Talk me in\out Magic cruise in Aug

[dreamer17555]

So I have been thinking for some time that I haven’t given the Magic a fair shot because when we went, it was during Covid, and things were still a little wonky.

I have an eight night on the Fantasy booked in September. Unfortunately, it’s right after silver anniversary at sea ends, and I would kind of like to be able to participate in one of those cruises.

So I have been eyeing a potential five night cruise mid August on the Magic. But I have a few concerns. We normally travel in the off-season fall and winter, (the closest to crowds we have had would be college spring break time first week in March- and it was a little too full for our taste)

How absolutely insanely packed (especially with kids) is an mid-August sailing going to be?

Also the sailing goes to Cozumel. How brutally hot is it going to be on the ship, at Castaway, and at Cozumel? We are extremely fair tribe who burns extremely easily so I’m a little worried about the heat and the sun.

Finally, what do you recommend? Would you book it? Or wait for a Halloween on the High Seas sailing instead?

ETA- this would be a cruise in addition to the eight night.

 

[Marthasor]

I love the Magic and have sailed the Caribbean in August (on the Fantasy) - personally, I would stick with the 8-night Fantasy cruise in September. I just wasn't a fan of sailing that part of the world in August and I'm always a fan of having more nights on a cruise.

 

[dreamer17555]

I love the Magic and have sailed the Caribbean in August (on the Fantasy) - personally, I would stick with the 8-night Fantasy cruise in September. I just wasn't a fan of sailing that part of the world in August and I'm always a fan of having more nights on a cruise.

Thanks!

I’m so sorry I wasn’t clear before this would be a cruise in addition to the 8 night…

I’m looking at doing an additional cruise either way Either in August on the magic as a silver anniversary or I might have some more flexibility on nights, ship, length etc for an Oct Halloween sailing.

 

[holula]

I would definitely book it if you can swing it as an additional cruise.

I did June last year on the Fantasy and found there was a lot of extended family groups but it wasn’t anything like Spring break levels of kids. That’s the only summer sailing I have to compare really.

 

[Flcruising]

So I have been thinking for some time that I haven’t given the Magic a fair shot because when we went, it was during Covid, and things were still a little wonky.

I have an eight night on the Fantasy booked in September. Unfortunately, it’s right after silver anniversary at sea ends, and I would kind of like to be able to participate in one of those cruises.

So I have been eyeing a potential five night cruise mid August on the Magic. But I have a few concerns. We normally travel in the off-season fall and winter, (the closest to crowds we have had would be college spring break time first week in March- and it was a little too full for our taste)

How absolutely insanely packed (especially with kids) is an mid-August sailing going to be?

Also the sailing goes to Cozumel. How brutally hot is it going to be on the ship, at Castaway, and at Cozumel? We are extremely fair tribe who burns extremely easily so I’m a little worried about the heat and the sun.

Finally, what do you recommend? Would you book it? Or wait for a Halloween on the High Seas sailing instead?

ETA- this would be a cruise in addition to the eight night.

You mention spring break being too packed for you and you also mention your further concern with kids saying in part "insanely packed (especially with kids" You said you normally travel in the off season apparently to avoid the issues and concerns you talk about. You also complain about the heat and further mention how frail your family is.
It seems clear you have certain issues or concerns . I think expressing them the way you did you answered your own question. You will probably be unhappy going during a peak time. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the time, are you going to be complaining and criticizing? I suspect you are going to go but be aware you warned yourself here.
Hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

[dreamer17555]

You mention spring break being too packed for you and you also mention your further concern with kids saying in part "insanely packed (especially with kids" You said you normally travel in the off season apparently to avoid the issues and concerns you talk about. You also complain about the heat and further mention how frail you family is.
It seems clear you have certain issues or concerns . I think expressing them the way you did you answered your own question. You will probably be unhappy going during a peak time. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the time, are you going to be complaining and criticizing? I suspect you are going to go but be aware you warned yourself here.
Hope you enjoy your cruise.

I appreciate your feedback.

So you think the first week of March (on the Dream Disney +) would be a similar crowd level to to mid Aug?

I tend to actually not complain a lot on vacations, and just make the best of it because by that point, the money has already been spent and there’s no point in getting upset about it. But that’s just me.

A good example is we almost missed our December cruise due to a crane collapse on the highway on the way down to Miami. Instead of completely melting down, I kept trying to point out all the really cool things about it to my son like how the police actually turned us around and had us drive the opposite direction on the highway and how I had never had that happen in my entire life before. And how even if we missed the cruise (we luckily didn’t) we got to do something really rare and special.

However, I also don’t like repeating similar mistakes. For instance, I went with a close friend to Disney World last July, because that’s when she could go, and while we definitely made the best of it, it was way too hot for me. I got violently ill from the heat. However, there were still some amazing moments and I don’t regret going because of those- but I don’t see me going to the parks again in July if that makes sense?

 

[Flcruising]

I appreciate your feedback.

So you think the first week of March (on the Dream Disney +) would be a similar crowd level to to mid Aug?

I tend to actually not complain a lot on vacations, and just make the best of it because by that point, the money has already been spent and there’s no point in getting upset about it. But that’s just me.

A good example is we almost missed our December cruise due to a crane collapse on the highway on the way down to Miami. Instead of completely melting down, I kept trying to point out all the really cool things about it to my son like how the police actually turned us around and had us drive the opposite direction on the highway and how I had never had that happen in my entire life before. And how even if we missed the cruise (we luckily didn’t) we got to do something really rare and special.

However, I also don’t like repeating similar mistakes. For instance, I went with a close friend to Disney World last July, because that’s when she could go, and while we definitely made the best of it, it was way too hot for me. I got violently ill from the heat. However, there were still some amazing moments and I don’t regret going because of those- but I don’t see me going to the parks again in July if that makes sense?

Wow you have had some wild adventures.
Our personal experience found mid August crowds to be similar to July. If I remember right there was a sign at guest services indicating the ship was full and no upgrades were available. Last bash before school I guess. We've always avoided spring break so I can't speak to that. Late August school is back in a lot of places.

 

[Flossbolna]

I love the Magic and think she deserves it that you give her a second try.

I think the big difference to spring break will be that there won’t be the Disney+ promotion. A ship can be full by every cabin being taken or by reaching its max passenger capacity. Both full ships will feel very differently! So, I think there is a chance that August will feel not as crowded.

But one thing to think about is what do you want from the Silver Anniversary? If it’s the special stateroom gift or the merchandise, it might be sold out.

As to the heat: on our Panama Canal cruise the days around the Canal were oppressively hot. I am not a heat person either. What I liked was the ability to quickly change from outside to inside. At WDW you don’t have a choice, you need to get somewhere through the heat and then possibly be in an outside line. On the ship the next door to the cool inside is never far. Pick something water based on Cozumel and take it easy on Castaway Cay and I think you will see that it’s much less of an issue than a theme park.

Ultimately every season can have its issues. October is still hurricane season which can bring all kind of chaos to your cruise.

 

[o&smom]

I think crowds could be a little less. There are quite a few states that start back to school in August.