We did a cat 4 for our 4 night cruise and loved it. Here is a long except from my yet to be completed and posted trip report. We we do it again - probably yes since we got spoiled. Is it worth it? That is a personal question and it really depends on how important the extra $$ is. Don't do it if $$ is at all an issue. The extra $2000 would almost pay for another cruise!
The 4 midship Cat 3 might not be bigger but sure seem more roomy. Add bonus is that the Murphy bed is in the living room in the midship rooms and not in the master bedroom as in the other Cat 3. This is important if your kids will not sleep together.
Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions. Here is the except (it is loooooong!)
We had booked a Cat 3 cabin about 18 months in advance. After continuing research, I realized that there are 4 midship Cat 3 cabins that are wider than all the rest (but a little less deep). These 4 cabins have a triple wide verandah and the living room is bigger since the Murphy bed is in the living room and not the master bedroom. So, I called the TA to see if one of these cabins was open and we switched our reservation to 8032. I was very happy we did this.
We walked in the room and were blown away by its size and the wonderful woodwork. As you walk in there is a short hallway with a bathroom to your right complete with a shower and a large closet on your left. Then you walk in the living room which was very large. The living room and a queen size sleeper sofa, 2 comfy chairs and a couple of small end tables. There was also a round dining table with 4 chairs. Along one wall was a wet bar with a mini-fridge below, a large television, vcr, and a stereo. There was also a Murphy bed along the wall. On the other side of the room were two doors that led to the verandah. This room was very large I guessed 18 feet long and 15 feet deep. I did not find the room at all crowded as some have.
Off of the living room was the master bedroom which is separated from the living room by a sliding door. The master bedroom contained a king size bed, chair and ottoman and a TV. The room was plenty big enough to move about as I would estimate the room was probably 10x15. A door to the verandah was at one end of the room. At the other end of the room was a little makeup desk. Off the right of the makeup desk was a VERY LARGE walk in closet complete with dresser and a safe. To the left of the makeup desk was a door leading the bathroom. The first part contained a whirlpool bathtub and double vanity sinks. Continuing on past another door lead to the toilet and a shower.
As I said, the room was fantastic. It was large, had very interesting lighting, a HUGH verandah (at least 25 feet long) with about 5 chairs, tons of storage (we were afraid we would loose stuff there was so much space), lots of electrical outlets, board games, and a normal hair dryer. The concierge team also left some canned soda, bottled water, and fresh fruit in the room. We felt very spoiled to be in such a room.
As we looked around, our cabin steward came in. He said he was done with the room and that we could stay. However we were hungry so we just dropped our carryon bags and headed to deck 9 for the lunch buffet. There we pigged out on peel and eat shrimp and many other tasty items. By now it was 1:30 so we headed off to our concierge meeting.
We went to the Cadillac lounge for the concierge meeting and met with Drazen who was the concierge manager. He explained several items to us and took care of our reservations. We reserved ladies night at the spa on Monday (Nassau) evening for DW, a surial bath for both of us on Tuesday (Freeport), an ocean wrap and massage following the surial bath for DW, wine tasting in the afternoon on Tuesday and Palos at sunset on Tuesday. Drazen took care of everything and got us the times we wanted. Mandy from the kids club then got the necessary information and signed both DS3 and DS10 up for the kids clubs and gave us our beeper. Both Drazen and Mandy did an excellent job and we were out of there in about 30 minutes.
