HELP! 5 night Fantasy vs 4 night wish

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

Really struggling and could use some help

We are planning on taking our first DCL cruise (prev NCL pre kids) and have a 7 and 4 year old at time of sailing. Both sailings are within $100 of each other…and right now we have reservations for both. The extra night doesn’t move the needle for us one way or another.
Also since we are traveling with young children, the lack of adult areas on the wish also don’t bother us. We are DVC members and would be staying at WDW pre/post cruise. Everything I see says people like the Fantasy over wish due to layout and longer itineraries. The wish sailing would only hit castaway cay and the fantasy would hit that and lighthouse point.

Based on photos, my wife likes the decor of the wish. I like the classical nautical feel of the fantasy. I’m sure both have plenty for our kids. We are booked in aft facing balconies on both ships so they also isn’t a factor.

If you were us, what would you do?

 

[Marthasor]

Hands down - 5 night Fantasy with stops at CC and LP.

 

[soniam]

If it stops at both private islands, then definitely that. Otherwise, we didn’t think the Wish was as bad as everyone says. We don’t and didn’t hang out in any pools/hot tubs, adult or regular. The regular pools looked a lot smaller to me than the Fantasy, and they are already pretty small on it. I did like the color scheme/decor of the common areas on Wish more. I think the adult bar/coffee was nice. It was kind of away from everything, but they seemed to keep the kids out, I’m always for more days though.

 

[71 Truck]

My wife and I were on the Fantasy in December. We have never been on the Wish.

With that said I always want the longer cruises. We have only done seven day cruises so I would go with the Fantasy.

My theory on shorter cruises "as soon as you unpack you have to pack up to go home" this is why we like the longer cruises.

Also with stops at both private islands on the Fantasy you can't go wrong.

 

[scrappinginontario]

A longer cruise will always win out for me 100%.

 

[ShaneDJ]

Fantasy 100%!

 

[CamColt]

I would say the Fantasy but for the 2 reasons you noted don't matter to you. An extra day and the adult areas on the Fantasy will almost always win out for me. So besides those the only other deciding factor I can see is a stop at LHP. That would still draw me to the Fantasy.

While I agree the Wish is a beautiful ship, the decor of the ship doesn't make or break a cruise for me. Enjoying the experience is more important to me.

 

[anricat]

5 nights on the Fantasy HANDS DOWN. I know you say that an extra night isn't important, but 4-nights feel REALLY short. 5 nights is the perfect toe dip for a first cruise and the Fantasy is just such a better ship overall. I think you're going to find that most people are going to agree.

 

[NAB]

I know some think the lay out is weird on the Wish but it grows on you. It’s a beautiful ship. Who doesn’t like a slide that takes you to the kids club.

The kids club is pretty cool on the Wish too. Check out pictures of both Wish and Fantasy. I’m guessing your wife has looked.

Fantasy is an extra day but you don’t care about that, Lighthouse point is new not sure what it’s like .

Hard choice …. which one did you pick first .

 

[ditchdiggert200]

So, while I haven't been on the Fantasy (scheduled for December 2024), I have been on both the Wish and the Dream and sailed aft balconies on both ships. At the end of the day, if you are a cruising, or Disney family you will enjoy either trip.

I will add a few notes to think about.
1) The main thing our family noticed between the Wish and the Dream. Location of 'aft' elevators. We sailed at the true aft on both ships (9176 on the Dream and 9184 on the Wish) and the walk from the aft elevators on the Wish was noticeably further than on the Dream. Not sure where you are located at, but that was something we noticed.

2) While 4 to 5 nights doesn't seem like much, I will say we have sailed both 3 & 5 night sailings and 3 was incredibly short. We enjoyed the extra couple of days on the Dream much more than feeling rushed and not fully 'unwinding' on the Wish.

3) I just asked my 12 yr old son, "Which of these 2 itineraries would you choose?" "I'd choose the Fantasy 5 night every day of the week and 2x on Sunday" "Why?" "Because it's 5 nights. It's on the Fantasy, and it includes the extra stop at Lighthouse Point." ~From the mouths of babes...

4) Can you swing both trips? Just move one or the other and ultimately do both?!? These cruises have a tendency to multiply anyway. Just saying.

Ultimately you need to do what's best for your family. A couple questions I would ask is, When are the sailings? Are they the same 'week' or different times? Are you making up the 'extra' day at WDW or just staying on property?

I would choose the Fantasy 5 night sailing for these reasons:
1. I like the restaurants on the Dream and very much looking forward to eating on the Fantasy. I love Animator's Palate and Enchanted Garden's menus.
2. I feel like I know the layout of the ship better and the Dream/Fantasy was easier to navigate.
3. I've been on the Wish and even though I enjoyed the ship a lot; pool deck food was definitely better, dinner shows were a wonderful experience although more 'cramped' in the dining room, and I loved 1923 all around. For me, I would take the Fantasy with an extra day because of MDR's, overall ship layout and it would be going to Lighthouse Point.

Hope that helps, if not at least somethings to think about or discuss to help you make a decision.

 

[unrequited23]

If your kids like the beach, I would go with the Fantasy since it has CC and LP. DCL makes beach days with kids amazingly easy. Now if they could take or leave the beach, I would consider the Wish 1) since your wife likes the look of it 2) the aft of the Fantasy is known to have vibration issues.

 

[insureman]

Fantasy for us. After 2 Wish cruises we are not fans.

 

[randumb0]

Fantasy

 

[CarolynFH]

I’m in the “longer is better” camp, and besides, I’m intrigued by the idea of being able to compare CC with LHP on the same cruise!

 

[auntlynne]

It’s possible that the Fantasy won’t be sailing from Port Canaveral in the future. But the Wish will - and should continue doing the standard 3/4 rotation. >> Fantasy

Aft cabins on Fantasy have a history of strong vibration problems. It may be speed related (the Bahamas run doesn’t usually go fast). Depending on feedback you may get about this >> Wish

Slide to kids’ clubs >> Wish

Wish pool deck food court has a little more variety >> Wish

Wish dining rooms are cramped for space >> Fantasy

Dining rooms: Wish has Marvel (Ant Man & Wasp) and Arrendale/ Frozen. Fantasy has Animator’s Palate (Nemo). (Each has 3 dining rooms that you will visit. And each will have a Pirate Night). >> personal preference

Take a look at the pool areas. Wish has multiple small pools. Fantasy has the “larger” typical cruise pool for kids. Both have a hamster tube water ride.

Both have FunnelVision movies on a large screen over the family pool area. Wish has two small movie theaters. Fantasy has a fairly large movie theater. Both show current Disney movies. >> Fantasy

…I think you will still get more of the old nautical feel on Wish than you will on a more modern NCL cruise. (Just not as much wood paneling). I just sailed the NCL Jade and found elements that reminded me of Disney. Not so much on the Encore. A major difference is the Atrium. On Disney, there are no chairs, trivia games, or movies In this area. You will meet characters, hold deck parties when it is raining… There will not be contests nor live music played for hours on the pool deck.

I agree that 3-night cruises do seem short, but 4 nights after a WDW stay may be enough vacation for a family. Lighthouse Point may be better in future years, as any possible kinks in a new development settle.

(Disclosure: I am sailing the Fantasy on a 6-night, with 2 stops at CC and one at LP. I have yet to sail the Wish, due to price and itinerary).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

For the same cost, I'd choose the longer cruise. If you sail the 4 night, you will see how quickly it goes by and you will wish you had another day.

 

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

Thanks all!

Hard choice …. which one did you pick first .

We had wish booked first. The good news is with the 50% deposit promo, I can essentially keep both in the near term for the price of one. Unfortunately can’t do BTB on both due to school. We are drawn to the newness of the wish but I’m sure the Fantasy is well kept. Another good point many of you raised was the beaches. My kids love the water so the extra day on a private beach should be a bigger factor than I initially posted. Based on the replies, I’m now leaning towards the Fantasy but the wish kid areas including the slide + aqua mouse + Toy Story splash area and the restaurants. I’ve also read some prefer the aqua duck over the aqua mouse so there’s that too. One other note, we have an ext balcony on the fantasy. This is a tough one and really appreciate everyone’s feedback! At the end of the day, you all made me feel no matter what, it will still be a great trip whichever we end up on.

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks all!


We had wish booked first. The good news is with the 50% deposit promo, I can essentially keep both in the near term for the price of one. Unfortunately can’t do BTB on both due to school. We are drawn to the newness of the wish but I’m sure the Fantasy is well kept. Another good point many of you raised was the beaches. My kids love the water so the extra day on a private beach should be a bigger factor than I initially posted. Based on the replies, I’m now leaning towards the Fantasy but the wish kid areas including the slide + aqua mouse + Toy Story splash area and the restaurants. I’ve also read some prefer the aqua duck over the aqua mouse so there’s that too. One other note, we have an ext balcony on the fantasy. This is a tough one and really appreciate everyone’s feedback! At the end of the day, you all made me feel no matter what, it will still be a great trip whichever we end up on.

Your last sentence is really the bottom line. Have a great cruise.

 

[jrez]

At this point it's really just up to you since the factors you pointed out really don't matter.

I would pick the Fantasy cruise for these reasons:
1. Extra day (this doesn't appear to matter for you)
2. Layout, I prefer the Fantasy's especially Europa. The Wish's layout is overly criticized though
3. CC and LHP. I would love to go on a cruise that goes to both places.

 

[anricat]

3. CC and LHP. I would love to go on a cruise that goes to both places.

This right here. We have a 5 night on the Fantasy booked for next January for this exact reason.