost felt too short if no WDW stay

 

[bakerworld]

I'm the same way. I loved my last 7 night cruise but by Day 6 I was ready to get home. 5-6 nights is perfect, as 3-4 nights feels too short.

A 3D cruise is definitely too short. Our last two 4D's we were on vacation with DH's brother & wife. Frankly, I would've had a very good time if DH's didn't complain constantly about his SIL, who is FINE - she's just a typical do-for-me female. BIL's choice so why does it need to bother us - but after 4D's I was done listening.

 

[John VN]

The shortest cruise I have ever taken is 7 days. Takes a day to get settled in on the ship, and the last day involves time packing up. I think a three or four day cruise would just be too short. And that is not taking into consideration travel time and air fare costs.
My wife and I took four cruises in the first 6 years we were married and our co-workers and friends thought we were cruise addicts. Of course, it was the 1980s when cruising was less popular than now. There are folks that take that many or cruises a year. Of course I wonder about how they afford it, but to be honest, we never had enough vacation time to take that many cruises.

r.e. bold -- This year = Jan. 4 night, April 4 night, June 4 night, Sept. 4 night all on the same ship so no settling in getting used to ship and walk-off has us in the car heading home by 7:30. easy-peasy -no hassles

As ships got bigger, the cost of cruising dropped. For example, there’s a Carnival infomercial from the mid-90s advertising a 4-day cruise from Los Angeles for a family of four “for less than $1,000 - our lowest price ever.” I booked the same cruise, 30 years later, for $595 for a party of four. Real dollars, no inflation adjusted.

If you leave near a port, you can take advantage of last minute deals. I wouldn’t do a cruise for less than 5 days unless it’s local - and I’d have to have a deal on top of it. 3/4 day cruises are depressing in the sense that they want to schedule your departure as soon as you’re on the ship.

The “deal” part is why I’d never do a 3/4 day Disney cruise - no way would I pay nearly $4000 for my family to take a three day cruise when most of the first, and half of the last day is lost as people acquaint themselves with the ship.

Of course many people like shorter cruises since it allows them to overindulge for a few days.

r.e. bold -- Thinking it might depend on choice of cabin. Our 2017 Oasis in a Crown Loft Western 7 night was $4,000. Just looked up a Utopia 4 night June 2026 in a Crown Loft $11,248.94.

We have done up to 12 nights and many 7 and simply enjoy our 4 nights going 4+ times a year. We are 3.5 hours from PC and now only cruise MSC Yacht Club. Our Easter 4 night 2 weeks ago in YC was around $400.00 less than a WISH Inside.

 

[tvguy]

r.e. bold -- This year = Jan. 4 night, April 4 night, June 4 night, Sept. 4 night all on the same ship so no settling in getting used to ship and walk-off has us in the car heading home by 7:30. easy-peasy -no hassles

Unpacking 3 times. Packing 3 times. 3 Muster Drills.

 

[Carohs]

ooh that's tough. 4D seems barely enough. I wouldn't do a 3D on DCL. Even on a 4D one, you really only get 3 days out of it. Embarkation day is only a half day by the time you get boarded, and if you have kids even more time to get everyone settled. Although, I did a 3D one with a friend without the kids and it really made a huge difference in the time available to enjoy the ship. That time 3D was perfect because while I didn't really want to leave I was also missing my fam. With the kids, especially on DCL, where there's so much to experience I would opt for the longer cruises less often.

We've been fortunate to get to sail as often as we have, but also have ventured onto other cruise lines. Just this year we chose to save $700 and go on a 7N Princess with a package vs a 4N Disney. We have chosen to sail DCL less often but supplement with other cruise lines in between. That way, we still get all the experience of being on a ship every year, but also look forward to the "Disney magic" every so often.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you lived in FL like we do and didn’t have to pay for flights, would you rather take a 3-4 night cruise once a year or a 5-7 night cruise once every two years?

I love to cruise, would do it at the drop of a hat, but I prefer longer cruises, as in l-o-n-g (10+ days) ones. I'd have to say I'd wait and do a longer cruise less often over a short cruise every year.

 

[John VN]

Unpacking 3 times. Packing 3 times. 3 Muster Drills.

We pack light, 1 large + 1 small total. After terminal check-in we are escorted from terminal onto the ship and then elevator to Muster Station where card is scanned then back on elevator to YC Lounge. 10/15 minutes and relaxation vacation begins.

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

We have only booked 7-day or longer cruises so far. The exception is next year for our first B2B, where we are going on a 4-day and then 7-day cruises so we should have around 11 days on the ship.

I just feel that 3 and 4-day cruises, are just too short. On a 3-day cruise you are on it for two and a half days and a 4-day is three and half days. I'm counting embarkment day as half a day and don't count the day you disembark the ship as a day. We would have to fly in and my wife uses a CPAP machine, so it is hard to pack light, which make the shorter cruises just feel like we would arrive, unpack, and then pack everything back up a few days later.

While on the longer cruises I get a chance to relax and enjoy the ship longer which makes the whole experience better.

Psy

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I love cruises but hate being on a cruise ship more than maybe 5 days. I'm weird I know.

We average 2 3-4 day cruises a year on various cruise lines. Last year we did 3. this year we are doing one in June but i doubt any more.

I've been on 1 10 day cruise and by day 5 I wanted to jump overboard.

 

[Drfate102]

As a Florida Resident, people underestimate the 3 night cruise. It just requires two PTO days and are cheaper, so just long weekends. Wake up early the Friday morning, drive to the port, enjoy a long weekend, get off the boat on Monday and back to work on Tuesday.

 

[dreamer17555]

As a Florida Resident, people underestimate the 3 night cruise. It just requires two PTO days and are cheaper, so just long weekends. Wake up early the Friday morning, drive to the port, enjoy a long weekend, get off the boat on Monday and back to work on Tuesday.

If I lived in FL and within a 3 hour drive to the port I would do this often. Heck Monday you might even be able to work half a day if needed.

 

[holula]

As a Florida Resident, people underestimate the 3 night cruise. It just requires two PTO days and are cheaper, so just long weekends. Wake up early the Friday morning, drive to the port, enjoy a long weekend, get off the boat on Monday and back to work on Tuesday.

I did this when I lived in Florida a couple of times (not on Disney.) But now I don’t live there, I can’t imagine flying only for a 3n cruise.

 

[dreamer17555]

I did this when I lived in Florida a couple of times (not on Disney.) But now I don’t live there, I can’t imagine flying only for a 3n cruise.

I think people often pair these with other parts of their vacation. Like a land and Sea trip basically- going to the park or another location. Many people also start off with 3 night cruises to get their feet wet and make sure they like it. I started off on a three night cruise that did not even make it to castaway due to the weather. We still fell head over heels in love with cruising.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Different strokes. We really enjoyed our Disney Panama Canal cruise, and the Wonder's inaugural cruise to Hawaii. The shorter cruise itineraries are meh.

The longer cruises don't have as many kids on them either. I realize longer cruises are harder for young families, but empty nesters enjoy them.

 

[petrola]

I don't prefer the shorter (3/4 night) cruises. But that is what we do because I can no longer justify pulling my kids out of school longer than a day or two and our summers are already taken up with activities and trips to other places.

I will add that it's kind of a bummer that the Wish 4 night cruises always seem to be Mon-Friday so that is completely out for us- as the kids would lose an entire week of school for a 4 night cruise? doesn't make sense and totally not worth it. Still wondering why they don't do any Wed - Sun 4 nights like the Dream, that would be amazing and I'll bet they'd have more people willing to go!

 

[Eeyore daily]

I'd treat it like Disney World. 3 or 4 nights one year while saving up for a longer trip, that way it scratches the itch. It's hard as a FL resident to be so "close" yet so far.