2 Connecting Cat 8 or 1 Cat 7 and one 10 or 11

[Tigger&Belle]

OK, I don't know why I'm obsessing about this when the 2007 rates won't be out for probably 9 months, but I am... I suppose it's because I just finished up my mega WDW year and I need something to plan. lol

Anyhoo, my situation is that we are a family of 6 so will need 2 rooms. In 2007, when we are planning on cruising, my kids will be 7DS, 13DS, 16DS, and 19DD. I'm debating either getting 2 Cat 8 connecting rooms or one verandah room (Cat 7, probably) and a room across the hall (Cat 10 or 11). My DH and I will sleep in one room, with our 7yo and the older kids in the other room. If we get connecting rooms I would maybe put the 7yo with his siblings if that room sleeps 4 (think alone time... ).

The advantages that I see to the connecting is being able to go from room to room without hassle, easier for me to keep tabs on the older kids, especially when they are out late at night, have the ability to put the 7yo to bed and my DH and I got take a walk on ship or go to a club (leaving him with older sibs, not alone lol), and the kids room would be a little bigger with the split bath (my DD is a bathroom hog).

The advantages to the Cat 7/11 combo is we'd have the verandah to use, which would be nice for my DH and me and the kids, during the day. I guess that's the main positive. Based on 2006 prices we'd save a little money if it were a 7/11 split and about break even if it were a 7/10 split. Oh, another advantage is bring on the end of the ship of the drink refill station, which would be 2-3 levels up (I guess it's not called an end on a ship )

Are there any other advantages/disadvantages to either arrangement? What thoughts do you experts have? Or even thoughts of non-experts (not being an expert sure doesn't stop me from jumping in... ).

What I'd really like would be two Cat 7, but based on the 2006 prices that would cost over $1000 more than the other 2 scenerios. That $ could be spent well at WDW.

Thanks, T&B

 

[NCRedding]

One thing about the cat 7s is they only sleep 3, so that would end the alone time thing . With the ages of your kids, I personally would go with the Cat 6 and Cat 11. I prefer those locations.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

What about the location makes a Cat 6 better than a 7?

Thanks! T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

One thing about the cat 7s is they only sleep 3, so that would end the alone time thing . With the ages of your kids, I personally would go with the Cat 6 and Cat 11. I prefer those locations.

It's the 2 connecting Cat 8 scenerio that would mean that I might put my 7yo with his siblings. According to DU those rooms sleep 3-4 people. I wonder why the Cat 7's don't have the possibilty of sleeping 4 when even the Cat 11's can sleep 4. What is it about the Cat 7 rooms I wonder. So much to learn!

T&B

 

[NCRedding]

I have no idea whay the Cat 7s only sleep 3, but it has been the subject of discussion before. I wonder if the downgraded Cat6s that are now Cat 7s sleep 3 or 4.

Cat 7 and 6 are located on the same decks, so when I was saying I prefered the location, it was comparing the Cat 6/11 versus Cat 8s.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yes, one problem that I have with the Cat 8's is the way forward position. Makes it a long haul to get to the Deck 9 drink station (my kids wouldn't like that ).

How long does it really take to walk the length of the ship (not stopping to have a drink and a snack... )? I really have no frame of reference since I've never been on a ship.

What's the story with the Cat 6's that were downgraded to Cat 7? Do you know the deck and/or cabin number?

Thanks, T&B

 

[my3kids]

The reason the 7's don't sleep 4 is the structure of the ship. They have so many structural parts and cables in the ceilings rear of the aft elevators that there isn't room for the ceiling berth. This is what I was told by DCL, but as everyone knows, a lot of times the answer depends on who ansers the phone!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That would make sense. I've studied the room diagrams and sure couldn't tell from that why there wasn't the upper bunk. For grins sometime I'll try calling DCL and will see if I get the same answer.

T&B

 

[JNorris]

I have no idea whay the Cat 7s only sleep 3, but it has been the subject of discussion before. I wonder if the downgraded Cat6s that are now Cat 7s sleep 3 or4.

We cruised in one of the downgraded Cat6's, and it only slept 3 (no pull down berth).

Judy

 

[dis-happy]

If you are taking a 7 day cruise, I would get the verandah, hands down. It's nice to have a place to yourself with your own deck chairs for that long a time. Our family (of 5) is doing a cat. 6/ cat.11 across the hallway scenario. If you want that mommy/daddy privacy, send the 7 year old to the kids club... (anyway, do you really want your teens right next door???--they might be listening!)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If you are taking a 7 day cruise, I would get the verandah, hands down. It's nice to have a place to yourself with your own deck chairs for that long a time. Our family (of 5) is doing a cat. 6/ cat.11 across the hallway scenario.

We'll be taking a 4 night cruise so wouldn't be in the room as much.

How old are your kids? I think that my kids would prefer to be across the hall, which wouldn't be bad if all my kids could sleep in the room across the hall, but it would mean having my 7yo with us (which means no privacy unless he's in the kids club and it's hard to know how much time he'd spend there since he'll be in a totally different stage then than he is now). Maybe I'll win the lottery and then we can all stay in a verandah room (but I would have a slightly better chance if I bought lottery tickets... ).

T&B

 

[chasbos]

Just returned from the Jan 23, 4 night cruise. There are 6 of us also and we had 2 connecting Cat 9's. My kids are 14, 12, 10 & 7. The 3 older ones slept in one room and Dh and I slept with the baby of the family. We were located Aft on Deck 2 with the Buffett and restaurants above us. DH and I would go to bed around 11 or so and the girls would head up and get drinks and ice cream on there own.

I did not see any advantage in booking an 8 over the 9 - just different locations on the ship and it saved us $400. Not much but it still helps. And I had seriously considered a 7 with a verandah but we did not spend any time in our rooms so it would have been a waste.

Have fun trying to figure this all out! You will change your mind many times and always be second guessing yourself - but when the day finally comes and you board that ship, it is worth all the planning!

 

[logan1_2000]

We like 8's, have stayed in connecting 8's w/ DSIL, DBIL and their DS and DD, while it was me, DW and DS. Keeping the door open was indeed easier for free flow of children when it was room time (wake up, getting ready for bed, naps.) The walk to the drink station is no big deal--its the stopping for a pizza slice or a chicken finger (which, gosh, automatically comes with fries) that made the trip take a bit longer. Oh, and then the big cookies in the afternoon next to the drink station.....

Comparing the 8's to 9's is a question of deck convenience, once you rule out the deck 1 staterooms with the smaller portholes. I like getting topside so easily on stairs from 8's, or to the kids clubs, or the walt disney theater.

That said, many are verandah fans, so if that is a major thing for you, weigh it into the equation as needed. Either way, enjoy.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

One of the middle decks, like for Cat 8's, does seem like it would be easy to get either up or down a couple of decks to reach all the common areas.

T&B

 

[logan1_2000]

DMIL and DFIL stayed in 5004 on our first Wonder cruise--couldn't get three together so the rest of us were on Deck, the kids all together--and they reported no extraneous noise from the proximity to the Oceaneer's Lab. Not many staterooms, seemed like a quiet little niche, if you ended up on that deck.--Though that would have meant 4 decks to climb to the pools--no Wonder they took the elevators while I walked stairs!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I was wondering how noisy it would be near the Oceaneers Club. They probably have lots of soundproofing.

T&B