"How many days should your first cruise be" is a question I get asked all the time, and it's not what a lot of first timers expect.
I host a Royal Caribbean Q&A live stream every Monday, and I'm asked this exact question every week by someone who wants to try a cruise, but is worried they are making a mistake.
While I think cruising is fun enough that most people will find just about any sailing enjoyable, I think there's a sweet spot for someone that is trying it out that will get them a good sense of what it's all about.
To be fair, if a sailing is too short, you risk not having enough time to really understand it all. And if you pick a long sailing, you might overdo it.
Here's how many days I would tell someone their first cruise should be, and why short cruises are a mistake.
Short cruises are a mistake for a new cruiser
Cruising isn't like getting in a hot tub. You don't want to dip your toe in, you want jump in.
A lot of people that have never cruised look for a short weekend cruise is the right way to try a cruise out. But I think it's too short, and just when you start to get a handle on what a cruise is like, it's time to get off the ship.
If I'm being honest, a lot of newbies think 3-night cruises are the best first cruise because Royal Caribbean has positioned some of its biggest ships to offer them as a way to lure them in.
The reality is it takes a day or two on a ship to adjust your lifestyle to "cruise mode". Meaning, it takes some time to adjust and lean into the things that make a cruise fun.
The first day is busy, and you're onboard perhaps by noon. That leaves just half day to get everything situated, unpacked, and ready to explore.
On the second day, you start to get a feel for what it's like to be on a cruise. And then it's time to get off the ship.
One other issue with a short cruise is airfare. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to buy (probably) expensive flights for just a weekend.
The perfect first cruise is a week in length
Anytime I'm asked which itinerary to book for a first cruise, I have a simple answer and it's not a weekend cruise.
I recommend a 7-night sailing on one of the Icon Class ships as the perfect first cruise experience.
A week is enough time to experience sea days and port days, with plenty of opportunities to see and do everything onboard.
Plus, the Icon Class ships are the latest and greatest ships in the fleet. If you're new to cruising, you don't yet know what you prefer onboard. So I think having the most variety of choices is the right approach.
These ships represent the standard now that every other ship in the industry is judged against, because Icon of the Seas revolutionize the cruise industry when it debuted two years ago.
They're not only big, but packed with something for guests of all ages to enjoy. It's not an exaggeration when people say those ships are like a floating city.
Will starting with the best ship spoil you for other ships?
After I recommend starting with a ship like Star of the Seas, some people worry if that will ruin them for older ships.
I look at it like wine or Broadway shows. When you've never tried them before, you start off with the crowd pleasers: a Merlot or a jukebox musical.
But as you start to enjoy it, your curiosity takes hold and that leads you to try other wines or shows. If you truly love it, you'll find yourself indulging in the finer wines or critically-acclaimed shows.
I think this analogy holds true with cruise ships as well. Falling in love with cruising and the new ships will lead you to want more cruises, and that could lead you to other ships.
For me, the draw of a different itinerary pushed me towards some of the older and smaller ships.
Some people are content with just the big ships and never want to go on a smaller ship. That's fine too, because that's why there are so many ships in the fleet. Royal Caribbean wants to offer something to everyone.
Go on the short cruises later as a way to squeeze more vacations in
To be clear, those weekend cruises aren't a total mistake. I think you ought to wait to book a 3-night cruise later after you tried out a cruise.
I think weekend cruises are the perfect trip to augment your primary vacation plans. The kind of a cruise you book because you have an extra day or two of PTO left to use and can sneak away for a quick trip.
I usually book them over holiday weekends, like President's Day or Labor Day. It fits in nicely with my kids' school calendar.
Some recommend a short cruise for your first, but I think a 7-day is perfect
After you try a cruise, I think there's a good chance you'll wish you had another few days. So skip the temptation to start with a short cruise.
I know it seems like a taster cruise would be better because it offers a short duration to see what it's like, but it's just too short to truly enjoy.
After 7 nights onboard, you'll get the full experience that won't leave you feeling like you barely got a chance to try anything.
While it may be tempting to start out with a short cruise, I think new cruisers are better off with 7 nights to truly get a sense of why cruising is so much fun.
