Which Itinerary for 1st Time Cruisers

[Poohbear03]

Need help choosing....We have never been on a cruise and we want to try a DCL, no children going just the two adults for a 50th birthday celebration. Which cruise and itinerary would you pick, going in February? Is Nassau worth a visit if you have never been or two private islands better? Pros and cons of the two private islands? I was also wondering if we don't know if we will like a cruise is 5 nights too long? Just worried I will make the wrong choice and it doesn't help I am so indecisive..lol...

3 night - on the Wish - Nassau and Castaway Cay

4 night - on the Fantasy - Nassau and Lookout Cay

5 night - on the Fantasy - Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay

 

[Skippyboo]

I haven’t bothered to get off the ship during my 2 stops at Nassau. The Disney islands are beaches with lounger, umbrella, food included so you aren’t paying any extra cost for a port excursions. February the water can be a little cold. I did a 7 night for my first cruise. Followed by a 6 night, 3 night and another 7 night. I found the 3 nights super short. You spend the first day figuring out where everything is, then next thing you know you’re packing up to leave the ship.

 

[dreamer17555]

In early February expect the water in the bahamas (including Disney islands) to be chilly. That being said I would book a 5 night on the Fantasy. Both Islands are beautiful and worth seeing even if you don't swim.

 

[OKW Lover]

Longer is better.
Agree with the PP that the stop in Nassau isn't very interesting but perhaps for your first experience you would want to get off to at least draw your own conclusions.

 

[CamColt]

5 night Fantasy...better ship for adults, better islands...longer cruise.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Another vote for 5 night on the Fantasy. Activities across all the ships are pretty similar (trivia tastings etc.). We prefer the adult spaces on the Fantasy/Dream to those on the Wish/Treasure. And 3 or 4 nights will fly by and not feel long enough.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

5 night Fantasy by a mile: the Castaway / Lookout double is an excellent itinerary. Staying in the Disney bubble for the whole cruise is lovely and the 5 night gives you more chances to explore the ship and try out everything she has to offer.

 

[ldo]

Either 4 or 5 day for a 1st cruise. 3 days is too much embarkation/debarkation time (making it like a 2.5 day cruise). If I were doing a 4 day, I'd make Nassau another "sea day" to enjoy the ship (which will be less crowded). We love all the cruise lines' private islands-so we'd definitely get off at both LP and CC, which would make a 5 day appealing, to get that extra day to enjoy the ship.

 

[Mommb]

It really depends on what you want to do onshore and onboard.

If you just want to hang out at beaches, the beaches on the private islands are easier to get to and have fewer additional costs than those in Nassau.
If you want to learn about the culture of the islands, Lookout Point is better than Castaway Cay, and Nassau is better than either of the private islands.

If you want to experience a lot of Disney theming, the Wish will have more than the Fantasy. However, a lot of the Wish is geared more to kids than to adults. The Fantasy has an area with several nightclubs that is adults-only in the evenings. On the Wish, the adult bar areas are more scattered.

Both ships have 3 main evening shows and 3 rotational dining areas. On the Wish, 2 dining rooms have performances (Frozen and Marvel); on the Fantasy, only 1 does (Animator’s Palate).

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

if you have never been on a cruise and can do the 5 night I would do that. Basically every cruise line that goes to the Bahamas goes to Nassau. Most cruisers that have cruised more than a couple of times don’t even get off the ship in Nassau. If you do end up liking cruising you can be certain Nassau will be on a future itinerary
Wish 3 night - great way to get into cruising but if you are looking for a relaxing and fun time the 3 nights are non stop go go go and you have to pack everything up after the day 3 island.

Fantasy 4 night - better. The sea day after the Nassau / LC be relaxing but also full of activities.

Fantasy 5 night - looks like 2 sea days and two private island days. This one allows you to maximize the island days and not pay for a Nassau beach excursion if that was your plan. Seeing both islands is a fantastic experience especially for a first cruise let alone a Disney cruise. You can then decide future cruises based off of which DCL private island you like best.

Finally - one of the main things about a Disney cruise is the rotational dining. The longer the cruise the better you get to know your waitstaff. And in general the DCL dining staff is great

 

[ditchdiggert200]

As someone who has done 2) 3-night cruises, 1) 5-night cruise, and 1) 7-night cruise; I would say the 4 or 5-night cruise on the Fantasy. I make that recommendation for a couple of reasons:
1a - Like others have said, 3-nights is very short for a first time cruiser. My MIL came with us for her very first cruise on a 3-night Wish cruise 2 years ago and by the end of the last day, she was upset that it was over already and wanted to stay on board longer. This is coming from someone who was deathly afraid to even go in the first place, but went because our kiddos (her grandkids) 'talked' her into it. It was a massive surprise to the kids at the airport because they didn't know she was coming.
1b - DW and I took our first DCL cruise as adults only on a 3-night sailing on the Dream with another couple. We had such a great time, we were sad when it was over 2.5 days later and were already having to pack up our suitcase and putting it outside our cabin to get ready to debark the next morning.
2 - IMHO, I feel like the Dream class ships (I've sailed the Dream, you're looking at the Fantasy) are much more 'user friendly' than the Wish. I'm NOT saying the Wish is a bad ship, just that having the walking track, the flow of the ship, and the more distinctly separated adult areas make for a smoother sailing experience.
3 - Our family has another 5-night cruise right around the corner because we want to enjoy all DCL has to offer, make the most of our available days, get to know our wait staff at dinner, and get to the point of feeling at home.
4 - ALL THAT TO SAY THIS: You're choosing to cruise for the first time on DCL. Don't obsess too much about the minutia. Be excited you're going on a cruise and enjoy the experience, regardless of which cruise you ultimately decide. Coming from someone who didn't think they would enjoy Disney as cruise line, I thoroughly enjoy what DCL has to offer. I try to make the most of the trip each time I'm on board.

 

[scrappinginontario]

For us, I would always choose longer so the 5 night Fantasy would be my choice. There is SO much to do on the ship plus both CC and LP makes it easy to recommend that one!

 

[Joanna71985]

I would do the 5 night

 

[sponica]

Either the 4 or 5 night. I've never done a 3 night, but you unpack on night 1 to just repack 2 days later. If I wanted that tight a turnaround, I'd rather be on land.

 

[BStieers]

5 nights, no question

 

[kickmeluker95]

Need help choosing....We have never been on a cruise and we want to try a DCL, no children going just the two adults for a 50th birthday celebration. Which cruise and itinerary would you pick, going in February? Is Nassau worth a visit if you have never been or two private islands better? Pros and cons of the two private islands? I was also wondering if we don't know if we will like a cruise is 5 nights too long? Just worried I will make the wrong choice and it doesn't help I am so indecisive..lol...

3 night - on the Wish - Nassau and Castaway Cay

4 night - on the Fantasy - Nassau and Lookout Cay

5 night - on the Fantasy - Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay

Just got off 5night fantasy in January, anything with 2 disney island days is worth it over one. Also it took the family abou 4 nights before they got used to the boat so take that into account if you get seasick

 

[o&smom]

5 night all the way!

 

[tvguy]

In early February expect the water in the bahamas (including Disney islands) to be chilly. That being said I would book a 5 night on the Fantasy. Both Islands are beautiful and worth seeing even if you don't swim.

Water temperature is subjective. The record low water temperature in the region is 72 degrees. My gym heats their outdoor pool to 70 in the winter, so to me that is perfectly comfortable as I swim year round at home. People around these parts start using their pools when the water hits 68.
We were on Castaway Cay on a January 2nd, and the air temperature was the issue. When it got near the water temperature, it made if feel cool out when you got out of the water.

 

[JM_97]

Need help choosing....We have never been on a cruise and we want to try a DCL, no children going just the two adults for a 50th birthday celebration. Which cruise and itinerary would you pick, going in February? Is Nassau worth a visit if you have never been or two private islands better? Pros and cons of the two private islands? I was also wondering if we don't know if we will like a cruise is 5 nights too long? Just worried I will make the wrong choice and it doesn't help I am so indecisive..lol...

3 night - on the Wish - Nassau and Castaway Cay

4 night - on the Fantasy - Nassau and Lookout Cay

5 night - on the Fantasy - Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay

Definitely the 5 night on Fantasy. Two private islands and two sea days? I'll take your spot if you don't want it.