Cost of verandah ...... worth it?

[DznyDreamer]

I'm a day or two away from booking my first DCL 7 night Western cruise and can't decide which to choose - category 6 or 8. I originally had my heart set on a verandah room, but dillydallied too long and the price jumped up $300 in the meantime. Anyway, the cost difference between the 8 and the 6 is $550.

I'm sure there are several opinions out there. Looking for advice from all you seasoned cruisers on whether it's worth it or not. By the way, it will be me, DH, DS (10) and DD (6).

THANKS!

 

[KathyTX]

DH and I both vote for WORTH IT!

I love to start the day drinking coffee on the verandah and enjoying the sunshine in my pj's! A midafternoon snooze on the verandah or a few stolen minutes lounging in your little private nook with a good book can't be beat. And late at night, after dinner, feeling the cool sea air on your face as you lean on the railing of your own verandah and remember all the fun you had that day- ahhhhhh....

 

[dis4me]

Let me start off with a definite yes. If you have the money and are willing to spend it.When we booked our 1st trip we thought this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was actually a 600 difference for us to upgrade to a verandah but I felt in the long run it was well worth it. The kis enjoyed watching us pull into and out of the port. They searched for fish, dolphins, other ships, etc while we were getting ready for dinner. My dh and I had some private quiet momets alone once the kids were safe and snuggled in their beds. We ate breakfast together out there every moring as well. Well worth less than $100 a night to me.
However if I had the choice cruise without a verandah or not at all I would go without. IT is just an added luxury.
We have since been on 4 cruises and have always booked a verandah.
Either way you will have a great cruise.

 

[lotsofboys]

I'm sure to be in the minority on this subject but I say NO it is not worth it, but under our circumstances. First, we had a verandah on our 1st cruise in the middle of the summer. It was so incredibly hot and humid that if you opened the door for even a minute all the air conditioning got sucked out of your room and it would take all day to cool down again. Also, we had a metal verandah (booked fairly late, 5 months out and had no choice). You can't see over the railing if you are sitting down so sitting out on the verandah did us no good. Additionally, my then 5 DS would try to stand on the chair to see over the railing thereby giving me a heart attack every time he tried it.

On our 2nd cruise 2/7/04, we had a Cat 8 on the same deck 7 as our first cruise and it was far superior to the metal verandah. The porthole is gigantic and you can sit and enjoy the unobstructed view any time of day or night without fear of kids climbing over or the heat being too oppressive. Now obviously, two weeks ago the heat would not have been an issue, but the first two nights aboard were chilly by our standards, Southern Californians with thin blood, and I would not have been able to sit outside in the chilly wind. JMHO but thought I would share. We rebooked for next year adjoining Cat 8's and can't wait. Have a terrific trip whichever way you decide

 

[Hans Solo]

Once a verandah, always a verandah!!

You won't be sorry, especially those days at sea. Room service coffee and sunrise..what a life!!

 

[SQUIGGLE]

DznyDreamer - If you can handle the difference in cost, go for the verandah! We thought first cruise might be a once in a lifetime; so we got a verandah. Second cruise we had a porthole (very large) as we got a really good deal on the room; but it was not the same. I love just sitting out on the verandah very early in the morning or very late at night and just listening to the sounds of the ocean.
Either way I'm sure you'll have a great cruise.

 

[Dreamer04]

Go for the verandah!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

As my tag says - have veranda will cruise! We did a cat 8 on a 4 day and it was fine. The porthole was large and had a great view, but it wasn't the same as a veranda. We love the navigator verandas (cat 7) which are more enclosed. Not a choice for you as they only sleep 3. It doesn't bother me to have the metal bottom because I can still see out and enjoy the virew and fresh air!

For a 7 day I think a veranda is definately worth it unless you really don't plan on spending any time in your cabin. Some people don't and that's fine. We are homebodies even on vacation and like to spend time relaxing in the room with a good book so a veranda is a must for us.

 

[SeaSpray]

We paid a difference of $840 to move from a Cat. 9 to a Cat. 6, so we could have a verandah. We're also traveling with 2 children, ours will be 16 and 13 by the time we cruise. We feel this will be fun for all of us, especially DSs, and since there will be 4 of us in the cabin, it'll give us a bit more room, too.

Have a great cruise, whatever you decide

 

[Jeanny]

Go for the verandah!! It was so nice to sit out there, have my cup of tea and read and not disturb my daughter (too much) she's a late sleeper, but I'm an early riser. I'd go up to deck 9, get some tea, walk around decks 9 & 10, then go back to the cabin and sit out on the verandah... I actually read 4 books while on our cruise!!!!

Just a tip, please be aware that loud voices echo out on the verandahs, so please let your children know this. I asked the kids in the next cabin only once to stop screaming... They didn't realize I was out on the verandah, after a few minutes of the running back & forth across and screaming, I asked them to please stop... they did.

go and relax on the verandah!! it's totally worth it!!

 

[prymsu]

IMHO, it is totally worth every penny!

 

[QueenTrident]

I will never travel again without the verandah. We loved it. We made so many memories watching the ocean, looking at the other ships while were in port, reading, relaxing, etc. We're definitely homebodies, so having he verandah was perfect for us.

We had no problem with noisy verandah neighbors - it seemed like the people on either side of us never used it. Also, we went in the last week of January and had no problem with wind or heat.

If you can afford it, get the verandah!

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We love the verandah. As everyone said, morning coffee from room service, also pre-dinner relaxing with the cheese and fruit platter and a glass of wine. I can do without the verandah for a 3 day, but it is a must have for a 7 day.

 

[sanela]

.Once a verandah, always a verandah!! it is beautiful.we had verandah on our first cruise in oct 2002 and it was great.my DH and I we would be on verandah firs thin in the morning ,and very late and night when kids are in bed.we are going again in 10 days and we have verandah.price difference was about 1000$ for the inside strm but I just could not do that.it is very worth it.

 

[iluvtink]

When you're on the boat and you're afloat,
and you have a few minutes to kill...
If you have a verandah, there's more space to expanda,
It's a fabulous place to "chill!"

A cold glass of wine will taste mighty fine
when you're looking out over the sea
The salt air in your face, there's no better place
Than a verandah, with Mickey and thee!

Kim

go for it!

 

[minniemouse1]

We had a verandah our first cruise when we had one child and no verandah on our second cruise with 2 children. We did not spend anytime at all on the verandah. It was on the Wonder and was filthy dirty. The chairs, the floor, the little table. All was covered in black dirt that came off onto your clothes, shoes whatever it touched. That is the main reason we did not get a verandah the second time and we did not miss it at all. We had a cat 8 with the large pothole and it was wonderful.

My DH's uncle whom we went on both of our cruises with always gets a verandah. Probably 8 in total now but has vowed after his last cruise not to get one again. He stated that he could not enjoy it because there are always smokers on atleast one side of him and the cig smoke ruins it for them. He said it blows into the room when the door is open also. He booked his next cruise with us and got a SPH like we did. I guess it is a complete matter of opinion but we will never spend any extra money for one again. I would rather spend it on excursions, souveniers, whatever. Have a great time. You will without a doubt even if you have to stay in the janitors closet!!

 

[takemeaway]

I say, "YES". We cruised with a 5 and 7 year old and DH and I spent many a night on the verandah while the children slept inside. One afternoon the kids napped in the room while DH and were out on the verandah. If you have the extra money, I think the verandah can be a great escape.

 

[rae519]

It just so happened that Tom and I both got sick while at WDW, colds - we decided to just stay in our room for most of the cruise and I don't know what we would have done without the verandah. It was great to look outside and see the sights, wonderful to eat on the verandah and just breathe in the fresh sea air.

Once we had a Navigator's Verandah, but we changed the next cruise and for the past 9 cruises - we have always gotten a verandah booked. It is worth the money, even if you don't get the sniffles!

Rae