Category 8...will we be happy?

[TChrist05]

Hey all...it's me again....need some advice...imput....took the Wonder 2 years ago...stayed in category 12...last year on Magic stayed in category 10...see I move up 2 categories each year...this year..we booked a category 8....outside with a porthole...actually cabin number 7512....picked it out before we left the ship last year...but how does the category 8 compare to a 10...is there a lot of extra room in the stateroom? Did call DCL to check into upgrading to a 6 but none available...best they could do is a 5 and that would be $800. more for the week....kind of could not justify the money for a verandah...going to ask when we get to the ship how much it would cost to upgrade that day....and if it is reasonable maybe we will do it...I have never seen the category 8 or 5 or 6 for that matter....should I just be happy with what I have? Need some of you veterans to fill me in and give me some advice....I will go with what you guys think is best....and I will seriously consider the next level for the next cruise...since we will probably book next year again before we leave ship.....Thanks all...and I have 32 days to the Magic....
Tom

 

[Michelle]

Hi Tom,

There is no difference in the stateroom size between a Cat. 10 and a Cat. 8, but you WILL get a huge porthole window.

You can certainly ask at the port about the cost to upgrade to a balcony stateroom, if there are any available at that point.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Thats what's good about the secret porthole rooms. They cost same as cat 10 but the room is actually a cat 8. The porthole is partially obstructed so they charge the cat 10 rate. We have 5520, another DISer has 5022.
When I cruised on NCL last Dec MIL and I had inside stateroom and there was no sitting area. The Magic has a seating area and now we have the SPR

Cant wait - 28 days from today we leave for the cruise!!!

 

[Michelemouse]

There's no difference in room size between a Category 10 and a Category 6 either...just the verandah space.

I've sailed in a Cat. 11 and a Cat. 10 Secret Porthole Room. This time we will be in a Cat. 6. My personal opinion is that I would have been happy with just a window but we got the verandah for DH and my DF (parents are sailing with us). Don't get me wrong, I think I will love the verandah too, but if it were just me I wouldn't have bothered with it.

Just my $.02.

 

[SC Minnie]

We sailed twice this past year and had a cat 6 both times. We book another cruise for 2004 and decided to go with one of the secret porthole rooms. It was a lot less $ than the cat 6. Although we enjoyed the verandah we just didn't use it that much. If you plan to stay in your room a good bit it might be worth it if not save your money for more Bahama Mamas!

 

[ncmvp]

Last year we stayed in a category 9. We felt we had plenty of space. We loved the huge porthole. We really did not spend much time in the room.

When we booked our next cruise for April 2003 we requested the same room and got it. It was comfortable and convenient to get to everything. We could not justify spending the extra money for a veranda when we are hardly ever in the room, but looking out the really big porthole (my 12 year old fit inside it) is really cool.

 

[sandygirl]

Jan 2001 we sailed 7 night Eastern in Cat 6 w/verandah. Absolutley wonderful! Had my coffee on the verandah every morning. Sat out there while my DD took her nap in the afternoon.

Jan 2002 we sailed again 7 night Eastern Cat 7 w/verandah an upgrade from the Cat 6 I booked. Still wonderful but did not use the verandah as much as previous trip.

Jan 2003 we are booked 7 night Western in Cat 8. I hope we are not disappointed. But DD will be 5 1/2 then and I won't be in the room for naps. Hoping we can be up and out and on the deck to watch the ship dock. That is very cool. Of course before we watched from our verandah. I figured better to go cheaper this year than not go at all.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[TChrist05]

Michelle....a funny thing happened to me today...DCL called and upgraded us to a category 5....kind of funny that I called last week to try and do it and would not spend the $800 to move from 8 to 5...now we have our verandah and it did not cost a nickel more....to say we are estatic would be an understatement....and we have already decided we will book next year before we leave the ship.....and we realize after staying in a category 5 we will not want to move downward....life is good.....and only 28 1/2 days to the Magic....
Thanks...
Tom

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

Life is good.

 

[Michelle]

Tom, that is awesome, good for you! Enjoy!

 

[inkkognito]

A suggestion for those in secret porthole rooms...if you want verandah time, don't forget that wonderful secret aft deck 7 verandah (I have photos on my website at www.castawayclub.com). We did a secret porthole room on our three-peat and used that as "our" verandah because it is so rarely crowded. I love having my own verandah, but to cruise as much as we do, you have to keep the costs under control! We're out of the stateroom a lot anyway, so that gives us a place to go if we want relaxation time...only bad thing is that you can't go out there in your nightgown
We also used the Rainforest in the spa a lot on that trip too. I would bring a good book and hunker down in one of those heated tile loungers, and I was all set.
A verandah is definitely my preference, but you can have a nice time without one too.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[natt]

Hey Barb! Is there any way you can hook up with someone on your next cruise and get actual photos from a category 8 or 9 (say, standing at the bathrooms, looking at the porthole). Every picture I've ever seen has been a room sketch. I think it would help to get a better depth perception if I could see a real photo! Also, aren't the bed and sofa switched vs. the veranda rooms? I'm sure if you asked, you could find someone on here to oblige and let you photograph their room! natt

 

[inkkognito]

We actually have photos of that category and the alternate room layout that we took on our three-peat. I'll see if I can get hubby (the digital photo king) to post them this weekend.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com