After having a cat. 6

[plutojudy]

After having a cat. 6 cabin for three cruises and a fouth booked, I am wondering if we could ever be happy in anything less. Has anyone downgraded for future cruises? My thinking is a less expensive cabin could mean more cruises.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

When getting ready to book our upcoming cruise we talked about it but that is as far as it went. We really enjoy the verandah for a wide variety of reasons and were pretty well convinced it was worth it for us. And going that much more frequently isn't really a consideration with kids in middle and high school!

Deb

 

[indymom1]

plutojudy...I think that we are on the same cruise...March 29, 2003. We also had a Cat 6 on our first cruise and when we started planning this one were going to downgrade but after talking with our DU rep and posting some questions on this board we decided to stick with our verandah. I am sure glad that we did. We will be cruising with a 6 yo and an 11.5 month old and I am sure we will get a lot of use with nap times and bedtimes and such.

 

[disny4ever]

Started with a verandah and I can not imagine cruising without one now. I guess it's just a matter of choice.....yes, you can go up on deck anytime you want.....but then I can walk right outside as I wake up...or just before I start to dream of more cruising each night I can look out and see the stars and hear the ocean....................................( I want to go on a cruise NOW !!!!!)

 

[inkkognito]

It is hard to downgrade, but it CAN be done!!
I dearly love 5650, which is a Cat. 6 stateroom., but I've been in plenty of Cat. 11s when we first started sailing, and then 10s now that I've learned about the secret porthole rooms. Hubby and I tend to go for quantity, so that means we have to go the "budget route" a lot (of course, I use the term "budget" loosely, since we do a LOT of cruises and a LOT of spa treatments on each cruise).
It is always a tough decision. Hubby lobbied very hard for a verandah on the three-peat. The only way I talked him out of it was pointing out that it is easiest if we have the same room all three trips, and that it would mean paying full price for a verandah on the last trip when many of the other cruises are getting the same cat. for $99. He finally saw my logic, but it was a hard sell!
Even when we do not have a verandah, there is plenty to keep us busy and plenty of places to relax, such as poolside or the "secret" deck 7 verandah. But in the best of all worlds, nothing beats breakfast out on your verandah or a little star gazing before bedtime. It's easy to get spoiled.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[PiperG]

We are sticking with a Cat 6 in '03 and '04. Our first cruise experience last year was so magical that we didn't want to significantly change furture trips and alter the experience. Our Land and Sea in '04 will have us staying at the Poly for the same reason.

We did, however, switch from a Cat 5 to a Cat 6 to save the $200.

That being said, we may at some point exchange quality for quantity. If taking a lower category means we can go more frequently, that is worth consideration (as Barb said).

 

[aseafish]

I'm afraid we may have goofed--booking cat6 as our first cruise. Still, I'm not going to change. Coming from California, we aren't going to be in the frequent cruiser group as appealing as that may be. And, I keep reminding myself, my sister says we're "veranda people."

 

[albiats]

On our first cruise, we were upgraded from a Category 8 to a Category 6, and it seems as though DCL's evil plan worked quite well for them.

We've been on three more cruises since then and we have two more booked, and we haven't been able to do without that Veranda yet.

I like the breakfast coffee on the Veranda and I like the star gazing during the evening. I try to catch at least one sunrise and every sunset out on the Veranda.

We are considering a newly planned 3 day cruise with a Category 9 Oceanview Cabin. In order to be able to afford the additional cruise, we're considering the Cat 9, but haven't made a decision on it yet. If it does end up as a Category 9, it will be strictly for cost savings. I'm sure my DW will grow weary of hearing me lament the decision and will tell me several times that it doesn't matter how hard I look, there are no sliding doors, just the window. lol

 

[Chattyaholic]

We had a category 6 stateroom with verandah on our 1/01 Magic cruise and just loved it, so much so that we don't want to go again without one. We are booked for the Western in January and we probably could have gone earlier if we would have chosen a cheaper category but we just really, really want that verandah again!!

 

[sumfun]

on our first cruise we did a cat.8 7 day it worked out quite well, second cruise we did a cat 5 with verandah ,this time cat 8, happily between the bad language smoke and horrible (imo) children on next verandah we hardly ever used it and really did not enjoy it when we did. our camera fogged up every time the verandah doors were opened (and mirrors ) i felt it was too hot to sit out there and enjoy coffee in the morning, and generally was so busy doing things outside of my cabin that we rarely had time to sit out there anyway. personally i would not book another verandah room ...well maybe a navigators if they are more private. just my humble opinion.

 

[genmaster53]

On my November 2000 cruise we were in a category 10, not even a window! I found that we spent more time in the cabin than we had anticpated, and decided for this year we would rather have a category 6, with veranda. We've had verandas on two other ships, and have decided thay really enchance the experience.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've been debating this with myself since i started planning our next cruise (the moment we got back from the first one)....

we were in a cat 3 which is so ridiculously expensive....
but when i think about it, i can't imagine not crusing in the stateroom we had......i was totally spoiled by our first experience and can't imagine downgrading us......
of course, if we were like Barb and Tony and had to make the quantity vs quality choice i'm sure we'd do what they do....but since we're so very far away and our next cruise won't be until 2005, i guess i can opt for spoiling myself...the trick is to not think about how much it's costing while you're on the cruise....it was an effort, but i managed to put the cost out of my mind....

 

[4crusinransiers]

First of all, I must tell you, hubby and I thought we would hate cruising. We have only been on one cruise and that was a 3 day RCL....we loved it! We had an inside state room and after the cruise we both said...if we could have changed one thing it would be upgrading to a verandah!
We cruise for our first DCL cruise Aug 31, in a cat 6 verandah!

 

[WorknFires]

Our 1st cruise was at Cat 11. Then for our 2nd cruise we chose a Cat 6 because we were taking my mom who's a smoker (and because it was her 1st cruise and I wanted it to be wonderful). It was very nice for her to be able to sit outside and drink coffee, reading her book and letting DH & me sleep! We are going again this year, taking mom again but since we are also taking DH's parents (and since we're footing the bill) we will be staying in 2 Cat 9's. My mom will miss that verandah but she'd rather do without it than miss the cruise. I don't think we spend enough time inside the room to justify the extra expense and probably won't do it again for just DH & myself. If I did it would be a Cat 7. I like the more secluded feel of those balconies.

 

[Talky_Tina]

A couple of questions:

Last cruise we had cat 5. We want a veranda again. No question about it. I was thinking to save a few bucks, how about if we go with cat 6 this time. Here is what I would like to know:

1. What are the differences, if any, going with cat 6 instead of 5 (as far as noise or anything else you can think of).

2. Is there any chance of an upgrade from cat 5 to 6, or does Disney think that the difference between the two is so minimal that they don't consider it an upgrade?

and, ok, I'll throw in one last question:
3. How many months in advance should you book in order to receive the early booking discount, if there is still such a thing?

Thank you! I'll check back for replies.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hi Talky_Tina,

Here is what I know in response to your questions. First, the only difference I've been able to find between a cat 5 & cat 6 is the deck. 5 is one deck higher than 6.

We've never had a problem with noise in our 6 but we've always booked fairly far forward on the starboard side. Let me clarify one thing - you MIGHT notice a tiny bit more noise early in the morning when returning to Port Canaveral because this is the dock side. But you have to get up so early anyway that probably isn't an issue.

I suppose Disney might upgrade if there was a much greater demand for either of those categories than availability but I don't ever remember seeing that particular upgrade mentioned - maybe someone else has.

As for early booking discount the earlier the better. My understanding is that it is generally up until about 6 months (anyone have a better idea please correct me!) but VERY dependent on how the ship is selling. We booked our upcoming cruise 11 months out and received the early booking. DH wanted to wait a bit longer but ship was selling fast. As it was we were wait listed for our preferred stateroom (don't feel too sorry we're right next door to the one we wanted ) and when I called a few days ago to check on the waitlist I was told that cat 6 is totally sold out, 5s are nearly gone, and in fact there were very few staterooms to choose from. In essence this cruise is virtually sold out and it is in June of 2003! Early booking discounts are gone.

I'm sure there are others out there who can add more detail, but hope this helps as a start.

Deb

 

[Talky_Tina]

Hi Deb,

Thanks so much for all the helpful information. Geepers! I bet get moving on this. I wanted to go in Spring 2003! I guess I won't know til I call. I will shoot for cat 6 and if 6 is booked, I will ask for cat 5.

That is so cool that you asked for the same room. I will request our old room if we end up with cat 5.

Again, thanks for the reply. It gave me just the fire I needed to get busy and book.


TT

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Glad to be of service!

Deb