Family of 5-Fam. suite or 2 staterooms???

[PattiPB]

We are looking at cruising next December, and I am hoping some of you with experience (and a similar family!) could give me opinions.

My kids will be 10, 8 & 6. Our options will be a family verandah suite, or getting 2 staterooms and splitting up. The price difference is approx. $50. Which would you do?

I know the fam suite has the verandah, but two bathrooms might be good! Splitting up is not our favorite idea, but could it be worth it?

Please help! I'm trying to come up with such a killer plan DH can't possibly say no!!! LOL!!!

Patti

 

[justcruisin]

That is a tough decision .... I would go with the Verandah cabin over the adjoining, based on the ages of your children. If they were teenagers, the 2 cabins would be better. I'm interested to read what others think ....

There were 5 of us on our first DCL, we went with the 2 cabins, oldest kids were 18 and 12 at that time, had we all been in 1 cabin, I think I would have gone nuts! They leave such a mess and want to sleep til noon.

diana

 

[Mjasp]

You can get adjoining cabins. I would have to opt for the 2 bathrooms as the kids and you could take your showers at the same time.

You could also leave the door open between the rooms at night, and the 4 yr old could sleep in your room.

The thought of 2 bathrooms would sell me.

Joanna

 

[MommyTo5]

I would definitely go with 2 connecting rooms... you will have some privacy if you want/need it and you can always leave the door between the rooms open. I know being around my kiddos 24/7 would drive me crazy!

~ Angie
MommyTo5

 

[lalapodip]

Our kids are 8, 8, & 10, and we decided on two cabins (but my DH snores to wake the dead, which is an additional factor...) that are connecting. We'll be on the 8/21 Magic.

We'll leave the door between the cabins open (well, maybe just a crack!!), as mentioned above. Two bathrooms really work out well, and there was a larger price differential for us (way more than $50). We went with 2 category 10 cabins.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!!

 

[Ottawacruiser]

Hi PattiPB:

We have a family configuration almost exactly the same as yours! On our first cruise, we had DS(12), DD1(10) and DD2(8) - 2 years apart just like you.

We went for the family veranda suite - sleeping 5 - and our kids loved it. However, we tend to not sleep in too much - the kids were always too keen to get to the clubs for that! DW and I also loved having the veranda for quiet time.

Our most recent cruise was last March - at that time we were DS(14), DD1(12) and DD2(10). We still went for the family veranda. Our son was now in the teen program and we found it useful to know when he was coming in at night (he had a midnight curfew!).

We looked at adjoining staterooms for our next cruise but the first two people in the room always pay the adult price - independant of actual age (assuming you know this already).

So, YMML, but for us, being somewhat early risers, and loving the veranda, the family veranda suite was the way to go.

As far as shower conflict, I did run up to the spa and grab a few showers there - very easy to do and they were *never* busy.

Good luck!

Regards,
The Ottawacruiser.

 

[marciemi]

I'm assuming the only $50 difference means that the two cabins you're getting have balconies too. Otherwise, I think I'd definitely pay the $50 to get the balcony. If you are, then I'd just like to recommend you make sure that if you get two cabins that they are connecting. We decided to go the cheaper route and get cat 11's on our Disney cruise which did not have the option of connecting. We didn't think it would be that big of a deal since they were right next door to each other and since our kids were young (5, 7, 8), one of us would sleep in each room anyways.

But we found that it was an incredible inconvenience. Whenever we needed something, it was in the other cabin (and inevitable, we were just out of the shower!). I had packed most of the kids stuff together so of course it was never all in the right place. And having to find a key or bang on the door every time we ran back and forth was really annoying. As long as both of your options have the balconies and the connecting door, I don't think you can go wrong!

 

[Karel]

Go for the family suite this time around. My kids were 10,9 and 7 when we went and there was plenty of space. As far as bathrooms, we had no problems taking turns. But then again, we only have one bathroom at home too. The veranda is great but be warned that you have to climb over the Murphy bed when it is down.

It was nice and cozy all sleeping together, a warm fuzzy feeling when you consider those days of being together will end quickly.

We're looking to book for next year and will probably get two rooms, for money saving purposes. My husband wants the family suite again though.

 

[mareka]

We went last Oct and had 5 people (53, 51, 30,29, 10)
The 10 yr old got the upper bunk.

We were crowded, but as we didn't spend a lot of time in the room it worked.

My husband and I usually got up first and showered quietly.

The Girls (30, 29) They're still girls to me.

They liked to stay oot late at the clubs. and my grandson was almost as much as a stay out with the kids club.

The balcony helped to not feel so closed in.

Although my husband and I have stayed in an inside stateroom before and it was fine.

You'll do fine - IT'S DISNEY.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by lalapodip
Our kids are 8, 8, & 10, and we decided on two cabins (but my DH snores to wake the dead, which is an additional factor...)

Wow...just because of the snoring part I would get the 2 rooms and then stay in the one with the kids and let him have his own room LOL!

 

[lalapodip]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
Wow...just because of the snoring part I would get the 2 rooms and then stay in the one with the kids and let him have his own room LOL!

You got that right!!

 

[cjsmith]

We always get 2 cabins for our family of 5. On our first cruise, my kids were 10, 12, and 14 so it was a much easier choice for us. We always do a category 11 for the kids right across the hallway from our category 6. It ends up being quite a bit cheaper than us doing the family stateroom. I love having the extra space and extra bathroom. Plus if someone needs some down time, they can have a cabin to relax in and take a nap, while the other cabin is still available.
With our kids ages, I would get 2 adjoining cabins and enjoy the space!

 

[hydster]

We had a family suite last year on the 4 day wonder and while it was ok we booked 2 adjoining cat 8's for our May cruise next year. One of the reasons we booked it was the family cabin, while bigger than most ships, still felt small to us. We went with our 3 kids who at the time of sailing last Nov were 9,7 and 3. They fought over who got to sleep where every single night and in the morning when hubby and I would wake up we would have loved to go to the balcony (very tempting) but we couldnt get out to it since the Murphy bed goes right in front of it. Also we didnt like the noise factor of the 8th deck where we could hear kids running, screaming, running, the deck party going on when we wanted to go to sleep and kids running. The 8th deck was convenient to get to the pools but to get to anything else we had to drag the kids down 2-4 flights of stairs and listen to them whine. At least on the 6th deck we are in the middle in 2 connecting staterooms this time. A balcony is really nice IF you get time to spend on it. When we take our kids we dont get alot of time on it because they either are with us or we just get out there and they page us. We are also really excited about having 2 bathrooms this time as going with a girl at the age of 10 and 2 boys who are messy and gross at the age of 9 and 5 the thought of hubby and I getting our own bathroom was really appealing! For us the price difference was alot bigger than 50 dollars but I think I would still opt for the 2 cabins that adjoin...that extra space is worth it to us instead of a balcony.

Just my 2 cents!
Heidi

 

[eye R.N.]

We get two catagory 9's and keep the door open most of the time. The cabin steward will fix it up as soon as you let them know that's what you want. They will give room keys for both rooms.

This way I still know when they are coming in, their mess is confined to their own space (which would drive me nuts if we had a single room) and there are enough bathrooms even if we all get dressed at once.

As for the sleeping part my rule is, first one in get's their choice of beds. Needless to say the 17yr. old was almost always on the top bunk.

 

[wdisnyw]

i would go with the 2 rooms for the money and the privacy.i think you will save more than 50.00.anyway spend the money on the family your only in the room to sleep & shower.

have fun crusin


wdisnyw
wonder 8/17
2 rooms 2020/2018 (good )

 

[hilltopfamily]

We went at the end of July (our 1st cruise) and both me & DH were so glad we followed advice from fellow Dis'ers here and went with the 2 connecting cat. 10's. Specifics:

3 kids were: DD 12 (1 month short of 13), DS 9, & DD 6

We wouldn't have traded in a bathroom for a veranda even if the price were the other way around and 2 cat 10's cost MORE than the family veranda suite! We had early dinner and we wouldn't have made it if we all had to take turns waiting to shower. You are so busy all day that, at least in our case, we felt grimey (sp?) and at the very least needed a quick, rinse-off shower prior to dressing every evening.

DH & I (and the kids too!) liked having a little bit of separate space and if you add up the square feet, you get 428' with 2 cat. 10's and only 304' in 1 family veranda, which I believe includes the veranda. We would have felt too much "underfoot" with us all in 1 space.

We had our stateroom host block the connecting doors so that they were always open, it was like having a large suite! Boys could get dressed in 1 room, girls in the other so we had more "privacy" (I think the bathrooms are too small to try changing clothes in).

And when we wanted the "veranda" experience, we just went up 2 decks to deck 4 and relaxed in the lounge chairs. (of course there is also always decks 9 & 10 as well & secret deck 7 aft

good luck in your decision.

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by hilltopfamily
We wouldn't have traded in a bathroom for a veranda even if the price were the other way around and 2 cat 10's cost MORE than the family veranda suite! We had early dinner and we wouldn't have made it if we all had to take turns waiting to shower. You are so busy all day that, at least in our case, we felt grimey (sp?) and at the very least needed a quick, rinse-off shower prior to dressing every evening.

.

Would you have prefered an ocean view over the inside room? Did you feel too 'trapped' with no windows? We had a family suite last time but the $1000 price difference is too much to ignore. We have two 10 and a great quote but no windows may be too much. Of course, I don't expect our kids to be in the cabins much but last time my daughter was took a five hour nap one day (completely unexpected) and I was in the room the whole time. It was nice having the veranda and glass door.

 

[jlawall]

I've done both and I recommend one cabin for a family with children your ages. The balcony is nice to dry clothes on. Pack lightly and you will have a blast!!

 

[kaphil]

Just my experience, but I would say get two rooms. We had one of the adults get sick and they spent most of one night in our one bathroom, you do not want to have the rest of you running around to the ships public restrooms.

 

[hilltopfamily]

Originally posted by Karel
Would you have prefered an ocean view over the inside room? Did you feel too 'trapped' with no windows? We had a family suite last time but the $1000 price difference is too much to ignore. We have two 10 and a great quote but no windows may be too much. Of course, I don't expect our kids to be in the cabins much but last time my daughter was took a five hour nap one day (completely unexpected) and I was in the room the whole time. It was nice having the veranda and glass door.

Can't speak for others so I'll be interested in what they have to say but.....no, none in our family ever felt trapped with no windows. And I am the type who opens our shades/curtains all over the house first thing in the morning, has the front door open most of the day, and have sky lights installed in my living & dining rooms because I like to bring "the outside in" so I was worried about this a little before the cruise. Having said that though, I should add that we spent almost no time in our rooms during the day. We were almost always busy elsewhere & my kids don't take naps anymore so hanging out in the room while they slept was not an issue.