Which would you choose? Summer 2024

[Dailymeel]

Hello,
looking for opinion from fellow cruisers. I’m booking a cruise in 2024 for my family of 4. my 2 children will be just turned 4, and 1year9months old. Planning to book one with our friend’s family with 2 kids same age as mine.

Our first choice was to book the cruise to Norway but unfortunately with its starting price at nearly £7k, it’s completely off the table.

Our 2nd choice would have been 7-night Western Europe. But with it being on our child’s first week of school, we are reluctant to book it. Would you go for that if your child is starting school but isn’t at mandatory school age? (I feel like the first day of school experience is pretty big milestone in her life and wouldn’t like to miss it!)

Our 3rd choice would be 7-night British isles but would we like to cruise to places we can visit quite close to home, and drive to? And it’s also during school term and our child would miss the 2nd week of school… also if we choose this one, our friends would not join us. But they will join us for all other options.

Finally, the 5-night spain cruise is most ideal in terms of it being in the summer break, but it’s only 5 nights…

From my understanding, in UK, the first 3 weeks of school is a transitional period where children only go in part time.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and opinions!

Really excited to enjoy a Disney cruise regardless which of these 3 we choose in the end.

Details of each cruise below:

5-Night Spain
Disney Dream from Southampton, England 2024 SAIL DATE: Aug 27
• La Coruña, Spain
• Vigo, Spain
• 2 days at sea

7-Night Western Europe
Disney Dream from Southampton, England 2024 SAIL DATE: Sep 1
• 2 days in Hamburg, Germany
• Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Zeebrugge, Belgium
• 2 days at sea

7-Night British Isles
Disney Dream from Southampton, England 2024 SAIL DATE: Sep 8
• Greenock, Scotland
• Liverpool, England
• Ringaskiddy (Cork), Ireland
• Portland (Stonehenge), England
• 2 days at sea

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi! Because the 5 night cruise to Spain includes two days at sea, that’s the one I would pick. It also seems to be the best fit for your children and your friends.

IMO, cruises that have many port days are rushed. Shore excursions frequently cause a rushed breakfast. Those two days at sea can be more at your leisure to enjoy the ship, the activities and your friends.

 

[Geomom]

In your case, I would do the 5nt. I agree that your child won't want to miss the first day/week of school. It's a time the kids will start making friends and learning classroom routines. The dates for the 5 night will allow you to travel with friends and would be a good length for a first cruise experience

 

[holula]

I agree, I would do the five night.

Being from the UK myself I wouldn’t do a cruise around our island unless I just wanted a cruise

 

[dcassetta]

What is the primary goal for the cruise - enjoying time with your kids and friends or seeing new places?

If it's the first, then the 5 night is a great option, and you will not miss that special first day of school.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I would not have wanted my kids to miss the first week of school at that age. There's lots of learning the rules, adjusting, etc. that they would miss.

We have been on several cruises that went no where we were interested in. The ship was the destination! The port days where we stayed on the ship were amazing!

 

[Dailymeel]

Wow thank you for all your responses! @bobbiwoz I haven’t considered the logistics of port days but what you said makes complete sense to me.

I think you are all right with the 5-nights and have made really good points about what’s more important for me.

Ultimately the cruise is for *me* and It would be very selfish to ruin my child’s first year of school experience just because I wanted a longer holiday. Plus she won’t know the difference between 5 nights and 7 nights at that age!

Thanks everyone