Short cruises are the right getaway, however what number of days do you have to select?
I not too long ago did a back-to-back cruise on the Independence of the Seas. The first cruise was the 4 night time crusing, the second was the three night time voyage.
While not my first time doing a back-to-back crusing with a view to prolong a weekend crusing, I began occupied with the variations between these seemingly related cruises.
I used to be curious if that one additional day made that a lot of a distinction. It seems, it was greater than I anticipated.
Itinerary
A 4 night time cruise will sometimes depart Monday afternoon and return early Friday morning, whereas a 3 night time cruise will depart on Friday afternoon and are available again Monday morning. This may be the largest deciding issue as to which crusing to decide on.
If you’re employed Monday by way of Friday, it could be extra useful to take a weekend crusing because the 4 day will take up nearly a complete work week.
Both itineraries included Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay as ports of name.
The solely distinction being a day at sea on the 4 night time crusing.
Price
You could also be stunned to seek out out that 4 day cruises are inexpensive than the weekend sailings a majority of the time.
While I don’t know the precise motive for this, I’d speculate that it’s as a result of it’s simpler for folks to sail on the weekends thus, it sells out extra typically. Simple provide and demand.
Day at Sea
The 4 day crusing has a day at sea inbuilt and that actually makes it really feel extra stress-free.
I’ve at all times felt very rushed on a 3 day cruise. Embarkation day is loopy on any ship. You must test in, undergo safety on the port, do your security briefing, get acclimated to the ship and work out what actions you’d love to do. The subsequent two days you’re in port and earlier than it, your cruise is over.
The additional sea day is ideal to have the ability to benefit from the ship or simply loosen up.
If you’re a fan of the on line casino, will probably be open the complete day. Plus, there are choices on that sea day that aren’t out there on the weekend cruises.
Sea Day Brunch
On a 3 day crusing, the eating room is open on daily basis for breakfast for roughly two and half hours. It serves your typical fare of eggs, pancakes, omelets and so forth.
However, the 4 day crusing has a sea day brunch that extends into the afternoon. You will discover the identical breakfast choices as different days but additionally on the menu are lunch gadgets together with cheddar and potato soup, a charcuterie plate, the Royal burger and rooster and waffles.
Captain’s Corner
The Captain’s Corner is a query and reply session with the senior officers.
Ours featured the Captain, the Hotel Director and the Chief Engineer. The cruise director and his employees stroll across the room with microphones and permit passengers to ask something they’d like concerning the firm, the ships or questions which are particular to the officer’s positions.
This is a favourite exercise of mine that I by no means miss. I’m used to seeing it supplied on seven day sailings. I don’t suppose I’ve even seen it on a shorter itinerary so this was a deal with.
All Access Ship Tour
I really like that the ships have began bringing again the all entry excursions. Each one is personalized a bit of completely different nonetheless, components of the ship you may even see embrace the galley, the laundry services, crew corridors, the engine rooms and the navigation bridge.
There was a morning and afternoon tour listed on the 4 night time crusing. It was not supplied in any respect on the three night time cruise.
You can test your cruise planner on Royal Caribbean’s web site previous to your cruise to see if it’s out there on your particular crusing. I’d extremely suggest reserving it earlier than you board.
Read extra: Royal Caribbean introduced again the behind-the-scenes tour: here is what it is like
Motion
If you might be involved with movement illness on a sea day, then 4 night time crusing is ideal for you.
Since there may be an additional day constructed into the itinerary, the ship doesn’t must journey as quick to get to the Bahamas. There had been occasions I swear the ship was simply slowly drifting to its subsequent vacation spot. I didn’t really feel the ship transfer as soon as.
Atmosphere
There was a totally completely different temper between the three and 4 night time sailings. The three night time cruises have a popularity of being a “party” vibe and that’s fairly correct. If you’re searching for a extra vigorous environment, that’s the crusing for you.
The three night time was stuffed with a youthful crowd. There had been birthday events, bachelorette events and even a marriage on that crusing.
In distinction, the 4 night time crusing was extra subdued. There was extra of a mature crowd. In reality, I don’t suppose I noticed greater than a handful of youngsters on board. It was positively quieter and extra relaxed.
Final Thoughts
As I discussed earlier, we had been on a again to again crusing. I used to be stunned to see Independence of the Seas supply the particular lunch in the primary eating room for repeat cruisers on turnaround day. I hadn’t skilled that for the reason that return to service. It was similtaneously the Key company lunch however we had been in numerous components of the eating room. I don’t know if the menu was the identical.
So, is the three of 4 night time crusing higher? Really, any cruise is a good cruise so you may’t go unsuitable along with your alternative.
I’d love to have the ability to do extra of the 4 nights. That sea day actually made a distinction within the cruise feeling extra relaxed and for much longer than only one additional day.
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