First cruise and could use advice

[Four Swampers]

We have been in most rooms: interior, outside, and verandah. I have not yet felt like we, personally, got the value of the verandah; we tend to be off enjoying the ship. We did an 11 night med cruise and a 12 night med cruise with an interior room and loved it. On the 11 night cruise, my daughter was surprised to see what the room looks like during the day on Day 7! We had not seen the room during the day until that time.

That said, we have opted for a verandah room for Norway this summer. I hope we sit out there and enjoy it some!

 

[gumbypee]

I'm another deck 2 ocean view fan!

I would so much rather spend money on excursions and seeing the world than on a balcony. I had a balcony (different line) to Hawaii and actually hated it. I felt I HAD to use it when I would rather be out.

I love sitting out on decks (4??) and reading and feel it is much more valuable than having balcony

 

[TAK]

I assume that you are on the Magic or Wonder. If that is the case the 54 sq feet IS the veranda - the rooms are actually the same size.

I "live" on deck 2 - Ocean view. Best value on the ship. DCL has "pixie dusted" upgraded us once to a verandah - it was "nice" but we only went out there a few times when we were in the room (usually changing clothes / getting cleaned up) because it was there and we felt that we should use it. None of us LOVED it. We all actually prefer deck 4 or the pool or top deck of the ship. One other cruise we booked "late" and there were no ocean view rooms available so we booked a balcony on the Fantasy. Went out a couple of time for a few seconds (yes seconds) because it was too hot and too humid.

Have done the Caribbean, West Coast, Alaska, Panama Canal and Mediterranean cruises on Deck 2 Ocean view and never felt like we were missing out on anything. The one thing I do get tired of is "people" looking down upon us when we say that our room is on deck two ... we definatly get the vibe of "oooooh, so you are down in steerage" - and my comeback (only inside my head so far) is .. "thanks for spending 12 times what I am spending on this exact same cruise so my prices stay "lower" "

Reviving this thread because your post was so helpful -- we just booked a Deck 2 room on the Canadian cruise October 2016. My *only* concern was that it would feel strange being close to the water. Is that crazy? Thoughts?

 

[xlxo]

I'm another deck 2 oceanview lover....

• being close to the water means you are right up front to the jumping Ketchikan salmon
• I think of my oceanview as a climate controlled balcony. Don't need to be concern about being too cold
• only disadvantage is in port.... keep your curtains closed as at low tide, people are able to look into the cabin.

 

[TAK]

I'm another deck 2 oceanview lover....

• being close to the water means you are right up front to the jumping Ketchikan salmon
• I think of my oceanview as a climate controlled balcony. Don't need to be concern about being too cold
• only disadvantage is in port.... keep your curtains closed as at low tide, people are able to look into the cabin.

Erk. I'm kind of freaking out at this description though. Are you level with the water on Deck 2? (I guess you can't be -- there's a Deck 1). I just feel afraid of being too close, like I'll feel the ocean is swallowing me up. It's an irrational fear, I'm well aware!

 

[MouseMomx2]

Erk. I'm kind of freaking out at this description though. Are you level with the water on Deck 2? (I guess you can't be -- there's a Deck 1). I just feel afraid of being too close, like I'll feel the ocean is swallowing me up. It's an irrational fear, I'm well aware!

No, you are not level with the water. Not only is there a Deck 1, but there are also A and B crew decks below that. Look at this picture of the Magic... http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disney_Magic_2.jpg The top-most row of portholes in the blue/black section of the ship, right below the yellow line, is Deck 3. Deck 2 is the next set of portholes down. As you can see, you are quite high above the water line.

 

[TAK]

No, you are not level with the water. Not only is there a Deck 1, but there are also A and B crew decks below that. Look at this picture of the Magic... http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disney_Magic_2.jpg The top-most row of portholes in the blue/black section of the ship, right below the yellow line, is Deck 3. Deck 2 is the next set of portholes down. As you can see, you are quite high above the water line.

Whew. You saved me from panic, there. It's just a weird fear. But yes, putting it like that, I feel a little less scared! I keep wanting to see photos taken from a deck 2 window, but this helps.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Whew. You saved me from panic, there. It's just a weird fear. But yes, putting it like that, I feel a little less scared! I keep wanting to see photos taken from a deck 2 window, but this helps.

It's like staying on the 3rd or 4th story of a building.

 

[hudson3709]

We love oceanview - done inside and Veranda as well - just don't get the value out of the veranda. But we prefer higher in the ship (deck 5-7 please) primarily for easy access to everything with only taking the stairs. We have done deck 2 once but I prefer to never wait for elevators if possible. And burn off the food

 

[Crystal O_o]

Im probably in the minority but I don't think the extra cost is worth it unless you are hitting ports you would like to see. For me this would include Europe or Alaska, Hawaii. To the Caribbean the large portholes work perfect for us.

 

[MouseMomx2]

We love oceanview - done inside and Veranda as well - just don't get the value out of the veranda. But we prefer higher in the ship (deck 5-7 please) primarily for easy access to everything with only taking the stairs. We have done deck 2 once but I prefer to never wait for elevators if possible. And burn off the food

One benefit to Deck 2, if you have to take elevators, is that you never have to wait for a second one because the first one is full. The elevator will come all the way down to 2 before ascending to the other floors. My mother, who has mobility issues, much prefers Deck 2 as she hates the struggle to get an elevator from the upper floors.

 

[Crystal O_o]

Whew. You saved me from panic, there. It's just a weird fear. But yes, putting it like that, I feel a little less scared! I keep wanting to see photos taken from a deck 2 window, but this helps.

Here you go, here are some I have taken as well as several from our 3 cabin group.
waiting by cbettua, on Flickr

1stcruise by cbettua, on Flickr

1904125_10153092895132302_4175619888740063314_n by cbettua, on Flickr

10929916_848542718537246_5504786206915335329_n by cbettua, on Flickr

10990823_848546268536891_1491473950736475914_o by cbettua, on Flickr

 

[xlxo]

Erk. I'm kind of freaking out at this description though. Are you level with the water on Deck 2? (I guess you can't be -- there's a Deck 1). I just feel afraid of being too close, like I'll feel the ocean is swallowing me up. It's an irrational fear, I'm well aware!

In this picture I found on the web, you can see Vancouver has an elevated public walkway that about the height of Deck 6. http://thumb1.shutterstock.com/disp...-at-canada-place-harbor-on-july-211669180.jpg

So yes, Deck 2 is above the water by about 15-20 feet. However the docks are about Deck 1 or Deck 3 depending on the tides.

I agree with the earlier posts on elevator access. I was Deck 7 on other cruise lines and it was frustrating trying to find an available elevator at peak times.

 

[lg3]

If you can swing it, a balcony is the way to go. It is a must IMHO for an Alaskan cruise, and is very helpful to dry out swimsuits in warmer climates.