Which cruise do you prefer Halloween or merrytime?

[Chandra C]

I've put a deposit on a September Halloween on the high seas cruise for just myself and 3 year old daughter. After reading a thread with people's comments about the merrytime cruise I'm thinking of canceling and booking the merrytime for November. The price would be a couple hundred more for an inside room, but it also would give me a few more weeks to finish paying for the cruise. Also should note both would be a 4 night on the dream. I have experienced the Halloween cruise once but it was only 3 nights. Which would you choose?

 

[Dug720]

I have not done either (as a teacher they do not work with my available time off), but just as a note if you decide to change, you do not have to cancel. Just call DCL if you booked on your own or your TA if you booked through a TA and CHANGE the reservation. That would move your existing deposit and you would only have to pay any difference between what you have paid and the new required deposit.

The moment you say "cancel" you are dealing with having to get that deposit refunded and you would have to pay another one.

 

[Shanti]

I've put a deposit on a September Halloween on the high seas cruise for just myself and 3 year old daughter. After reading a thread with people's comments about the merrytime cruise I'm thinking of canceling and booking the merrytime for November. The price would be a couple hundred more for an inside room, but it also would give me a few more weeks to finish paying for the cruise. Also should note both would be a 4 night on the dream. I have experienced the Halloween cruise once but it was only 3 nights. Which would you choose?

We really enjoyed our Merrytime cruise. There's something special about seeing the ship decked out for Christmas, and Castaway Cay, as well. It just feels more festive and special. There will be a life-sized gingerbread house in the atrium, and many Christmas trees around the ship. We liked the gingerbread house-making activity, and the caroling, as well.

 

[dclpluto]

They are both very nice cruises. Gives you something extra instead of just a normal cruise. (Nothing wrong with a normal cruise of course). Do one this year and the other one another year.

 

[RedSox68]

We really enjoyed our Merrytime cruise. There's something special about seeing the ship decked out for Christmas, and Castaway Cay, as well. It just feels more festive and special. There will be a life-sized gingerbread house in the atrium, and many Christmas trees around the ship. We liked the gingerbread house-making activity, and the caroling, as well.

Agreed. We have never done the Halloween one, but have done the Merrytime one in 2014. It snowed in the atrium and it was wonderful. Beautiful decorations and holiday ambiance. If you like Christmas and the decorations, you won't be disappointed. Minnie and Mickey show up at least once in Holiday dress, too.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've put a deposit on a September Halloween on the high seas cruise for just myself and 3 year old daughter. After reading a thread with people's comments about the merrytime cruise I'm thinking of canceling and booking the merrytime for November. The price would be a couple hundred more for an inside room, but it also would give me a few more weeks to finish paying for the cruise. Also should note both would be a 4 night on the dream. I have experienced the Halloween cruise once but it was only 3 nights. Which would you choose?

If I had to take a themed cruise, I'd pick the Very MerryTime one. Don't really care for themed cruises much, but the Christmas ones at least are no more annoying than the Christmas decoratios around town and in stores at the time.

 

[jenpink]

We have done both. I preferred the Merrytime cruises for the decorations and activities. I guess the main positive about the Halloween cruise was that it was warmer at Castaway Cay.

 

[Steve Dexter]

We have done both too. I think I'd give the Halloween one the win. The decorations are so beautiful, the Halloween tree is awesome, Jack and Sally M&G, and trick-or-treating is fun, even for adults! Merrytime is also great, you really can't go wrong. I honestly loved them both. I think I just like Halloween a little better. I really love how the characters have special Halloween and Christmas outfits.

 

[RedSox68]

We have done both too. I think I'd give the Halloween one the win. The decorations are so beautiful, the Halloween tree is awesome, Jack and Sally M&G, and trick-or-treating is fun, even for adults! Merrytime is also great, you really can't go wrong. I honestly loved them both. I think I just like Halloween a little better. I really love how the characters have special Halloween and Christmas outfits.

Does it only sail the week of Halloween with those decorations or is it like Christmas where they put the decorations up for a few weeks?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does it only sail the week of Halloween with those decorations or is it like Christmas where they put the decorations up for a few weeks?

Halloween on the High Seas runs for Sept/Oct.

Then, in the past, there's been like a week with no themeing, before they put up the Christmas stuff on the ships.

 

[Steve Dexter]

Actually you can experience both of the decorations on one cruise. We were on the Magic last year over October 31st out of New York. We had a day at Port Canaveral, we got off the ship that morning to go to the parks, it was total Halloween decorations on the ship. When we got back to the ship that night, it had been transformed to Christmas. it was amazing, even down to the cups at the drink stations, the gift shops on the ship had switched to Christmas items, it felt like we got both.

 

[dcassetta]

I prefer the decor of Merrytime, but the weather of Halloween.

 

[RedSox68]

Halloween on the High Seas runs for Sept/Oct.

Then, in the past, there's been like a week with no themeing, before they put up the Christmas stuff on the ships.

Thank you!

Actually you can experience both of the decorations on one cruise. We were on the Magic last year over October 31st out of New York. We had a day at Port Canaveral, we got off the ship that morning to go to the parks, it was total Halloween decorations on the ship. When we got back to the ship that night, it had been transformed to Christmas. it was amazing, even down to the cups at the drink stations, the gift shops on the ship had switched to Christmas items, it felt like we got both.

Isn't that amazing how they do that! It's like a team of elves on speed to work that fast. We stayed at the Beach Club resort one year. We went through the lobby to our room and then the next morning came down to find the whole lobby decorated, with a huge fully ornamented tree from floor to ceiling! Magic!

I prefer the decor of Merrytime, but the weather of Halloween.

Yes, the weather in October is awesome, except the one year we decided to do the Halloween package at Magic Kingdom, and my husband and daughter wore woolen pirate-themed costumes. It must have been 90 degrees that night in the parks. It was the most boring trick or treating as they had to pull all chocolate products because they were melting. Then we got on the ship and when we got back off at Port Canaveral 7 days later, it was in the 40's and we were freezing. Go figure.

[And come to think of it, this must have been before they started that theming on the ships as there were no Halloween themed decorations or trick or treating onboard. That was in 2009.]

 

[tlprice]

I've done both and I'm not sure which I liked better. My next cruise is my 1st non-themed and I'm interested to see what that will be like.

Halloween cruises are during hurricane season though, so that is a possible issue for that time of year to think of.

 

[BruinEd03]

Have done both.

Based purely on decorations/theming - What holiday do you like better? Halloween or Christmas? However, the Merrytime decorations and theming was a little more in-depth than the Halloween ones.

Based on weather - the water at Castaway Cay was significantly warmer in September v. December. Weather wise, the humidity in September was worse than in December (only really affects you if you do the Castaway Cay 5k).

Other factors - Hey I loved the September cruise, but the December cruise was also nice in the fact that you're escaping the early clutches of winter. Whereas in September, the weather was still very bearable where I live. The December cruise was also nice in the fact that it was the end of the year. When I took the September cruise, I did miss going on a cruise come December. Also, is this a one time deal? or will you go again? If it's a one time deal, feel free to spend more money. If you're going to go again, then maybe save a few $$$.

Bottom line though, you can't really go wrong with either one. They were both fun in their own way.

 

[ratt1345]

Having done both, I would choose Merrytime. While I love both of them, I enjoy Merrytime a little more. I get into Christmas more than Halloween.

 

[Chirple]

Actually you can experience both of the decorations on one cruise. We were on the Magic last year over October 31st out of New York. We had a day at Port Canaveral, we got off the ship that morning to go to the parks, it was total Halloween decorations on the ship. When we got back to the ship that night, it had been transformed to Christmas. it was amazing, even down to the cups at the drink stations, the gift shops on the ship had switched to Christmas items, it felt like we got both.

Wasn't that amazing? I remember walking back on the ship and having the transformation take my breath away. It truly was magical. I wanted to add that the gingerbread house was not on display yet, but the decorated tree was there.

I've done both themed cruises (a separate Merrytime one a couple of years earlier), and I agree that it is really which theme you might enjoy better. I love my pictures with Jack and Sally from the Halloween cruise.

 

[Gracies Moms]

Actually you can experience both of the decorations on one cruise. We were on the Magic last year over October 31st out of New York. We had a day at Port Canaveral, we got off the ship that morning to go to the parks, it was total Halloween decorations on the ship. When we got back to the ship that night, it had been transformed to Christmas. it was amazing, even down to the cups at the drink stations, the gift shops on the ship had switched to Christmas items, it felt like we got both.

We're booked for that cruise this year! SOO excited!!

 

[Chirple]

We're booked for that cruise this year! SOO excited!!

I think it will only change over if the next cruise on that ship has the Merrytime theme. The 10/29/16 cruise was labeled as Halloween, and the 11/5/16 cruise was Merrytime.

 

[tlprice]

I think it will only change over if the next cruise on that ship has the Merrytime theme. The 10/29/16 cruise was labeled as Halloween, and the 11/5/16 cruise was Merrytime.

Exactly. I was on the 10/29 WC Fantasy last year (exact same time frame as aforementioned Magic cruise) and our cruise did not change from Halloween to Christmas. Our ship was decorated for Halloween the entire cruise. I think there was one cruise after ours with no theme and then switched over to Merrytime. Castaway Cay did have the Christmas decorations on our cruise though. So we got off the Halloween ship and went on Christmas island and then got back on the Halloween ship. It was a little strange.