Short Cruise or Week-Long Escape: How to Choose

The case for a short cruise

Three- and four-night sailings on Margaritaville at Sea, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian leave from Florida ports and usually visit the Bahamas. They're perfect for a long weekend, a first cruise, a celebration or a quick reset without using much vacation time.

The case for a full week

Seven-night sailings go further, with stops in the eastern or western Caribbean, and give you sea days to really use the ship. Families, groups and anyone who wants to unpack once and settle in tend to love a full week.

Combine a cruise with a resort stay

One of our favorite plans is a short cruise paired with a resort week. Sail for a few nights, then spend the rest of your time at a resort, or do it the other way around. Our 7 Night Resort Stays page has the details.

Think about the group

First-timers and travelers with young kids often prefer a short sailing. Couples celebrating something special and groups of friends usually get more out of a full week. When in doubt, tell us who's going and we'll suggest a length.

Either way, you get the perks

Both kinds of sailing show up in our promotions, so you never have to choose between a great offer and the trip you actually want.