Deciding between a cat 5 or a cat 6

[Popovich]

We are planning our first cruise for next December. We've decided that we want a verandah. Since we are a family of 4 I don't think we need a cat 4 (kids will be 5 and 6).

So that leaves a cat 5 or 6. Is the deck that they're on the only difference??? Why would you prefer one deck over the other??

If you've stayed in either (or both) which did you prefer and why??

I'm such a newbee. Sorry for such a basic question.

Thanks.
Gailyn

 

[cjsmith]

There isn't any difference between the staterooms on the category 5 and 6, the verandah is only slightly bigger. The main difference is the deck. We always stay in a category 6 for one of our two cabins on each cruise on deck 5 and love it. We've asked the kids if they would like to move up a deck and they always give us a resounding no, they love deck 5. It's a close walk to the movie theatre and clubs for them. I also find that the deck is very quiet since there aren't many staterooms on each floor. Save the small savings and go for category 6, you'll find another way to spend the money!

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We have been in both and Cat 6 is just fine. I like it because it seems to be in the middle of the ship. The walk down to the restaurants or clubs seems about the same as up do decks 9 and 10.

 

[DisneyGator01]

The only noticable difference I believe is the location on the ship, Cat. 5 are on a higher deck. Other then that the rooms are basically identical.

 

[ohiominnie]

We had cat 6, deck 6 connecting rooms booked for this November (me, dh, two kids and grandma and grandpa.) Each of those rooms slept 3.

We recently added my neice so we had to get one of those rooms to sleep 4. As there were no cat 6's left that slept 4 we upped one room to a cat 5, deck 7. Then we moved the other room to a cat 5 deck 7 right next door but not connecting (ds will be staying with grandma and grandpa so this way he can come right next door to get ready, brush teeth, etc and g-ma and g-pa aren't "stuck" with that stuff)

The rooms cost about $40 more per adult. Worth it? Probably not. Same size room just a deck higher. But, in this case we HAD to upgrade to get more beds!!

We love deck 6 midship. Drop down one floor to the kids club. Very quiet. Convenient to head aft for restaurants and forward for clubs and Walt Disney Theater.

HTH

 

[AnnMorin]

we have had both five's and six's and there is no difference at all except on is on deck seven (cat 5) I did not notice any difference in ship movement etc between deck five, six or seven.

 

[bemily]

If i were you, i would take the nominal savings and get the Cat.6..There is no difference!!

 

[professorandmom]

There is no difference between the veranda in 5 and 6, the rooms and the verandas are exactly the same. I wondered who would pay for the higher deck until I realized the price diffference is because Disney can charge more, when cat 6 sells out, cat 5 is still available - the same room, just at a higher price.
Barbara

 

[HooKooDooKu]

We too have had both Cat 5 and Cat 6.

The only major difference we noticed was of course the fact your on Deck 6 rather than Deck 7. This means when you stand out on your veranda, you'll see two levels of veranda above you. Sort of makes you feel like your at the bottom, but of course as others have pointed out, your also closer to the water.

I can point out that there are fewwer inside staterooms on Deck 7 than on Deck 6, which means less hallway traffic, and maybe a little more quiet, but then the over all noise level seems to be more of a function of how close to the elevators you are and the loudness of your next door neibor.

Someone claimed the verandas were bigger on Cat 5, and while I don't dispute this claim, I don't remember noticing a difference.

So far, the only times we've stayed in Cat 5 was when DCL was having Fall specials that included selling Cat 5 at a Cat 6 price.

Overall, I would say that I prefer to be in Cat 5, but I don't think I'll pay for it.

The only other thing I can think to point out is that elevators are slow so we usually just use the stairs. If your in Cat 5, your closer to the pool and top decks. But in Cat 6, your closer to all thing things that are down below (clubs, theater, movies, kids activities, dinner).

 

[Popovich]

Thanks for your replies. I think we will do a cat 6.

Now the next question, what location did you prefer? Near elevators, aft???

 

[AnnMorin]

personally, I love aft.. we are midship this year, been there once before and aft twice, I really like aft the best.. but it TRUELY does not make a big difference, the ship is easy enought to get around no matter where you are.