Anyone with experience with cruising with small kids in non-connecting cabins?

[DonnaDavid]

We are a family of 5 who is booked on the August repositioning cruise. When I originally booked, I debated between a family stateroom and 2 connecting Cat. 9's (which we've done in the past.) At the time I booked, they weren't assigning stateroom numbers; so I couldn't be given guaranteed connecting staterooms. AFter talking with a DCL CM who assured me that I would almost certainly get connecting staterooms as I have small kids (10, 7, and 3) and we were booking so far in advance, I decided to go with the connecting cat. 9's. Now I've found out my cabin assignments and they're not connecting. When I called DCL, I was told that cabin assignments are done solely by your order on the waitlist. When I told her that I've read of people on these boards who appear to have gotten on the waitlist after me and have been assigned connecting staterooms, the CM (who wasn't the friendliest) said that it also depends on the number in your party.
Although I know that there's a lot of time between now and August, I suspect that if they're doing it by cabin utilization then I'll never get connecting cabins. The cabins we're assigned now both sleep 3 people and I suspect that most of the cabins that connect sleep at least 4.
I'm already having concerns about the 5 days at sea that this cruise contains. The idea of our being divided into two cabins is another factor that is making me reconsider. I've considered calling DCL and getting on the waitlist for a family stateroom as that would have been a less expensive (though less comfortable) option; at least we would all be together.
Does anyone else have any experience or ideas about my situation?
Thanks,
Donna

 

[westjones]

I would call again and talk to another CM. There must be a way to get you into connecting cabins. If the 9's are gone, are you open to moving into Cat. 10s? There are many of those that connect. I just can't believe that this far out the cabins are all gone that connect.

I have had experiences in the past where I have talked to one CM who was not helpful and later call back and have gotten another that was VERY helpful.

DJ

 

[DonnaDavid]

The cruise is full and I believe there is a waiting list for every cat. of staterooms. I called DCL today and asked if I would have better luck getting on the waitlist for a cat. other than 9; the answer was no.

That tip about calling back until you get a more helpful CM is one of the best ones that I've gotten on these boards.



Thanks for your reply, DJ. I guess I'm going to call them weekly.

 

[melizer]

Just FYI - I'm sailing in four days (10/16/04) on the Magic. I only booked the cruise TWO WEEKS AGO. And I got ONE of the connecting rooms in Category 6. I feel kinda weird about it, because I'm pretty sure someone else on the ship would love to have my cabin and the cabin next to me, because we have connecting rooms, but don't know each other. Don't you think?

So I would certainly keep trying! And I really think the assigning process needs some work if someone is wanting our connecting cabins!

 

[GlenelgMom]

Donna - Sending you a pm on this. Also agree with calling back, as we've received excellent help from DCL on this same type of situation.

 

[fred ferdlap]

I was in this same situation and called all the time and was unable to get cabins corrected (on same deck side by side connecting nothing). I did however show up early at the port and state my case, I did not want connecting rooms, but rooms within proximity. I would not pay for the family cabin and wanted more space. You can wait it out, but....
On the other hand, if the pressure is too big, pay the money and be done with it, because the process could be awful for some and easy for others.

You will call and call and if you are lucky maybe some cabins will open. (probably will not once you hit 60 day mark) this will become more intense closer to sailing.
Then at port early you may try to get them closer. This is higher probablity. The Cm's control all cabins at that point.
Oh yeah we were on with according to jim taping show so things were tight!
Then once on board you can try again.
Then a couple days in you can try again as more people than you think get sick or leave the ship. cabins open up.

All the time this eats into your vacation.

My problem is we switched vacation dates.

 

[fred ferdlap]

BTW i think we finally got cabins a floor apart and down the hall. Kids were 12 and 11 we kept the 3 yo with us. Not sure i would do that again .. but let me put it to you this way. it is what u make of it and i don't recall it being a big deal in the trip. jan 2004.

My wife had a few moments where we found ourselves checking on the kids in our pj's middle of night. But we were basically stuck and made the best of it.

Cabin assignments did not come in until 60 days before cruise. we paid and there was no out.

 

[Grumbo]

I think the big thing here though is the fact this is one of the two repositioning cruises and it is sold out with large waiting lists. It is somewhat of an extraordinary situation. Hopefully it will work out for you and I think the calling daily is the best approach.
Good luck

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[westjones]

Certainly not the best solution, BUT, you could always have the kids come sleep in your room and use their room for storing their clothes and things. I know there isn't suppose to be 5 in a room, but our friends who cruised as a family of 5 assigned 1 child to their grandparents room, but all 3 kids slept in their room (two in the bunk beds and 1 in the bed with the parents).

It would be terrible to pay for 2 rooms and not use them, but 10, 7, and 3 are a bit young to leave alone somewhere. The other thing would be to split up mom and dad at night and have 2 kids in one and 1 kid with the other parent in the other room.

I do hope they work out connecting rooms for you. That really would be the best solution and make the trip the most enjoyable.

Good Luck,
DJ

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

You may also want to try a baby monitor if the rooms are close enouigh to get reception or Mom and Dad could take turns sleeping with the kids. That sounds pretty good to me as I was roused awake twice last night by my two little ones!!

 

[ma2patrick]

I'm a little confused here. I cannot imagine having my kids in an entirely separate room, not to mention a separate floor of the ship without an adult with them. Now maybe I'm reading this thread wrong. But the fact is, no matter how friendly DCL is, or how safe the ship seems, it is a new and strange environment for these kids, new sensations as far as the motion of the ship, layout of the rooms are unfamiliar to them at night.....there are too many variables to make having children in a room by themselves a good idea.

I'm sorry if I'm coming across too judgemental, but I know how easy it can be to talk ourselves into something because we feel we have no other option.

If you are unable to have an adjoining room (I'm assuming that means with a door that connects the two, not merely side by side). If you can't have that kind of a setup, then going for a family stateroom or a larger suite should really be the only alternative.

Again, sorry if this is harsh.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Quote: If you can't have that kind of a setup, then going for a family stateroom or a larger suite should really be the only alternative.

The op said the cruise is full at this point, so getting those types of rooms probably is not an option and adjoining rooms may be hard as there may be several families in your situation. I would keep trying, though, especially as it gets closer to the final payment date. Otherwise, sounds like the easiest solution would be to have mom in one room and dad in the other with the kids split up for sleeping at night.

You didn't say, but are the rooms next door, across the hall, close by on same floor?

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

I thik you need to call VERY close to the 60 day mark -- and do so contuously. My guess is that there won't be many cancellations between now and the 60 day mark.

Can you still get a cat 4?

I, personally, wouldn't do separate, non-connecting rooms with kids that age. For me, the extra money for a cat 4 would be worth the lack of worrying hat I'd do for the next 8 or so months, including on the ship.

If a cat 4 isn't available, I'd plan on having one adult in eah cabin and split the kids up. You can have adult time while the kids are in the clubs. Or have the 3 year old in the bed with you and your spouse, and the older kids in the twin bunk-style beds. Or bring a twin blow up bag for the 3 year old.

 

[Whiskers]

Donna
I'll be on that Aug repo cruise too. Oh dear what a stressful situation for you
Just to let you know in case you are still thinking about booking a cat 4 (to get all 5 of you in one room) - I was on a wait list for a cat 6 balcony since June with no movement, so last week told my TA to put me on the list for a cat 4 as well. She called me back yesterday with a cat 4 available. Really quick for change to a 4. So there must be some opening up. (I think Andrew on our cruise recently got a 4 too).
Anyway, just wanted you to know.

 

[DonnaDavid]

Thanks, everyone.

Our current assignments are adjoining but not connecting. I called DCL and asked if I was more likely to get a Cat. 4 than connecting Cat. 9's, and I was told that it was about the same probability. I also considered bringing the air mattress for the 3 yr old, but our current cabins only sleep 3 each (no bunk beds - my kids are going to be very disappointed.)

I think I'm going to start calling once a week until August. I always try to check in early, so I'll try the tip about asking at the terminal also. And, if all else fails, I'll work out a sleeping chart for who gets to sleep with Mom on which night (I booked the two Cat. 9's to minimize the fighting. Now I'm really going to hear it!)

Thanks again for your input.

 

[dis-happy]

Adjoining doesn't sound that bad---right next door, right? I second the idea of bringing a baby monitor, let the youngest one sleep with you and your dh, the older 2 next door. We are cruising next year and plan to put the kiddos across the hall--we're in a cat. 6, they're in an 11. I had considered the baby monitor for them as well, even though my oldest is 15. My friends have 4 kids and had the same set-up (across the hall) when their oldest was 12. As long as you have a key to their room and teach them not to open the door to anyone, I think you (and they) would be fine.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Oh, adjoining but not connecting? This does't sound particularly problematic, esp. if you have a baby monitor.

Would you have slept with the connecting door open if you had connecting cabins? We had a connecting cabin on our last cruise (but we only had one cabin), and I can't imagine leaving the door open anyway -- it's right by the foot of the big bed.

 

[aprilgail2]

No way would I let kids that young sleep in their own rooms that were not connecting to mine with the door left open. To many things could happen I would sleep in there with 2 of the kids and my husband would sleep in the other room with the other child. No way would I do it any other way.

 

[maryisme]

Donna,

Check your messages-- I pm'd you.

Mary