Thinking of squeezing in a quick getaway on a giant cruise ship? One seasoned cruiser has some advice before you book: skip the three night sailing. She just stepped off Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, and her message is that a ship that size deserves more time.
TikTok creator @kiarajaxn says she loves cruising, but declared in her post that she has “outgrown three night cruises.” Her words: “I just don’t recommend them.”
She laid out exactly why, and when a short cruise does make sense.
@kiarajaxn
When A Three Night Cruise Works
She is not against short trips entirely. She says there are two situations where three nights can be fine. The first is an older ship that is “probably a lot smaller” and does not have a lot of activities. The second is a repeat cruise on a ship you have already been on, going to the same places, for a quick vacation.
But for a new ship you have never sailed, especially one of the big ones, she says three nights is not enough. Her bare minimum is four nights.
Too Big To See In Three Days
Her biggest point is about the size of the ship. “I just got off Utopia of the Seas,” she says, “and that ship was so big I definitely did not see the whole ship.”
She also explains that she is someone who gets off the ship at every port. She says it does not matter if it is CocoCay or Nassau and that she has been “a million times.” She is getting off anyway, and she says you are tired after that.
How The Three Days Add Up
She walks through what a three night cruise actually looks like.
- Day one: You are still limited. There is the sail away party, getting into your room and waiting for your luggage.
- Day two: You are off the ship.
- Day three: You are off the ship again.
- Day four: You are getting off to go home.
“You really don’t have time,” she says. “That ship is just too big to be a three nighter.”
Her Take On Other Cruise Lines
She says that Virgin is okay with three nights because, in her words, the boat is little. But for a big Royal Caribbean ship, or a big ship from Carnival, Norwegian or MSC, she says, “no, 3 nights is definitely not enough.” If three nights is all you have, she suggests Margaritaville at Sea.
Keep in mind these are her opinions, based on her own style of cruising. Someone who prefers to relax on the ship, or who does not get off at every stop, may feel differently.
How To Decide How Long To Cruise
Whether you are a first timer or a regular, a few questions can help you choose the right length.
- How big is the ship? A larger ship has more to see and do. If you want time to explore it, pick a longer sailing.
- Have you sailed it before? A repeat trip on a ship you know can work well as a short break, as she points out.
- Do you get off at every port? If you like to explore each stop, you will have less time on board. Build that into your plans.
- How much time do you really have? A short cruise can still be a good escape. Just go in with realistic expectations.
- Look at the itinerary. Check how many days are spent in port and how many are at sea. That mix shapes how much of the ship you will actually see.
Plan For Embarkation And Departure Days
One of her most useful points is that the first and last days of a cruise do not feel like full vacation days. On the first day you are getting settled, and on the last day you are packing up and heading home. On a short trip, those two days take up a large share of the whole vacation.
That is worth thinking about when you compare prices. A shorter cruise may cost less, but you also get fewer days of actual enjoyment. Dividing the price by the number of full days you will be able to use can help you decide whether a longer sailing is the better value.
It is also smart to plan your first day ahead of time. If you know there will be a wait for your room or luggage, you can use that time to explore the ship, book any extras you want and find your way around. That way you are not losing time.
At the end of the day, a cruise is about what works for you. But if you are heading for a brand new, giant ship, this cruiser’s advice is worth keeping in mind: give yourself at least four nights.
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