Considering upgrade to verandah. Advice please!

[goNDmay9]

Having two younger children who still take naps - we loved having the balcony. It also helped getting them to go to sleep for the night when DH and I wanted to stay up. DH and I could unwind / relax on the balcony while they fell asleep / slept.

Other pros and cons you can consider are the differences in location (decks, forward vs mid vs aft, starboard vs port etc). With it only being one floor it may not be much though - depending on the other factors. You never know though - for example, I know on the Fantasy there is an overhang on deck 10 balconies that some people do not care for.

 

[Anisum]

It a personal decision 100%. I personally never spent enough time out on the veranda to make it worth it. I'm usually out doing activities or taking a nap. If I do slow down and want fresh air I will go lay out on deck.

If you've never done a veranda and think it's something you'll use often and want to slurge I'd say try it once. If not, then stick with the oceanview and save the money for souvenirs or your next vacation.

 

[bumbershoot]

For this, we'd get 2 pull down beds rather than one plus the sofa. (Might cut down on arguments?)

As others have said, you're not getting two equal pulldown beds. If you get the murphy, that's more of a bed-bed, nowhere near as "fun" as kids can feel the true pulldown bed is. You might very well still have arguments.

But definitely look up the actual room you're looking at, to see if you can get the actual info for THAT room.

 

[MommyP]

With kids that nap I prefer the Inside rooms because they are DARK. However, if you aren't going to nap or rest with him then you could sit on the balcony and read a book, get some fresh air and work on your tan. I've only had a balcony once and we honestly did not spend enough time in the room to fully enjoy it.

Most kids like the bunk beds - my kids would fight over the top bunk. On Princess & Royal we usually have 4 twins so they both get the top.

 

[orion2185]

As others have noted it's a personal choice

the first cruise I ever went on (very last min and it was a cheap deal as the cruise left the next day)
we went with an inside room (no port hole or anything) as that's all they had on the discount sale.
We thought why pay more for another stateroom...you still have access to everything on the boat. And it's a bit like flying economy vs fist class internationally. Sure first class is great...but for the price we can do the same flight 6 times in economy (or more)

so we felt the money saved for cheaper stateroom...will allow us to spend more on excursions, activities, onboard extras, and all of those things.
Or, we can take the difference in price and set that money aside for the "next one". Thus allowing us to travel more frequently...then one massive trip.

again everyone is different and you just have to work out what your priorities are.

that first cruise we also kept saying the next cruise we will only book a veranda room.

also from that very first cruise
we also said that we would like to cruise with a group of family or friends vs alone.
start of this year we did cruise with a large group..and felt it really enhances your cruise experience.

However, for use of your veranda....it's not good
as you never seem to stop when you cruise with a group...your always out of your room busy doing something with someone.

since that first cruise we have always booked a veranda room.
Have to agree that first time...your making full use of the outdoor space 24/7. And think it also depends on your cruise. Like Alaska...a veranda room makes sense...as there is allot of stuff to take in from the confront of your stateroom.

now we still use that outdoor space...but not as much as that 'first time'.


we also like to book the 4A cat staterooms
we love the locations of the rooms and the decks they are on

since it's just the 2 adults we don't need the family room with the pull down beds.
but the extra room is great

I can see how they are great for families with small children

 

[wombat_5606]

If you have any aversion to cigarette smoke, save your money. Someone has always been on their balcony smoking and ruined my experience, so I don't even bother anymore. Oceanview rooms are just fine with me.

 

[MickeyD]

If you have any aversion to cigarette smoke, save your money. Someone has always been on their balcony smoking and ruined my experience, so I don't even bother anymore. Oceanview rooms are just fine with me.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Disney no longer allows smoking on the verandas. You are only allowed to smoke in certain areas of deck 4 (?) Port side?
I have sailed 7 times with Disney, all in a veranda, and never encountered this problem. Noisy kids on the veranda, but never smoke.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Disney no longer allows smoking on the verandas. You are only allowed to smoke in certain areas of deck 4 (?) Port side?
I have sailed 6 times with Disney, all in a veranda, and never encountered this problem. Noisy kids on the veranda, but never smoke.

Correct - no smoking on the verandahs. The smoking areas vary between the different classes of ships.
From the DCL website:

In an effort to provide an enjoyable cruise experience for all our Guests, smoking (including the use of electronic cigarettes) is only permitted in the following designated areas of the ships:

Disney Magic and Disney Wonder

• Deck 4, outdoors, starboard side from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Decks 9 and 10, starboard side, Quiet Cove area, any time

Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy

• Deck 4, port side, aft, on the outside Promenade Deck from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Deck 12, port side, aft, the outdoor area accessible through the Meridian Lounge at any time
• Deck 13, port side, forward, near Currents Bar, at any time

Note: Guests found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs will be charged a $250 stateroom recovery fee. This fee covers deep cleaning that includes air filter replacement, carpet extraction and the cleaning and replacement of drapes, comforters, blankets and pillows, along with verandah cleaning and maintenance.

 

[MickeyD]

Thank you PrincessShmoo for finding that, you are quicker than I surfing the DCL site.

 

[aggiedog]

I'd just add that having the sofa bed and the ceiling pull down bed is nice with kids. We left the ceiling bed down our whole cruise and it gave my dd somewhere to go for "her" space. The sofa bed we had made back into a sofa every morning so the rest of us had somewhere to sit. No murphy bed in our room.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Everyone has a different idea on what makes a cruise special for them. For me having my morning coffee on the veranda and sitting out there with my husband each night before bed made it so worth it. Whatever you decide I know you'll have a wonderful time.

 

[wombat_5606]

Yes, the posters are correct that Disney does not allow smoking on the verandas, but that does not stop people from doing it. On the Disney cruises, as well as other cruise lines where I've had verandas, people were still smoking out there. I have called and reported the cabins and they continued to do it on their verandas after my phone calls. Then my most recent cruise on the Magic, I was standing outside of Cabanas early one morning and people were smoking on the veranda just below.

So OP, in my experience, I maintain this is still something you may want to take into consideration before you upgrade.

 

[bas71873]

The entire sailing (except for the times you are docked) is an out-and-back. If you don't see one side on the way up, you'll see it on the way back. Even on Tracey Arm day when you do the glacier, the captain rotates the ship so everyone can see.
Fwiw, We did Alaska in an inside because that was what we could afford and it was AMAZING!

Thank you!