Fellow Cat 3 Cruisers... need advice

[tinknsnow]

We are a family of five and we have cruised twice, both times in the midship Cat 3 staterooms. We loved the midship cat 3 staterooms-- the location, the extra space, and the service that comes with it.

We had planned to book a Magic cruise in late Spring (end of May/beginning of June) of 2008 but didn't have a clue about the "IC fax". After reading all these posts, I'm not sure if we stand a chance of the Cat 3s at all, let alone the midship ones!

Have any of you sailed in a Cat 4 after a Cat 3? If so, how did it compare? Did it dampen the cruise for you at all?

We do spend a fair amount of time in the cabin-- the kids need downtime and we just enjoy the verandah space so much.

Should I pass on the Cat 4 and just wait until 2009 when we can book the midship 3s without a problem? If we don't get the dates we want, I was thinking we'd just book Christmas at the WL instead.

We weren't necessarily hoping for a West Coast cruise, but I'll admit I am excited about the chance (excuse? ) to get back to Disneyland. I think the Fantasyland there blows the Magic Kingdom version away, not to mention the new Space Mtn!

Thanks for any feedback, and my apologies for the length of this post!

 

[flexsmom]

I'm betting that if there are a ton of IC requests for Cat 3s for summer '08, the bulk are around the repo cruises. I think you'll be able to book at Cat 3 for one of the 7-day without a problem, particularly if you are flexible with your dates. I had submitted an IC request for both Christmas 07 and summer 07. When the Med cruises opened up, I called to book my Christmas cruise and got my Cat 3. A few days later, I got a call for one of the Med repos, but this was several days after booking had opened. So - my point is that if you call on 1/31, I bet you'll be able to nail down a suite for a day you are free.

As to shifting to a Cat 4 after a Cat 3 - I haven't done that, and have to admit that I'm spoiled and hope not to have to do so! You don't list the ages of your children, but I'm guessing that 5 in a Cat 4 would be cozy. If you're willing to pay for the Cat 3, I just have a feeling you'll be able to get it.

 

[been2marceline]

We had no problem getting a midship 3 for the 2005 eastbound a couple of weeks after the bookings had opened, the worst case is you hang on the phone for a couple of hours on the 31st and get a 4 with a waitlist ( ew - there's that word again ) for a 3.

Good luck!

 

[justhat]

We got a Cat 3 for a Med cruise this summer by calling the day that bookings opened. It's an aft Cat 3, not midship like we've had in the past and loved, but our dates were not too flexible so that had something to do with it I'm sure.

 

[tinknsnow]

Thanks for the pep talk, guys!

I will cross my fingers and see what happens on Wednesday (like everyone else!).

 

[been2marceline]

We got a Cat 3 for a Med cruise this summer by calling the day that bookings opened. It's an aft Cat 3, not midship like we've had in the past and loved, but our dates were not too flexible so that had something to do with it I'm sure.

So did I, but I was the first caller...... 4 Phones on redial.

 

[PizzieDuster]

We are a family of five and we have cruised twice, both times in the midship Cat 3 staterooms. We loved the midship cat 3 staterooms-- the location, the extra space, and the service that comes with it.

We had planned to book a Magic cruise in late Spring (end of May/beginning of June) of 2008 but didn't have a clue about the "IC fax". After reading all these posts, I'm not sure if we stand a chance of the Cat 3s at all, let alone the midship ones!

Have any of you sailed in a Cat 4 after a Cat 3? If so, how did it compare? Did it dampen the cruise for you at all?

We do spend a fair amount of time in the cabin-- the kids need downtime and we just enjoy the verandah space so much.

Should I pass on the Cat 4 and just wait until 2009 when we can book the midship 3s without a problem? If we don't get the dates we want, I was thinking we'd just book Christmas at the WL instead.

We weren't necessarily hoping for a West Coast cruise, but I'll admit I am excited about the chance (excuse? ) to get back to Disneyland. I think the Fantasyland there blows the Magic Kingdom version away, not to mention the new Space Mtn!

Thanks for any feedback, and my apologies for the length of this post!

Well, I'll be honest. Our first DCL cruise we had Cat 3 - not midship. Our second, we rebooked on board and was told - "oh the midship Cat 3 is much nicer." And boy was it!

Our third DCL cruise I booked 30 days out when they came out her to California. A Cat 4.

Yes, it was hard to adjust and although we missed a Cat 3, there was one less of us 4 instead of 5. So it worked out.

Honestly, yes. I missed the mid ship Cat 3 and I would adjust my vacation accordingly.

This upcoming West Coast booking, I have a travel agent and are traveling with friends. I want my friend to get a Cat 3 before us as it is her first DCL cruise. (We are sailing the Freedom of The Seas 4/8/07 in a junior suite.) So out here, and per the poeple I've spoken to, there are a lot of us wanting a Cat 3 - mid ship, willing to take the first sail date that one is available. And we have no fax to IC.

You didn't mention how old your children were. When my kids were younger, the Cat 3 was perfect. Loved the two bathrooms and having the main bedroom to ourselves. Well, after two Cat 3s, it did dampen a little, being honest. Did we spend --- irrrr ---- I mean did I spend a lot of time comparing? Yes, but we were on the boat - and booking 30 days out, I was lucky at that.

But now that my kids are older, they eat sleep, well, just eat, sleep and wake up to go on the internet A Cat 4 was better than not sailing at all Hee, when we walked in the room the said "where's the other bathroom?" At least my teens are boys, not girls.


P.S. I tell all my girlfriends to start faxing - while sitting at the toddler pool or at the beach, I tell them, start faxing now, so in two or three years, you'll get the cabin you want and they look at me like WHAT? I just gave birth yesterday. Wierd.

 

[justhat]

So did I, but I was the first caller...... 4 Phones on redial.

We did that too, but only got through on 1 phone and it took 45 minutes. We were seriously getting depressed that we'd never get through when my mom called us with our reservation #!! She lives out of state so we didn't know she had gotten through, but boy was I happy!

 

[tinknsnow]

Well, I'll be honest. Our first DCL cruise we had Cat 3 - not midship. Our second, we rebooked on board and was told - "oh the midship Cat 3 is much nicer." And boy was it!

Our third DCL cruise I booked 30 days out when they came out her to California. A Cat 4.

Yes, it was hard to adjust and although we missed a Cat 3, there was one less of us 4 instead of 5. So it worked out.

Honestly, yes. I missed the mid ship Cat 3 and I would adjust my vacation accordingly.

This is exactly the info I hoped to get-- THANK YOU!

My munchkins will be 5, 7, and 9 by the time Summer of '08 rolls around. Yes, that separate bedroom is nice!

I'm not sure I'd be happy sailing when it is so hot, so if we don't get the dates and Cat 3, we'll just have to pass, I think. I know I'd compare rooms the whole trip. For some people, the stateroom seems to be just a place to sleep but I just love spending time on that verandah while my three kids play inside with room to bounce around.

Thanks for the opinion. Best of luck to you and your friends getting the dates and Cat you want!


I wish everyone the same-- GL to all of us tomorrow!