7 Night Cruise in Non-Balcony Room or Land/Sea Pkg with Balcony Room

[Ashley24]

I have gone on four Disney cruises (and loved them!) but since the last one I went on, the prices have really gone up. We went on the Easter cruise last year and for the 7 night Eastern we paid approximately 5000 for a Cat. 6 for four people. When I tried to get the same category room for Easter 2005, the price was just shy of 7000! WOW! The price for the Land/Sea combo was 4300 for the cat. 6 room (3 nights) and a Deluxe hotel (4 nights). Because of the price difference, I opted for the land/sea package but I am having second thoughts because I know that I like cruising more than the parks and will wish that I was on the longer cruise. What would you do???

 

[SpideyHulk24]

A cruise in a room with no balcony is better than no cruise at all!!!!! But, once you do have a balcony, you get spoiled. It's hard to cruise without one. If budget is in your consideration, I would do a cruise w/o one. It's so relaxing to cruise instead of playing park commando. Don't get me wrong, I love the parks, but a cruise is what the Dr. ordered for me.

Have fun no matter what you decide!

 

[Ashley24]

OOPS! I also meant to ask if I should go on the longer cruise but in a lower category room (porthole view, perhaps) but I have been spoiled with the verandah so far. Should I get a cat. 8 room and maybe pay for an upgrade at the port or just be happy that I'm on the longer cruise? What would you do?

 

[clh2]

Book the room you want now. The ship will be full for Easter next year, so the upgrades at the port will most likely not be available.

I agree with many of the previous posters...skip the parks - go for the cruise!

 

[hydster]

We did the land/sea with a Cat 4 balcony cabin and it was fun but I didn't feel that the sea part was nearly long enough so we booked a 7 day (22 days we leave on it) and opted for a non-balcony but 2 connecting oceanview rooms. Honestly I will miss the balcony BUT we hardly used it on the 4 day anyway and since my kids are smaller (10, 9 and 5) I wouldn't get to use it much if at all. If it means I can cruise a 7 day and relax more or have a balcony and cruise for less time I'd certainly go for a lower category and go for the 7 day. You could even try to get one of the SPH rooms or the verandah cabins that have been reduced because the balcony part is shorter (I cannot for the life of me think what category they are but someone on here will know).

My vote is definitely lower cabin for 7 day.

Heidi

 

[CM_Mom]

I think Heidi is talking about the Navigator's Verandah which is Cat 7. I think I'd go for the 7 day cruise as well. One advantage is that the kids get to know the counselors in the Club or Lab better and have more time to make friends.
Reine

 

[inkkognito]

I would do the longer cruise without the balcony.
We did our three-peat on the Wonder (three cruises in a row: 3-4-3) in a secret porthole room. Although I dearly love a balcony, I had a great time and spent a lot of time in the Rainforest and on deck 4. I never felt deprived!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I agree, go with 7-day with no balcony. We've done a category 4 and a category 9. It didn't bother us to not have a balcony. I hardly used it when I had one.

Although I am one of the very few who prefer WDW to the cruise, I wouldn't do the 3 or 4 after having done a 7-day. It would be way too short. I love those at-sea days, and the shorter cruises spend too much time at port.

 

[CheapMom]

Allseastravel has that week listed as $3450 for 4 people in a cat11- I would go for it
Or book the 4 night cruise that leaves on Easter and then book a 3 night WDW stay separately and do the land/sea that way.
(Allseas had 4 night cruise in departing on Easter for 4 people Cat 6-$2632 OR Cat 11 $1802)
Allseas is not even neccessarily the best price- it just happens to be a great site to browse prices and to get a general idea.

 

[Ashley24]

I looked on the Allseas website and for the March 26th cruise for four people in a cat. 11 room it costs 5250, not 3450. That would be the cruise that includes Easter next year, right?

 

[CheapMom]

When I tried to get the same category room for Easter 2005, the price was just shy of 7000! WOW!

edited to ad: OH DUH- I am so sorry- I thought Easter was a different week- I checked April 9, 2005
REALLY SORRY

 

[jrabbit]

Cat 9 and 7 nights. You're close to the water (just not outside). Then make deck 4 your veranda!!

Have fun and Hoppy Easter.

 

[tkd lisa]

7 nights would be my recommendation. Remember that the days at WDW you'll have to bring money for food, so it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison.

I'm also guessing that the Easter cruise in 2005 might be a western caribbean, which are usually more expensive than an Eastern.