2 inside rooms vs. 1 veranda room for family of 5?

[cheryterese]

I am just starting to look at a Disney Cruise for my family for 2013 and am confused about what would be better for my family of 5 - 2 inside staterooms or 1 veranda room? What is cheaper? Which gives more space? If we did the 2 rooms, are they connecting so the parents are in one and the kids in another? How early do I need to book? We are thinking about the 4 night Bahamamian cruise to follow our park days. Thank you!

 

[deanimal]

It depends on what's more important to you; space or view. Personally, I would go for the connecting cabins. We cruised with 2 small children and found it pretty tight. We had a connecting cabin with my in-laws and it was a huge help to be able to use their cabin to come and go, or watch tv while the kids were napping or in bed for the evening. 2 rooms would allow you to put the kids to bed and still relax in the evening, one parent could go out after the kids are in bed and not disturb the sleeping kids while going out the door, and of course you'd get two bathrooms. A veranda room would give you a few feet more space, and you could go on the veranda while the kids slept, but it might be too windy or cold, and coming and going or using the bathroom might disturb the kids. I think you'd also have to pretty much climb over the fifth bed to get to the veranda. Some people love the veranda enough to make it a priority, but if price were the similar, I'd take the connecting insides.

 

[trimix]

If you want two connecting rooms, book yesterday! Seriously, the connecting rooms sell out pretty quickly.

Two inside staterooms will be way cheaper, and much roomier, than one balcony stateroom. Since you have five people, you would have no choice but to book category 4 or a suite. Cat 4 staterooms are 304 square feet including the balcony, or about 250 square feet inside. The inside staterooms are 214 square feet each, so you will have 428 square feet, two bathrooms, two showers, and a lot more storage space if you book connecting staterooms.

You may also like two connecting outside staterooms; they will probably also be cheaper than the one balcony stateroom, but you get outside light to help you wake up and to see what's happening outside.

As long as you don't book a suite or immediately book trip insurance, there is no penalty for rescheduling or canceling your reservation, so I would recommend booking as soon as you can.

 

[Viva Pataca]

It is a personal choice. I would prefer a verandah cabin, but I know my DW will choose 2 insides.

 

[karaintn]

I just looked at this, and my kids are about the same age as yours (7, 3, 3). I priced 2 inside and compared it to one family verandah. The 2 insides were about $100 cheaper than the one family verandah. We're going with the verandah because we've always wanted to try one. Also, my kids are young enough that they bathe when I tell them to, so no fights over the bathroom. If I had teenagers I would definitely go for the 2 rooms with 2 tvs, 2 bathrooms, etc. The 2 insides would definitely give you more total square feet. If I had done the 2 insides I would probably put the 3 kids in one room and my dh and I in the other, but leave the connecting door open all the time. I should add I was pricing the Fantasy for April 2013, so it might be different for you.

If you want to try pricing it yourself do a search for 1 adult 2 kids, and then when you choose an inside cabin click on "add a stateroom" and add another inside for 1 adult 1 kid. That will show you the total for 2 insides.

This is my first post, so I hope it's helpful (and correct)!

Kara

 

[kcashner]

The new ships have a lot more connecting cabins than the classic ships. However, as above, book sooner rather than later for this option.

As to which is cheaper--it depends on your cruise dates, choice of ship, etc. It CAN be cheaper to book 2 rooms rather than 1 room that sleeps 5. On the other hand, if you see a Kids Sail Free special, grab it in a heartbeat.

On a 4 night cruise you won't spend a lot of time in the cabin...still, I'd prefer the space.

 

[cheryterese]

If you want two connecting rooms, book yesterday! Seriously, the connecting rooms sell out pretty quickly.

Two inside staterooms will be way cheaper, and much roomier, than one balcony stateroom. Since you have five people, you would have no choice but to book category 4 or a suite. Cat 4 staterooms are 304 square feet including the balcony, or about 250 square feet inside. The inside staterooms are 214 square feet each, so you will have 428 square feet, two bathrooms, two showers, and a lot more storage space if you book connecting staterooms.

You may also like two connecting outside staterooms; they will probably also be cheaper than the one balcony stateroom, but you get outside light to help you wake up and to see what's happening outside.

As long as you don't book a suite or immediately book trip insurance, there is no penalty for rescheduling or canceling your reservation, so I would recommend booking as soon as you can.

Great info - thanks! So if we want to go Sept. '13 I should book the 2 inside staterooms now? Seems so early! But like I said, we've never cruised before and I don't know anything about them.

 

[Sarasein]

We are also a family of 5. My kids are slightly older. We picked to get 2 of the deluxe inside state rooms. In each room, we get a split bathroom and sleeping for 4. We requested our travel agent book 2 connecting rooms. That is for the older ships. If your on a new ship, there is an ocean view that may be cheaper than 2 rooms. But, I think space wide, 2 connecting rooms are best. My older 2 are so excited they both get the "top bunk". It your dates are already released, I would book now. I know my travel agent will check and give refunds if the price drops. Or we will switch to a 5 person room if it is kids sail free. Really, I would start by looking at your dates and figuring out what works best for you price and space wise. I book with a travel agent who gives on board credit. She priced it out and I like the 2 connecting rooms. She booked it, just like I wanted. The connecting part is a must. That means there is an inside door that is open to both rooms.

 

[Sarasein]

Great info - thanks! So if we want to go Sept. '13 I should book the 2 inside staterooms now? Seems so early! But like I said, we've never cruised before and I don't know anything about them.

I would book now. With cruises, the longer you wait, the more you pay. But, if the price drops, you can get a refund. You also can have your choice of room(s) and a better chance to get what you want.

 

[happytexasmom]

we are a family of 5 and I booked 2 connecting inside staterooms. I personally care more about the extra restroom and space in the rooms. I have never been on a vacation that I spent much time in the room.

As far as when to book.........i would do it now. I booked mine over a yr in advance. You only have to pay a deposit when you book. They will let you know when ur final payment is due

 

[westjones]

If you are going on the Dream, my family was upgraded to a room that I believe was a Cat 8 and it could sleep 5 (we only had 4 people though). It had a pull down bed by the window next to the bunk beds. That may be less expensive..of course no verandah, but a very nice porthole window with a seat in it. We liked that room very much because it had a lot of storage.

We could also all sit in the TV area together. One in the window, one in the chair (there is a chair in front of the bed during the day, I'm not sure where that chair goes at night when the bed comes down since we never used that bed), and three on the couch if you have that many people.

So you may want to call DCL and ask them what you options are for a family of 5 if you are sailing on the Dream.

If you are on the Wonder or Magic, you have to get a Cat. 4 or two rooms.

 

[helenb]

If you are sailing on Dream or Fantasy, the insides are extra nice because they have the 'magic portholes' that give the illusion of a window.

Keep in mind that if you are sailing Magic or Wonder, the lowest level inside cabins are a bit smaller and do not have the split bathroom.

 

[Angelic Jennifer]

We booked a cat 4A for our family of 5. I have recently priced out a Fantasy cruise for next year, and the difference between two inside staterooms with magical porthole (cat 11B) and the singular room in cat 4A is about $400. Drop to cat 4D, and it's only $200 difference. It makes a huge difference when you're paying adult rates for the kids. Their ages would make the difference for me ... younger kids, I'd pick the one room. Older, I'd go with two rooms. My kids were 11, 9, and 7 when we cruised last, and we chose the 4A. We're doing that again this year for our Dream cruise.

 

[cheryterese]

Thanks for all the helpful info.! The kids are still young, would be 8, 6 and 5 in Sept. '13. We hope to sail on the Dream, so I'm looking at those staterooms.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Duplicate - sorry

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Great info - thanks! So if we want to go Sept. '13 I should book the 2 inside staterooms now? Seems so early! But like I said, we've never cruised before and I don't know anything about them.

September is about the least expensive time to travel. It's not as critical to book super early unless you want a specific room. That said, I would always book as soon as possible just in case prices to go up. As others have said, you can always cancel and get a refund or take advantage of the lower fare up until your PIF date.

We are a family of 5 and have cruised once with connecting inside staterooms, twice with connecting porthole staterooms and once in a Cat 4 Family Stateroom.

Our kids are older than yours and I was so thankful that the time we were in a Cat 4 was only 4 nights. I would have jumped overboard if we were there a 5th night! Our kids used the public restrooms a floor up, but the room itself just seemed so cramped.

We love our poor man's suite of connecting inside or porthole rooms. It is so much more spacious. The kids get to watch what they want on TV in the morning and I can enjoy the DCL channels (view from the bridge, cruise statistics, etc.) if I want or something a bit more adult (CNN, Good morning America, etc.). We get two bathrooms (a huge plus for us even with 3 boys). Plus, with the doors propped open, we are essentially in the same room. On one cruise, our youngest crawled out of bed in the middle of night and slipped on the ladder and started crying. We were with him in seconds.

It's a matter of preference, but since the Dream are shorter cruises, you'll be fine either way. If you've always wanted a verandah, I would go for it while your kids are young. However, if you value space more, then go for connecting rooms.

As another poster said, you might check out a Cat 8 too. Those rooms sleep 5 and are probably the least expensive option for a family of 5. You get a large porthole with a window seat. I wouldn't do it, but they are great for those who just want the least expensive room for a family of 5.

YMMV

 

[Niebz]

I'd go for the verandah. I don't mind having the whole family cramped in one room. My kids are still young and we're not yet a family of 5 but we hope to be soon. I can't foresee ever choosing the interior cabins. I need natural light to wake up in the morning plus I'd much rather relax on the veranda at night when the kids are asleep or before they wake in the morning than in a dark room in front of the TV.

 

[deanimal]

One thing that may really help your decision is how your family does in a hotel room. If you usually get a standard hotel room and everyone does fine in it, then you'll probably do fine in a five person stateroom, although the space will be a bit tighter. If you can see your family happily sharing a hotel room for a week, you should be fine.

However, if you struggle to get the kids settled and share the space in a regular hotel room, then a cruise stateroom will be just as bad or worse. Our family can do a hotel room for a few nights, but we always prefer to look for 2 room suites or vacation rentals because no one seems to get a good night's sleep when we're all in one room. So if you travel a lot, consider how you like to stay on land when booking your room(s) for the cruise.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We have sailed in a 4A three times with our 3 kids (16, 13, 10 last time). The last cruise we were on we went out into Hurricane Irene (8/25) and were we ever thankful we had the verandah to sit on because the motion the first night made our 10yo seasick. This was especially true for her when she was inside at the Lab. Sitting outside made her feel a lot better. Needless to say, we have booked a 4A for our Eastern Caribbean next year.