Categories...?

[jimmiej]

Although I'm a DIS veteran, I'm new to the Cruise board. DW & I are planning our first cruise next July(2004). July 11(our 23rd anniversary!)-18. 4 days land/3 cruise.

Looking at category 9(most likely-$$$), or maybe cat. 7 for a veranda. Passporter author Dave ? says to spend $$$ on other things besides a higher category. A friend of ours who is a DCL vet says you definitely need a porthole. In other words, I'm really confused about this. Any suggestions?

I've researched the categories on DCL.com. I want to know what you veterans think.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Hi jimmiej

Stateroom categories are really a matter of personal choice - how much time will you spend in the stateroom? will you feel 'trapped' if there are no windows or a balcony? How long is the cruise and will I be comfortable for that length of time in the room I pick?

These are just some of the questions you have to ask yourself.

Personally, I can't sail unless the stateroom has a verandah. I enjoy spending a great deal of my cruise time in my stateroom - sometimes on the verandah - so this is a must have for me. Others will disagree I'm sure.

For some really great info on all the stateroom categories including some great multimedia chekc out this page of the DIS Staterooms

John

 

[CGBatch]

Cat 7's aren't really good because the verandah you get is enclosed and only a medium sized window (was going to say small then realized they are going on the wonder) however a cat 9 will not work as it will put you on decks 1-2. For your price range try a cat 10 Secret Porthole Room (only 6 of them) and if they are unavalible try a cat 8 putting you somewhere on decks 5-7. Hope this helps. Overall go with cat 10 SPH room first than grab an 8 if the SPH room doesn't work.

 

[disney6]

We've been in cat. 9, then next cruise cat. 10, and coming up cat. 11. We've done all 7 days -- anything shorter to me is not worth it -- that's my thing. For US, we don't spend much time in stateroom and I don't like cruising on a budget (if I see something in the gift shop I like, I want to buy it, or I spend $$$ at Shutters, or if I want a frozen fuu fuu drink I order it). So for us, inside is perfectly fine. My parents, on the other hand, probably would not cruise without a verandah. To each his own.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

When I cruised 4nights on NCL 12/01, MIL & I had an inside room and boy was it tiny. I know DCL has larger rooms.
I was able to snag one of the secret porthole rooms for our 11/30 (cancelled) cruise.
Because of the cancellation we are now booked in a cat 6 verandah room.

100 days from today we leave

 

[Favorite Auntie]

We always book a Cat 11. I would rather vacation more often than spend a ton of money on one vacation. We are never in the room, and there are plenty of chairs outside on decks 4, 8, and 7 if you want to sit outside and read or drink your coffee. The only reason I might go for the verandah ( I like the navigator verandah rooms) is if I had a baby that napped during the day and I needed to spend a lot of time in the room during the day. Basically, you need to decide what you want out of your room....

 

[ADisneygirl]

On our first cruise last summer we had a room with the big porthole window. We loved being able to look out at the sea anytime we were in our room. We just returned from our second cruise and this time we had a Cat 7 navigators verandah. Wow -- all I can say is we loved it! We loved eating our occasional room service snacks out there, we loved breathing in the fresh air day or night, and we loved the privacy. I loved going out there just before bed -- while in my pj's -- something I wouldn't do up on deck! Having the verandah made the room seem larger, and less confining.

Yes, we'd take a room with just a window again if that meant the difference between going or not going, but for us, we could not stay in a windowless room.

Many different opinions on this --- so it really is important for you to look over the room pictures online and give it careful consideration.

I know you'll have a wonderful time!

 

[alexandrew]

A cat 9 staterooom aft is actually a very good location on the ship...IMHO, I think some people view deck 2 as "steerage"...it's actually very close to alot of the action on the ship....close to Parrot Cay, Lumieres on 3, Animators on 4....

 

[kamgen]

Okay, remember everything is opinion.....but if you ask my dh (we have cruised 4times on DCL with 2 more in Oct) he would tell you to skip the porthole and go with a cat 10--His fave! The cat 10 rooms are great because they do not let in the sunlight....meaning they do not let in the heat. We had a cat 9 once and it was so much warmer in the room than our cat 11 or cat 10. It really makes a difference in terms of comfort.

Also, we are RARELY in our room so we would rather spend the money on the spa, drinks, excursions, souveniers, etc.....
And we usually take a walk on deck 10 (pj's and all! LOL!) late at night before bed.....


JMHO.

I also love deck 2! Close to so many things!

 

[jrabbit]

We've been moving "up" on the Magic.

First cruise a 4 nighter we were in a Cat 11 (delux inside stateroom) on deck 6 or 7 - and we didn't mind it at all. No outside light, but we were rarely in the room - only to change and take naps (1am to 7am for me is a nap NOT a good nights sleep).

Second Cruise - Cat 10 (the split bathroom is NICE) down on deck 2. When you tell people where you are staying, they tend to "look down upon you" for staying "down there". Nice room, but on the 7 night cruise we were in the room a little more often (and actually had a couple of good nights sleep). Sleeping is easy down there and inside - there is absolutly NO natural light. When you wake up you have no idea if it's 2am and you need to go back to sleep or 2pm and you have slept most of the day away. As far as the location goes, I didn't mind it - getting to activities on deck 3,4 and 5 was really easy. Walking up the stairs to deck 9 or 10 on the other hand was a real work out (an advantage here is you work off some of those great meals you are served while onboard!) Remember the lifts (elevators) are mostly for looks - you could die of old age waiting for one you could get on - some of the children onboard think of them as "The Ride" on the ship.

Third Cruise - Cat 10 secret porthole room - Deck 5. Now that we have seen "the light" (the natural outside light that is) we probably won't go back to an inside stateroom. It was great being able to see outside. Deck 5 is nice because it's not that far up to deck 9 (no corinaries this time - but still a nice workout) and its quick and easy going down to deck 3 or 4.

Next Cruise - Cat 9 (see we keep moving up a catagory, but deckwise we are all over the place) deck 2. Having an unobstructed porthole will be nice for the light and ocean watching from inside our room. Probably won't see as far away as you can up higher on the ship, but we are looking forward to it (except for the climb upto deck 9 )