Alaskan Cruise....Oceanview or verandah?

[JenPinks]

I am dying to book this cruise....and for those that have gone would an oceanview suffice or is it a must to have a verandah?!?!?!?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am dying to book this cruise....and for those that have gone would an oceanview suffice or is it a must to have a verandah?!?!?!?

Well, you're going to get differing opinions about this. Some of them quite vehement about their answer.

It really is up to you. Do you prefer Oceanviews or Verandahs?

We've cruised Alaska twice (admittedly not DCL), once in an Oceanview and once in a Verandah. We prefer Oceanviews. We find them sufficient, since we spend most of our viewing time on the upper outside decks. And they are cheaper.

 

[JenPinks]

Well, you're going to get differing opinions about this. Some of the quite vehement about their answer.

It really is up to you. Do you prefer Oceanviews or Verandahs?

We've cruised Alaska twice (admittedly not DCL), once in an Oceanview and once in a Verandah. We prefer Oceanviews. We find them sufficient, since we spend most of our viewing time on the upper outside decks.

Going on my first cruise ever this December, so I don't have a personal opinion either way.
I was thinking an oceanview would be sufficient and was the verandah actually worth the extra money. But hearing how wonderful the alaskan cruise is, I was torn about just biting the bullet and getting the verandah.
Ahhhhhhhh.....decisions decisions.

 

[MelSpees]

I think I'd be like Shmoo and spend my time on the observation decks where you can go from side to side, for to aft to get a view of the different sites. If you're on a veranda, you're stuck with what's on that side of the ship.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Going on my first cruise ever this December, so I don't have a personal opinion either way.
I was thinking an oceanview would be sufficient and was the verandah actually worth the extra money. But hearing how wonderful the alaskan cruise is, I was torn about just biting the bullet and getting the verandah.
Ahhhhhhhh.....decisions decisions.

I can only report, that while having the verandah (on the one cruise we were upgraded) was nice, we hardly used it. It was nice, if we had to return to the room for something, and we wanted to pop out there for a minute, but we really preferred the sweeping views afforded from the upper open decks, since you could see all around and not just directly out from the side.

But, as I said, others will say that a verandah is the only way to go.

 

[dcassetta]

The great thing about a verandah is having your own private viewing space. However, it may not be all that private as chances are all of your neighbors will be out on their verandahs also!
If the day is chilly, you will have more protection from the wind and can easily duck inside to get warm.

The downside is that your verandah will only allow you to view one side of the ship at a time. So, if the (fill in the blank of interesting thing) is on the other side of the ship, you will not see it, unless you leave your cabin. Depending on the date the oceanview view room might be much less expensive, and you can use the extra money for excursions.

 

[JenPinks]

I can only report, that while having the verandah (on the one cruise we were upgraded) was nice, we hardly used it. It was nice, if we had to return to the room for something, and we wanted to pop out there for a minute, but we really preferred the sweeping views afforded from the upper open decks, since you could see all around and not just directly out from the side.

But, as I said, others will say that a verandah is the only way to go.

I dont mind getting both sides opinion. I will take it all in and make my own, but I have always leaned toward the oceanview when thinking about that particular cruise. Precisely for all the points you made, especially the better views from the upper decks.

 

[SwimMom2]

My personal experience cruising fjords (Norway, not Alaska, but similar experience) was that I spent way more time than I thought I would on our verandah. I also went to deck 9 and 10 to see, but it was sublime to sit on the verandah in my peaceful stateroom and enjoy the views. I have hundreds of photos taken from my verandah, as well as the top decks. The vantage point was different but equally spectacular.

ETA: Look at your itinerary to determine if you will get a lopsided view of the fjords. We went in and out of Gerainger fjord, so we got both viewpoints. Starboard side saw the Seven Sisters in the afternoon, port side in the morning. My husband got up at like 4:30 to get this waterfall in the morning…I sat on our verandah at 5 pm or so and got it from there.

 

[JenPinks]

The great thing about a verandah is having your own private viewing space. However, it may not be all that private as chances are all of your neighbors will be out on their verandahs also!
If the day is chilly, you will have more protection from the wind and can easily duck inside to get warm.

The downside is that your verandah will only allow you to view one side of the ship at a time. So, if the (fill in the blank of interesting thing) is on the other side of the ship, you will not see it, unless you leave your cabin. Depending on the date the oceanview view room might be much less expensive, and you can use the extra money for excursions.

Yeah, I would much rather use that money for excursions and maybe an extra day or two in Vancouver

 

[Marita916]

My family went to Alaska in June of 2013. We had a Navigator's Verandah (which is an enclosed balcony). We did not use the verandah much. While we had awesome weather, we still found it chilly to sit on the enclosed balcony. We spent most of our time on the top deck, in the sun taking in the scenery. We plan on doing another cruise to Alaska in a few years, as we loved it so much. However, we will most likely get an ocean view room this time.

 

[Disneyteachers]

We have an oceanview (highest cat) booked for 2016 because DH is afraid of falling off the ship. That being said, I'm not sure I could swallow the price difference for the four of us for a verandah. This is our first cruise, but I'm floored by the DCL prices and the excursion prices. It's a once in a lifetime thing for us, but I'm not sure I could justify the price difference...because we are talking 1000s not 100s.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts...

• I demand the Deck 2 oceanviews. Forget the Deck 1 twins
• it's been noted the midship oceanviews are larger than the ones towards the end of the ship
• pay attention to what activity is above your rooms... it can get noisy
• I did the balconies in Alaska... while private for glacier viewings... I found them too windy/cold for regular use. Thus I now look for cheaper oceanview rooms and spend the savings on excursions.

 

[Pens Fan]

As others have said, opinions vary on this. I'll give you mine. We loved, loved, loved our verandah in Alaska. The main reasons are that we love to take photographs and an ocean view doesn't cut it for that (for us). The other is we love the privacy and peace and quiet of a verandah. That is important to us. My husband travels extensively for his job, so for us vacations are a time for our family to bond. While we aren't antisocial in our day to day lives - I promise!- when it comes to vacations we want to be alone. Others have noted the wind on balconies. This is interesting to me because our experience has been the wind on the public upper decks is many, many times worse than a balcony. The balcony at least offers you a level of protection from the wind. Also, you can always duck into the cabin when you get cold. Alaska weather is temperamental. The crew noted repeatedly that our sailing had some of the best weather of the summer so far (we sailed in late July). And while it didn't rain much and was fairly warm (50's to 70's), it was still very cold and windy on the open, upper decks. We live in PA, so we are used to the cold. Whenever we did venture up top, we didn't see many people at all, so I don't think we were the only ones seeking shelter.

I guess for me the verandah gives you options. If you want to chill out with your family and take in the amazing scenery on your verandah, you can. If you want to venture upstairs to see the sweeping vista, you can do that as well. Everyone has a price they are willing to pay. There is no right or wrong answer. We have always sailed in a verandah, but I believe there are some cruises (Caribbean and Bahamas) where it's not that big of a deal. On our last cruise - eastern Caribbean - it actually became the recurring joke that "yep, still ocean out there" whenever someone went out on the verandah. But for US (not judging anyone who disagrees) I loved our verandah in Alaska and don't regret one cent of the money we spent on it.

 

[dotfurio]

We had ocean view and I regret not getting verandah. Almost the entire cruise the views were amazing. I would've loved having a verandah for Tracy Arm day, and personally, our youngest crashed early each night and I really would've preferred to have a verandah to enjoy when we were stuck in our room for the evening.

 

[havoc315]

We have a verandah for our upcoming Alaska cruise. Maybe we will hardly use it.... We haven't really missed verandas when we didn't have them on past cruises. When we did have a verandah, it was nice but didn't use it extensively.

I suspect (but might be wrong) that we will be glad we have it for Alaska. Even late August, you get over 14 hours of sunlight. (The longest days, now, are about 18 hours of sunlight) And even if we do most of our viewing on the open deck, there will be daylight hours when we are in the cabin. A verandah let's us step outside and take in the view, first thing in the morning. Let's us enjoy the view as we get ready for dinner. As a photographer, gives me a private spot to shoot from at all times.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We had a true Navigators verandah during our 6/2013 Alaska sailing and loved it. I would have gladly chosen another verandah for our 8/2016 Alaska sailing however the price for verandahs' has gone up to nutty amounts For our sailing, on opening day (which we are locked into) it's over $2100 (with the 10% discount with OBB) for the 7a and that's just too much because there are other things we want to use that money for. My DS and DH agree as we can easily use that difference for awesome excursions, Vancouver (and splurge again at the Pan Pacific) and we really loved our 9c the last time we had it in December.

I know there was another comment about "other people being on their verandahs' too" and we found that the case. Sometimes it was quiet out there but most times, it wasn't. The cruise is more laid-back and not as loud from a weather standpoint and waves crashing (at least for us) and most of the time the cruise is like drifting on glass, however anytime a neighbor went outside they just talked all the time, doors slamming open and close so I know each sailing is different and people are different but that entire cruise we had the loudest neighbors inside and outside and to be honest they weren't rude - they just enjoyed talking all the time lol. That did take away from the peaceful scenery a tad but we didn't let it change our plans.

We also have a 9C on the Magic in less than a week for our Norway/Iceland cruise and initially I booked us an inside for the sailing to just get on the ship to afford it. I later moved us up when I budgeted for it however the difference again to go to a verandah for the 3 of us was INSANE - easily $4000 from oceanview to verandah and therefore it was over $5000 from inside to verandah. Not all sailings are like this so sure had a verandah been $1000 or less to upgrade for Alaska - that's what I'd choose, however i have no regrets booking the oceanview 9c that I picked - we can't wait to look straight out and see the beautiful scenery!

Heather

 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

This is our first Alaska DCL cruise. Did 4 in the Caribbean. The first trip we booked an inside stateroom...was pleasantly upgraded at no charge to a veranda 2 weeks before sailing. Well, that did it. SPOILED FOR LIFE. All subsequent have been verandas, as well as our 6/29 sailing coming up. Clever devils.

 

[HappyPeach]

We just got back from our Alaska cruise two weeks ago. I loved having a verandah and when we cruise Alaska again, I will get a verandah again. Obviously, everyone's budget is different, so if finances dictate a choice between verandah OR excursions, choose the excursions. We found our verandah preferable to being on deck 9 and 10 on Tracy Arm day. We had very foggy and rainy weather and the verandah gave a measure of protection to us and our cameras. Also, our son (9) and our friend's son (7) could pop back into the stateroom to warm up or rest while we stayed glued to the views. They broadcast the naturalist over the bridge view channel on the TV and we listened to him while on our verandah. The ship turns around in Tracy Arm, which is the biggest on-board scenery day, so you'll see everything if you're patient. What you see while sailing into the fjord will be seen by the other side of the ship while sailing out. I spent some time up on the top decks during Tracy Arm day and while sailing back toward Vancouver and it's incredible; but for me, the verandah was worth every penny and we used it a lot.

The star of an Alaska cruise is the port calls -- you'll want to be out enjoying excursions and seeing nature every minute that the ship is docked. So again, if a choice must be made, opt to spend your money for adventures in port.

 

[Pooh2]

We just booked our first cruise for Alaska next summer. We went with the veranda.

 

[jenf22]

We LOVED the veranda in Alaska (and the Norway fjords). We had great weather and were able to sit out there a lot. I love to take photographs and this allows me to do so without a reflection from the glass and while in my pjs It's also great with the kiddo because he can play inside and we were still able to enjoy the scenery. We saw humpbacks and orcas from our veranda and I don't know if we would have seen them without one.