Is a 4Night cruise too rushed

[Carrie in AZ]

We enjoy the day at sea, and I just tacked on a night at the Poly for an on shore experience. We have water park tickets!

We LOVE both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon! They are awesome!!

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Our first cruise was a 4 day, and we loved it.
Afterwards we did realize that it was a lot to take in... we don't remember all of it . Yet another reason to go back and do it again

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We enjoy the day at sea, and I just tacked on a night at the Poly for an on shore experience. We have water park tickets!

One of our favorite combos! Love the stay at the Poly and the water park tix! Plus the 4 night? heaven!

 

[NMK62303]

We love the 4 night, like you said you don't have to take as much time off from work and you still get Castaway Cay, day at Sea, and you can get off in Nassau if you like as well! It gives you a good sampling of the cruise lifestyle. You can search for Navigators from prior cruises (schedules of the day) to give you an idea of what to expect each day on the cruise.
We are thinking of doing a water park on the day we get off next time as well, sounds great! This year we did putt-putt at Winter Summerland and checked out Disney Springs.

 

[Frozen2014]

We're used to 7 day cruises and have one booked for next year. But we were looking for a mini vacation end of the summer and 4 day cruise fit the bill (literally and figuratively) . We know it will be more like 3.5 days by the time we get on but those days will be packed with activities, room, good food, and daily entertainment. A 7 day cruise wasn't in the budget but will be great and we'll enjoy every minute. We may not even get off the ship for one of our stops.

 

[NCConch]

Our first cruise was three night because my wife was not sure she would like cruising and wanted to keep the possible misery to a minimum. We all loved it. Because of school schedules and family preferences, we continued with the three night cruises and did a four nighter. We are a "relax on vacation" family as opposed to "cram as much possible into the vacation" family. Other than dinner, we rarely had something planned. Our kids are older and we all would go off and do our own thing - mostly trying out the various deck chairs.

 

[Stefani P.]

Four days is WAY better than no days!

I just did a 4 day cruise on the Wonder (first cruise ever) and I wish I had at least one more day. I spent half the day on an excursion in Nassau (I'd never been) and then did the Castaway Cay 5k and stayed out on the beach until shortly before all aboard (that place is PARADISE!!). It left our Sea day to explore and chill. I feel like I only really figured out my way around the ship when it was time to leave again.

If I did another 4 day cruise I might reconsider getting off the ship for an excursion so I could spend more hours on board.....but wouldn't change a thing about the Castaway day (did I mention...PARADISE!!)

I didn't see the big deal about boarding early.....we had to board quite late (maybe 2pm) due to some car rental issues. That totally stunk. A couple of hours doesn't seem like a huge deal but by the time we boarded and got a bit to eat we felt pretty rushed for the evening activities (skipped the show the first night which was fine). Now I know....next time I'll board as early as possible!!

Yes, one friend told me boarding early as possible was the way to go.

 

[Stefani P.]

It's not rushed. It's really fun. What we found was that there was so much to do and not so many days in which to do it, so it was less relaxed than a longer cruise but still really fun. I'd be happy to cruise for 4 nights again if that's what fits my schedule.

I think if I go in with the mindset that there is NO way to do it all and just relax, that will help me not feel rushed!

 

[mevelandry]

Looking to book my first cruise. I don't get a ton of time off work and just want to try a cruise for first time.
Will I regret 4 nights?

I love 4 nights. I think they are long enough to enjoy yourself (although a 3 nights is better than no cruise at all).

It can be as packed or as relaxing as you want it to be.

Look at old Personal Navigators and try to see what your priorities are. Find out what is going to make you feel you live those four days to the fullest.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Looking to book my first cruise. I don't get a ton of time off work and just want to try a cruise for first time.
Will I regret 4 nights?

We did a 3 night last year and I would have liked the sea day. There were things I wanted to explore on the ship and really didn’t have the time. We are doing a 4 night one this year on the Dream. I’m one of those cruisers who enjoys the sea days, because I like the feeling on not having to be anywhere. I know we can just stay on the ship while in port, but I enjoy going ashore as well.

 

[ByWorldandSea]

You could also do the 4-night double dip at Castaway Cay. That's what we're doing for our first time. We've been to Nassau, so aren't interested in getting off at that port. We liked the idea of two stops at CC in case we miss anything the first go around or have bad weather.

 

[Stefani P.]

I love 4 nights. I think they are long enough to enjoy yourself (although a 3 nights is better than no cruise at all).

It can be as packed or as relaxing as you want it to be.

Look at old Personal Navigators and try to see what your priorities are. Find out what is going to make you feel you live those four days to the fullest.

Personal Navigators? Is that on the disboards somewhere.
Sorry, newbie.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Scott runs the Disney Cruise Blog and has a great history of navigators as well as various trip reports and general info. Good stuff

www.disneycruiselineblog.com

 

[mevelandry]

Personal Navigators? Is that on the disboards somewhere.
Sorry, newbie.

There are links here and there. If you do a research you should find a link easily.

P.s. : Not sure if you sail on the Dream and if you like going to the spa when you are at home but I loved the spa on the Disney Dream! The 16$/ day pass for the Rainforest you can order before the cruise is worth it in my opinion and I would definitely book Palo Brunch on the sea day!

 

[Stefani P.]

There are links here and there. If you do a research you should find a link easily.

P.s. : Not sure if you sail on the Dream and if you like going to the spa when you are at home but I loved the spa on the Disney Dream! The 16$/ day pass for the Rainforest you can order before the cruise is worth it in my opinion and I would definitely book Palo Brunch on the sea day!

I am a big time spa girl! Thank you for that tip!

 

[Stefani P.]

We like 4 nights. Tack on a day early to arrive and sight see in the area. We are happy. No regrets for us.

Is there anything specific that you do on your day before cruise departure? I believe I am staying at the Hyatt inside the MCO Airport the day before the cruise. I should arrive in Orlando by 11am ish. Trying to decide what to do with that day.

 

[Stefani P.]

We have done the 4 day cruise and the 3 day cruise. Personally, by far prefer the 3 day cruise because a 4 day cruise has a day at sea which we found uneventful as you are only on the ship an extra day. Also we saw no value of paying an additional cost for a day at sea.

Do you do excursions on land days?

 

[Stefani P.]

As a first cruise, I think a 4-day is the best of all worlds as it gives a flavour of a port day, Castaway and a sea day. We've done, 3, 4 and 7 day and after our first (a 4 day) we find the more days the better. You are paying for the cruise and ship and all it has to offer and the sea day allows one to experience more of the ship. Just remember a Disney cruise ship is not a Disney theme park. It will have Disney's attention to detail and their expected service but it is not one ride to the next and non-stop diversion till one drops.

Personally I never thought we'd enjoy cruising and being tied and confined to a ship but 7 cruises later (and an 11 day one this fall) we've changed from over planning our cruises (like a theme park visit) and getting off at all ports to most cruises not doing all we want or have planned, being picky of ports we get off at and enjoying the ship more each time, more relaxed. What you don't experience your first cruise, save for your planned next.

If you plan to get off the boat on land days, do you need to plan excursions ahead of time? I honestly have no idea if I will want to explore or stay on the boat.
Being my first cruise, I have no idea how much planning is required.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

If you plan to get off the boat on land days, do you need to plan excursions ahead of time? I honestly have no idea if I will want to explore or stay on the boat.
Being my first cruise, I have no idea how much planning is required.

Nassau is...Nassau. If you go off the Bahamas route, I'd recommend doing some online research for the activities that suit your families proclivities. Do you want beach? Bahamas/Caribbean beckon. Do you want an eco-type tour? Alaska is amazing. Do you like active excursions? There's TONS of snorkeling, diving, rainforest hiking and so on available (with and without DCL). Do you prefer cultural exploration? Again, lots do here. History? Yep. And so on...

I have used the DCL excursion list for an idea of what's out there and then expand my internet research from there.

Beware!! Cruising is extremely addicting!!

 

[Stefani P.]

Nassau is...Nassau. If you go off the Bahamas route, I'd recommend doing some online research for the activities that suit your families proclivities. Do you want beach? Bahamas/Caribbean beckon. Do you want an eco-type tour? Alaska is amazing. Do you like active excursions? There's TONS of snorkeling, diving, rainforest hiking and so on available (with and without DCL). Do you prefer cultural exploration? Again, lots do here. History? Yep. And so on...

I have used the DCL excursion list for an idea of what's out there and then expand my internet research from there.

Beware!! Cruising is extremely addicting!!

Yeah, we are doing Bahamas so Nassau. I have a friend who has done Bahamas twice and neither time even got off the boat in Nassau.
I may like a quiet boat day. But maybe I should look into Nassau options just in case.