Sobering videos of fantasy cruise

[OhioWDWDuo]

Watched videos and it looked like heaven to us (2 adults, no kids, we tend to avoid crowds and deck parties).

This is a dream scenario for us, 2 adults no kids. Cannot wait to go!

Totally agree! Was on the first Fantasy sailing and it was amazing! We are also 2 adults and no kids. Nothing sad or depressing at all- in fact, it was the opposite. Both CMs and guests were so happy to cruise! The lack of crowds didn’t impact the positive vibes or energy, in our opinion. Character interaction was actually better- longer and more personalized since there weren’t lines of others waiting. I know it’s different and not worth it for some, but it was a fantastic experience for us.

 

[kathi]

We just sailed on the Fantasy 9/25 and it was AWESOME! 1100 guests, no lines, great service. Health and safety measures were excellent and I was very happy and felt very safe. Can’t wait to sail again in December!

 

[anricat]

We have a cruise booked for November on the Wonder and we've been a bit on the fence about it, but this definitely sounds relaxing and enjoyable to me! Personally, I'm a fan of distancing! I don't need people all up in my business! I'm ready to relax and enjoy time with my family. I don't need random strangers to make my vacation enjoyable.

 

[sabrecmc]

We are booked for June and July cruises. I'm very much hoping things are closer to normal at that time. I've seen those videos, too, and it's just not for me for the price DCL wants. If I didn't have a teen daughter to entertain, maybe, but as it is...no. Not yet. That being said, I'm glad so many people are getting to experience the quiet ships and enjoying that for now. Definitely a good opportunity if that suits you!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

If there was an incredible sale, the smaller crowds would tempt me. But I don't think I'll be able to coax my DH onto a cruise again anytime soon.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

On the flip side of the basket, you have those 6 guests on the Crystal Symphony... Locked in their rooms until they get an all-clear. No Balcony. My sister's friend who works for Crystal was telling her that avg supplemental cost per pax was about $15,000 and insurance would not cover it. No word yet if the passengers have to fork it over.

 

[mab2012]

We sailed RCCL in August. So not Disney, but I suspect many of the effects of reduced capacity (both positive and negative) were similar. We had just under 500 passengers on a ship with a passenger capacity of 3500.

There were positives, as others have pointed out. No waiting for anything, obviously. On the one occasion that the rink was open for skating, we had it almost to ourselves. Nearly unlimited time on FlowRider. Window seats in the buffet at every visit.

The best was at RCCL's private island. IMO there is no downside to empty beaches and quiet pools, and no waiting at all during our time in the waterpark.

But... there were about 40 kids on board, split evenly (ish) between the teen and kids clubs. There were few organized teen activities, because there were just not enough kids to support it. My kids did go to the club the first night, and met a few other kids that they hung around with off and on throughout the cruise, but they rarely spent any time in the club itself, and when they did, it was just to chat with the staff.

Organized family and adult activities were also limited, and often not well attended. Okay for things like trivia, but not so great for the "game show" type events. Hours for some amenities and activities were also shortened.

Staff were awesome and certainly attentive, but at times it verged on hovering. We often found ourselves answering the same questions repeatedly.

I am not a lover of crowds, by any means, but for us, there is such a thing as too quiet. We had a great cruise overall and I would definitely do it again, but we will be hoping for something closer to normal by the time our next DCL cruise comes around next summer, even if that also means normal crowd levels.

 

[cvjw]

I’m sure that some do love it! Did you happen to have teenagers with you?

We did not, just 2 adults. There was a group of teenagers on one of our cruises. They were having organized activities all over the ship.

 

[closetmickey]

We did not, just 2 adults. There was a group of teenagers on one of our cruises. They were having organized activities all over the ship.

That’s good to hear. Thanks.

 

[MomOTwins]

I'll reserve judgment until we cruise (hopefully a week from now), but I think the videos with low crowds look AMAZING. I was going back through old cruise photos and it brought back not-so-good memories of crowds.

• The time we showed up on time for our 10:45am PAT thinking how lucky were to get an early PAT, only to find that the terminal was packed, there was nowhere to sit except the dirty floor (and even standing, it was shoulder to shoulder), and when boarding finally started (an hour late--they must have had an inspection or something) it was so crowded we couldn't even move to get to the walkway for another 5 boarding groups after ours.
• The TWO times when I took my kid to the bathroom on the pool deck for 5 mins and when I got back, someone had dumped all my stuff onto the wet pool deck floor so they could claim the deck chair I was using.
• The time when we were watching the mickey pirate show and all the kids were sitting on the deck in front of the stage, and my 6-year old son got excited and stood up for a second, only to have a rude woman physically place her hands on his shoulders and shove him back down because he was momentarily blocking her kids view.
• The time I was trying to walk past people in a tight theater row to get to the only seats available which were right in the middle of the row, and a pre-teen kid stuck out his foot and tripped me and laughed as I fell on top of my then 4-year old and spilled diet coke and popcorn all over both of us, prompting my 4-year old to start crying hysterically and we had to miss the whole show because he was hurt and upset. I had a bruise on my hip the size of a baseball the rest of the trip from where I fell.

Yeah, Disney cruises are 90% magical, but the 10% non-magical was all 100% due to us being packed in like sardines. Hoping that, sans crowds, we'll ratchet up the magic to 100%.

 

[SnappySerape]

I was on the Dream back in August and I liked it so much that I made another reservation for October. No kids. I love seeing everyone getting back to cruising. And can I just say how happy I am that these forums are once again filled with questions about rooms and itineraries and cove card instead of questions about cancelled cruises or restarting!

 

[squirk]

I just cannot get past the mask requirements (and the lack of self-serve at Cabanas). I'm not anti-mask by any means; I just don't want to wear one on my Caribbean cruise, so I will wait until they are no longer necessary.

And if I am being honest, the crowds on the ships never really bothered me all that much. Yeah, the line for the AquaDuck was a pain, and the Family Pool was virtually unusable given how many kids they tried to cram in there, but otherwise? I can't think of anything that really put me off so much that I feel like I need to leap at this opportunity for a 25%-capacity sailing.

 

[castle1]

Very glad for it to be a quiet cruise. We are sailing in January.

Hope it stays quiet for our WBPC sailing in March too, but not holding my breath. It's been sold out for a while.

Do you think the WBPC is completely sold out, or are they limiting the bookings due to possible social distancing still required?

 

[Whisker]

Will be cruising very soon just not DCL and very certain it will be enjoyable. As mentioned, fewer people could be a unique ghost town-ish (maybe) experience but the fact that we will be on a ship AND SAILING will be awesome!!!

Make it want you want OR NOT is my mantra. I have a cancer scan 4 days after returning and honestly will be going WAY OVERBOARD on all things I shouldn't do because "what's done is done" and for me remaining life is meant to live, NOT JUST TO EXIST.

wishing you the best for a magical trip and good news on your scan.

 

[Cheburashka]

I'm taking my first solo cruise at the end of the month. I'm looking forward to it being peaceful and not too crowded. My son is chronically sick and unable to cruise this year. When he was well, he would have missed the hustle and bustle of the crowd. However I will not miss that at all, and hope the numbers on our cruise will be very low. I'd like to have an easy time getting a good lounger on the pool deck or on Castaway Cay. I'd also like to get a booth at Bingo.

Wearing a mask indoors does not bother me at all- I'll feel safer with everyone wearing them indoors, anyway. The one change that really irks me is the lack of hammocks on Castaway Cay.

 

[tvguy]

I understood all the protocols but one I did not think made any sense was having to wear masks on the OPEN AIR tram at CC. They were boarding every other row and you needed a mask.

MJ

That one makes sense to me. The breeze from the moving tram could spread the aerosols to the people two rows behind you. And there is growing concern about aerosols.

 

[Cheburashka]

The time I was trying to walk past people in a tight theater row to get to the only seats available which were right in the middle of the row, and a pre-teen kid stuck out his foot and tripped me and laughed as I fell on top of my then 4-year old and spilled diet coke and popcorn all over both of us, prompting my 4-year old to start crying hysterically and we had to miss the whole show because he was hurt and upset. I had a bruise on my hip the size of a baseball the rest of the trip from where I fell.

That is horrible. I would have said something, either directly to the boy, and/or complained to a CM about someone intentionally hurting me, and pointing the boy out, bringing the CM down to that row and pointing out the boy who did it. Really. I'm sure nothing would have come of it, but it at least would have made that brat uncomfortable.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not anti-mask by any means; I just don't want to wear one on my Caribbean cruise, so I will wait until they are no longer necessary.

The speculation on some of the other cruise Vlogs is that will be the last restriction to be lifted. If it gets lifted. Sort of like the sanitizer stations that appeared on cruise ships 20 years ago in response to the norovirus outbreaks on ships.

 

[cvjw]

That one makes sense to me. The breeze from the moving tram could spread the aerosols to the people two rows behind you. And there is growing concern about aerosols.

No one wore a mask on the castaway cay tram on either of our cruises. Except the driver. Wearing a mask outside makes zero sense. Even the cast members didn’t try to tell anyone to put a mask on.

 

[epcotrulz]

Cruised on the Dream last month and booked another cruise on the Fantasy in September because I loved the low crowds so much….