Alaska Inside or Oceanview?

[Shanti]

We just booked the July 2017 9-day Alaska cruise. Super excited about it, but going back and forth in my head about which type of stateroom to get. We're currently booked in a Deck 2 mid-ship oceanview cabin (one large porthole), but I'm considering switching to a Deck 7 mid-ship inside. Here are some details:

• Cruise currently booked only for my 11 year-old son & me, but if my S.O. can get the time off from work he'll join us (50/50 chance, so not going to base my decision on that).
• Cruise is uber-expensive. Any balcony stateroom would be over $10,000, so that's not even a consideration for us. Current mid-ship oceanview cabin on deck 2 costs a little over $6,500, whereas a mid-ship inside cabin on deck 7 would cost about $800 less. I can afford either, but don't want to waste any money.
• I'll be going all-out on excursions for this trip, as we're both healthy & agile, and he'll be 12, a perfect age to enjoy the more active excursions. This should be a once in a lifetime trip for us.
• We had an inside on the Magic and were fine with it, although we would also have enjoyed a view.

Really leaning toward inside right now, but one consideration is seasickness, as I've heard that Alaska cruises have a lot of movement. Would a deck 7 have noticeably more movement than a deck 2? Both cabins I'm considering are officially "mid-ship".

Can anyone share their experience with an inside or oceanview to Alaska to help?

 

[ajo]

We just booked the July 2017 9-day Alaska cruise. Super excited about it, but going back and forth in my head about which type of stateroom to get. We're currently booked in a Deck 2 mid-ship oceanview cabin (one large porthole), but I'm considering switching to a Deck 7 mid-ship inside. Here are some details:

• Cruise currently booked only for my 11 year-old son & me, but if my S.O. can get the time off from work he'll join us (50/50 chance, so not going to base my decision on that).
• Cruise is uber-expensive. Any balcony stateroom would be over $10,000, so that's not even a consideration for us. Current oceanview cabin costs a little over $6,500, whereas a mid-deck inside cabin on deck 7 would cost about $800 less. I can afford either, but don't want to waste any money.
• I'll be going all-out on excursions for this trip, as we're both healthy & agile, and he'll be 12, a perfect age to enjoy the more active excursions. This should be a once in a lifetime trip for us.
• We had an inside on the Magic and were fine with it, although we would also have enjoyed a view.

Really leaning toward inside right now, but one consideration is seasickness, as I've heard that Alaska cruises have a lot of movement. Would a deck 7 have noticeably more movement than a deck 2? Both cabins I'm considering are officially "mid-ship".

Can anyone share their experience with an inside or oceanview to Alaska to help?

We did Alaska earlier this year in a deck 2 OV. The ship moved lass than on our previous Fantasy cruise, so motion wasn't an issue. We enjoyed the view, but there are plenty of places other than the room to view the scenery. I'd say save the money and use it on excursions.

 

[xlxo]

I vote oceanview.... get the Deck 2 Oceanview where those giant windows feels like you are in a climate controlled balcony. Forget the Deck 1 twins.

Note, the mid-ship Deck 2 Oceanviews are LARGER than ones towards the front and back.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/mid-ship-portholes-on-wonder-and-magic.3441296/#post-54293477

I recommend the "port side" oceanviews.... you get better views.... especially in Vancouver where the starboard side is against the pier.

 

[Mineu]

I hate to hijack-but was wondering if you can really see the seals well from deck 2 ocean views? We had a balcony the last time and I'm hoping we will be able to see the seals better from the ocean view on deck 2.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Note, the mid-ship Deck 2 Oceanviews are LARGER than ones towards the front and back.

Are you talking about the portholes? Because I'm pretty sure the rooms themselves are the same size. While larger, the difference isn't really a whole lot.

 

[Shanti]

I vote oceanview.... get the Deck 2 Oceanview where those giant windows feels like you are in a climate controlled balcony. Forget the Deck 1 twins.
Note, the mid-ship Deck 2 Oceanviews are LARGER than ones towards the front and back.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/mid-ship-portholes-on-wonder-and-magic.3441296/#post-54293477
I recommend the "port side" oceanviews.... you get better views.... especially in Vancouver where the starboard side is against the pier.

Thanks for the feedback. However, the port side deck 2 oceanviews are already all booked.

The porthole is relatively big, but the Wonder doesn't have the huge sit-in type of portholes that the Dream class ships have. If it had one of those, I would definitely keep the oceanview room, but it doesn't.

It's a shame that the two ships that have the most interesting itineraries (Magic and Wonder) have the least-useful stateroom portholes of the Disney ships.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I was just looking at this cruise again yesterday. It looks like the best Alaskan they have offered. Normally, I would say to save money for excursions, but I found that I was looking out my window whenever I was in my deck 2 room. There's stuff to see almost the whole time. Even if you are just hanging out in the room watching a movie, you'll have a nice view. It's worth it to spring for the ocean view if you can afford it.

Being close to the water on deck 2, you do have a more close up view of wildlife, but standing on the top decks gives you a much broader view.

 

[xlxo]

I hate to hijack-but was wondering if you can really see the seals well from deck 2 ocean views? We had a balcony the last time and I'm hoping we will be able to see the seals better from the ocean view on deck 2.

Most people will want to try to see the seals in near Sawyer. That will be for about an hour. Balconies have the option of seeing it without the glass for those few hours. Then again, Deck 2 passengers have the option to go up to Deck 4 or upper public decks for a glass free experience.... while saving money by being on Deck 2.

The upper public decks also offer a bonus of a 360 view of Tracy Arm. Something private balconies lack.

 

[Shanti]

I was just looking at this cruise again yesterday. It looks like the best Alaskan they have offered.

Yes, I'm excited that it goes to Hubbard glacier, as well as the fact that it lasts for 9 nights. Our only other cruise was a 3-night, so this should take cruising to a whole new level for us.

 

[xlxo]

Thanks for the feedback. However, the port side deck 2 oceanviews are already all booked.

yep.... there's a reason why they are booked first.... they offer the better experience.

 

[jenpink]

We had an inside cabin on deck 7 earlier this year in Alaska and were very happy. Remember the Wonder still has the deck 7 public aft open area with chairs that is seldom used. It was like having our own huge verandah. I personally would save the money and use for excursions

 

[xlxo]

Are you talking about the portholes? Because I'm pretty sure the rooms themselves are the same size. While larger, the difference isn't really a whole lot.

Perhaps.... but for some.... size matters. From those measurements, I guess it's like comparing the cost for a 52" TV screen vs a 55" model.

 

[Shanti]

We had an inside cabin on deck 7 earlier this year in Alaska and were very happy. Remember the Wonder still has the deck 7 public aft open area with chairs that is seldom used. It was like having our own huge verandah. I personally would save the money and use for excursions

Good to know, thanks. I hope that aft area is still there after the Wonder's refurbishment this fall.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We just booked the July 2017 9-day Alaska cruise. Super excited about it, but going back and forth in my head about which type of stateroom to get. We're currently booked in a Deck 2 mid-ship oceanview cabin (one large porthole), but I'm considering switching to a Deck 7 mid-ship inside. Here are some details:

• Cruise currently booked only for my 11 year-old son & me, but if my S.O. can get the time off from work he'll join us (50/50 chance, so not going to base my decision on that).
• Cruise is uber-expensive. Any balcony stateroom would be over $10,000, so that's not even a consideration for us. Current oceanview cabin on deck 2 costs a little over $6,500, whereas a mid-ship inside cabin on deck 7 would cost about $800 less. I can afford either, but don't want to waste any money.
• I'll be going all-out on excursions for this trip, as we're both healthy & agile, and he'll be 12, a perfect age to enjoy the more active excursions. This should be a once in a lifetime trip for us.
• We had an inside on the Magic and were fine with it, although we would also have enjoyed a view.

Really leaning toward inside right now, but one consideration is seasickness, as I've heard that Alaska cruises have a lot of movement. Would a deck 7 have noticeably more movement than a deck 2? Both cabins I'm considering are officially "mid-ship".

Can anyone share their experience with an inside or oceanview to Alaska to help?

No " seasickness" in Alaska- all protected, all the way, inside passage.
Views 24/7 each day, every day, from sunrise to sunset,
I was on my verandah from 6 am to 11 pm.
Inside room, you will miss a lot of the stunning nature and views.
Verandah is best, ( hence they sell out and are expensive) then ocean view, inside room, - well your on the ship, do you get the sane food and entertainment, but miss about 30% of the views.
Viewing decks on my Disney Alaska cruise were busy during the day, but few viewing early or late so they missed stunning views.

Now whilst Alaska is " unlikely" to have motion problems, in the unlikely event you have rough waters, higher is better. Science shows the closer you are to anything the more effect you get. So science shows the closer to the waves, the closer to the engines, the closer to the motion of the sea the more random effect you get. I have just been through a major storm on a DCL cruise, in our cruise group of 150, the deck Two cruisers suffered the worse, just seeing waves lap the Windows was enough to make many sick, the restaurants on deck 3/4 were empty but cabanas on deck nine was full, that tells you where the majority of cruisers head.

 

[bcwife76]

We are on the Alaskan cruise right after yours and have deck 2 oceanview. I would keep oceanview. While it's not a balcony (I can't fathom DCL prices for a verandah for this cruise!!!) for us an oceanview is a good compromise.

 

[xlxo]

No " seasickness" in Alaska- all protected, all the way, inside passage.

Not quite.... from Tracy Arm to Port Hardy.... you are exposed segments to the Pacific. There's some protection around Haida Gwai.

 

[Shanti]

Thanks for the info and insights, everyone. You've helped me make my decision, and I have switched us to an inside. Here are my reasons:

• The Wonder oceanview rooms don't have the big, sit-in portholes that the Dream ships have. These portholes do exist on other, public areas of the classic ships, & we'll likely enjoy those once or twice, as we did on the Magic.
• Since we plan on doing an excursion at every port that offers excursions, and will also be on the public decks on glacier days, I'm not worried about possibly not seeing the beauty of Alaska. We will see it plenty.
• We won't be in our stateroom to hang out very often. We're both active, on-the-go types who will be spending most of our ship-time out of the stateroom, either on deck or doing other ship activities such as trivia games, bingo, shows, dining, etc.
• The lack of early & late sunlight peeking around the stateroom curtains will help us get a full night's sleep each night.
• I'm prone to motion sickness & don't want to get seasick, so DISNEY FANTASY's info about ship movement helped "sway" me towards a higher deck. Pardon the pun.
• My sweet son enjoys being on a higher level on ships & hotels, so I think he'll be especially pleased when we board & he finds out we're on deck 7.
• Deck 7 will also be a lot closer to the upper-deck sightseeing than Deck 2 would be. We'll be able to easily trot up and down the stairs rather than wait for an elevator.
• After making the adjustment, the total saved (including the adjustment to taxes & insurance) was almost $1,000. That will cover a nice chunk of our excursion budget.
  
• If my S.O. ends up being able to join us & if he wants a view, I'll let him pay for the upgrade if it's available.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Good to know, thanks. I hope that aft area is still there after the Wonder's refurbishment this fall.

The deck 7 "secret aft" almost without a doubt, will *not* be there after the re-imageering she will go through this Fall. She will most likely take after her sister ship the Disney Magic and it's no longer a public deck so if that was one of your main reasons for the inside (I know you listed several others ) then I was going to suggest the oceanview.

I understand completely about wanting to save the $$ and put it for things/excursions you know you will take advantage of so that is where it becomes a personal decision and do what's best for you

Have a great time!
Heather

 

[Shanti]

The deck 7 "secret aft" almost without a doubt, will *not* be there after the re-imageering she will go through this Fall. She will most likely take after her sister ship the Disney Magic and it's no longer a public deck so if that was one of your main reasons for the inside (I know you listed several others ) then I was going to suggest the oceanview.

I understand completely about wanting to save the $$ and put it for things/excursions you know you will take advantage of so that is where it becomes a personal decision and do what's best for you

Have a great time!
Heather

Thanks and no, it wasn't one of the reasons. I think it'll probably be removed, too. It just would be nice if it wasn't.

 

[tink1970]

My parents and I sailed the Wonder in AK a few years ago. Since I was paying for 2 cabins (theirs and mine/DD who was 9 at the time), they were in an inside room across from us midship deck 6. My DM gets seasick fairly easily and had no problems (although our itinerary is slightly different than your will be). Also, both parents were able to sleep quite well since it was an inside cabin. DF was up late with DD every night and DM would get up early (like me) and use my verandah for coffee, etc (so if your 12 yold wants a little lie in on sea days easy enough for you to go up to public areas). There are some wonderful and memorable excursions so although I'm claustrophobic as all get out and can't cruise in an inside cabin it sounds like you made a great choice for you and your son. Have a great trip!