1 Family In 2 Rooms - What Do I Need To Know?

[Jennifer777]

We recently decided to use our placeholder to book a 7 night cruise for our family of 4 (2 adults, 14 & 9yo kids at the time of sailing) in two connecting rooms. This is the first time we've booked a separate room for the kids and while I've been able to find some info on various threads I still have some questions. I will number them to make it easier for anyone who is kind enough to take some time out of their day to share some insight with me. TIA!
1. We are all silver CC members so our booking window is the same and won't be an issue, but is there any way I can link the reservations so I can book activities and choose a PAT for everyone all at once?
2. If not, is there a way to add people from one reservation to the other reservation's booked activities online or will I need to call DCL every time I book something?
3. Will we automatically be seated together in the MDRs or will I need to make a special request for that?
4. If we do end up purchasing a photo package, would we really need to buy one for each room to have pictures together?
5. Can we have the room keys coded to open both staterooms?
6. We had to assign my husband to one room and myself to the other because there has to be one adult on each reservation. Obviously our room steward is going to know that this is not our sleeping arrangement. Could this cause a problem or are we free to choose our own sleeping arrangements once on board?
7. Anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks so much!

 

[party-of-five]

We recently decided to use our placeholder to book a 7 night cruise for our family of 4 (2 adults, 14 & 9yo kids at the time of sailing) in two connecting rooms. This is the first time we've booked a separate room for the kids and while I've been able to find some info on various threads I still have some questions. I will number them to make it easier for anyone who is kind enough to take some time out of their day to share some insight with me. TIA!
1. We are all silver CC members so our booking window is the same and won't be an issue, but is there any way I can link the reservations so I can book activities and choose a PAT for everyone all at once?
2. If not, is there a way to add people from one reservation to the other reservation's booked activities online or will I need to call DCL every time I book something?
3. Will we automatically be seated together in the MDRs or will I need to make a special request for that?
4. If we do end up purchasing a photo package, would we really need to buy one for each room to have pictures together?
5. Can we have the room keys coded to open both staterooms?
6. We had to assign my husband to one room and myself to the other because there has to be one adult on each reservation. Obviously our room steward is going to know that this is not our sleeping arrangement. Could this cause a problem or are we free to choose our own sleeping arrangements once on board?
7. Anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks so much!

This is how we cruise because we have 4 kiddos. We use a TA, so she takes care of the 'behind the scenes' details. I'm not sure how she links them, but everything has been connected. Meaning, we eat at the same dinner table, have had the same PAT, activities are the same. When I complete the online check in it recognizes that we are together.

We also have to list one parent in each room. The first night we met our stateroom host and spoke with them. They were fine with setting up the sleeping arrangements however we wanted. We always sleep in the one room, the kids in another. If it's a verandah room they can open the partition between the two rooms too. If I remember right, we had to use the room specific key - no way to program one to open two doors. I've read things about having to sign permission for one parent to leave/return to ship if they have a child with them that is assigned to the other room. We're always together, so this hasn't been an issue, but maybe something to look in to. Even our charging privileges were linked as one room and we just paid one final bill.

We were lucky and had the same safety drill location for both rooms. If the rooms have different drill locations, you'll have to go as you are assigned.

Hope that helps.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We recently decided to use our placeholder to book a 7 night cruise for our family of 4 (2 adults, 14 & 9yo kids at the time of sailing) in two connecting rooms. This is the first time we've booked a separate room for the kids and while I've been able to find some info on various threads I still have some questions. I will number them to make it easier for anyone who is kind enough to take some time out of their day to share some insight with me. TIA!
1. We are all silver CC members so our booking window is the same and won't be an issue, but is there any way I can link the reservations so I can book activities and choose a PAT for everyone all at once?
2. If not, is there a way to add people from one reservation to the other reservation's booked activities online or will I need to call DCL every time I book something?
3. Will we automatically be seated together in the MDRs or will I need to make a special request for that?
4. If we do end up purchasing a photo package, would we really need to buy one for each room to have pictures together?
5. Can we have the room keys coded to open both staterooms?
6. We had to assign my husband to one room and myself to the other because there has to be one adult on each reservation. Obviously our room steward is going to know that this is not our sleeping arrangement. Could this cause a problem or are we free to choose our own sleeping arrangements once on board?
7. Anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks so much!

1. I believe, if you made the reservations at the same time, they are linked. But, for your comfort, just call DCL and confirm that they are. Each room is it's own reservation. And the online check in (the part that includes the Port Arrival Time) must be done separately.
2. When booking excursions, if your reservations are linked, when you start to book an excursion you will be prompted as to who you wish to include in the reservation. All people on your linked reservations will be shown (as long as both rooms have the same booking window).
3. As long as you are linked, you will be seated together.
4. As a nuclear family, with one adult and minor children in each room, you can purchase just one photo package.
5. For you, you will get your KTTW card (room key and charging privileges). You may also request a blank room key only card (for the other room) at Guest Services. Be sure to mark which is which, as they will look identical.
6. No problem. Just mention it to the room host, who should be available the first day.
7. As noted, you will need to sign a permission slip for your husband to take whatever child is in the "other" room off the ship. And he'll need to sign a permission slip for you to take the child in his room, off the ship.

 

[Weedy]

One small issue when you have 2 key cards. The KTTW cards work by tapping them. If you carry the 2 cards back to back in a lanyard or wallet they won't work. You will need to keep them separate.

Also everyone needs their KTTW cards to get off and on the ship. Make sure you have the one with the persons name printed on it.

I'm a lanyard person. I asked Guest Services and they gave me an extra card holder to keep the cards separate.

 

[Jennifer777]

I've read things about having to sign permission for one parent to leave/return to ship if they have a child with them that is assigned to the other room.

As noted, you will need to sign a permission slip for your husband to take whatever child is in the "other" room off the ship. And he'll need to sign a permission slip for you to take the child in his room, off the ship.

This would have never occurred to me so thank you! Are these forms available online or do we fill them out at the port?

1. I believe, if you made the reservations at the same time, they are linked. But, for your comfort, just call DCL and confirm that they are.

There's nothing on our reservations page indicating our reservations are linked in any way so I'll call DCL to make sure they are.

One small issue when you have 2 key cards. The KTTW cards work by tapping them. If you carry the 2 cards back to back in a lanyard or wallet they won't work. You will need to keep them separate.

Good to know! We plan to leave the connecting doors in between the two rooms open all week so hopefully we won't have an issue but it would make me feel better having an extra key just in case.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! I was a little concerned this may be more of a hassle than we expected but it sounds like once the reservations are linked it should be a pretty smooth process.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This would have never occurred to me so thank you! Are these forms available online or do we fill them out at the port?

The forms are available when you do your online check in. It's on the first page, link is in the Optional forms section.

There's nothing on our reservations page indicating our reservations are linked in any way so I'll call DCL to make sure they are.

The link doesn't show online on a reservation, you need to call DCL and make sure they're linked.

 

[Jennifer777]

The forms are available when you do your online check in. It's on the first page, link is in the Optional forms section.
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The link doesn't show online on a reservation, you need to call DCL and make sure they're linked.

Perfect, thanks so much! I'm calling now.