Western Caribbean Wonder or Fantasy?

[fitnessmouse]

My family is gold and has been on Wonder, Magic and Dream before. Next cruise we like to take the grandparents and they want a Western Caribbean Cruise. It will be their first cruise. My kids have a one week school holiday in February, or a two week school holiday in April/May.
So we could take the Wonder in February or the Fantasy in April.
The Wonder is about $1000 cheaper per room, and plane tickets would be cheaper in feb as well. the grandparents would come a couple days earlier and leave a couple days later after the cruise. My family, due to school however, can only go for the cruise.
In april the weather would be nicer, we haven't been on the Fantasy before and we can stay for a week after the cruise. Except, DD plays a marching band and has performances during the school holiday which she would miss. WWYD?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Although we usually prefer to cruise on the Magic or Wonder, we did the Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy last March and will do the Western Caribbean next month. We'll be on a 5-night Western on the Magic next January and a 7-night Eastern on the Wonder next March. So for us, the choice would be easy: do the Wonder.

Also, we did b2b Bahamian cruise on the Magic in January with very pleasant weather, so I think the February weather for the Western Caribbean should be pretty nice. The grandparents might actually prefer it. We've encountered some pretty warm weather during an annual trip to WDW in March in past years, so April might be even warmer.

 

[Quellman]

So do you want more time with the grandparents or more time on vacation. I don't know how often you see them or if it is a big deal to see them or not. Also, cost.

 

[mmouse37]

If you are doing a true Caribbean itinerary and not the Bahamas itinerary then you weather should be great in February. We never had chilly weather in the Caribbean in winter months but did have chilly weather in the Bahamas in January/February.

The Fantasy is a great ship but I think your parents would have an easier time navigating the Wonder plus the cost factor. $1000 per room saved is nothing to sneeze at. Do I think the Fantasy is worth $1000 more per room....nope!

MJ

 

[fitnessmouse]

Thanks. I am leaning towards the Wonder due to price. Just would prefer a longer vacation since the flight is so long

 

[JW9DVC]

Saying the price of the Wonder is less, is that because it's less days?

Also, how old are your kids? Would they really be missing out on school so much that they would fall behind? It's not bad parenting taking kids away for a time to travel.

I understand that is personal choice, just my thoughts.

If you can, go for the longest cruise possible. The shorter ones, even the 5 day go by so fast! Those extra sea days help slow it down a little for my family time.

When booking look at all your options, Costco and Dreams Unlimited are some good choices. I personally like Costco because I get a great cash card at the end of the cruise.

Justin

 

[disboardlover]

Weather will more likely be better in April, but you might want to do the Wonder if only to see the recent reimagining... unless of course you really liked the large ships like the Dream. $1000+ savings per stateroom is also nice.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

My family is gold and has been on Wonder, Magic and Dream before. Next cruise we like to take the grandparents and they want a Western Caribbean Cruise. It will be their first cruise. My kids have a one week school holiday in February, or a two week school holiday in April/May.
So we could take the Wonder in February or the Fantasy in April.
The Wonder is about $1000 cheaper per room, and plane tickets would be cheaper in feb as well. the grandparents would come a couple days earlier and leave a couple days later after the cruise. My family, due to school however, can only go for the cruise.
In april the weather would be nicer, we haven't been on the Fantasy before and we can stay for a week after the cruise. Except, DD plays a marching band and has performances during the school holiday which she would miss. WWYD?

I greatly prefer the Fantasy to the Wonder so that's one reason I'd do the Fantasy.

A couple other things to consider is; if the Wonder is sailing out of Galveston there can be some wicked fog delaying leaving or arriving the port during the winter. She was delayed by several hours a few weeks ago arriving into port. As far as navigating the ship goes, my parents are both in their 80's and had no problem navigating the Carnival Vista last June and she's larger than the Fantasy. My kids are both teens and they greatly prefer the Fantasy. Just my $.02

 

[fitnessmouse]

Both are 7n cruises out of PC to grand cayman, cozumel and CC. Only port difference is the Wonder goes to Costa Maya and Fantasy goes to Falmouth.

Kids will be 14 and 12. Just realised if we take the April Fantasy it would be on his 15th bd. But the trip would be to celebrate the grandparents 50th anniversary which is in march

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

Fantasy is one of our favorites ... however at $1000 less for the stateroom ... and cheaper airfare, I would go with the Wonder ... that way you can put the savings towards another Disney cruise in the future

 

[Dug720]

I've been dealing with a similar question - though in my case (because I'm limited to one particular week) it was a Fantasy Western with Star Wars (love the ship, new itinerary for me, but I HATE Star Wars with a passion) or Wonder Eastern (new to me ship, but I've done the itinerary and find St. Maarten and San Juan to be meh). But the reality is, I could get a verandah on the Wonder for LESS than I could get a Deck 2 ocean view on the Fantasy.

I decided price trumps itinerary and fave ship at this point.

 

[jrabbit]

I will add / ask - how well do the grandparents get around? Can they take a flight or three of stairs or do they need to use the elevators?

If they need the elevators, the Fantasy might have an edge there

But I think that they would love the Wonder and not miss the "cool" extras on the Fantasy.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I just got off the Wonder last week, and definitely like the Fantasy better. If cost isn't a major factor, do the Fantasy and the longer vacation!

 

[bcwife76]

I vote for the Fantasy since it seems to be the only ship you haven't been on, making it a grand slam ;-)

 

[Trera]

We did the wonder for the first time last week and really enjoyed it. That being said, there isnt a boat in the fleet that I like enough over any of the other ships to not go ahead and save $1000.00 on the same itinerary.

Seems the Fantasy cruises are the most expensive every time compared to other ships sailing the same itinerary.

 

[apple9117]

Fantasy is the newest ship, we liked it the best compared to the others!

 

[mlayton14]

Fantasy nicer than the older ships, really depends on the $1000 value to you

 

[Shanti]

We've sailed on the Magic and Fantasy, and liked both, but preferred the Fantasy. More to do for my son (Aqua Duck, virtual scavenger hunt, mini-golf, sports simulator, on-demand Disney programming in staterooms, etc.), we had better food & service, and it also seemed more new and grand. I am now only interested in sailing a classic ship for a unique itinerary. Since the Fantasy sails the Western Caribbean, I personally wouldn't even consider the Wonder for the same route. The lack of a major water slide, in particular, is a deal-breaker for me in terms of a Wonder warm-weather cruise, because my son loves water slides. Everyone's priorities are different, however. To each his own. You'll have fun on either ship.