5D GTY vs 4E w/extra large verandah on Dream

[JSG]

Hi,

I realize this is truly a YMMV, personal, call, but I'd love any input. CLOSE to making the deposit to cruise again this summer. My first choice is actually a Family Oceanview stateroom, but those seem to be long gone (sold out much sooner than last year!).

I have a choice between a Category 5D GTY (have never done GTY before) and stateroom 5652 (one of the oversize verandah rooms, a 4E). All costs considered, the 4E is an additional $360. Right now, it looks like everything where room selection is available below 4E is gone.

I've read such conflicting reports on the oversize verandah rooms. Would love any input on 5652 vs the gamble of the GTY. Inside space in the room much more important to us than the verandah. Not hugely picky about ship location as long as it's decently quiet. How "risky" is a Cat 5D GTY?

Sailed 6510 last year and loved it so much; bummed that we can't repeat ... but that's the price of last-minute decision making.

Many thanks!

 

[perditax]

Haven't sailed yet! But I do remember that when I was looking a the 4Es on the Dream, they all seemed to have some issue that offset the oversized verandah bonus. I was especially nervous about deck 5 due to the reports of noise from the theaters. Did you check out reviews of 5652 (or nearby) on wdwinfo?

 

[jrez]

Did 5650 on the Dream last week and loved it. It has the super oversized verandah though. Almost twice as big as 5652's extended one. We liked the room and the location. We are going back to a 4B next year on the Fantasy for the extra inside space. I would definitely do 5650 again though.

 

[JSG]

Haven't sailed yet! But I do remember that when I was looking a the 4Es on the Dream, they all seemed to have some issue that offset the oversized verandah bonus. I was especially nervous about deck 5 due to the reports of noise from the theaters. Did you check out reviews of 5652 (or nearby) on wdwinfo?

I have, and they are generally raves. But on various threads those who hate those rooms really hate those rooms. I'm starting to feel like the gamble of the GTY 5D might be worth the savings.

 

[jrez]

5652 is on the complete opposite side of the ship from the Theaters. It is next to kids club. I could sometimes hear the kids club from hallway outside the room but never heard it once inside the room. We were in the room that is the last one in that hall so no room could be any closer to kids club than we were. We also heard very little engine noise or vibration.

The only downside of a 4E room compared to other category 4s is you lose some inside sq ft. However I believe a 4E has the same inside sq ft as a Cat 5.

 

[Justacruiser]

A couple of cruises ago we had a 4E on deck 5. Be aware that those Verandah stick out so that entire side of the ship can see if on the extended portion of the Verandah. My DW hated it, she wouldn't venture out to the railing. She doesn't like people watching her. It's funny because when we have rooms on 6 and above, you always watches those folks on the 4E Verandah.

Also, I don't recall much noise and we weren't far from the theater.

 

[MelSpees]

A GTY guarantees that you'll have that category or better. Don't know that that's much of a risk.