By Here’s a question that comes up often about Disney cruises. How long a cruise should you take?
Let’s be honest about the fact that everyone’s travel needs differ. So, your answer likely varies wildly from mine or those of other travelers.
Still, a few fundamentals apply to everyone. Let’s quickly discuss cruise lengths to find your ideal itinerary.
Start with a Short Cruise
First, we’ll discuss a strong belief of mine. You should always start with a short cruise.
I actually had this conversation just the other night when I dined with a close family member. She is considering her first Disney cruise but has concerns.
That’s perfectly normal, as many people aren’t sure whether a cruise will be fun. A couple of sticking points worry would-be cruisers.
For starters, not everyone’s stomach handles the ocean well. You may fear repeated bouts of nausea during your first cruise. As such, you shouldn’t take a long one.
Instead, you should select one of Disney’s many three- and four-night itineraries. By adopting this approach, you minimize the risk of feeling seasick all day.
Don’t get me wrong. Dramamine and Scopolamine dramatically reduce such concerns anyway. Still, you won’t know how you’ll do on a cruise until you try one.
Those of you who are like my wife and susceptible to motion sickness from things like riding in cars may want to exercise caution.
Then, there’s the consideration for everyone else. Cruises are a bit weird compared to our regular daily lives.
The staterooms, aka the cabins, are smaller than the rooms in most people’s houses. So, it can be like Tiny House: Extreme Edition in that families may feel a bit claustrophobic.
The idea here is that you’ll spend little time in your room. So, the overwhelming majority of people won’t care. A few might, though.
Similarly, you may find sailing in the middle of the ocean a bit restrictive as well. You don’t have any options on the days your cruise ship spends at sea. You’re stuck on that boat.
Again, millions of tourists take cruises each week, and it never bothers them one iota. Still, you may fear that you’ll be different.
Once again, the simple solution is to use a short cruise as a trial run. Plus, these cruises are cheaper, as you’ll pay more for additional nights of your trip. It’s a win/win strategy for first-timers.
How Long a Cruise Should You Take?
Now then, let’s presume that you’re absolutely fearless, so none of the previous section applies to you. All you want to know is how long a cruise you should take.
Well, that answer still depends on several factors. For starters, what’s your budget, how many vacation days do you have available, and where’s your dream destination?
Disney Cruise Line offers some 14- and 15-day cruise itineraries. You can leave the outside world behind and live on a boat for half a month if that’s your desire.
A friend of mine took a (non-Disney) three-week cruise to Antarctica earlier this year. If you have the disposable income and the free time, why wouldn’t you do something like that?
So, you can narrow your parameters by answering the previous questions. Realistically, most of you will target cruises that last for a week or less. That narrows your options to:
- 3-day cruises
- 4-day cruises
- 5-day cruises
- 6-day cruises
- 7-day cruises
You’ll also discover a wide range of pricing options, depending on the date you’d prefer to travel. Note that cruise prices fluctuate based on the consumer demand for the itinerary and timeframe.
According to Disney’s site, three-day cruises start at $1,060, while seven-night cruises often cost $5,000 or more. Obviously, there’s a lot of wiggle room with the pricing.
In my experience, you should expect a four-night cruise to cost $3,000 or more. This price depends on several factors related to the room type you choose. Please consider it more of a generality.
Still, this information should allow you to baseline how much you should expect to pay.
In the budgeting section, I discuss ways to save money as well as the other cruise expenses you should consider.
So, if these estimates make you think you need to take a shorter cruise, I’ve got good news. You CAN find deals that make a cruise of any length affordable.
As such, the itinerary matters the most in determining how long a cruise you should take. Pick a foreign country you’ve always dreamt about visiting, and book that cruise.
Disney Cruise Line offers itineraries to many of the top countries in the world in terms of tourism. You can surely find something that fits your budget and vacation style.
Overall, my suggestion to the question of how long a cruise you should take is simple. Choose a three- or four-day cruise until you’re sure that you enjoy this type of vacation.
Presuming that you know you do, I’d suggest a five- to seven-night cruise, presuming that you’re not also stopping at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, which many cruisers do.
A full week’s escape at sea will provide you with the kind of tranquility everyone deserves in life. However, a three- or four-night cruise combined with a few days at a theme park is a Disney fan’s dream come true. You really cannot go wrong with either option.