One / Two Night Cruises... Would you?

[JP82]

In an effort to still engage in general conversation and chat in this time of Coronavirus obsession I thought I wold ask...

 

Full disclaimer, I have a 3 night on Preziosa next month and a 4 night on Grandiosa in November booked.

 

But when I see itineraries like the below on MSC's website. I just have to wonder if anyone is purchasing these types of cruises. Would any of you?

 

 

[Muushka]

In a word, NO. 🙂

I can't imagine going through all of that trouble (packing, transport...) for a cruise less than 7 nights. 

 

Great diversion from the "C" word!

[George C]

I did several many years ago when living in nyc and being 30 mins from port, I wouldn’t fly to do short cruise. 

[jules815]

Currently I'd say no, just because living in the Midwest, we always have to fly, or a several day road trip, to the port.

 

If we were retired and living in Florida, I could very well see us doing a quick weekend getaway for a good price.  Around here, people go up to Wisconsin for the weekend all the time.  It'd be just like that, only better.  🙂

Edited March 8, 2020 by jules815

[JP82]

Yes I guess distance plays a big part. I look at the ones in Europe, and I have a 3 night one booked, because in my head its the equivalent (if not cheaper) of a good city break. And from London where I am most ports are between 1- 3 hours flight. 

 

I doubt I would do a city break less than two nights though, so not sure I would do a 1 night cruise. The only plus I could see is it's a little boost if you're chasing stars with Voyagers Club for example, a little mini night here and there just to help top up some points? I've done similar with BA flights just to maintain silver for example in the past.

[nednrom]

We did a 2 night cruise in lieu of a hotel stay before our 8 day cruise- the deal was cheaper than hotel stay in Miami.

[panamapd]

Hi JP62 - we have done this several times!!

 

Why? - we got to see a ship that we have never sailed on before.  If we like what we see, we will book a longer voyage.  (MSC Opera - didn't like the ship so didn't plan to sail on her ever again.  However, we booked the Armonia for October 2018 and MSC changed it to the Opera - we were not best pleased!)

 

- we get to stay in a better grade of cabin, generally, for a lot lower price.  MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaview.  For the Seaview we managed to get the yacht club, 2 adults and 1 child for £78.00, though it was only for 1 night but worth it!!

 

- we sometimes do these cruisers as it sometimes fills in between longer cruises and we have also used them as positioning cruisers.  Often this one/two night cruisers are cheaper/more pleasant than a flight!  We have boarded in Barcelona and done a two-nighter, disembarked in Civitavecchia and then re-boarded another ship/line and then sailed back to Barcelona or Hamburg!

 

What we do try to do however, is book one nighters if they will be sailing back to a UK port.  Failing that, we stay overnight (Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Bruges) and we then get the ferry back to Hull.

 

We have had a really good laugh doing these "cruises" but it takes a LOT of planning and stamina.

 

Would we do it again - probably not unless it was a fabulous deal and in one of the suites!

[Beardface]

If it was an easy drive to the port and it was a round trip?  Absolutely.

 

I've done the long weekend in Vegas before, which is a 5 hour flight for me.  I'd gladly do the same for a cruise.  But if I could drive there instead of paying for a flight and hotel?  That's a no-brainer.

[MrMike45]

I think it depends on the traveler's circumstances.  

 

We (the wife and I) went on quite a few "Cruises to nowhere" on NCL back when it was allowed in the US.  (The Jones Act has since been passed barring all cruises to nowhere from US ports, so this is no longer an option).

 

We live less than 30 minutes from the port in Manhattan.  The cruises were always comped from the Casino.  So we basically did these are weekend getaways, with fancy dinners, drinking, gambling and shows.  Loved them!  

 

[ziggyuk]

On 3/8/2020 at 8:38 AM, JP82 said:

In an effort to still engage in general conversation and chat in this time of Coronavirus obsession I thought I wold ask...

 

Full disclaimer, I have a 3 night on Preziosa next month and a 4 night on Grandiosa in November booked.

 

But when I see itineraries like the below on MSC's website. I just have to wonder if anyone is purchasing these types of cruises. Would any of you?

 

 

I did one with NCL, 2 nights Southampton to Hamburg.

 

We finished work on Friday afternoon and popped down to Southampton (20min) took the cruise across the channel with a full drink package and great shows. We spent Sunday and Monday in Hamburg, flew back Monday night and was back at work on Tuesday morning.

 

I can honestly say it was a great weekend and well worth it.

[wampuscat7]

Nope. Not unless it was a leg on a B2B.

[JP82]

2 hours ago, ziggyuk said:

 

 

I did one with NCL, 2 nights Southampton to Hamburg.

 

We finished work on Friday afternoon and popped down to Southampton (20min) took the cruise across the channel with a full drink package and great shows. We spent Sunday and Monday in Hamburg, flew back Monday night and was back at work on Tuesday morning.

 

I can honestly say it was a great weekend and well worth it.

Sounds great! All the "Mini-Cruises" that I am finding are with MSC. But I would love to try it with another Line. I do see them with P&O, but they are more expensive, and generally on Ventura or Azura which don't do it for me.

[JP82]

2 hours ago, MrMike45 said:

I think it depends on the traveler's circumstances.  

 

We (the wife and I) went on quite a few "Cruises to nowhere" on NCL back when it was allowed in the US.  (The Jones Act has since been passed barring all cruises to nowhere from US ports, so this is no longer an option).

 

We live less than 30 minutes from the port in Manhattan.  The cruises were always comped from the Casino.  So we basically did these are weekend getaways, with fancy dinners, drinking, gambling and shows.  Loved them!  

 

Yes I had heard about that law over there. A shame really.

[JP82]

2 hours ago, panamapd said:

Hi JP62 - we have done this several times!!

 

Why? - we got to see a ship that we have never sailed on before.  If we like what we see, we will book a longer voyage.  (MSC Opera - didn't like the ship so didn't plan to sail on her ever again.  However, we booked the Armonia for October 2018 and MSC changed it to the Opera - we were not best pleased!)

 

- we get to stay in a better grade of cabin, generally, for a lot lower price.  MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaview.  For the Seaview we managed to get the yacht club, 2 adults and 1 child for £78.00, though it was only for 1 night but worth it!!

 

- we sometimes do these cruisers as it sometimes fills in between longer cruises and we have also used them as positioning cruisers.  Often this one/two night cruisers are cheaper/more pleasant than a flight!  We have boarded in Barcelona and done a two-nighter, disembarked in Civitavecchia and then re-boarded another ship/line and then sailed back to Barcelona or Hamburg!

 

What we do try to do however, is book one nighters if they will be sailing back to a UK port.  Failing that, we stay overnight (Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Bruges) and we then get the ferry back to Hull.

 

We have had a really good laugh doing these "cruises" but it takes a LOT of planning and stamina.

 

Would we do it again - probably not unless it was a fabulous deal and in one of the suites!

Interesting, like I said, I have a 3 night Hamburg to Southampton next month (hopefully). And a 4 night Grandiosa Med in November. 

 

I could see myself doing a one or two nighter.... If it ended in Southampton.

[RoamingRoadsUSA]

Given that at the moment we are having trouble getting time off work, it seems to be the only option if we want to cruise!  🤷🏻‍♀️

[Sixtytwo]

Very quick...NO. We live a little to far from any port to make such a short cruise a value. If we lived a couple of hours from a cruise port, we might consider it as a needed mental break.

[deliver42]

No. Nothing less than 7 days for us.

[Hlitner]

Short answer is NO!  Our shortest cruise (out of over 100 cruises) was 4 days and we only did that once!  Now, we prefer to measure our cruises in weeks or months and will not book anything that is less then a week (which we consider too short).  As to a 2 or 3 day cruise...we would not even consider it even if free.

 

Hank