WWYD?

[Dug720]

Granted I'm still in the planning process, but just getting some thoughts...

I've got a big birthday next year and am looking at options for things to do to celebrate. ONE idea is another Disney cruise (or two). Looking at the cruises which would fall over my birthday I come up with the following...

Magic - Norway and Iceland, which really doesn't interest me that much AND is 7224.52 for a 9C - BEFORE AIRFARE. So the Magic is out.

Of the other three...

Wonder - 3971.69 for a 9C to Alaska. Again, airfare and pre-cruise stuff, BUT also I did Alaska last summer on Holland and will do it again this summer on Royal. Don't get me wrong...I love Alaska, but three years in a row seems a bit much.

Dream - I can do back to back for 4925.14 (again, airfare, but it's much more reasonable to MCO) in an 8B and right now there are three cabins I could get for both cruises. The 4-night would put me on Castaway on my birthday, which I think would be a great way to spend the day. Added bonus, the first cruise would be my 5th, so I would level up between the cruises and be gold on the second one.

Fantasy - 4922.50 for a 7-night over my birthday (it would be St. Thomas day). I love the Fantasy, but I will have just done this itinerary in April, so I'm not sure.

I may decide to do something other than a cruise all together, or I might go on another line in Europe or something. But...

WWYD if you were only looking at Disney's options?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

You sound most excited about the Dream trip, so I would do that. Especially since it's not an itinerary that you' have recently done.

 

[tinkerone]

7 day fantasy for me. i like the relaxed feeling of it. we do b2b's (7 + 7) and the turn around time, imo, is a waste so to do it on a 3/4 would not suit me.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY whatever you decide to do.

 

[jcarwash]

The Dream back-to-back would be a 4 night and a 3 night? That seems to be the best fit for you given how the price compares to the 7 night Fantasy plus what you're thinking -- CC on your birthday (plus two visits total, right?) and getting Gold status.

For a totally different idea...have you considered Aulani?

 

[phinz]

I'd do the Dream because Gold.

 

[Justacruiser]

I would do the Fantasy ONLY if it's an itinerary that you haven't done. Otherwise I would do the B2B Dream and become a member of the GOLD club!

 

[darkwing818]

OP if it's a truly a BIG Birthday, I'd do something I've never done before. Something that's on my Bucket List. e.g. Visit the Pyramids & ride a Camel or walk/jog the Great Wall of China. Bottom line do something BIG. JMHO

 

[hardis5]

I would do the B2B for gold, given the same cabin ease in disembarkation and early-on and if not having seeing the latest modifications to the ship in Vanellope's and Satellite Falls that will exist later this fall.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

The Dream sounds like the best option to me. Good luck deciding

 

[mevelandry]

Don't get me wrong: I LOVE cruising and I LOVE Disney Cruise Line... (and it's especially not my money but since you're asking for advices...).

...but DCL is really expensive. I can't help but thinking about what you could do/get with the money you would save by doing the Dream not-back-to-back (just 4 nights).

*That being said, I'm the kind of person who think 3 nights is not "too short", but "good enough".*

So... my final answer is: 4 nights on the Dream ... or something different. 5000$ is a lot of money.

 

[Trera]

B2B. We are doing one in Sept for our Anniversary. Two stops at Castaway, Two cabanas, Remy one cruise, Palo and Palo brunch the other.

Plus as you pointed out.................two cruises which gets you to Gold (and only 5 more to Platinum)

Good Luck!!

 

[kaseyC]

Have you thought about maybe doing one of the Adventure by Disney trips instead of a cruise? Or one of the other organized tour companies like Tauck.

 

[bcwife76]

OP if it's a truly a BIG Birthday, I'd do something I've never done before. Something that's on my Bucket List. e.g. Visit the Pyramids & ride a Camel or walk/jog the Great Wall of China. Bottom line do something BIG. JMHO

I second this! DH and I are both celebrating 'big' birthdays next year and are leaning towards a DCL Alaska cruise as we've never been. But since you've done Alaska (twice) do something different!!

 

[phinz]

Heck, why not look into something like Regent Seven Seas cruises? They're not that much more than some of the DCL cruises, and they include round trip airfare and go all sorts of exotic places. They have free excursions, free gratuities, free mini bar in room, etc. They have such cruises as Rome to Lisbon, Istanbul to Istanbul via Greece, Greece to Turkey with stops in Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. They have African cruises, Asian cruises, Mediterranean cruises and all sorts of other trips.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks for the suggestions all! I'm 99% sure I'm doing Thailand in Feb over our Winter Break (would love longer, but summer is rainy season, so...), so that will be something big there.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

Dream - I can do back to back for 4925.14 (again, airfare, but it's much more reasonable to MCO) in an 8B and right now there are three cabins I could get for both cruises. The 4-night would put me on Castaway on my birthday, which I think would be a great way to spend the day. Added bonus, the first cruise would be my 5th, so I would level up between the cruises and be gold on the second one.

They're all great opportunities, but I say "level up!"

 

[bumbershoot]

Beth, you lead a nice life.

 

[Happy100]

Have you thought about maybe doing one of the Adventure by Disney trips instead of a cruise?QUOTE]

My vote is for this or the Dream B2B

 

[Dug720]

There really aren't any ABD trips I'm interested in at the time. I've looked.

@bumbershoot - Thanks! I just have my cat, so I'm pretty free to choose what to do, and travel is my thing.

 

[Flossbolna]

I find none of the choices very exciting (with the background you gave, otherwise the Wonder in Alaska would be my pick) and all of them are really pricey. So, for me it would not be that important to have a cruise right over my birthday. I would pick something close, but more interesting to me. What about a Magic cruise once she is down in the Med later in the summer?