Would you do 4 ngt Dream to Bahamas or 7 ngt Fantasy to W Carib?

[ngl]

We are getting ready to book our trip for Tgiving 2019. Kids will be 10 & 8 then. We have been on the Dream twice for Tgiving and loved it. However, we were thinking of trying something new and going on the Fantasy next year.

If they were running the Eastern Carib itinerary that week, I wouldn't hesitate to book Fantasy over Dream. However, not a fan of Mexico these days and haven't heard anyone wowed with great excursions in Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Don't mind staying on the ship a day or two but not the whole time.

As you know, the Merrytime Cruises add cost and of course, Fantasy is much more than Dream. For those that have been on both with the given ports in mind, can you share some of your opinions? Truly appreciate any and all input!

 

[dcassetta]

We are getting ready to book our trip for Tgiving 2019. Kids will be 10 & 8 then. We have been on the Dream twice for Tgiving and loved it. However, we were thinking of trying something new and going on the Fantasy next year.

If they were running the Eastern Carib itinerary that week, I wouldn't hesitate to book Fantasy over Dream. However, not a fan of Mexico these days and haven't heard anyone wowed with great excursions in Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Don't mind staying on the ship a day or two but not the whole time.

As you know, the Merrytime Cruises add cost and of course, Fantasy is much more than Dream. For those that have been on both with the given ports in mind, can you share some of your opinions? Truly appreciate any and all input!

I would do the 7 night, and enjoy the Western Caribbean more than the Eastern.

Cozumel is safe and fun, there are some great beach clubs there.

Grand Cayman is beautiful, excellent snorkeling and very safe.

Falmouth is not my favorite stop, mostly because it's so far from everything.

 

[dclpluto]

Jamaica has some very nice excursions. You don’t really want to go outside the gates where the ships dock at. The excursions are pretty good thou.

Grand cayman sting ray excursion i heard is very good. Wife is scared so I haven’t been.

As you know the dream cruises is way too short.

 

[Quellman]

Don't be worried about the excursions offered, read for those excursions that interest you. One of the draws of mexico is the ruins and the off road adventures and zip lines. Many of the areas are still quite safe and the last issue had to deal with ferries.

Jamaica has some amazing activities as well, and people seem to really do boat activities in Grand Cayman. Of those ports, Grand Cayman would be the easiest to book outside of Disney if you don't mind a little risk. The tour operators livelihood necessitates that they do everything they possibly can to ensure guests get back to the ship on time. A single "I missed my boat" will sink a business (no pun intended). Because Grand Cayman isn't terribly large it would be easier to ensure you arrived even in the event of an unlikely minor mishap.

If you were fine with the Dream and the Fantasy isn't what you want, then don't book the Fantasy. Take the extra money and put it towards a few days at Disney or some other vacation destination.

 

[Husurdady]

The seven nights on the Fantasy is nothing to write home about, save your money and do a 4 night cruise on the Dream...……….Did I tell you we just booked a 4 night cruise on the Dream yesterday, the first day of the last of 2019 bookings...….. A big 2 dollar increase from the same week in Nov.2018.
The picture of the Dream was taken by me at CC.

 

[LizGirl]

I will always vote for the longer cruise!

 

[Shanti]

We are getting ready to book our trip for Tgiving 2019. Kids will be 10 & 8 then. We have been on the Dream twice for Tgiving and loved it. However, we were thinking of trying something new and going on the Fantasy next year.

If they were running the Eastern Carib itinerary that week, I wouldn't hesitate to book Fantasy over Dream. However, not a fan of Mexico these days and haven't heard anyone wowed with great excursions in Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Don't mind staying on the ship a day or two but not the whole time.

As you know, the Merrytime Cruises add cost and of course, Fantasy is much more than Dream. For those that have been on both with the given ports in mind, can you share some of your opinions? Truly appreciate any and all input!

We prefer the Dream because:

• We've sailed both ships and out of the islands we've seen, only really like Castaway Cay. We don't like the poverty of the regular islands, so we wouldn't pay more for a Caribbean cruise that visits more non-Castaway islands.
• The Beauty and the Beast show is great on the Dream.
• The Dream has a hot tub on the family pool deck & the Fantasy doesn't.
• The Fantasy has serious aft vibration issues, but the Dream does not.

 

[MomOTwins]

We prefer the Dream because:

• We've sailed both ships and out of the islands we've seen, only really like Castaway Cay. We don't like the poverty of the regular islands, so we wouldn't pay more for a Caribbean cruise that visits more non-Castaway islands.
• The Beauty and the Beast show is great on the Dream.
• The Dream has a hot tub on the family pool deck & the Fantasy doesn't.
• The Fantasy has serious aft vibration issues, but the Dream does not.

I really wanted to try the fantasy but despite showing my kids multiple online videos I can’t persuade them to try it. They want nemo’s reef, beauty and the beast, the same kids clubs. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it is their view.

 

[KashasMom]

We actually like the Western itinerary better than the Eastern (we're not huge fans of CC). We've had some great excursions in all the Western ports including Jamaica (Rio Bueno River Tubing was a BLAST - daughter was 7 at the time). We haven't done the stingrays on GC yet but from the recommendations, it would be our number 1 choice. I don't believe Cozumel is unsafe otherwise cruise lines would be pulling out (we've done Save a Sea Turtle where we were able to rescue and release baby turtles into the ocean - unforgettable, Beach/Pool day at Paradise Beach, and the Dolphin Push/Pull at Chankanaab National Park, which in itself was beautiful - and loved each one).

We've done the Very Merrytime cruises on the Fantasy, Magic, and Dream (and just booked another on the Magic out of NYC for 2019). Out of all of them the Dream was my least favorite. If you're into the holiday activities and parties (we as a family are), the 3-4 days on the Dream is simply not enough. We did SO much more on the Magic and Fantasy. The one thing we really enjoyed on the Dream was Beauty and the Beast. That was really it. So much of the rest is the same (for us).

If your kids won't budge, how about a B2B on the Dream? Whatever you decide, enjoy!

 

[pearljammer]

Hands down - 7 nighter! 4 isn't enough. We only got off the boat at the Caymans where we snorkeled and Jamaica (didn't leave the fenced area - so doesn't really count). What I really enjoyed about the Western cruise was the scenery off the boat. We rode along the edge of Cuba and it seemed that I just saw more off the boat while cruising than I remember on the Eastern itinerary. Perhaps it was time and place. Didn't get off at Cozumel but likely will this November. The snorkeling in Cayman's - did it once, wouldn't do it again. Sort of looking forward to our 2nd western as it will allow us to do things differently! Cruising Eastern next year and it has new stops for us so excited about that!

Hands down, don't know the date your looking at for the merry time cruise but if you aren't overly concerned about the price difference, it's a no-brainer for me! Good luck but either way, it will be a good time!

 

[ngl]

This is all such great insight. Thank you!

As for the one post re sundeck with hot tub on Dream, which we experienced in Nov and loved, I heard that Fantasy just added the same in dry dock recently. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[ngl]

This is all such great insight. Thank you!

As for the one post re sundeck with hot tub on Dream, which we experienced in Nov and loved, I heard that Fantasy just added the same in dry dock recently. Can anyone confirm that?

SORRY - I thought you meant the Concierge sun deck hot tub. Understand that is now on Fantasy as well as Dream (we are doing Concierge).

 

[ngl]

The seven nights on the Fantasy is nothing to write home about, save your money and do a 4 night cruise on the Dream...……….Did I tell you we just booked a 4 night cruise on the Dream yesterday, the first day of the last of 2019 bookings...….. A big 2 dollar increase from the same week in Nov.2018.
The picture of the Dream was taken by me at CC.

Great pic! And that is wonderful re increase.

We live here in FL and go to WDW every 2 months or so (DVC) and do love the Dream but just wanted to experience a longer cruise so probably will go with the Fantasy. Thanks for the insight!

 

[ngl]

We actually like the Western itinerary better than the Eastern (we're not huge fans of CC). We've had some great excursions in all the Western ports including Jamaica (Rio Bueno River Tubing was a BLAST - daughter was 7 at the time). We haven't done the stingrays on GC yet but from the recommendations, it would be our number 1 choice. I don't believe Cozumel is unsafe otherwise cruise lines would be pulling out (we've done Save a Sea Turtle where we were able to rescue and release baby turtles into the ocean - unforgettable, Beach/Pool day at Paradise Beach, and the Dolphin Push/Pull at Chankanaab National Park, which in itself was beautiful - and loved each one).

We've done the Very Merrytime cruises on the Fantasy, Magic, and Dream (and just booked another on the Magic out of NYC for 2019). Out of all of them the Dream was my least favorite. If you're into the holiday activities and parties (we as a family are), the 3-4 days on the Dream is simply not enough. We did SO much more on the Magic and Fantasy. The one thing we really enjoyed on the Dream was Beauty and the Beast. That was really it. So much of the rest is the same (for us).

If your kids won't budge, how about a B2B on the Dream? Whatever you decide, enjoy!

Thanks so much this is super helpful! My kids are definitely wanting to try a new ship so no issue there! Just We live in FL so we have amazing beaches all around us and get to WDW every 2 months or so so just like trying new things and you have eased my mind re Fantasy and 7 night. Thanks so much!

 

[diznymom]

Depends on budget at the time.

 

[Quellman]

This is all such great insight. Thank you!

As for the one post re sundeck with hot tub on Dream, which we experienced in Nov and loved, I heard that Fantasy just added the same in dry dock recently. Can anyone confirm that?

The post you are talking about the OP was talking about the Family area between the two funnels on deck 11. The Dream still has a large square box that is some sort of warm soaking tub. The Fantasy has a type of wading/splash area instead. With younger kids I prefer the Fantasy. There are age limits on many public hot tubs for reasons, and the ones on cruise ships are just over flowing with kids. Plus it gives another opportunity outside of nemos reef. Which is useful if you have multiple kids.