So, you're gearing up to plan that dream cruise vacation, but perhaps you're pondering the age-old question, "Are cruises worth it?" Well, here at Frog Headquarters, we don't hold back our love for cruising, especially when it comes to those enchanting Disney Cruise Line getaways. It's no secret that we're firm believers in the incredible value of cruise vacations, particularly considering that almost everything from lodging and dining to onboard entertainment is neatly bundled in your cruise package.
Anticipate not just a boatload of fun (especially when armed with our froggy tips), but we get it — deciding if a cruise is the right fit for you and your Frog Squad involves a lot of factors. We've got six key questions to pond-er as you plan the perfect cruise vacation for your family.
Are Cruises Worth it? How to Find the Right Cruise for Your Family
Here are six questions you'll need to think about before deciding to set sail on a cruise vacation and ultimately deciding if a cruise is in fact worth it to you:
- Is a cruise vacation in your budget?
- How long do you want to cruise?
- Where do you want to go?
- How do you want to spend your days?
- How much travel do you want to do?
- Are you worried about getting seasick?
We will explore each of these questions in depth, so sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy your vacation dreaming and scheming time.
1. What's Your Budget?
A cruise vacation will give you priceless family memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. But those priceless memories aren't without a price, and determining your all-in budget is the first step to finding out if a cruise vacation is right for you. If you've got a big budget saved up, you might not find this step helpful. But if you've got a smaller-than-unlimited budget to spend on your sailing, you'll find your search options may get a whole less overwhelming when you know your budget.
Don't froget: Staying in an interior stateroom or taking a last-minute sailing will stretch your budget without sacrificing vacation value. And you'll want to book with your favorite frogs here at Undercover Tourist to take advantage of our exclusive cruise line savings!
While we're on the topic of savings, we have a few cruise offers hoppening right now! For a limited time, get a FREE in-room decor set for all Disney Cruise Line bookings, courtesy of Undercover Tourist, when you book a Disney Cruise Line sailing.
Considering a Royal Caribbean cruise? For every two adults in a stateroom, kids 12 and under can sail free on select sailings 3 nights or longer departing on or after May 2, 2024 - April 25, 2026. Plus, you can combine this offer with the Buy One Guest, Get a Second Guest 60% off (and an extra 30% off for the third or fourth guests) special for select cruises departing on or after May 2, 2024. This offer is available until May 1, 2024, through Undercover Tourist.
2. How Long Do You Want to Cruise?
Next, figure out how long of a vacation you can take for your cruise. Add two extra days for travel. Then, only search for sailings that fit that timeframe. Finally, check to see if these timeframes work for your family's work and school schedules.
If you're flying, make sure to arrive the day BEFORE your sailing. If your plane is delayed or canceled, your cruise ship will not wait. I repeat — if you're flying to your port destination and run into hiccups, your cruise vacation will sail away without you. So it's toadally worth it to fly in early and enjoy that extra vacation and embarkation time.
3. Where Do You Want to Go?
Your budget and the length of your cruise will likely make your decision a little less overwhelming. Next up: Decide where you want to go within those price points and itinerary lengths. Are you dreaming of digging your toes in the sand and soaking up some Bahamian rays on Disney's private Caribbean island, Castaway Cay? Or are you craving a multi-port European voyage where you can get off the ship and explore new cities, food and cultures? Is sailing the icy waters of Alaska on your bucket list? Or would you prefer a limited-time offering of cruising the Hawaiian Isles or the East Coast from the Port in the Big Apple? Once you know what you can spend — both dollars and vacation time-wise — have fun picking your destination and itinerary!
We just love how much bang for our buck we get when we can hop around different places on a single cruise. Hitting up multiple spots in one trip just feels like we're winning at vacationing. It's like the ultimate adventure package — all those different destinations make every penny spent on the cruise totally worth it. It's like stretching our travel budget to the max and having a blast doing it!
Hop Tip: You can sort Cruise Line options by the number of nights, destinations, ports, ships and dates. So play with the search tools and dream up the most magical sailing for you and your family.
4. How Do You Want to Spend Your Days?
Still stuck on Question 3? Ask yourself: How do you want to spend your days during your vacation? Are you looking to simply relax? Or are you looking to go, go, go and see all the sights and do all the things? The great news is that a cruise vacation offers both options! If you're torn on a destination, take a look at the port of call excursions and adventures. You might find that you are most excited about a certain city’s "things to do" OR that you really just want to be on the cruise ship, eating all the snow crab legs, meeting all the Disney characters and enjoying all that's included. Take a look at the offered adventures and onboard activities to figure out what suits you best and go (and book) from there.
Even though there are tons of exciting shore excursions and port adventures, sometimes the very best time to enjoy the ship is when everyone gets off for the day! Some of this Momma Frog's favorite Disney cruise memories are staying behind and enjoying a less-crowded pool, water slide, food buffet or air-conditioned, first-run movie onboard the Disney cruise ships.
5. How Much Travel Are You Willing to Do?
OK, so let's say that Questions 3 and 4 have pointed you toward an amazing international adventure starting in Barcelona, stopping throughout Italy and ending in Paris or the French countryside. Sounds amazing, right?! Revisit Steps 1 and 2 before you start booking the passport-stamping, country-hopping cruise of your dreams. A flight from New York City to Barcelona is over 8 hours long plus a time change. Your return journey once you get off the ship in "Oui Oui" Paris is an additional 8 to 9 hours of flight time and another time change. Add in customs, security, waiting for bags, transport to and from the ports, and jetlag and you’re looking at an extra two to three days just for traveling to and from your cruise. (More if you also want to see some extra landmarks on land before or after your at-sea time.)
If this fits into what you're looking for, go for it — it could be your life's most fun and exciting adventure! But make sure you have enough time for what you're signing up for.
And like we've mentioned before, whether you’re taking a domestic or international cruise, ALWAYS be sure to fly to your departure destination the day BEFORE your cruise leaves. You don't want to miss your vacation because of airline delays or traffic jams. I know at this point we sound like a broken record, but we're always lookin' out for ya!
6. Are You Worried About Getting Seasick?
If you think this is a deal breaker for you, allow us to be a bit contrarian here. Nowadays, this is becoming less and less of an issue with bigger, more stable ships. But … they ARE still ships. The good news is that there are patches, SeaBands, medicine and tips you can try to avoid feeling green (and not just looking green like us frogs).
If you’re worried — or if you KNOW you get seasick — consider picking your cruise by ship.
On Disney Cruise Line, for example, the original ships — the Magic and the Wonder — are much smaller than the newer ships — the Dream, Fantasy, Wish and the up-and-coming Treasure. The larger the ship, the more stable it’ll be while sailing. So if this is a huge concern area for you, opt for the Wish or Treasure. (Disney Treasure's inaugural sailing is set for December 2024!)
Don’t froget to pack SeaBands, seasickness patches and/or Dramamine in your luggage, especially if you’re a first-time traveler and don’t know how you’ll feel when you get your sea legs. Not only will you avoid getting queasy if you come prepared right from the get-go, but you'll save money by buying these commodities before you step foot into the ship gift shops.
Know what you DON’T have to figure out? You don’t have to go through any steps to narrow down which Disney Cruise offers yummy food, amazing entertainment, magical meet-and-greets, kids club spaces, adult-only places, free unlimited ice cream and seemingly endless activities, events and excursions. That's because ANY sailing you choose will have all of that fun onboard. Even better, most of it’s already included in the price! Now that's toadally worth it!
Best of luck with your vacation planning! Whether you're setting sail on a cruise, embarking on a magical journey to Disney World or Disneyland, or basking in the sun at a beautiful beach destination, you're in for an absolutely ribbiting time, no matter which path you choose. And guess what? Your friendly neighborhood frogs have a treasure trove of resources and fantastic deals for all those dreamy destinations! Have any burning questions? Just drop them in the comments below, and we'll leap into action to answer every single one!
Related: Top 10 Tips for First-Time Cruisers
Related: Choosing the Right Stateroom for Your Family
Hoppy planning!
