Wondering if I should switch to the Fantasy...

[mickeymom22]

I booked the Wish on the first day I could, but now I am seeing that I could go the same time on the Fantasy for twice as long...

We have sailed on the Dream and the Magic. It is my dream to try them all. Am I crazy for staying on the Wish? The longer time on the Fantasy is pulling me in that direction, but we wouldn't have a verandah. We have always had a verandah...has anyone sailed with a verandah and enjoyed it and then sailed without one? We enjoy sitting out there in the morning and right before we go to bed...

Share your thoughts, please! Thanks!

 

[Clarkson U]

Hi - great dilemma. We have sailed with and without Verandah's. We actually did 7 nights on the Fantasy on an inside stateroom on Deck 9 - I think the room was 9509 with a family of 4 (2 A and 2 teenagers) and surprisingly found it very doable and easy to navigate. We had to play a little jenga with our clothes - and keep many in the suitcase and then do a swap out a few days into the sailing but that was nominal issue relative to the cost savings we achieved on that sailing.

I think this all boils down to do you and your family want to vacation on a ship for 3 N or 6 N. You haven't been on either so both are new to you (technically speaking) and you will eventually get to them all. If you want longer vacation go on the Fantasy. If you want the Wish since it is the new shiny object then by all means stay on the Wish. No wrong choice here at all.

The only other thought I will have on this is if you are a FL resident, Military/Veteran or Canadian Residence - you may be able to get Fantasy on discount going forward - whereas the Wish probably won't get there for sometime. So if you feel you got a decent price for Wish today - maybe keep it and look for a discount rate for Fantasy if you qualify. If not, then this last paragraph doesn't apply to you.

Enjoy your cruise - whatever you decide it will be a great trip for sure.

 

[lklgoodman]

We've done ocean view and verandah cabins. I would pick a longer cruise over a verandah cabin.

 

[cedricandsophie]

As long as possible.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

I feel like for simply the benefit of sitting on the verandah for morning coffee and post-evening relaxing, you could get something sort-of equivalent by simply going up to one of the higher-decks outside? If it's adults only, I feel like the adults only areas upper-decks would give you a lot of the same benefits.

If you've got people in your group who aren't eligible for the Adults-only areas, or depending on the location of your cabin if you want something that's closer...then there's lots of seating on the promenade deck. You'll likely find a lot of morning walkers out here and likely some evening people strolling around, but otherwise, it should still be fairly quiet. Grab a quick grab-and-go coffee from the buffet or coffee bar

One trade off is that these areas are likely to be busy during sea days. I feel like getting double the cruise length, in exchange for a window and a 20-sqft piece of deck is the better deal? Additionally, the inside rooms are DARK...like pitch black...a lot of people report getting the best nights of sleep they've ever had. I'd recommend bringing one of those "wake by light" alarm clocks.

It's highly personal. If you sit on the balcony and relax most of the day, a verandah is going to add a lot of value. If it's mostly just 20 minutes for a morning coffee and 20 minutes for an evening sea gazing, then it likely doesn't add a whole lot...and those are things that could be replaced in other ways by sacrificing some convenience and privacy.

 

[brentm77]

The decision maker for me would be the longer cruise. 7 days is pretty much a minimum for me. It gives us time to unpack, get in the cruise mode, and have enough time to really enjoy the cruise. It still feels too short, but not like I just got on when it is time to leave. You can't go wrong with the Fantasy either. We absolutely love the ship.

We haven't sailed without a verandah. I do use mine a lot, but mostly because that's where I go when waiting for my lovely wife or two daughters to get ready. I love watching the sea. I'm also very curious when pulling into and out of ports, or watching other ships do it, so I am often out there at those times too. But, I would enjoy a cruise perfectly fine without one too. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if we couldn't sail with one. Nobody else in our family seems to use it very much.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

The longer, the better. Wish will be around for a long time.

 

[DLgal]

Is 6 nights a new option for the Fantasy these days? Seems like a strange number.

 

[holula]

Is 6 nights a new option for the Fantasy these days? Seems like a strange number.

Next year they have some 8 night cruises (I am on one) and the following week they are doing a 6 night.

I would absolutely pick the 6 night cruise over a 3 night. On a 3 night you are barely on the ship and then you’re getting off.

 

[DLgal]

Next year they have some 8 night cruises (I am on one) and the following week they are doing a 6 night.

I would absolutely pick the 6 night cruise over a 3 night. On a 3 night you are barely on the ship and then you’re getting off.

Huh. Interesting. I wonder why.

Where do those leave out of?

 

[Royal Consort]

We are now in the same position. Booked a b2b on the Wish. Watched some of the walkthroughs and videos and paused with a giant "oh". We are two adults and the reduced adults section on the Wish is disappointing for us. Considering the 8 night on the Fantasy for half the cost. But then, I am a Disney completest... so ... dunno.

 

[holula]

Huh. Interesting. I wonder why.

Where do those leave out of?

PC. Mine leaves on the Saturday and returns the following Sunday. It’s a cruise to Bermuda, not the normal Eastern/Western.

 

[JM_97]

I'd do Fantasy for multiple reasons:

1. The cruise is longer
2. The cruise has more exciting stops
3. Because the Wish is a new ship, it will have growing pains
4. This is more personal, but I haven't been blown away by the Wish. Fantasy is more of a classic DCL look

 

[twoprincesses12]

We are DCL Gold and holding - until next month! We were cancelled 2X for Covid and had the opportunity to book Wish with our credit balance! However, our family would normally sail 7 days and in January. This 4 day in August is an anomaly for us. If we “retire” to Florida that would make a difference, but we are looking for longer cruises as our kids age out of some of the Disney magic theming.

 

[Jhondy]

I had a debate for the same thing of either 4 night on Wish so the verandah or 8 nights on fantasy on ocean view. Ultimately, I went with the 8 nights on fantasy. I just couldn’t justify a cruise half as long for the same price. Also I felt like on the Wish most activities onboard were going to be booked by concierge and platinum, which we are neither. We have never been on the Fantasy and are looking forward to it. I’m excited to spend 8 nights on the ship and be able to relax and not feel like I have to rush to see and do everything that I want

 

[Cheburashka]

I've sailed inside, oceanview and verandah. I do go back and forth depending on the cost of the cruise. Most of the oceanview staterooms on the Fantasy have huge windows- lots of light and a great view. I like having a verandah to dry bathing suits on and getting a glass-free view now and then, but don't use it much otherwise. The deck 4 promenade can serve the lounging/oceanviewing purpose for me on an expensive cruise. Lack of a verandah certainly wouldn't make me choose a 3 night over a 6 night. I'd choose an inside stateroom for a 6 night before a 3 night with a verandah. I really don't go out there that much. So often I spend all day doing activities on the ship and only come back at night, and by then it's dark, nothing to see outside & windy from the sailing, so don't go out on the balcony. The promenade is always there when you just want to get the sense of the ocean.

 

[mickeymom22]

Hi - great dilemma. We have sailed with and without Verandah's. We actually did 7 nights on the Fantasy on an inside stateroom on Deck 9 - I think the room was 9509 with a family of 4 (2 A and 2 teenagers) and surprisingly found it very doable and easy to navigate. We had to play a little jenga with our clothes - and keep many in the suitcase and then do a swap out a few days into the sailing but that was nominal issue relative to the cost savings we achieved on that sailing.

I think this all boils down to do you and your family want to vacation on a ship for 3 N or 6 N. You haven't been on either so both are new to you (technically speaking) and you will eventually get to them all. If you want longer vacation go on the Fantasy. If you want the Wish since it is the new shiny object then by all means stay on the Wish. No wrong choice here at all.

The only other thought I will have on this is if you are a FL resident, Military/Veteran or Canadian Residence - you may be able to get Fantasy on discount going forward - whereas the Wish probably won't get there for sometime. So if you feel you got a decent price for Wish today - maybe keep it and look for a discount rate for Fantasy if you qualify. If not, then this last paragraph doesn't apply to you.

Enjoy your cruise - whatever you decide it will be a great trip for sure.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. It will just be me and the hubby and possibly our youngest daughter who is 16. We are used to playing "jenga" with the luggage as we have stayed in a stateroom with all three of our kids before!

 

[mickeymom22]

I feel like for simply the benefit of sitting on the verandah for morning coffee and post-evening relaxing, you could get something sort-of equivalent by simply going up to one of the higher-decks outside? If it's adults only, I feel like the adults only areas upper-decks would give you a lot of the same benefits.

If you've got people in your group who aren't eligible for the Adults-only areas, or depending on the location of your cabin if you want something that's closer...then there's lots of seating on the promenade deck. You'll likely find a lot of morning walkers out here and likely some evening people strolling around, but otherwise, it should still be fairly quiet. Grab a quick grab-and-go coffee from the buffet or coffee bar

One trade off is that these areas are likely to be busy during sea days. I feel like getting double the cruise length, in exchange for a window and a 20-sqft piece of deck is the better deal? Additionally, the inside rooms are DARK...like pitch black...a lot of people report getting the best nights of sleep they've ever had. I'd recommend bringing one of those "wake by light" alarm clocks.

It's highly personal. If you sit on the balcony and relax most of the day, a verandah is going to add a lot of value. If it's mostly just 20 minutes for a morning coffee and 20 minutes for an evening sea gazing, then it likely doesn't add a whole lot...and those are things that could be replaced in other ways by sacrificing some convenience and privacy.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I have not spent time on the promenade deck so thanks for the tip! Our last cruise we had an inside room for the kids right across from ours and I know what you mean about them being dark. Each morning I had to go over there and tell them the sun was out and get going!

 

[mickeymom22]

The decision maker for me would be the longer cruise. 7 days is pretty much a minimum for me. It gives us time to unpack, get in the cruise mode, and have enough time to really enjoy the cruise. It still feels too short, but not like I just got on when it is time to leave. You can't go wrong with the Fantasy either. We absolutely love the ship.

We haven't sailed without a verandah. I do use mine a lot, but mostly because that's where I go when waiting for my lovely wife or two daughters to get ready. I love watching the sea. I'm also very curious when pulling into and out of ports, or watching other ships do it, so I am often out there at those times too. But, I would enjoy a cruise perfectly fine without one too. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if we couldn't sail with one. Nobody else in our family seems to use it very much.

We both do enjoy just relaxing out there in the morning and at night, but 6 nights vs 3 nights of cruising is starting to sway my thoughts on that verandah...

 

[mickeymom22]

The longer, the better. Wish will be around for a long time.

So true!