What is the big difference between a 3 and 4 night cruise

[my3sonstx]

Having never cruised before can anyone tell me if the 3 night cruise is way too short? There is a $1500 difference between the two cruises. We want to do disney for 3 nights before or after or cruise and this savngs would come in handy, but is there a big difference between the 3 and 4 nights?

 

[Presentation]

Having never cruised before can anyone tell me if the 3 night cruise is way too short? There is a $1500 difference between the two cruises. We want to do disney for 3 nights before or after or cruise and this savngs would come in handy, but is there a big difference between the 3 and 4 nights?

Just longer, you get a sea day. I am surprised by your rate difference. Are you comparing different times of the year?

BTW, in my opinion, yes, 3 and 4 days are too short. That being said we are going on a 4 day in 1 week and 2 days.

 

[MagicMe]

The shortest I've ever done is a 4-day and I thought that was way too short. I loved having the sea day. Just made it more relaxing of a vacation. The three day is too quick (technically if you're lucky you are on the ship by 12:30 and sail at 5 and off the ship by Sunday early morning so I actually think of it more as a 2-1/2 day with the 4-day being a 3-1/2 day. You get 3-nights and 4-nights sleeping on the cruise but the actual time factor is slightly different).

All that being said - I'd go on a 3-day if that was all that was available in my schedule.

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

I'm curious about this too. I get that most everyone feels a shorter cruise is too short but for those that have experienced both the 3 and 4 night cruises, what are the differences? I know about the day at sea, but I'm trying to help someone else who hasn't ever been on a Disney cruise before and she is going on a 3 night and I've only done 4 night and 7 night cruises. I don't want to get her excited for a Palo brunch if that isn't offered. Those are the differences I'm trying to think of. Any help is greatly appreciated as I'm trying to get every tip/trick together for my friend!

 

[MagicMe]

There really aren't that many differences between the two. They offer the three broadway type shows (currently Toy Story, Golden Mickey's - not sure if they've stopped that yet and soon to be Villians, and Disney Dreams). I can't remember what they offer on the extra night for the 4th (possibly a movie in the Walt theatre?). You still have the POC party with the fireworks.

I don't believe brunch is offered on the 3-day at all since there are no at sea days and I believe this only happens on sea days. There is no "tea" on either 3 or 4 days. Mostly the time factor as you may have the same amount of people on either cruise and there is less time bookable at the spa, less time bookable for Palo for dinner, etc.

The differences are more apparent between the 3/4 day and the 7+ day cruises.

 

[newrygirl]

It is nice to have the sea day but there really are no differences other than you are getting 1 more day. I have the same issue with my upcoming cruise, we had the Aug 29, 4 night cruise booked in a cat 11 for $2368 for myself, dh, ds17 and ds13, I checked out the 3 night leaving right after, Sept 2 and it is $1368 for the same cat 11, needless to say I switched, $1000 is a lot of money just for 1 extra night, you could stay in Disneyworld for quite a few extra nights with $1000 or in my case we upgraded from por to the wilderness lodge, we have never tried a deluxe and now we are. Everyone has to base their decision on what is right for them but for me $1000 was a lot for 1 day at sea.

 

[PoohJen]

I agree that $1500 is alot (too much?) for one extra night.

But you need to look at it at a per diem rate. I expect the breakdown of that $1500 for your party matches or betters the per diem rate of your 3 night.

 

[ga9497]

For me the biggest difference is the day at sea. For a first time cruiser it is best to experience at least one day at sea because the overall feel and activities offered are different when you are at sea or when you are docked.

 

[glnrcker]

5lbs on the scale

 

[newrygirl]

thats funny

 

[MexiFinn]

5lbs on the scale

 

[Anal Annie]

Having never cruised before can anyone tell me if the 3 night cruise is way too short? There is a $1500 difference between the two cruises. We want to do disney for 3 nights before or after or cruise and this savngs would come in handy, but is there a big difference between the 3 and 4 nights?

First, it may depend on the dates you're pricing, second, it might depend on the cabin category you're pricing. The higher the cabin category the higher the price difference. It looks from your screen name like you have 3 kids...are you pricing a family stateroom or suite rather than 2 connecting staterooms? A lot of people find a significant savings by booking 2 connecting staterooms in a lower category (try pricing 2 Cat 10's or 2 Cat 9's).

Finally, if you are pricing 2010 cruises those itineraries have been for sale for quite awhile now so the prices have gone up already. It wouldn't surprise me if by supply and demand that the 4 night cruise is more popular and has gone up more than the 3 night.

Keep in mind that a 3 night cruise is just 3 sleeps. It is really only 2 days on the ship. You will hardly get any use out of a balcony cabin in 2 days and will barely have time to figure out the front of the ship from the back before it's over!! FWIW I am one who thinks a 3 night cruise is about 4 nights too short!

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

There really aren't that many differences between the two. They offer the three broadway type shows (currently Toy Story, Golden Mickey's - not sure if they've stopped that yet and soon to be Villians, and Disney Dreams). I can't remember what they offer on the extra night for the 4th (possibly a movie in the Walt theatre?). You still have the POC party with the fireworks.

I don't believe brunch is offered on the 3-day at all since there are no at sea days and I believe this only happens on sea days. There is no "tea" on either 3 or 4 days. Mostly the time factor as you may have the same amount of people on either cruise and there is less time bookable at the spa, less time bookable for Palo for dinner, etc.

The differences are more apparent between the 3/4 day and the 7+ day cruises.

Thanks! I am trying to get some things together for my friend who just booked yesterday for her first cruise which is next month (!) I have tried to tell her to do a longer cruise (7 nights are better than 4, 4 are better than 3) but her husband has business meetings they are trying to work around and she said 3 is better than none. I had to admit she had a point. We've done a few DCL cruises so I'm trying to put together a few tips that you wouldn't just happen upon on one web page -- well, except for the DIS! I just didn't want to tell her about something really fantastic (like Palo brunch) that wasn't offered on a 3 night.

 

[Husurdady]

The only way I / we would do a 3 day,it would have to be in front of or in back of a 4 day cruise. We have our first 3day booked in 2011 on the DREAM...............you guessed it, its part two of our B2B. HAPPY SAILING .

 

[suzyqn]

We are taking our first 4-night DCL cruise this April. We sailed last April on a 3-night. The difference for us, 2 adults and 2 children with kids sail free was about $500-600.

For us, the 4 night will offer a more relaxed pace. Not having a show on one night opens up more time. If it is your first cruise, then the 3 night is a great way to find out if it is for you. I don't know if I'll ever be able to afford a 7-night so the 4-night for us is our dream trip. For many it is a quick get-away or an add-on vacation. The 4-night will also allow you to go to all the resturants while still going to Palo.

Sorry for the random thoughts.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

we did a 3 night on both our cruises and also did a wdw vacation. I really liked the combo and it made the week go by so slow for some reason.
For me, i wouldnt like an at sea day. I prefer to do excursions and get off the ship. For us there isnt too much to do onboard.

 

[Marshay]

I was just asking myself this same question as 3 nights seemed comparatively less expensive than 4 nights.

For our first Disney cruise, I think 3 nights would be great so we can also have 3 nights at WDW, too.

 

[Epcotopia]

I havent read everyone's replies, but a 4th night will allow you to experience all 3 signature restaurants PLUS Palo/Remy on the 4th evening.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Having never cruised before can anyone tell me if the 3 night cruise is way too short? There is a $1500 difference between the two cruises. We want to do disney for 3 nights before or after or cruise and this savngs would come in handy, but is there a big difference between the 3 and 4 nights?

Keep your $1500 and just do the 3 day both cruises are way to short especially on the new mega ships. You will have a good time on the 3 or 4 day, but the extra sea day is really not worth the $1500.00. Take that $1500 and put it towards your WDW trip before the cruise!

 

[taaren]

I seriously considered the 4 day for the sole purpose of having a "second chance" at Castaway Cay should we not be able to dock there due to weather on the first try on our cruise next December. Our first cruise was a 5 day, and that felt too short, but our next one is mostly about seeing Castaway Cay and we really wanted to focus on Walt Disney World since we won't get to go there very often.

What changed our mind from the 4 day to the 3 day was the fact that the 3 day is on the weekend, so the rates at the resort went up so not only would we be saving $1000 on the cruise, but also another $1000 (est value) of the points for _not_ staying at WDW during the weekend but rather during the week since DVC points are cheaper on the weekdays (not sure non DVC resorts charge a premium for weekend too). Something to keep in mind. Sad about a lack of brunch at Palo as an option though.