6 night ocean view vs 4 night verandah?

[justme0729]

Deciding between a 4 night with 1 stop castaway and lighthouse point or a 6 night with 2 stops castaway, 1 lighthouse, 1 Nassau… both on the Fantasy with a very close to 3 year old (1 week before 3rd birthday) and a 1 year old. Which would you choose?

I like the idea of a verandah so when they are napping, we can sit outside and the idea of eating breakfast in the room/ verandah. But the 6 night might be too expensive with a verandah…

 

[scrappinginontario]

As much as I enjoy the verandah I would always choose length of trip. 2 extra nights gives us much more time to enjoy thee entire ship and experience compared to a few extra hours I’ll be sitting inside while child naps.

 

[randumb0]

6 nighter

 

[Clarkson U]

I always go for length… it is so much better to be on the ship longer

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

You’re joking, right? Not even a question.

 

[Ronneeaght]

Full disclosure: I’ve never done a verandah with little kids, only ocean view with kids and verandah without, but we loved the ocean view. The kids loved the port hole. During quiet times that side of the curtain could be fully kid-zone and we divided and conquered during nap time letting one person stay in the room and one person take a book to deck 4 (a huge verandah!) or do some other activity.

 

[Flossbolna]

My suggestion is to get a Family Oceanview room (8B). These have lovely large portholes. And you can put the napping child on the big bed, close the curtain and sit on your sofa enjoying the view.
We love these rooms on the Dream and Fantasy.

 

[AnnaS]

The veranda is nice and not thrilled with Nassau (I would stay on ship) - but I would prefer the 6 nighter for the same money as the 4 nighter

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Longer is always better ! You can always ask at Port about upgrade if any rooms are available - but longer cruises are so nice !!!

 

[Calantha]

My suggestion is to get a Family Oceanview room (8B). These have lovely large portholes. And you can put the napping child on the big bed, close the curtain and sit on your sofa enjoying the view.View attachment 767848
We love these rooms on the Dream and Fantasy.

Yes, but if they are on the Magic, there won’t be a seat. Unless you are a tiny child - my son can still perch there delicately.

 

[auntlynne]

I like the idea of not wrangling little kids where there’s a verandah. The category @Flossbolna mentions has the extra room (for a Pack N Play, if using) or a Murphy bed, it appears, so no little one on an upper bunk.

You have to decide if you want 3 beach days + Nassau and a Sea Day - or a 4-night cruise (that hits both beaches!)

I don’t promote longer cruise = better experience, especially when kids are in the equation. No swim diapers in ship pools. How many times do you have to walk by them and tell a kid, sorry, you can’t go in?

 

[OpieDoodle]

6 nighter for sure! I've found on Disney cruises I am rarely in the room, if its only nap time often I found that I napped with my kiddo when it was nap time! I'd do the 6 night for sure

 

[sponica]

I'd go for the shorter cruise, but that's because my kids are ready to go home by day 4 or 5 of a vacation. It's bad enough when we're land based, I'm not being trapped on a ship with my cranky kids for longer than necessary

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I want to say 6 days is always better than 4 for the same price, but sometimes it isn't. I have booked shorter trips vs longer trips for the same price because they make sense for what I need in that trip. Timing, work, personalty preferences, all of it matters.

As for the room, my biggest deciding factor for verandah vs oceanview (besides price) is weather and cruise itinerary.
If the weather on the route or time of year isn't usually great, I will not be using the verandah if it's windy and 50 outside during the sea days. I might pop out for a second, but I'm not relaxing out there with my breakfast.
For the itinerary I look at how many sea days I'll have time to sit out there, because on port days I'm off the ship (with your situation you may be thinking how many port days will I have to spend part of them back at the room with kids napping and would like to sit out on the verandah enjoying the ocean breeze).

Overall I still vote 6 because if the kids have 1 bad day on a the 4 night you've lost 25% of your cruise, if they have a bad day on a 6 night you've lost 16%. I like that math better, and the verandah doesn't sway me enough, but it might for your situation.

Best lesson I learned is you won't know what is best for you without some trial and error. That can be tough to accept when your spending a lot of money on a trip, but you won't know how important that verandah is or isn't to you until you sail without it. It will still be a good trip, and the knowledge you gather will help make the next trip that much better.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I'd go for the shorter cruise, but that's because my kids are ready to go home by day 4 or 5 of a vacation. It's bad enough when we're land based, I'm not being trapped on a ship with my cranky kids for longer than necessary

Smart move! Knowing your audience makes all the difference in a great trip!

 

[BrokeMack]

Depends on the sea days. I'm looking at that double dip too (Nov 2024?) and there's only one sea day. Now if I were doing the 7 night EC with three sea days, I'd definitely prioritize a verandah. But between the two you are looking at, go for extra nights.

 

[jdb in AZ]

The Caribbean is hot and sticky so we don't use the verandah much at all.

 

[shananigans]

Deciding between a 4 night with 1 stop castaway and lighthouse point or a 6 night with 2 stops castaway, 1 lighthouse, 1 Nassau… both on the Fantasy with a very close to 3 year old (1 week before 3rd birthday) and a 1 year old. Which would you choose?

I like the idea of a verandah so when they are napping, we can sit outside and the idea of eating breakfast in the room/ verandah. But the 6 night might be too expensive with a verandah…

If you can - 5520 is HUGE. Great split rooms with TWO portholes.

 

[Milky]

6 nights, next.

 

[auntlynne]

If you can - 5520 is HUGE. Great split rooms with TWO portholes.

That one only sleeps 3 guests.