Help!! Verandah or No Verandah!!

[MichellelovesMickey]

Right now we (Dd-16 & myself-Mom) have an 11A room booked for 1/17... for $200 more I can et a balcony.
DH says it is stupid to spend the extra money for just a quick weekend trip. Help!!!! Opinions, appreciated!!!

 

[Callymum]

It is really a personal preference. We get a verandah all the time as we enjoy sitting at night and just chilling while watching the water and Stars. I don't know how the weather is in January but that may have to be considered, it may be a bit cold to really enjoy it to the Full extent.
If you are only going to be in the room for dressing etc and go to bed early then maybe not. My son who is 16 enjoys just sitting in the verandah also. I suppose it is a space to get away from the Pests(us), Haha.





_________________________________
Dvc -2001...
Sept 2013- WL,Disney Fantasy, DVB.

 

[aaklang]

Do you think you'd really sit out there? We had one on our last cruise and spent a few minutes on it when we first entered our room. I don't think we went out there again. My kids are young, so when they were sleeping on that side of the room, we didn't want to go in and out to the verandah for fear of waking them up.

Lots of people love to sit out there with their morning coffee and enjoy the views. Or sit out for sunsets. If you think you're one of those people, spend the $200. If not, put it toward your next cruise.

 

[Alfiebookshop]

Personally If the difference is just $200 then I would go for it. I like the feeling of space that a verandah gives.

 

[jpeppers]

It is definitely personal preference. I loved our Veranda and spent some time every morning and every night on it. I loved having an end of the night Beer out there and relaxing, almost fell asleep a couple of times. After my 1st cruise I would say though that if cost was a huge factor I would have no problem with an inside room but if cost isn't I will get my aft Veranda!

 

[jdb in AZ]

We're hooked on verandahs. Love the fresh air without having to get dressed to go up on deck. One cruise we tried economizing and just got an ocean view. Felt claustrophobic, so we've always had a verandah since. (just finished our 21st cruise.)

In Alaska, it's especially convenient to just grab your camera and step outside when you see a whale or spectacular scenery.

The problem is, once you've had a verandah it's tough to go back to an ocean view. Sort of like staying on-site at WDW or Disneyland, then staying off-site. Just isn't the same. cheaper, but not the same.

 

[BBQMommy]

We had a Navigator's Verandah on the Magic and loved it. I am an early riser and it was so peaceful to be out there while the non-insomniacs were still sleeping. I'd go to the breakfast buffet and bring down coffee and diet coke and snackies and it was one of my favorite parts of the cruise. We are finally doing our on-board booking from 2010 in January '14 back on the Magic and I went with a clear verandah this time.

Caryn

 

[shaned]

When we took our 1st cruise last October we booked a cabin with a verandah , loved it. I have another one booked on the next cruise. Like PP mentioned personal preference and budget.

 

[MoxieandPixie]

IMO, once you go verandah, you don't go back!

 

[drb116]

It's personal preference on the verandah, but often times your room is bigger with the verandah rooms as well. On Disney, we find the rooms big enough without the verandah, but on other cruise lines, we always get the balcony rooms because the rooms are a little cramped for my family.

So you may want to also look at the size of the room you are getting in addition to the verandah.

 

[owensamo]

The real question is - if you don't get the veranda, what can you spend the $200 on?

Rebooking
Photo CDs cost that (or a little more) for a short cruise
Remy
Spa Treatment
Excursions
Jewelry
Bingo
Drinks/Smoothies
Arcade?
Palo

If it were a 7n cruise, I'd add the $200 for the veranda - but for anything shorter, I'd probably skip it. You're not in your room very much on the short cruises, and with a 16yo, there's no worries about being nearby for naptime. Unless you would prefer to sit on your veranda by yourself if your teen wants to spend tons of time in the Vibe, stick with the inside (which is more than enough room for 2!).

 

[DisFanJen]

I first got a verandah room on our second cruise and now I wouldn't cruise without.

being able to enjoy the fresh air and open deck whilst knowing you won't be disturbed is worth every penny IMO.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Another vote for the verandah here. It's nice to wake up in the morning and step outside immediately, order coffee from room service and enjoy it as you are pulling into port, etc.

We need two rooms when we cruise so we get a verandah for us and an inside for the kids across the hall. It's fine for them because they come over and use our verandah in the morning, but personally I would get a little claustrophobic in an inside.

That said, if you are a get up and go type and don't need any private down time, you might want to use the money elsewhere. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[firsttimemom]

Some of my favorite memories cruising with my now 15 yr old DD have happened on our balcony. Sometimes it's just as simple as hanging out away from the hustle and bustle of the ship.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We have always gotten a verandah, but then DH is an avid photographer and loves taking pictures while coming into port, while we are in port and of CC from the convenience of the balcony.

That being said, we have a quick 3-nighter coming up in November and right now we have an 8A booked, which is not a verandah, but a very different layout, and we wanted to see how we would like not having a verandah.

Seems to me that if you have not gotten a verandah before, then a quick trip would be the time to see if a verandah was for you or not.

 

[cris0809]

We have had verandahs on 9/10 cruises.

That being said, we routinely sail with last minute discounted rates in the offseason. Since verandahs are the largest % of cabins, that's what we've wound up with. The upcoming cruises we have booked do not have verandahs. Unless a great deal comes out we will be sailing without. We use it when we have it, but I'd rather cruise more often.

On a short cruise I would rather spend the money elsewhere or save it for next time. I'd book it again for the Panama Canal cruise because 14 nights is a lot of time to take advantage!

 

[Jennifer in MI]

We did inside rooms for our first couple cruises. Then, we booked connecting verandahs. We'll never go back. I felt like I got SO much more out of the cruise. I would leave my door open and hear the ocean ALL night!! I could sit out on the verandah after I had to be in the room with a sleeping child and not feel like I was missing out.

$200? Heck yes. Take the upgrade!!!

 

[baleeve]

Right now we (Dd-16 & myself-Mom) have an 11A room booked for 1/17... for $200 more I can et a balcony.
DH says it is stupid to spend the extra money for just a quick weekend trip. Help!!!! Opinions, appreciated!!!

I had the same decision to make and I went for the 11 GTY category over a verandah. For several reasons:

1. We wanted to experience the magical porthole.

2. We are using the savings towards 2 great port adventures.

3. Its our first time cruising and I know we'll be exploring the ship more than in the room.

4. I was worried we'd be near smokers and not able to enjoy the verandah.

5. I'm traveling solo with 2 young boys and worried about access to the verandah when I was getting ready or showering.

6. I figured we could easily go to deck 4 to relax in a lounge chair and enjoy the sea air.

Hope my response helps with your decision.

Happy sailing.

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

We are going to be on the Magic....which is set up a little different than the Dream and Fantasy. My daughter will turn 17 two days before the cruise.

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

Guess I am looking for justification!! lol!!

We have stayed inside, oceanvew with large porthole & verandah!!!