Anyone Ever Been Disapointed In The Navigator Verandah?

[bratray]

hi

i have paid off my ocean view room (cat 9) but my DH and i are really considering doing a veranda room instead- it would be $900 more for a navigator veranda or $1200 more for the regular verandah (cat 6)

has anyone ever felt that the navigator verandah was too confining? it will be me, DH & DS5...i guess sometimes i am a cheapskate so spending an extra $900 bucks for a navigator veranda seems kind of extreme

just looking for opinions and experiences

TIA

 

[ivanova]

we loved ours on the 4 nite Wonder (nov 2004) ... I used it the most ... I'd sneak out at 6am in the morning while we were still out at sea, and I'd sit out there until we pulled into port ... and our last night (heading back to PC) was a "bumpy" night, very windy with occasional rain so having that partially protected verandah was GREAT ... we could still sit out there without getting wet or pelted by the wind.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I can't help you with your question since I've never cruised and am in early planning stages for our first cruise, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt...

The think that I would like about bring in a Cat 9 is being so low in the ship. If I were only going for an ocean view (like I may well be) I think I would upgrade to the Cat 8 so I could be on a much higher deck. Like I said, though, this is not from personal experience.

$900 is a big chunk of change, for sure, and I will be interested to read opinions from people who have benn there, done that.

We need 2 cabins since there are 6 of us. I'm trying to decide between one Cat 6 or 7 and then an inside cabin across the hall for my older kids or 2 ocean view, connecting rooms, Cat 8, probably. Tough decision since I don't have any experience with all this. I'm going to make out a spreadsheet with all my choices on it to help me decide. lol

T&B

 

[WDWLVR]

First off I'll say that i love the navigator verandah so my opinion may be biased.

The only negatives I've seen are people saying that you can't see the water easily like you can from a regular plexiglass verandah. This is especially true for children. I have found however that while sitting on the padded bench I could see out quiet easily. If your son stood on the bench (with you holding him of course) he could also see out easily. Some people worry about this but I don't think most people would leave a 5 year old out on a regular verandah by themselves so I'm sure you won't let him out on this one by himself.

The plus to it for a family of 3 is that all of you can sit out there together. There is a chair with padded seat and then the padded bench that can easily sit two adults so an adult and child would be fine.

The navigator verandah's are also in a great location in the aft of the ship. Very easy to get up to the Mickey pool, the drink station and Topsiders/Beach Blanket.

 

[BethC1952]

We loved ours in December, for the reasons mentioned above--a little more privacy, and it was great on the last night, which was also rainy and windy. An added plus...it shielded us from the cigar smoke from our neighbor next door. After the first evening when he was leaning from his verandah to take pictures, we never smelled it again!

Beth

 

[banderson]

We considered both when we booked and opted instead for a Deck 6, Cat. 8 (oceanview).

My kids are now aged 7 and 9, so we're only in the cabin to sleep. I would have probably gotten some use from it in the morning because I wake up early, but not having one will just encourage me to get up and about and do an early morning walk/read/coffee.

For the price of the verandah, I've chartered a 5-seater Cessna for six hours in Cozumel to take us to Chichen Itza for a private tour of the Mayan ruins there. That's a better use of the money IMO.

Now if I had little kids who still napped, you can bet I would have booked a verandah. That way, you can at least sit outside and enjoy the view while your child rests.

 

[bratray]

bump bump

 

[dwkwootton]

To me, the navigator's verandah is the very best room on the ship. Location is great. Room is great. The verandah is wonderful and makes the room seem so much bigger. There is nothing like leaving the door open all night and listening to the ocean. The big plus with the navigator's verandah is the privacy. Very romantic!!!

 

[ldb1030]

LOVED LOVED LOVED our navigators verandah both times we had it!
My sister had a regular verandah right next door and I was just as pleased with mine as she was with hers!
Would love to have it again but we are going the summer when rates are so darn high that we have to get an oceanview but that's fine too! Had it on our 1st cruise!

 

[bratray]

thank you very much for all the replies- we are still debating about what to do- although i thought instead of paying the extra $900 for a navigator verandah we would spend an extra nite after the cruise and go to MK for the day....well, i gotta spend the money one way or the other!!!

 

[ldb1030]

We did the extra night thing after our last cruise. As much as we all thought it would be a great idea, and perhaps make us all less depressed from the cruise being over, I probably would not do it again.

We got off the ship, went to check in at Pop Century, then headed to MK for the day! As nice as it all sounded, we were all soooooooooooooooo tired! DD started felling sick late in the afternoon and just wanted to go to the room and sleep.
It was a tough day trying to do so much because we knew we had so little time. And of course everyone wanted their money's worth after buying a 1 day pass. It was hot hot hot and we would have been just as happy to fly home I think!

If I thought to do something like that again, I would do it the day before the cruise, not the day we get off the ship. Just my personal opinion from our experience!

Have a great trip!

 

[jrp]

Hi Bratray
On our last cruise we had a cat 4 which had upgraded from a cat 6.. Man was it great We are in a port side cat 7 NV this time and can't wait.. The added space is worth it if you are staying on the ship or bad weather or just want to get away from it all during the rush/hubub. See ya soon.. James

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Jrp, how hard is it to get the upgrade? Was it just chance?

Not that I would count on an upgrade, but they wouldn't have to twist my arm much, either.

T&B

 

[bratray]

hi james
well, lucky you to have been upgraded to a cat 4!!! have you ever stayed in a cat 7?

 

[jrp]

I havealways sailed with DVC points. We upgrade at the port on the day of the cruise, it was 2002 and it cost 700 for the upgrade from a 6 to a 4. The price now is much heftier than it wasthen.. We were first in line and they had several 10-15 cancellations on the books already.. The upgrades went in 15 minutes after the line uponed,(we were 1st in line) Was it worth it? Yes as there were 4 of us and the trunk and extra space made it somewhat easier for 7 nights.. jrp

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Wow, those upgrades go fast! Can only DVC get them or anyone?

T&B

 

[jrp]

No, anyone can get them as you must pay cash for them.. jrp