Vernada or Window? Thoughts?

[momabaarjo]

I am starting planning for a 4 day cruise possibly in July 2013. My question is should I go window or should I go vernanda...the difference in cost for my family of 5 is a little over $1000. So is a veranda worth the extra? How much time do you actually spend in a cabin other than sleeping with so many activities to participate in? My dh is really not into the whole cruise idea in the first place...I see the kids in the pool when we are not in port and I already know that Castway Cay and an excurision in Nassau will be on the tops of our list.

Give me your thoughts on Veranda vs. Window...

 

[Princess Sleepy]

We were on a 4-day in November and had a porthole room. The kids loved it! They sat in the window whenever we were in the room (which wasn't that often). I would think for that short of a trip it would not be worth the extra money. We decided even on our next 7-day not to bother with the verandah. There are lots of places to sit outside and enjoy the view for free.

 

[sissy_ib]

I am starting planning for a 4 day cruise possibly in July 2013. My question is should I go window or should I go vernanda...the difference in cost for my family of 5 is a little over $1000. So is a veranda worth the extra? How much time do you actually spend in a cabin other than sleeping with so many activities to participate in? My dh is really not into the whole cruise idea in the first place...I see the kids in the pool when we are not in port and I already know that Castway Cay and an excurision in Nassau will be on the tops of our list.

Give me your thoughts on Veranda vs. Window...

We had a navigators veranda and it was ok. It took a good day and a half for my DH to really feel comfortable on the ship so he spent a lot of time out there the first sea day. Other than that we were only out there a few minutes each day. The weather was nice but I liked being inside in the air conditioning, I am fine with heat but I cant stand humidity. It was nice on port days to watch us pulling in or wake up and see we were there, other than that it was nothing special. Miles of blue ocean. We went with an inside room for our next trip. I may upgrade to a porthole later. But there are so many places inside to sit want watch that I may just save the money to put a deposit on another cruise!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I am starting planning for a 4 day cruise possibly in July 2013. My question is should I go window or should I go vernanda...the difference in cost for my family of 5 is a little over $1000. So is a veranda worth the extra? How much time do you actually spend in a cabin other than sleeping with so many activities to participate in? My dh is really not into the whole cruise idea in the first place...I see the kids in the pool when we are not in port and I already know that Castway Cay and an excurision in Nassau will be on the tops of our list.

Give me your thoughts on Veranda vs. Window...

We wont' sail without a verandah, even on a short cruise - we like the extra space it feels like it affords (or at least another "place" to go in cabin), and my DH absolutely loves sitting out there to read and relax. He uses it more than the rest of us. If your DH isn't crazy about going on a cruise anyway, do you think he'll be actively involved in the activities on board? Mine loves cruising but doesn't do the activities - well, he'll go to the movies and he'll go eat or he'll go with me to poke around the shops, but the rest of the time, he enjoys relaxing on the verandah. Not much different than at home - he just sits on the front porch at home! He (nor I) like to spend time hanging out on the upper decks for sun, etc.

If you think that for the shorter duration of the cruise that you'll be out and about, then since he's not crazy about the idea, I'd save the money so if he still doesn't like it after it's over, at least you'll have the $1,000 still. Or if he loves it, you can use it towards a downpayment for another cruise and at that point decide whether the addition of a verandah would make a difference.

 

[jdb in AZ]

For us, it's worth it. We love to step outside for some fresh air every twice in awhile, without having to get dressed and go up on deck to do it. Reading on our own private balcony is nice too.

You're probably guessing we don't participate in that many activities. yep. So, for your family spending so much time at the pool, that may be enough fresh air for you, especially when it's hot and muggy.

On the other hand, if you're sailing to Alaska, the scenery is so gorgeous, and you see lots more of it than just ocean; the weather nice and cool, and humididity is better, you'd probably use the verandah a lot more.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We have always had a verandah because of the extra space. Also, if you have a child that naps, it is nice to be able to go out and get some fresh air instead of being in the room the entire time they are napping.

 

[pigletto]

I would love one, but we are currently booked in a SPH room for a holiday 2012 cruise
I'm just happy that with my budget we aren't going to be stowaways
The holiday cruise is much more expensive than many of the other times of year so I am counting myself lucky to have light and that there were some SPH rooms left!!!
I would LOVE to sit outside on my verandah and feel the ocean breeze but to upgrade to the lowest category balcony for us is another 2000.00
That is the majority of a 6 day WDW stay after the cruise. When I look at it in terms of what we can do on the trip with the extra money it makes sense to stay put.
Maybe think of it like that? What would you do with that extra thousand? Because from what I have seen the windows are a wonderful size and you can access the beautiful ocean air from the other decks

 

[SB in KY]

My theory is you don't miss what you have never had! I love the verandah and as others have said we are not big on activities so it is a great place to sit and read, enjoy the sun and scenery, etc....that said we took several cruises in inside cabins and did our reading and relaxing in the lovely and quiet public spaces that all cruise ships have and loved it. Now we go verandah if a good rate comes up, or if the budget permits otherwise we are pretty happy to go in a lower level cabin.

If you are planning on lots of activities I would go with the least expensive option you think would work for you. On a 4 day cruise that $1K for the verandah upgrade is $250/day....which seems like a lot to me. Do you think you would use the verandah $250 worth every day??

 

[kellyb2000]

We're springing for a veranda this go round, BUT only because it ended up costing about $200 to go from an 8B to a 6B. Kind of a no brainer! I've also always believed that if you've never had one, you won't miss one. I'm actually just a smidge worried that we'll miss that extra room we had in our 8B stateroom. Just a smidge, though! I'm thinking I would never spend that kind of money for a veranda, especially if I had never had one!

 

[ldo]

IMHO, not worth it. We have had 2 verandahs and we have had the 5 person Family OV on the Dream. We booked the 7 day Fantasy for next year with kids 16,12,12. Verandah was only $400 more. DH said skip it--the FOV was just fine for the 4 day Dream cruise. For a 4 day, you will be in the room so little, I would skip it and save the $1k! The window is huge and you can sit in it.
Now, if you have older teens and feel like you "need" the extra space, then maybe. But, at that point, I would consider an outside and inside cabin and just split parents for sleeping--we did this on RCCL and it worked fine. The price not much different.

 

[CMOORE185]

The verandah is a must for me, well worth the extra money. I love to watch, on my private verandah, as we leave Port Canaveral, come into any port, and leaving port. I read and drink coffee on it as the family gets ready in the room. I love to stand their in privacy and look at the ocean and feel the breeze when there is no land around. I even like standing out there at night. To me the sights while cruising are one of the biggest attractions, and looking out a window is not nearly the same as being on the verandah.

 

[Tami0220]

Absolutely loved the verandah,but we had a16 day cruise. Used it every day. On such a short cruise I think you might be so busy with activities that you might not use it that much. Like previous poster said it wold depend on what excursions you plan.

 

[RileyMom08]

We did a 3 night Dream in October. My daughter just turned 3. On our way home, I asked her what her favorite part of the cruise was...she said looking out the window. Translation...the veranda! I have so many photos of her dad and her out there. We won't cruise without one! Totally worth it!!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

DW would pick a verandah every cruise. I however feel that if it isn't at least 7 nights, I would save the money and go with the port hole. That is one thing I would get every cruise, I really like being able to see what's going on outside.

For cruises seven nights or longer I do use the verandah a lot. Each morning with a cup of coffee while my DW is getting ready for the day. Each night before calling it a night just to unwind a little. And sometimes just to be outside; away from the crowds.

 

[trudy88]

I have heard that people smoke on the verandahs. Is this true? I wouldn't want to pay extra money and not be able to spend time out there because of smoke.

 

[mimmi]

It's different for everybody but we spent enough time on the verandah on our four day cruise to justify the costs, and I loved the fresh air, too (I'm not a huge fan of air conditions, especially when it isn't really hot).
We spent some time there every morning when our daughter was still asleep and on sea day, when the pools were crowded it was heavenly quiet and secluded.
On our non Disney cruise last year we had a porthole which was ok, too, but I would rather have a verandah from now on.

Somebody near us smoked, I could smell it sometimes. It was noticeable enough to make me close our doors (I hate cigarette smell in sleeping rooms) but not annoying enough to make me go inside, but of course I'm much more used to smoke as we don't have strict non smoking laws for restaurants and bars over here.

 

[Anal Annie]

I have heard that people smoke on the verandahs. Is this true? I wouldn't want to pay extra money and not be able to spend time out there because of smoke.

Yes, smoking is permitted on the balconies - but that doesn't mean that everybody who has a balcony smokes. And they certainly don't sit out there 24/7. Most people spend very little time in their cabins.


OP - while balconies are NICE they are not necessary - esp. for a shorter 4 night cruise. Think of it this way: $1,000 for 4 nights is an extra $250 / night. Would you book a hotel room on land that cost $250 more per night or would you book a more moderate room? Pretend this is the difference in cost between having a pool / garden view or an ocean view. Do you tend to splurge on the upgraded view? Personally I could do A WHOLE LOT of other stuff with $1,000 and I would book an OV cabin.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Yes, smoking is permitted on the balconies - but that doesn't mean that everybody who has a balcony smokes. And they certainly don't sit out there 24/7. Most people spend very little time in their cabins.


OP - while balconies are NICE they are not necessary - esp. for a shorter 4 night cruise. Think of it this way: $1,000 for 4 nights is an extra $250 / night. Would you book a hotel room on land that cost $250 more per night or would you book a more moderate room? Pretend this is the difference in cost between having a pool / garden view or an ocean view. Do you tend to splurge on the upgraded view? Personally I could do A WHOLE LOT of other stuff with $1,000 and I would book an OV cabin.

We were on the West Coast Repo and the Inaugral Alaska, 14 days, and never had a whiff of smoke! Loved the veranda but we are going to Alaska again in 2013 with a porthole cabin since the price is $2000. less for the 2 of us and we spent the Tracy Arm day up on deck 10 and not on our veranda anyway!! Hope this helps... ALOHA, Karen and Ron

 

[ACDSNY]

I personally love having a verandah, but depending on the price difference I'm perfectly happy with a window especially on shorter cruises.

For the Panama and Alaska cruises I would recommend a verandah.

 

[goofymama]

I've cruised with inside, porthole and verandah. The Verandah is wonderful, but not worth the extra cash for me. We have one for our upcoming cruise as this is my DH's 50th birthday celebration and here ally wanted to splurge and get it this time. For $800 less, we could have had 2 connecting porthole cabins. I would have much preferred the extra space and closet for our family of 4!