Category 1 ???

[disneylover4ever]

Just "wonder"ing about something... We have a category 3 booked for April, which we booked last year in April and a category 3 booked for Magic, June 1st, which we booked a few
weeks ago. How far in advance do you have to book to get a category 1? It is not available all summer and until forever. Of course we have kids in school and can only travel when most people can and the ships are usually full. Anybody every booked a category 1? and how far in advance did you do it? Thanks for any info. Only 27 days left and counting!!!!!!!!!!

 

[howardk613]

We were in a category 1 room twice. The 1st time we booked a category 3 and were able to upgrade to a category 1. The 2nd time we booked the category 1 almost 2 years in advance (not in the summer but at the end of Nov). We loved it so much that we booked a category 1 again (for this Nov) and again almost 2 years in advance. A category 1 reservation is hard to get and takes some planning but it is well worth the effort. By the way,
the category 3 suites are TERRIFIC and you will definately enjoy it. Try and contact the DCL , sometimes the category 1 suites become available at the last minute.

 

[penguins_fan]

We booked cat 1 about 14 months in advance and sailed this January on the Magic. It worked great for our family of seven - was worth the extra money since we would have had to have booked two cabins and paid four full fares. We enjoyed the concierge service and the full breakfast option which you'll also get in cat 3. Hope you enjoy it!

 

[reveric]

Two weeks ago we were able to get a category 1 suite for a 3 day cruise for October 10th.. I don't know if it was just dumb luck or if the suites for the 3 day cruises don't go as fast.

It's our first cruise and I can't wait to see what the whole ship is like! I suspect I'm going to hate to walk away after just a few days!

 

[disneylover4ever]

reveric,
You are so lucky!!! This suite looks so great. Howard has some great pictures. I hope you have a wonderful time.
Cindy

 

[Familyof6]

Last April I booked a Cat 2 for Nov. 4-day cruise. Then came Sept 11, dh was denied all leave and I had to cancel with only 2 weeks until the cruise. (So perhaps some lucky duck got to upgrade to our Cat 2 for that cruise)
I rebooked a Cat 1 for this May when I canceled our other ressies. I wasn't picky on the dates at that point. I just wanted my suite! At first DCL was going to charge us a whole bunch for canceling so late, and it was going to cost more in fees if we didn't rebook right then. That's when I dh said, "just book the whole ship!" It costs more because we were cruising during a less expensive season, but the Cat 1 cost less than the Cat 2 they were offering me in Feb. I couldn't pass up the Cat 1 for $400 less than I would pay to go Cat 2. Can you follow any of that?
It's best just to call DCL and have a CM look up when any suites are available. You may be surprised. One may have just been canceled. Plans do change sometimes.

Good Luck!

Lisa

 

[MDNJSMITH]

I am reading about all of the CAT 1 cruisers and wondering if it is something that we should try. We were on the 9/22/01 7 night sailing of the Magic with 6 people ( 4 adults and 2 children). We got two CAT 6 staterooms. Would it have been more economical to do the CAT 1 or 2?

The brochure says that CAT 1 and 2 sleep 5 guests. I am seeing some posts with seven people. Is the brochure incorrect?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by MDNJSMITH

I am... wondering... We were... sailing... with 6 people ( 4 adults and 2 children). We got two CAT 6 staterooms. Would it have been more economical to do the CAT 1 or 2?

I don't think so. The price difference in the per-person fare between a 6 and a 1/2 is so steep, I'm pretty sure you couldn't have "cost justified" getting the 1 or 2. You would also have had to factor in the value-added benefits and other intangibles.

 

[howardk613]

MDNJSMITH-
The category 1 & 2 suites sleep 7 (comfortably) so 4 adults and 2 children would be no problem. The cost for a category 1 vs 2 category 6 rooms would be about $3000 more for the category 1.
While the category 6 rooms are terrific, if you could swing the extra cost , I guarantee that you would prefer the category 1.
The extra services provided by the concierge team are a nice plus but the room itself makes the trip a real treat If you are interested, e-mail me and I will send you some pictures of the category 1 suites.

 

[dizneykids]

that we booked in nov/dec 2000. actually, we initially booked a cat 2, but we have a GEM of a reservationist who called us not more than two months later to tell us she saw a cat 1 come up and she put us in there (THEN called us for the okay!) before it got snapped up.

we just rebooked for next may and have asked our reservationist to keep her eyes peeled for a cat 1 or 2 (preferably the roy suite since we've done the walt suite twice).

one thing we've learned is that right at the 60 day mark, when the final $$ are due, many people drop out. but there are only 2 cat 1s and 2 cat 2s, so our odds aren't all that great, but we keep our fingers crossed and have faith in our reservationist that if one comes up, she'll find it!

i noticed that the new cruise brochure says the cat 1s sleep 5 and wondered where that came from since there are 4 twin beds in the 2nd bedroom alone. couple that with the (what seems like a large) queen in the master and the queen/full murphy bed in the library (which sleeps two...i know since my 3 yo was sick and wanted to sleep with me), and you can sleep 8 comfortably in the suite.

do make sure you request that you be put on the wait list for a cat 2 or 1 and that you'd be willing to take any one of them. our best morning was friday when we pulled into castaway cay and we were on our veranda in our pjs, enjoying eggs, french toast and bagels as we docked.