Help me choose a stateroom...

[trezoc]

Hi all! I reviewed the stateroom options and pictures on the DCL site.I have a family of 4...two teens.I think my husband would like verandah(SP?) Can you request a level or is that assigned by price level? Thanks for your help.I have planned every family vacation...but this one has me popping rolaids.LOL

 

[Mich123]

We just got back from our first cruise and we loved the location...room 6026. It's near the elevators and conveniently in the middle (floor-wise) of everything--3 floors to the deck and pools, no more than 3 floors to the clubs and dining rooms. No verandah, but the reality was that we were only in the room to sleep and change clothes. We have a DD10 and DD13 and there was enough room for all of us. The bunk beds are great and the top berth is only out at night, the split bath worked fabulously. We had debated the verandah and ultimately decided to try to save some $$ (ha!)--I'm glad we went without.

 

[mmouse37]

Hi all! I reviewed the stateroom options and pictures on the DCL site.I have a family of 4...two teens.I think my husband would like verandah(SP?) Can you request a level or is that assigned by price level? Thanks for your help.I have planned every family vacation...but this one has me popping rolaids.LOL

Do you mean request a specific Deck...if so then the answer is definitely.....if you pick a cabin on a certain deck from the deck plan that you like you ask DCL or your TA if it is available.....as long as it is you can get that cabin assigned to you. If not you can pick another cabin. If DCL has sold many cabin in a particular category (verandah, oceanview, inside) they may then let you book that category...but not a specific cabin. That will be assigned at a later date. If this happens it means you are assigned GTY status (guarantee status). DCL will place you in a cabin in the category you booked and could possibly upgrade you...they would not put you in a lower category.

I like to pick a specific cabin so I tend to book a cruise pretty far out from sail date.

MJ

 

[trezoc]

Thanks guys!! So I'm sure there are differing opinions... but what do most people prefer....upper decks? areas close to dining and activities? I have NO concept of a size of a cruise ship so I'm guessing these things could factor in right??? I don't mind paying more if it's really worth it. What do you request??

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks guys!! So I'm sure there are differing opinions... but what do most people prefer....upper decks? areas close to dining and activities? I have NO concept of a size of a cruise ship so I'm guessing these things could factor in right??? I don't mind paying more if it's really worth it. What do you request??

You could get a 100 different answers for that one. On the Magic & Wonder we like deck 5 because the middle of that deck has the kids clubs and opens to the atrium lobby - it breaks up the walk from forward to aft and there's less foot traffic from neighbors. It's not like a long corridor with door after door after door. We are happy without a verandah and book forward on that deck, snagging obstructed view cabins when possible.

Prices vary widely when you go from an inside room to an oceanview room with a porthole and then again it's a huge price jump to one with a verandah. I think you should go onto the DCL website and play around with some options. Pick an interior room & get a quote. Then start over & price an oceanview room and finally, price a verandah room. The price difference will be shocking. We had a balcony on our first cruise but we prefer to skip the balcony and save our money for shore excursions. You truely are not in the room THAT much. Especially on a shorter cruise.

The website is fairly easy to navigate for getting prices and selecting cabins - just play around with it a little then consider your final budget & what you are comfortable with. While cruises include your meals & entertainment on the ship they do not include alcohol, shore excursions in the ports, spa treatments, the adult only restaurant or your gratuities (avg. $12 per person per night) so there ARE additional costs to think about on top of the cruise itself. Everybody budgets differently - as a family of 3 we average an additional $1,500-$2,000 for a 7 night cruise by the time we total it all up. (We like to sightsee, snorkel, jet ski etc.) (Plus don't forget to budget for airfare & transportation to the port etc.) Book what ultimately fits your budget. If money is no object then go for the balcony.