Deluxe Family Oceanview Vs. Deluxe Verandah

[AnnieMouseMom]

Hello! We are new to Disney cruising and just booked a cruise with the deluxe verandah room on the Dream that's supposed to be 299 sq ft. But photos make the square deluxe oceanview room look so much bigger! I also have a three-year old and am a little worried about her with the verandah. Any thoughts on which room is preferable?

 

[lanejudy]

Did you book a "Family" verandah -- category 4? Or a regular verandah - categories 5, 6, or 7? The "Family" designation indicates a larger stateroom. I ask because you mention 299 sq ft, which is the category 4 Family verandah size.

The regular verandah is 246 sq ft, which is about the same as the family oceanview (cat. 8) at 241 sq ft. I'm not sure what pictures you have seen, but there are a few category 8 staterooms which are more squarish shaped than most -- these do appear roomier and are highly popular for that reason. They were originally intended to be handicapped accessible, but for whatever reason are not designated as such, hence the more open floor space. Most staterooms in all categories are more rectangular, long and narrow, rather than square.

My family cruises in an oceanview, we've never felt the need for a verandah. However my understanding of verandah rooms is that the doors are heavy and the locks are high. If you keep the door locked, your child shouldn't be able to get out there without you.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Per:
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Disney-Dream





These two rooms look very similar. The 299 you quoted seems to be the cabin plus the balcony combined. But the Oceanview doesn't actually have that verandah space as usable inside space. It just doesn't have it. If you look on a deck layout, the Family Oceanviews (cat 8) take up as much space as the regular verandah (cat 5). The cat 4 (family verandah) is larger.


Green is the cat 4, orange is the cat 5 and the light pink is the cat 8.

 

[GPaLarry]

Of eight cruises, we have had a verandah for half. The one that demands a verandah is on the Wonder in Alaska.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

We love the verandah! If budgeting allows, go for it! Am wondering how many in your party, 4 or 5? We've been in the larger 4B and smaller 7A, depending on how many in the room. Nothing like cruising with your own private verandah, if budget allows. There are child locks in addition to the regular lock on the door, if that helps. But I understand some are not fans of small kids and verandahs. Our youngest were 5, and they were fine on it, paid attention to the no climbing on furniture rules, but everyone knows their own kid. Whatever you choose, have the best time! Nothing like the ocean sea air and amazing views!

 

[Tim3888]

We loved the verandah on our first cruise and decided to go with one again for our second cruise. I haven't done the oceanview stateroom, but for me, the verandah was worth it. We had two 4 year-olds (and a 7 year-old) and didn't have any issues. The doors are very heavy and do lock at the top. Beyond that, our kids are all very low-key and although we did set rules around the furniture on the verandah, it just wasn't an issue. But, if you have a child who is especially rambunctious, I could see it being a worry. Just depends on the individual children, I think.

 

[JimGA]

We love the verandah! If budgeting allows, go for it! Am wondering how many in your party, 4 or 5? We've been in the larger 4B and smaller 7A, depending on how many in the room. Nothing like cruising with your own private verandah, if budget allows. There are child locks in addition to the regular lock on the door, if that helps. But I understand some are not fans of small kids and verandahs. Our youngest were 5, and they were fine on it, paid attention to the no climbing on furniture rules, but everyone knows their own kid. Whatever you choose, have the best time! Nothing like the ocean sea air and amazing views!

My thoughts exactly, it's nice to be able to go outside from your room, I like to sit outside at night with a glass of wine or two.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Our first two cruises were ocean view, the third we got a veranda and we have never looked back since. We use our veranda throughout the cruise. If you think that you will be out of your stateroom most of the cruise just going back at night to sleep; I would save the cash and go with an ocean view room. If you think you will be going back to the room throughout the day for down time and naps for your three year old, the veranda is a nice place to sit and watch the world go by.

I'm an early riser so I will walk the decks for a little while while most of the other cruisers are still sleeping or getting ready for the day. Then I will go to the drink station, grab a coffee, go back to the stateroom, grab the Navigator and go out on the veranda while I am waiting for my wife to get moving. We both go back throughout the day just to get away from the crowd and it's a great place to relax a little before calling it a night.

As others have mentioned, the locks on the veranda doors are high up and they are fairly heavy to slide open.

 

[AnnieMouseMom]

Thank you so much, everyone! I think we will go ahead and stick with the Verandah! Can't wait for our first cruise!

 

[MickeyD]

One thing I don't think was mentioned in the cat 4 family veranda staterooms, the shower is round, no bath tub (to speak of). The extra space of the room is fantastic and we loved the round shower, but it might not work with a little one? Just a thought...