Thinking about a cruise...length ?

[jennz]

Hello all...I'm about ready to book our first DCL trip and am thinking about the length of the cruise. Any opinions over 3 day vs 4 day and 4 day vs 7? Also, do you get a frequent cruiser program or anything?

Thanks!

 

[mommyz]

Our first cruise was a 3 nt and it was perfect b/c our son was about 3 1/2 yrs old and we weren't sure how he would be (btw he had a blast)...we then went on the 7 nt and loved it....3 nt is kind of short b/c you are just getting used to everything.

We have since booked another 7nt and I think we would do that from now on for several reasons:

1. for us we have to fly to FL so it's cost effective to go on a 7nt

2. even after 7nts you don't want to leave

3. you visit more ports and get to relax more

On the 3nt cruise we ended up going to Orlando and going to SeaWorld for the day....loved it.

It really depends on the age of your children (if there are any?)
Also after your first cruise you become a Castaway Cay member (some cool freebies!!!)

2 things I would highly recommend : buy travler's ins and rebook on the cruise even if you end up canceling the perks are so worth it

Good luck in deciding...you will have a blast

 

[ivanova]

Also, do you get a frequent cruiser program or anything?

Thanks!

After your first DCL cruise you automatically become a member of the Castaway Club, their "frequent cruiser" club.

It does not however get you any kind of discounts on future cruises. It DOES get you a free gift in your room on future cruises and an invite to a cocktail party onboard future cruises for CC members only.

 

[jennz]

Thanks for the info and input! We have one child, DD age 7 1/2. Neither she nor DH have cruised before.

 

[jrabbit]

Thinking about a cruise...length ?

Yea, Length Matters!!

DCL offers 3, 4 and 7 night cruises on a regular basis. They have 10 night holiday cruises and the one remaining 14 night Panama Canal repo cruise.

3 nights seem to be good for those that can get to Florida easily and have cruised before and know what they're getting into (Inkognito for example). 3 Nights go by WAY quickly. You get on the ship at noon, set sail at 5, dinner at 6 or 8:30, do the shows, goto the clubs for a little while goto bed and next morning you are in Nassau. Spend the day here, overnight to Castaway Cay for a glorious day and then overnight back to the port and you're off the ship by 9am - Whew!!

For people that aren't too sure about a cruise and it's their first time a 4 nighter might be perfect. Same itenerary as the 3 nighter except the overnight from CC leads to a nice sea day with a ship full of activities to keep you busy and entertained. Then its overnight to the port. Still a pretty short trip. Our first was a 4 nighter on the Magic and man was it way to short of a trip - over in a blink of an eye.

If you want to do a 7 nighter without doing a 7 night cruise you can do a back to back cruise with a 3 and 4 night cruise. Disadvantage: Nassau Twice. Advantage: Castaway Cay Twice. Disadvantage: loose 1/2 day on disembarkation / embarkation day (the day between the cruises). Neutral: you can stay on board during this time (no services) or you can disembark and get in line and board with all of your new cruisemates. Neutral: you can cruise Thursday to Thursday or Sunday to Sunday (the 7 nighters sail from Saturday to Saturday)

Now we're up to the 7 nighters and you have a choice of east or west.

Eastern: During the winter months the weather and water temperature will be generally be warmer on the eastern because you travel further south (and CC and the water there will seem chilly in comparison - but not bad at all). This cruise gives you 2 1/2 sea days before arriving in St. Maarten (great beaches for playing on - snorkeling can be iffy because of the wind that kicks up the sand on the ocean floor). Overnight to St. Thomas where there is great snorkeling and St. John (the best snorkeling!!) a sea day to get back to CC then overnight to the port.

Western: This cruise is a bit more "active" because you are on an "every other day" schedule. Depart PC and overnight to Key West (arrive around noon). Sea day and the next day you arrive at Grand Cayman. Overnight and arrive around noon in Cozumel. Another sea day then on to CC and overnight to PC.

 

[pppiglet]

We just went on our first cruise and did the 7 night. Although I would really like to vistit the Bahamas on a 3/4 night, it just doesn't seem like it would be worth it. The time just flew by on the 7 night. We would have to fly to florida also so the 7day makes more sense.