Should we do the repositioning cruise? Pros/Cons

[kennancat]

I jokingly mentioned doing the repositioning cruise to DH this morning, but now he’s really thinking about it. Per day, it is an incredible deal. We’d hoped to do a 7-day cruise this fall, but we just bought a house last year, and it’s looking like we may want to wait another year financially before committing to a big vacation. We’ve done two 3-day DCL cruises in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them, but wanted to do a 7-day next to take advantage of the additional offerings. I do have a few concerns about doing it, which I’ve outlined below in my pros & cons list. So what do you all think? Should we try for it? BTW, we have no children, so it would only be the two of us.

Pros:
Unique experience, no guarantee it will ever happen again
Lost of sea days to enjoy the ship
Doubt we’ll have trouble getting reservations to Palo!


Cons:
14 days is a long time. I’ve never been on vacation for that long and I’m not sure if I’d enjoy it.
If I do enjoy it, having to adjust back to work after two weeks of vacation.
Two weeks of missed work waiting when I get back from vacation
Serious threat of gaining a lot of weight while on board

 

[ivanova]

Serious threat of gaining a lot of weight while on board

Hey, they have a fitness center - and you can jog around the deck too

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Con: Price!!!

We usually do spend a fair amount of time in our cabins, so the only way we could sail on a 14 day is with a verandah. But the cost is huge ($7000 - $8000). There's alot of things we can do with that much money.

I LOVE the idea of sailing thru the Panama Canal, and this would be a once-in-a-life-time trip. But gees. Can't make up my mind right now.

 

[BEAV]

If you're looking for rest & relaxation combined with the excitement of sailing w/Disney, definitely book the Panama Canal itinerary. We didn't even consider the 7 day Mexico cruises....we just prefer longer voyages. They have a completely different "feel" to them. It seems on a 7 day cruise that by the time you're all settled into the routine, it's time to pack up and disembark. Go for the 14 nighter!

 

[webray]

Definately do it, if you can get a room. We have children, grown and out of the house, so now, it is always just hubby and I.

We did the 7 day western..we loved it. We did the 3 day bahamas and it just wasn't long enough.

Today, we were lucky enough to book back to back...14 day/7day and we can't wait.

 

[two4ruff]

The way the price is climbing by the moment, you may want to think fast!

 

[MrsPete]

Is it really a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Other cruise lines go through the Panama Canal all the time, don't they? Personally, I've been there dozens of times -- not on a cruise ship, of course.

 

[turtle51]

I think this will be a once in a life time experience. It will never be the first repositioning cruise from cali to florida. Ive been waiting to book this since i got home from my last cruise 2 weeks ago. I'm just looking forward to exploring the ship.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Many cruise lines reposition ships throught the canal each year, some make the trip from Los Angeles to Florida with out making many stops, some do it as a destination cruise, as DCL is doing it.
You may want to look into other lines for camparison. This will be cruise number 13 for me, unless I can convince DH to go in January.

I opted to take the CA to FL because:

1. Never did the canal before
2. $800.00 cheaper than FL to CA
3. Sailed on the Wonder, and did not like the food, heard it had improved, so am willing to give it another try.
4. Got a great rate for guaranteed single, and don't have to worry about being a tour guide, or listening to someone ask me, is that all you want to do, sit on the deck, read, watch the scenery, and drink?

It is a long time, and a lot of people will not like spending that much time on the ship, but there are ports almost every other day, and really, the price is incredible. Price the same category cabin for 7 nights this year and see if the repo isn't a great deal. Only you can make the decision to go or not. But the rooms are being reserved fast, expecially FL to CA.