1st timer needs help - which category?

[SEVANS2208]

Please help me!

I want to book the 3-night cruise for August 2006 but I can't make up my mind about which category of stateroom to book. There will be 4 of us - 2 adults and 2 kids (both girls - will be 12 & 6).

I'm currently looking at cat 6 or cat 4 - is there a huge amount of difference between the 2?

I had also considered booking cat.3 as it would be nice to get a bit of luxury. As you can book most things on-line now though before the cruise, I'm not sure if it's worth looking at cat 3 (I do like the idea of a conceirge though!). Should I splash out? It does seem an awful lot of money but I'm still tempted.....

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. I just can't make up my mind!

 

[staceymerrill]

It really boils down to your budget......

IMO, if you want a nice stateroom, and save a bit of $, I recommend a cat 6 verandah....the cat 4 is slightly bigger, yet costs a whole lot more...it is designed for families of 5......

 

[SeaSpray]

I just took a quick look on All Seasons Travel's web site, and there seems to be about a $500 difference between a Cat. 6 and a Cat. 4, for 4 people on a 3-night cruise, for August 2006.

Personally, I don't think you need a Cat. 4. You do get a few more feet of length in the cabin where a Murphy bed would be pulled down from the wall, but many, many people have reported that when the Murphy bed is pulled down for the night, it's almost impossible to squeeze past it to get to the verandah. And a lot of kids like to sleep in the "bunk" beds anyway, so that extra bed may be a waste.

I have pictures of our Cat. 6 on my web site, the link is below. We had 2 adults and 2 teen boys who are taller than my DH and I, so it was like having 4 adults in the cabin, and we did just fine. Your girls are small, so you will feel like you have more room than we did.

I hope you have a great time, whichever cabin you choose!

 

[SEVANS2208]

Thanks for your replies!

I'm coming round to the idea that I ought to be sensible and book a cat.6 - I'm sure the money spent on a cat 4 or 3 can be better used elsewhere!

If anyone else has any suggestions though, I'd still be pleased to hear them.

Thanks again.

 

[petsar68]

I know we are going around the houses with this but have you considered a Cat 5 room. We are a family of 4 with two kids that are 6 and 8. We have booked a Cat 5 room which has the bunk bed arrangement and a balcony.
Its just another thought for you to consider.

 

[3mickeys&me]

We had a cat 5 and there is four of us. 2 adults and 2 kids ages 6 & 9. It was perfect for us. We also had a verhenda LOVED IT!!!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

IMHO, a Cat4 stateroom for 4 is a waste of money. It's the same room as a Cat 6, but it's a little longer to make room for a murphy bed for a 5th person.

Now a Cat3 is a totally different story. That's where you get into concier (sp?) service, bigger room, etc. I could see spending the money for a Cat3 or higher if it's within your budget. But if you don't want to get into that sort of service level, than Cat 6 is the cabins to be in.

 

[TheWog]

I think the Cat. 6 is plenty. You get the verandah and don't give up too much more. Go with it and spend extra on the kids on the ship.

 

[petsar68]

So whats the difference between Cat 5 and Cat 6. Surely its not just that one is on deck 6 and the other deck 7................................is it ?

 

[HooKooDooKu]

So whats the difference between Cat 5 and Cat 6. Surely its not just that one is on deck 6 and the other deck 7................................is it ?

Yup, that's the difference.

The one other thing is that there are fewwer Inside Staterooms on Deck 7 than Deck 6 (therefore the hallways should presumably be quieter on Deck 7 since there will be fewer guests with cabins on that deck).

Location is also the difference between Cat 9 and Cat 8. Cat 9 are port-holes on Deck 2 (the cabins with two small port holes on Deck 1 are also Cat 9), while Cat 8 are the port-holes on Decks 5, 6, and 7 forward.

 

[ImNarek]

We've never paid for more than a category 7 stateroom, but last time we were upgraded to a category 4. It was definitely bigger, but I'd say go for the 6. With the verandah you'll have room to spread. And if you should be upgraded, that would be an extra treat! I don't think they upgrade from a category 4.

 

[fisherquinn]

How was it that you got upgraded? Just by chance??

 

[ImNarek]

Yep, by chance. DCL contacted our travel agent and let us know we'd been upgraded. Boy was that a fun surprise!

 

[mamalle]

we are a family of 4 and for our first cruise we booked a cat 4 after the fla rates came out. we loved it. the location was perfect and just one flight of stairs and we were up at the pool. Now this time around I booked onboard and booked the same room. I had to switch dates and my TA was asking me why I booked this cat and said the cat 6 would be just as good and much cheeper- so we are in the same area just two floors below- I hope she is right.