Deck 9- Disney Fantasy

[DisneyFan1005]

hello all I just booked my 1st cruise ever ... I booked 9560 on the Fantasy for a 7 night eastern Caribbean cruise next august

Anyone stay in deck 9 midship that can give some pros and cons? Any suggestions on must do excursions ?

Thank you all for any tips. It's my 1st cruise so I'll be doing a lot of research here to help the planning !

 

[My_Pooh]

Loved deck 9 midship (trying to remember our room number but it's escaping me) ...quick 2 flights up to the pool, food and soda. We took the stairs the entire time because we were always going down which is alway easier! No cons to be honest. Fantasy is such a great ship...a total win win. Have so much fun and remember you cannot get to everything so that is why you rebook for your next cruise!
Found our room number 9580

 

[adg06]

I'm no help to you yet, but I'll be in room 9574 on the Fantasy in October. I can report back if you have specific questions!

 

[DisneyFan1005]

Loved deck 9 midship (trying to remember our room number but it's escaping me) ...quick 2 flights up to the pool, food and soda. We took the stairs the entire time because we were always going down which is alway easier! No cons to be honest. Fantasy is such a great ship...a total win win. Have so much fun and remember you cannot get to everything so that is why you rebook for your next cruise!
Found our room number 9580

Thank you ! It's good to know you liked deck 9... I hoped I picked a quiet deck but a close enough room to stairs/elevators to get to the main area of the ship. Any suggestions on excursions ? Did you travel
With kids if so, did they enjoy the kids clubs ?

 

[DisneyFan1005]

I'm no help to you yet, but I'll be in room 9574 on the Fantasy in October. I can report back if you have specific questions!

Awesome .. have a good time ! Have you cruised before? Was it stressful booking excursions and activities? Did you opt for early or late dining ? Hope you have an amazing time !

 

[adg06]

Awesome .. have a good time ! Have you cruised before? Was it stressful booking excursions and activities? Did you opt for early or late dining ? Hope you have an amazing time !

Yes this is our first cruise. Regarding booking activities, I was just able to do that a couple of days ago (75 days out as a newbie cruiser). I was actually very disappointed with that process. My daughter is completely princess-obsessed, which is why we booked a Disney cruise in the first place. But the Princess Gathering and the Frozen meet & greet were already completely sold out at midnight at 75 days, so first time cruisers didn't have a chance. I knew this happened with Cabanas at Castaway and Palo, etc, but I did not really think the Princess and Frozen would be unavailable to us. So, yeah, supremely disappointed.

I was able to book activities that cost extra, such as BBB and the Royal Tea, which is crazy $$$, but I booked it anyway as my only way to guarantee princess time. Apparently they hold back some Princess and Frozen tickets for after boarding, and I will still try for those, but that will be too late to cancel the Tea if I am able to get them.

I did not try for Palo/Remy or any spa activities, so I can't speak to the availability of those. Excursions still seemed to be readily available as far as I could tell, but my kids are too young for anything adventurous.

We booked our October 2017 cruise in February 2017, which is short notice by cruise standards, and late dining was the only available option. We are on the wait list for early dining, because my kids are used to eating dinner around 5:30 PM at home, so I think that would work better for us. Hopefully we'll get to switch.

Long winded answer, I know, but hopefully helpful.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

hello all I just booked my 1st cruise ever ... I booked 9560 on the Fantasy for a 7 night eastern Caribbean cruise next august

Anyone stay in deck 9 midship that can give some pros and cons? Any suggestions on must do excursions ?

Thank you all for any tips. It's my 1st cruise so I'll be doing a lot of research here to help the planning !

We've been deck 9 midships twice (9600 & 9098). Would stay in either of them again. Not sure what kind of pros/cons you're looking for, but the only issue we had was the time we stayed in 9098. For the most part it's suggested that people book rooms on decks that there are staterooms above and below them so that it's quieter. We didn't find it so. We did a B2B and the first leg we were on deck 10, in a room beneath the starboard entrance to Cabanas (and the Aarcade, but it's no longer there). That room (on deck 10) was MILES quieter than the one we had on deck 9 for the second leg of the trip. Mostly it was a guest problem. We had 2 connecting rooms on one side of us, with kids who loved to run laps through the connecting doors in the room and on the verandah. Also had 3 connecting room on the other side, with at least one kid (at least I hope it was a kid) who felt the only way to get down from the top bunk was to jump. Added to that there was at least one group of guests on deck 10 who apparently felt the only way to get down the passageway to/from their rooms was to run footraces (day or night).

But, the second time on deck 9 was much quieter.

 

[My_Pooh]

We had no noise issues but I ALWAYS bring a noise maker on any trip because each child sleeps with one... I use the conair noise maker from amazon. Yes, I have 3 children (DS17, DD8 and DD4) they LOVE the kids club ... although the last time my then 7 yr old was upset that her sister the 3.5 was able to visit the same club as her but she got over it. They do a lot of cool stuff Especially in the lab. The 3 year wanted to even go by herself ..I was shocked! We did Magens Bay (sp?) on our own in st Thomas but I think next time we will try St Johns now that the kids are older. My oldest only wants to do Disney cruises because of the freedom he is allowed. Eastern I think is best for a first cruise because you get an extra day at sea and it's a little more relaxing. When your window opens, at a minimum, book Palo brunch...I dream about the food!

 

[DisneyFan1005]

Yes this is our first cruise. Regarding booking activities, I was just able to do that a couple of days ago (75 days out as a newbie cruiser). I was actually very disappointed with that process. My daughter is completely princess-obsessed, which is why we booked a Disney cruise in the first place. But the Princess Gathering and the Frozen meet & greet were already completely sold out at midnight at 75 days, so first time cruisers didn't have a chance. I knew this happened with Cabanas at Castaway and Palo, etc, but I did not really think the Princess and Frozen would be unavailable to us. So, yeah, supremely disappointed.

I was able to book activities that cost extra, such as BBB and the Royal Tea, which is crazy $$$, but I booked it anyway as my only way to guarantee princess time. Apparently they hold back some Princess and Frozen tickets for after boarding, and I will still try for those, but that will be too late to cancel the Tea if I am able to get them.

I did not try for Palo/Remy or any spa activities, so I can't speak to the availability of those. Excursions still seemed to be readily available as far as I could tell, but my kids are too young for anything adventurous.

We booked our October 2017 cruise in February 2017, which is short notice by cruise standards, and late dining was the only available option. We are on the wait list for early dining, because my kids are used to eating dinner around 5:30 PM at home, so I think that would work better for us. Hopefully we'll get to switch.

Long winded answer, I know, but hopefully helpful.

Yes, very helpful thank you! Sucks to hear you couldn't book the princess activities... sounds like you may still have a chance once on board ‍

I didn't know they opened up booking in stages ... so thanks for sharing that. In other words, since I'm a 1st time cruiser I'll get last dibs to book activities ?

Maybe call guest services and request to be moved to the early seating for dinner ? Maybe there's a list they can put you on and you can follow up when you board? Disney cast members are usually the best at customer service... I've booked many Disney world trips and am never disappointed (yet) in their eagerness to help meet your needs.

Report back in October! Thanks again!

 

[DisneyFan1005]

We've been deck 9 midships twice (9600 & 9098). Would stay in either of them again. Not sure what kind of pros/cons you're looking for, but the only issue we had was the time we stayed in 9098. For the most part it's suggested that people book rooms on decks that there are staterooms above and below them so that it's quieter. We didn't find it so. We did a B2B and the first leg we were on deck 10, in a room beneath the starboard entrance to Cabanas (and the Aarcade, but it's no longer there). That room (on deck 10) was MILES quieter than the one we had on deck 9 for the second leg of the trip. Mostly it was a guest problem. We had 2 connecting rooms on one side of us, with kids who loved to run laps through the connecting doors in the room and on the verandah. Also had 3 connecting room on the other side, with at least one kid (at least I hope it was a kid) who felt the only way to get down from the top bunk was to jump. Added to that there was at least one group of guests on deck 10 who apparently felt the only way to get down the passageway to/from their rooms was to run footraces (day or night).

But, the second time on deck 9 was much quieter.

Thanks for the info! I'm glad to hear you liked deck 9 better. I was looking at the deck plan and if I'm right the room I booked does not have a connecting room‍

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info! I'm glad to hear you liked deck 9 better. I was looking at the deck plan and if I'm right the room I booked does not have a connecting room‍

I wasn't saying I like deck 9 better (than deck 10), just that the second time we stayed on deck 9 was better than the first time.

 

[adg06]

I didn't know they opened up booking in stages ... so thanks for sharing that. In other words, since I'm a 1st time cruiser I'll get last dibs to book activities ?

Yes, if I remember correctly, Platinum members and Concierge level get to book at 120 days out, Gold at 105 days, Silver at 90 days, and first time cruisers at 75 days.

I am on the wait list for early dining, and if it doesn't happen by the time we board, I will be going to guest services to ask for early dining, and princess meet & greet tickets... wish me luck!!

And congrats on booking your first cruise! So exciting!

 

[GeneralTso]

We are midship, deck 9 for our cruise that departs this Saturday. I am optimistic that it's a good location.
We have no control over who is next to us and just hoping it isn't a barrel full of monkeys. I don't mind a little commotion, but a full on circus, ugh.

 

[pezgirlroy]

Concierge actually can send their requests in at 125 days and they are then entered in at 120 days.

 

[SunDevilFanAZ]

We have done 8596 twice on th Fantasy. It is one deck below you and just a few cabins away. Great location and the stairs are nearby.

 

[nh3223]

Yes this is our first cruise. Regarding booking activities, I was just able to do that a couple of days ago (75 days out as a newbie cruiser). I was actually very disappointed with that process. My daughter is completely princess-obsessed, which is why we booked a Disney cruise in the first place. But the Princess Gathering and the Frozen meet & greet were already completely sold out at midnight at 75 days, so first time cruisers didn't have a chance. I knew this happened with Cabanas at Castaway and Palo, etc, but I did not really think the Princess and Frozen would be unavailable to us. So, yeah, supremely disappointed.

I was able to book activities that cost extra, such as BBB and the Royal Tea, which is crazy $$$, but I booked it anyway as my only way to guarantee princess time. Apparently they hold back some Princess and Frozen tickets for after boarding, and I will still try for those, but that will be too late to cancel the Tea if I am able to get them.

I did not try for Palo/Remy or any spa activities, so I can't speak to the availability of those. Excursions still seemed to be readily available as far as I could tell, but my kids are too young for anything adventurous.

We booked our October 2017 cruise in February 2017, which is short notice by cruise standards, and late dining was the only available option. We are on the wait list for early dining, because my kids are used to eating dinner around 5:30 PM at home, so I think that would work better for us. Hopefully we'll get to switch.

Long winded answer, I know, but hopefully helpful.

Keep looking for the Princess/Frozen. Like you, they were all full by the time we checked, but spaces opened up in the week or two before the cruise and we booked them before the 3 day before cruise booking window closed. Not sure if you would be able to cancel the others if they do open, but it might be possible. Just keep looking periodically.

 

[meliscan]

We have cruised twice in 9564 and love that deck and the location. So close to the elevators and easy access to food and drink on Deck 11. I love the ship so much that I don't care about doing any activities off the boat. My son spends as much time as possible in the kids club. You will love the cruise and I have heard that there are sometimes spaces for meet and greets after boarding as people change their plans around. You never know when someone will cancel something.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

hello all I just booked my 1st cruise ever ... I booked 9560 on the Fantasy for a 7 night eastern Caribbean cruise next august

Anyone stay in deck 9 midship that can give some pros and cons? Any suggestions on must do excursions ?

Thank you all for any tips. It's my 1st cruise so I'll be doing a lot of research here to help the planning !

We always stay deck 9 starboard midship. It is our favorite. Close to food, pool, and drink station. Easy to catch an elevator down. We've never had a problem with noise either.

 

[adg06]

Keep looking for the Princess/Frozen. Like you, they were all full by the time we checked, but spaces opened up in the week or two before the cruise and we booked them before the 3 day before cruise booking window closed. Not sure if you would be able to cancel the others if they do open, but it might be possible. Just keep looking periodically.

Thank you, this is good to hear. I have been checking frequently since booking opened, but maybe I should just wait until closer to cruising.