Is a 3 day cruise worth it?

[Lovetotravel2014]

My husband and I have been on 5 ncl cruises and really enjoyed them all but they where all 7 days or longer. We are thinking of trying the 3 day Sky out of Miami over the winter. We'd be going with another couple who have been only been on 1 cruise.

 

Part of me thinks the 3 day would be a perfect escape from the cold and recharge us until spring hits. The price is reasonable and it would make a great quick vacation.

 

I guess I'm wondering if this cruise would be like the other cruises we've been on or are there some differences. Is everything open, like the specialty restaurants? Is there is entertainment in the theater? What if any differences might we encounter?

[SuiteCruiser]

My husband and I have been on 5 ncl cruises and really enjoyed them all but they where all 7 days or longer. We are thinking of trying the 3 day Sky out of Miami over the winter. We'd be going with another couple who have been only been on 1 cruise.

 

Part of me thinks the 3 day would be a perfect escape from the cold and recharge us until spring hits. The price is reasonable and it would make a great quick vacation.

 

I guess I'm wondering if this cruise would be like the other cruises we've been on or are there some differences. Is everything open, like the specialty restaurants? Is there is entertainment in the theater? What if any differences might we encounter?

 

I've done quite a few Sky cruises and always feel refreshed and find them the perfect weekend getaway. I highly recommend them, I'm going on another in a week and a bit!

[redfantum]

Just got off the Sky 4-day on Friday. If flights are not prohibitive, why not? Everything is open, they have shows of some kind every night (not the big broadways like on the megaships, but decent nonetheless. ) After the first of the year they will include the UBP as well.

Edited September 14, 2015 by redfantum

[Linda the Book Lover]

My DD and I have done the 3 and 4 day cruises for a quick mom/daughter get away. The 3-day is more of a party crowd but we still enjoyed ourselves. We did these on Carnival and we made the mistake of not having a balcony on one. We decided to book a suite for our last one (this Carnival ship did not have balcony cabins) and though there are no NCL perks we enjoyed the extra space and the balcony. Lucky you the Sky has balconies...yep I would take a quick warm cruise break.

[jaydog240011]

HELL YES I been on 36 cruises from 1 night too 9 nights 2 and 3 nights cruises are lots of fun.

[casofilia]

We must be very old-fashioned and getting past it!! :D

 

We had done 18 days from Vancouver to Miami and enjoyed every minute of it, except the change in ports but that is another thing!!

 

In Miami we stayed on for three days to the Bahamas and back and we didn't like it at all.

 

If you are young, into parties, late nights and booze then it is for you. :D

 

If you are like us, stick to the longer ones outside school holidays. ;)

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting Retired Septuagenarian Kiwi by Choice

[jkneern]

Love the Sky!! Great ship for a quick get away. I've done it a few times and wouldn't hesitate to do it again!! 30+ cruises for me!!

[Lovetotravel2014]

Thank you all for responding, I'm relieved to hear everything's open. I'm really excited, I'm going to be checking flights this week and book. I seriously have that giddy feeling in my stomach and am already looking forward to it and I haven't booked it yet.

 

Another question, do people get off the ship in Nassau and then on the private island or do most people stay on board?

[GUT2407]

My shortest cruise was 5 days and that was Way way too short.

 

However if you look at it like a long weekend away it would probably be fine.

[casofilia]

When we did the 3 day cruise, there were buses going every which way in Nassau so I would say lots got off even on a Sunday, only thing that didn't seem to be open were the banks.

 

The tenders going to and from the Island were really busy all day as was the buffet at lunch time. There were lots of people everywhere. When we weren't on our "tour" we made for the lagoon and swam, lovely. BUT it got very hot and we were glad to get back on board reasonably early.

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting Retired Kiwi by Choice.

[marciemi]

If you read reviews you'll find a very high percentage of first-time cruisers on the Sky. So they're likely to get off in Nassau because they haven't "been there, done that". We're doing the Sky 3 day next Fri (our first 3 day since a Disney one with kids 15 years ago) and don't plan to get off but we've done some 7 days and been to Nassau recently (and even once recently was enough).

Edited September 14, 2015 by marciemi

[cb at sea]

I think they're only worth it, if you can drive easily to port. If you have to fly, the cost of airfare makes it NOT worth the time of the travel.. JMO!

[AtlantaCruiser72]

I would personally only book a 3 or 4 night cruise if it was part of a longer vacation or as a "pre-cruise-cruise" (yes I've done that :D ). To me the hassle and expense of flying to a port are not worth it for such a short trip. That said I really prefer to only do cruises of 12+ nights at this point, but that's just me :o

Edited September 14, 2015 by AtlantaCruiser72

[LrgPizza]

If I lived close to a port with 3 day sailings, I'd probably do them all the time. I wouldn't pay for a flight to go on one.

[casofilia]

I agree about flights. If I had to pay anything like 50% of the cruise fare in airline costs for a 3 day cruise I wouldn't even consider it.

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting Retired Kiwi by Choice.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

If I lived close to a port with 3 day sailings, I'd probably do them all the time. I wouldn't pay for a flight to go on one.

 

Very true - if I was within a 2.5hr drive of a port I'd snag a quick getaway as often I could, but living in Atlanta it's either pay for a flight or a 5-7hr minimum drive each way

[awilliams98]

I have done a 3 day with Carnival however we stayed in Miami the night before so that just made it seem longer. We also had a sea day on the cruise and that made it seem longer. I have done the 4 day on the Sky, however, we had a suite with the works so that made it even better!!! We also stayed one day before and a couple of days after...so it was worth it. I agree it depends on flights, we live in atlanta and usually drive down and fly back. We really enjoyed the Sky, we went to one show with a mentalist comedian...we really enjoyed that.

[wally_bushy]

All cruises are good, some are just better (and longer) than others.:)

[ighten]

Dont ask me why but in the UK they do seem to attract Hen and Stag partys and people you would cross the road to avoid if they fall to the wknd - I think they are just too cheap..

Edited September 14, 2015 by ighten

[Nola26]

My husband and I have been on 5 ncl cruises and really enjoyed them all but they where all 7 days or longer. We are thinking of trying the 3 day Sky out of Miami over the winter. We'd be going with another couple who have been only been on 1 cruise.

 

Part of me thinks the 3 day would be a perfect escape from the cold and recharge us until spring hits. The price is reasonable and it would make a great quick vacation.

 

I guess I'm wondering if this cruise would be like the other cruises we've been on or are there some differences. Is everything open, like the specialty restaurants? Is there is entertainment in the theater? What if any differences might we encounter?

 

I also live in New England so I understand the need for a respite from winter. A weekend in the sun/warmth is worth it in my opinion. I booked the Sky last year, flew down on Thanksgiving and back Monday night when the cruise returned. Effectively it is a 5 day break and you know the value of that in our winters.

 

I've rebooked the same trip and for several reasons I may cancel, but I liked it enough to go again and prices are reasonable. I've selected the shore excursions perk. I got off in Nassau in went to Atlanits, but not as an excursion. This time I'd take the Dig tour, maybe book the beach aspect too.

 

I will buy the soda package as I don't drink and for a 3 day cruise it only about $25. I didn't find it to be simply a party cruise, but I did enjoy the glow party very much. I also enjoyed the piano players, but the thought the talent in the theater show was a bit weak.

 

I ate, I slept and I worked out, enjoyed the casino and the spa. It was my first NCL cruise and my second cruise ever, the first being 15yrs ago in Hawaii. I just returned from a 7 night on the Getaway and they were different cruise experiences, but I liked them both.

[david_sobe]

Of course it is worth it. A full day at GSC is a royal treat. I have been on both the 3 night and 4 night Sky cruise. They are usually the same price (since the weekend 3 night is more popular). If you have the time, book the 4 night. I have not priced this for awhile but there should not be a big or any price difference unless you are booking a suite.

[live2dive45]

Just got off the Sky 4-day on Friday. If flights are not prohibitive, why not? Everything is open, they have shows of some kind every night (not the big broadways like on the megaships, but decent nonetheless. ) After the first of the year they will include the UBP as well.

 

 

NCL has started the UBP on the Sky earlier than that. We have it on our Dec. 11 2015 sailing which we just booked 4 days ago.

[detroitlions]

I do not like 3 day cruises and I live in florida. Food everyone says not as good. and seems like not worth packing for. On carnival THey are basically a booze cruise on a old ship.

[GORDONCHICK]

For me and my family, no, a 3 night cruise is not worth it - unless we tacked on time (3+ days at least) either before or after the cruise in the departure city. For everything that it takes for us to take off work, board the dog, stop the mail, pack, make arrangements for people to cover events for us, and especially fly to a port, I won't cruise for less than 7 nights.

 

We aren't fly into the port city the day of the cruise people, so that's an extra day. Also, I don't completely unwind in just a couple of days. I have friends who've done the short cruises before, and they came back exhausted because they tried to cram so much into the short time.

[aubreyc1988]

I've done them before and it can be refreshing - but it really depends on how much you have to pay for flights. Personally, if we pay for a flight, it's going to be a week long cruise, but everyone is different!