I thought you were going with PAT, getting on the ship. I was already pondering that.
As to your question.
Time Off. It depends on whether solo or with my sister. When sailing with her, it’s work demands and available vacation days. In the future, it will be how much and when can I get off work (going back after years of interim retirement).
Season. We avoid school vacations, summer, and Christmas. Too many children, more crowds, higher prices - and summer heat. Ideally, late April / early May. Also September (we will risk chance of a hurricane). The first two weeks of December and middle January. These are mainly about Bahamas or Caribbean cruises. For Alaska, it would be May or September).
Price is a
major factor. The times we pick, which avoids the crowds, also has lower prices. Win-win for us. It helps that we don’t take children. When we did, they were not bound to a school system’s schedule. We have even cruised MSC - mainly for the price. We both had our own balcony cabin for under $1000 pp on a 7-night cruise. Not sure if the savings was worth it, though. On a port intensive itinerary, it might be.
Itinerary, Ship, Cabin. There are places I have no interest in visiting or revisiting. I would take any Disney ship (haven’t tried the Wish, but my sister has - and would). Our cruise this fall is booked 1st - for a specific type of cabin. Cat 8A, with a divider wall, two giant portholes. Only on the Dream and Fantasy. Only four cabins configured this way on each ship. 2nd - I have only sailed the Fantasy once, on her Maiden Voyage. I don’t have a clear Memory of that cruise, as I was very busy, travel-wise, that year - and 3rd - the Fantasy sails the Eastern Caribbean with ports of St Thomas, Tortola and
Castaway Cay. I am not interested in revisiting St Maarten on the alternate EC itinerary or doing a Western C sailing.
We are going on a S Caribbean this week. Booked it within a week (end of this March!) of booking our upcoming September cruise. My sister (the less cruise-y of us) surprised me with the suggestion. But it was $3100 for 8 nights, new ports, guaranteed Oceanview. Biggest drawbacks were Guarantee - a bit scary - we will see if reports about the cabin are accurate - Noise. And airfare (again, price). We each cashed in a bunch of airmiles (pretty much wiped out that for several years). Cash prices were $1300; now listed over $1600. (That’s Hawaii flights pricing, partially in First Class, in my mind). I still am in sticker shock at current air prices. But a new itinerary on one of our favorite ships - the Magic.
And we are already looking to the future. Magic to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale with a stop at
Lighthouse Point, probably early December 2024. Every bit of that sentence is a positive reason for that cruise. And probably in a sideways interior, Cat 11C. (Layout, price, location).
Homeport - PC is an easy flight. Companion tickets from credit card make it affordable. Flight time is short and typically not affected by weather or airline issues from our home. Also can be done by car in a long drive (~12 hours). The new home port of Port Everglades is a very cruise-friendly location. Airport - hotels - port all in close proximity is easy.
I have cruised 180 nights so far. I keep thinking that’s enough and it’s nearly a wrap. I’m guessing not, depending on money. (I have sailed Princess, Royal, NCL, Carnival, and MSC). 123 of the 180 nights were Disney. Other than the Bahamas, Alaska is my most repeated cruise destination. Other than cruising, Hawaii is my preferred / most visited vacation destinatio.
I could continue doing a 4-5 night cruise to Castaway Cay and be happy with it as a beach vacation. Serenity Bay is water I can enjoy, without heavy waves or a sharp drop-off, clear, pale water, a feeling of safety from theft, no loud music or craziness. Maybe Lighthouse Point will be a nice alternating destination. We love Bahamas water!
I have my sights on Alaska for my 65th birthday (celebrated my 50th there). It’s a hold-out; each year we look at what’s being offered. This is a destination we have repeated - and have only one it on Disney the first time. Currently, we expect to sail on Holland, and want to include the port of Sitka. (The beds split, giving each of us a bed; no sofa sleeping! Yes! Also, smaller ships in their fleet.)
Norwegian fjords are on my wish list. A Hawaiian islands cruise (not Transpacific) and a river cruise in Europe sound fun. I still dream big. But prices rise faster than pay, so probably short Bahamas cruises for me. Or a surprise deal.
I guess the bottom line for me is total vacation Price.
