Shocking Variations Going On Similar Cruise Ship Two Instances

One of many first selections you may should make when reserving a cruise is the size of your crusing.

Royal Caribbean cruises vary from three days to over three weeks, leaving many questioning what the best cruise size is.

I sailed on Freedom of the Seas two occasions, a 12 months aside, however every crusing was for a unique size.

My first cruise, in October of 2023, was a weekend crusing, lasting solely three days.

My second, in October 2024, was a full seven-day crusing.

Though they had been on the identical ship only a 12 months aside, the 2 sailings had been solely totally different experiences.

I used to be shocked by how a lot the size of your cruise can change your entire cruise trip.

Learn extra: How totally different is a 3-night vs 4-night cruise?

From journey buddies to staterooms, here is how the size of my cruise affected my experiences on the identical ship.

I get homesick on longer cruises, however they are much extra memorable

Once I first began taking week-long cruises, I’d really feel barely claustrophobic by days 5 and 6.

Regardless of the abundance of actions onboard, I are likely to really feel homesick throughout seven-day cruises.

Nonetheless, evaluating my weekend and weeklong cruises on Freedom of the Seas helped me see the enchantment of an extended crusing.

My weekend cruise glided by in a flash: three days onboard, together with one cease on Good Day at CocoCay, is barely sufficient time to see every part.

As soon as the weekend cruise ended, the actions, leisure, and meals onboard felt like a blur. My weekend cruise on Freedom of the Seas was in all probability my least memorable crusing, just because it glided by so quick.

In distinction, my 7-day crusing on Freedom gave me time to stretch out and take my time to see all of the sights onboard. I used to be in a position to attend a number of reveals and actions, even seeing some issues twice!

Plus, the crusing had visits to extra ports, calling upon Good Day at CocoCay, St Thomas, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Weekend cruises provide loads of leisure, however the shorter period means it’s essential to pack your schedule to expertise all of it. They are a much less memorable sampling of a cruise ship.

My weekend cruise ready me to strive an extended one on Freedom of the Seas, but when I had to decide on only one expertise, I’d choose the 7-day crusing.

My week cruise was solo, whereas I used to be capable of finding a journey buddy for the weekend

One drawback of taking an extended, 7-day cruise, is setting apart the time to go on a weeklong trip. Taking time without work from work or faculty for a weeklong cruise may be difficult, particularly mid-year in October.

It was straightforward for me to take alongside a journey buddy on my weekend cruise—she did not even should request time without work from work.

Learn extra: I cruised on my own on two totally different Royal Caribbean ships, however there have been stark variations within the experiences

Nonetheless, none of my pals had been in a position to get time without work to hitch me on my later 7-day crusing, so I needed to take the longer cruise solo.

Whereas there’s nothing improper with cruising alone, having a journey buddy could make a journey expertise extra wealthy and pleasing.

Plus, if I would wished to cruise with a number of pals or my household, it will have been much more troublesome to coordinate a weeklong crusing collectively.

I had time to kind friendships on my 7-day cruise

Whereas I did not convey anybody alongside on my 7-day cruise, the longer crusing gave me time to kind friendships with different cruisers onboard.

I observed—and was a bit disenchanted—that the majority cruisers on my weekend crusing saved to themselves.

Learn extra: I am a brand new cruiser and tried a weekend cruise on one of many greatest cruise ships. It was stuffed with tons in a brief period of time

They appeared centered on having fun with their time onboard with their journey teams, somewhat than making dialog with different cruisers.

On my weeklong cruise, nevertheless, I had loads of time to hitch Hyperlink occasions for younger adults, spend nights chatting within the scorching tubs, and go on a number of shore excursions.

I ended up assembly many extra cruisers and crew members on my longer crusing, making the expertise an pleasing, social trip.

Further-cost packages are costlier on an extended crusing

A shorter weekend cruise is commonly an ideal alternative to splurge on extra-cost objects. Should you’ve been eyeing drink packages, shore excursions, or specialty eating, a brief crusing presents a trip with a looser funds.

Each day-priced packages like drink packages and WiFi are extra reasonably priced total throughout shorter cruises because you’re onboard for fewer days.

And shore excursions are value shopping for while you go to fewer ports.

On my 3-day crusing on Freedom of the Seas, I splurged and bought a dinner at Chops Grille. Because the crusing was solely three days, it was value it for me to strive a specialty restaurant whereas onboard.

I additionally spent extra on extras like drinks and Web.

For instance, WiFi runs from $25-30 a day. On my weekend cruise, I paid simply $75 for Web, whereas WiFi for my 7-day crusing would have price over $175.

I opted to not buy Web for the size of my week-long voyager. This saved me cash in the long term however saved me extra disconnected on the longer cruise.

Learn extra: Freedom of the Seas vs. Newer Ships: Does It Nonetheless Maintain Up?

Since I wanted to rigorously funds on my weeklong crusing, I spent extra time on the ship however had a much less lavish expertise.

I attempted two totally different staterooms: a balcony and an oceanview

Much like spending cash on extra-cost packages, I used to be in a position to splurge on the stateroom class for my shorter crusing.

I booked a assure balcony cabin, receiving a spacious stateroom with a personal balcony. The cabin featured a spacious sofa, a king-sized mattress, and a big balcony furnished with patio seating. It was an opulent keep for the weekend; the right spot to loosen up or watch the ocean wave by.

In distinction, I booked a assure oceanview cabin on my longer cruise. The stateroom got here with a smaller sofa, and a King mattress positioned below the porthole window.

Learn extra: 10 issues it is best to know earlier than cruising onboard Freedom of the Seas

Whereas I could not really feel the solar and breeze like on a balcony cabin, I nonetheless loved getting the identical ocean views.

Nonetheless, my oceanview cabin additionally got here with lots of loud noises, because it was positioned low on Deck 2.

Ultimately, each cabins had been pleasing locations to remain, with related facilities and loos. Selecting the best stateroom all is dependent upon your preferences, funds, and the size of your crusing.