3 young children - can we fit?

[bags6490]

My question is about the size room we need. Has anyone with 3 young children been able to stay in a cat. 5,6 or 7 room? Our children are 5 years, 18 months and 6 months. We have been on the 3 day and stayed in a cat. 7 room when we only had our oldest child and had plenty of room. Can we fit in a 5,6, or 7 now with 3 kids or are we going to have to fork out the extra money for the cat. 4 room? We don't want to do the 2 inside rooms thing that some have suggested because we love having a balcony. Thanks for your help.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I believe category 5, 6 & 7 rooms only hold up to 4 people and they count infants. And, some rooms only hold 3 people. I believe you need to move up to category 4 to fit 5 people or two connecting staterooms. GL.

 

[my3kids]

Yep, it is a category 4 for you.

 

[jel0511]

DCL counts EVERYONE even infants, in the room occupancy total. It is a maritime thing, and can't be worked around. If you want to fit your entire family in one room, they the lowest category you can book is a category 4.

 

[twinsanemomplus1]

...and we have twins (19 months) and a 7 year old. It was cheaper for us to book side by side staterooms in Cat10 (our preference) than to book a Cat 4 that held 5 people. We actually had an adult friend come with us so at least we did not have to pay full adult price for one of the twins! That would have really disappointed me...

The good thing about side by sides is you have more room for your stuff. We were able to put the kids down for a nap and watch movies, read etc in the other stateroom. The adjoining doors between the rooms are heavy, so bring some of those door blockers they have in the childproofing section of a store (the foam ones that go on the top part of the door) or your own doorstops. The wimpy ones they have never stayed, and we were glad we did not have to rely on them to keep little ones' fingers from getting caught in the door!

We rebooked the same arrangement for the next time. It saved $2k (at least) that way vs a cat 4.

Be warned that the lifejackets for toddlers are contraptions! The twins fought and howled thru the lifeboat drill, and usually they are pretty mild mannered! I am petite and could hardly carry one of them with my jacket on!


Teri

 

[kellimomo3]

I second Teri's post. We are a family of five and got two staterooms instead of one category 4. We however got a category 8 with a category 11 directly across the hall. I like the idea of an inside cabin for the kids and a porthole for us. We also saved over $1,500 by making this choice.


Kelli


Look at my countdown clock!!

 

[aprilgail2]

I second Teri's post. We are a family of five and got two staterooms instead of one category 4. We however got a category 8 with a category 11 directly across the hall. I like the idea of an inside cabin for the kids and a porthole for us. We also saved over $1,500 by making this choice.

QUOTE]

That would work great with older kids but their kids are 5, 18 months and 6 months....couldn't leave them in a room by themselves. I honestly don't think I would ever do that until my kids were much much older, I would get two adjoining rooms so I could have the door open between in case of emergancy.

 

[tecdavidt]

You will have a "suite" if you get two adjoining rooms. When all six of us cruised together we put the three boys in one room and we had our little girls with us. The bonus of two rooms, you get two bathrooms. People with young children use bungee cords to hold the doors open between the rooms. I can't picture how but that is what I have read on the board. Just remember to tip the room host/hostess for each room. Enjoy. Kathy

 

[mmouse37]

Just to clarify...when you request a room type like adjoining or connecting to DCL make sure you are referencing the right terms.

ADJOINING means CABINS NEXT TO EACH OTHER (BUT NO INTERIOR DOOR TO EACH CABIN). They are just two cabins next to each other.

CONNECTING cabins mean just that...they CONNECT to each other with the interior door.

I was not trying to nitpic but I just want to make sure you ask for the correct type of rooms when you book with DCL.

MJ

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I seem to recall when this type of subject has come up in the past, it seemed like the cost of a Cat 4 was usually ABOUT the same price as a Cat 6+Cat 11 or a pair of Cat 9s.

 

[bags6490]

thanks for all the suggestions! I really appreciate all the expertise you all offer. Another couple of questions. I know we spent alot of time on our balcony last time. I am worried about feeling closed in without a balcony/fresh air. Did anyone who has stayed in both an inside room and balcony room feel this way? Also, the big reason hubby wants a balcony is because he is a smoker. I like the balcony for him also because if he is out smoking and I need help with the kids, he is right outside the room instead of up on a deck where I can't get him right away. Any solutions for this if we do get 2 inside rooms? Thanks again for all your help.

 

[missyoh8]

We have done both ways...........Now that our children are older we will get 2 connecting porthole rooms. I would have it no other way than to get a cat 4 when they are as young as yours are. When they need to go to be you can be outside on the verandah enjoying your vacation, instead of watching tv while they sleep. We would put the kids to bed and have drinks on the verandah every night. Now that they are older 2 adjoining rooms works great because they can come and go alone...........

Missyoh8

 

[Karel]

Will you use two cribs??

I really liked the cat 4 when our kids were younger because of the veranda. If you use two cribs, your daughter can use the couch. I don't know if I would put her on the upper bunk.