20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal Part 4

[EpcotKilterFan]

Bob & Lee have a great trip! I really want to go!!! 51 more days

Ok friends, I am considering a Category 8 stateroom for the Eastbound Repo - on my 3 other trips I had a verandah.

What can anyone tell me about them and any pics if you have them! It saves a bunch of $$ over a Cat 6. I MUST have an outside window and a Cat 9 is toooo low and portholes are too small.

Debbie

 

[bonzie1]

Bob & Lee have a great trip! I really want to go!!! 51 more days

Ok friends, I am considering a Category 8 stateroom for the Eastbound Repo - on my 3 other trips I had a verandah.

What can anyone tell me about them and any pics if you have them! It saves a bunch of $$ over a Cat 6. I MUST have an outside window and a Cat 9 is toooo low and portholes are too small.

Debbie

Ditto Debbie! Joe and I were discussing price last night. He really wants a verandah, but there's still airfare and port excursions to consider. We're now looking at Cat 8, maybe half with points...

We're even okay with not going because of the cost. I'm not yet convinced that DCL will take steps to make the cruise "special" for the repro group. Not that our group won't make it special enough! BUT... we have until the 4th to decide!

Yes, any comments about Cat 8 to help ease our decision are welcomed!

 

[auntrenae]

Kelli,

I hear you, we've never done Alaska before either, and I'm doing a lot o research on the ports. We decided on HAL after looking at all the other ships because it's a little smaller ship, at 55,000 tons, so it can get closer to the glaciers. Also because the cabins are bigger and it's supposed to be better food and service. JMO. I just picked up Fodor's Alaska 2006, and it has a lot of good info on all the ports and excursions that are offered. There is also a load of info on the cruise critic boards!

Renae

 

[icunurse_celeste]

I have stayed in a cat. 8 twice- this is also what we are considering for the repo over. It is exactly the same room, except you have a large round window rather than a verandah. I would like a verandah, but with all of the sea days- it just doesn't make sense for us. I would rather use the extra $1000.00 on the next cruise or other goodies. We'll see what happens. If you have specific questions, you can PM me.

I probably have pictures, but wouldn't be able to find them until next week as I am doing 7 back to backs at work, which equals little free time- and you will be able to find them on the internet sooner than that. I believe on the cabins with the verandah- that they actually include the space of the verandah in the square footage- because they seemed exactly the same size to me.

 

[bonzie1]

I have stayed in a cat. 8 twice- this is also what we are considering for the repo over. It is exactly the same room, except you have a large round window rather than a verandah.

Thanks Celeste! I know we will miss the verandah, but if it means the difference of going or not going, then I'm thinking Cat 8 might be okay. We just need to see outside somehow.
Great job with your walking! Your miles are really racking up!

BOB+LEE - You leave tomorrow... right??? HAVE FUN!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Thanks Celeste!

Ok, so I can ask the dumb questions among friends Is the porthole in a Cat 8 the same size as the portholes that are in the Atrium? I know that they do not have the same "seating" or for some "sleeping" room.

Right now that price is scary, but not quite enough to say no. But we shall see on April 4 what they have to say.

Debbie

 

[Hygiene99]

Thanks Celeste!

Ok, so I can ask the dumb questions among friends Is the porthole in a Cat 8 the same size as the portholes that are in the Atrium? I know that they do not have the same "seating" or for some "sleeping" room.

Right now that price is scary, but not quite enough to say no. But we shall see on April 4 what they have to say.

Debbie

Yes, You will be fine we did Cat 11 for the first time on this trip and it was ok...

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Did you guys happen to hear about the fire onboard the Star Princess cruise ship today....

Here's a link to the story and a picture....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11975460/

 

[icunurse_celeste]

Thanks Celeste!

Ok, so I can ask the dumb questions among friends Is the porthole in a Cat 8 the same size as the portholes that are in the Atrium? I know that they do not have the same "seating" or for some "sleeping" room.

Right now that price is scary, but not quite enough to say no. But we shall see on April 4 what they have to say.

Debbie

No, the windows are not as big as the ones in the atrium- that would be like the size of the whole wall in your cabin. That would be fun- stand naked in front of that I would guess the window is between 2.5 to 3 feet from top to bottom.

C

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Debbie

Would the cat 8 porthole window be the same size as our Cat 9 porthole on deck 2?????

Here's a picture of our room from the Repo cruise that shows you how big the window is....it is fairly big and really nice.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Thanks Elaine! I think they would be the same size.

How did you like Deck 2? Was it noisy?

I am going back and forth

Debbie

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Debbie....we have stayed on deck 2 for all our 3 cruises - 2088, 2552, and 2542.....never had a problem with noise....but for some strange reason we prefer the starboard side (2552 or 2542)....I don't know why.

I'm starting to have second thoughts about the cruise.....I've been playing around with prices and I think it will cost us over $10,000 US for the cruise and I'm thinking I could put the money towards a DVC ownership instead.

Decisions.....decisions....thank goodness we have until April 4th to decide.

 

[kpros]

Debbie....we have stayed on deck 2 for all our 3 cruises - 2088, 2552, and 2542.....never had a problem with noise....but for some strange reason we prefer the starboard side (2552 or 2542)....I don't know why.

I'm starting to have second thoughts about the cruise.....I've been playing around with prices and I think it will cost us over $10,000 US for the cruise and I'm thinking I could put the money towards a DVC ownership instead.

Decisions.....decisions....thank goodness we have until April 4th to decide.

Hi Elaine

You know, I was thinking the same thing about DVC today. Funny how great minds think alike.

Ken

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Hi Elaine

You know, I was thinking the same thing about DVC today. Funny how great minds think alike.

Ken

Ken...I think it's the accountant blood in us!!!!!!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Debbie....we have stayed on deck 2 for all our 3 cruises - 2088, 2552, and 2542.....never had a problem with noise....but for some strange reason we prefer the starboard side (2552 or 2542)....I don't know why.

I'm starting to have second thoughts about the cruise.....I've been playing around with prices and I think it will cost us over $10,000 US for the cruise and I'm thinking I could put the money towards a DVC ownership instead.

Decisions.....decisions....thank goodness we have until April 4th to decide.

Well I DID buy DVC this year (thank goodness for the Friends & Family promo) and that is why I am freaking out about the $$ on this one.

I really freak out when I add together the amount for mom and I. But if I keep in in perspective that I will pay only half that it helps

Thanks for the info on Deck 2 rooms. Decisions.. Decisions... But I do know now that I will not consider a 10 or 11 night! Those prices are outrageous!!

Debbie

 

[bonzie1]

Debbie

Would the cat 8 porthole window be the same size as our Cat 9 porthole on deck 2?????

Here's a picture of our room from the Repo cruise that shows you how big the window is....it is fairly big and really nice.

Elaine... the picture helps so much! Thanks! IF we go, it will probably be on Deck 2. I asked Joe just the other day about buying more points instead of doing the cruise I think I;m on information overload

Ken... Know what you mean about DCL... We've looked forward to being on the repro for so long (from back on the PC cruise when we all began dreaming). Now that it's been announced and the prices are out, well, we're still thinking. I really want to wear another cool lanyard designed by "you know who" though!

 

[kellib36]

IF we go, it will probably be on Deck 2. I asked Joe just the other day about buying more points instead of doing the cruise I think I;m on information overload

That's how we are with Alaska!!! Wow! So much I don't know....SO many choices....and NEVER enough time away from work....

I say we all chip in and buy the winning lottery ticket.....waddya say?!?!?!? Who knows where it is?!?!?!?!?

 

[Scott H]

All I can say is DVC has been very very good for us.

 

[seaulater]

Hi Elaine

You know, I was thinking the same thing about DVC today. Funny how great minds think alike.

Ken

Okay, so on the DVC website they have the points posted for the cruise. For a category 11 (inside stateroom) which for Robert and I (without Jamie) works just fine, it is 287 points each (574 total). So, we will probably use points for this cruise I am thinking since it comes to $6.97 per point. Remember, you can bank, use, and borrow so you could use three years at one time.

Like Scott said, DVC has been very good to us also. We added on 250 points on the member cruise last September and we are now going to Hong Kong on DVC and get length of stay passes to get into Hong Kong Disney and all hotel accomodations at the Disneyland Hotel there. We had to cover airfare, but I used FF mileage. So far, this Hong Kong trip out the door May 4 has not cost anything.

I will also be using FF mileage for the repo to the east med. Since we bought in originally in 1994, I can say for us it has been KEWL. And, if you work the points to your advantage, you can make them stretch farther.

Let's see

11 day September 2006 cruise-points ($75 exchange fee)
4 day October 2006 member cruise (with so many free giveaways, it's incredible)-points for Robert, Jamie and I ($75 exchange fee)

Anyone want me to send in a referral for you?

 

[seaulater]

P.S. By the way, DVC and DCL are waiving the 11 month window for the Mediterranean cruises and they can be booked on April 4th when reservations open!

That saves me from paying a deposit and then checking when it is 11 months out and then converting the reservation.

(and you get gifts from DVC in your stateroom when you arrive!)

Linda