First Cruise...super overwhelmed

[chik1987]

Well you can say we jump in with both feet. This will be our first cruise (ever) and we are hoping to do a disney cruise in october 2017 4 night bahammas (patiently waiting for disney to announce thoese dates). Top it all off we are going through DFTW to get married on board. We have done a ton of research but the main questions I have now are about the rooms. Everyone seems super specific on what rooms they want. We are looking at at least getting the deluxe family stateroom with verandah. If we can afford it we want to get the concierge one bedroom suite mainly for the space and privacy since we are bringing our 2 pre teen children with us. I just don't know if its really worth it to spend that much more money for a little extra space. Everyone says its not worth it for a 4 night cruise since you won't be in your room much, but being our wedding/honeymoon I'm more inclined to spend a little more. I have also read that through DFTW you already get a lot of the same concierge benefits (early check in etc). We plan on traveling with at least a few other families that I know won't be able to afford the concierge so the lounge/sun deck on the dream would be probably unused for the most part since we will want to hang out with our friends as much as possible. So what rooms would you look at in my position. Please include all the ships because we have no idea what one we will end up on. Also in those classes what specific rooms do you feel are the best and why. Thank you all so much I have been lurking on these threads for a while and it has been an invaluable resource in this crazy planning process.

EDIT: Also if we are looking at the deluxe family stateroom and not going with the suite is there a specific room that you would suggest we try to reserve on each ship? I have been looking through all the reviews and its just kinda hard to decide what the pros and cons are when I really don't know much about it.

 

[gumbypee]

It is a totally personal thing. I've sailed with just oceanview and was perfectly happy. It seems if you want to spend the time with your friends I would forego concierge. Especially a 4 nighter. Maybe a ten night it would be good. my two cents

 

[TeaBee]

Well you can say we jump in with both feet. This will be our first cruise (ever) and we are hoping to do a disney cruise in october 2017 4 night bahammas (patiently waiting for disney to announce thoese dates). Top it all off we are going through DFTW to get married on board. We have done a ton of research but the main questions I have now are about the rooms. Everyone seems super specific on what rooms they want. We are looking at at least getting the deluxe family stateroom with verandah. If we can afford it we want to get the concierge one bedroom suite mainly for the space and privacy since we are bringing our 2 pre teen children with us. I just don't know if its really worth it to spend that much more money for a little extra space. Everyone says its not worth it for a 4 night cruise since you won't be in your room much, but being our wedding/honeymoon I'm more inclined to spend a little more. I have also read that through DFTW you already get a lot of the same concierge benefits (early check in etc). We plan on traveling with at least a few other families that I know won't be able to afford the concierge so the lounge/sun deck on the dream would be probably unused for the most part since we will want to hang out with our friends as much as possible. So what rooms would you look at in my position. Please include all the ships because we have no idea what one we will end up on. Also in those classes what specific rooms do you feel are the best and why. Thank you all so much I have been lurking on these threads for a while and it has been an invaluable resource in this crazy planning process.

Maybe instead of a concierge one bedroom, you could price out two connecting family verandahs? You'd have to split the adults on the reservation, but you could have the kids sleep in one and you in the other. It would give you the privacy you might want on your honeymoon without having to feel like you're "wasting" concierge since you'll be sailing with non-concierge friends.

 

[chik1987]

Maybe instead of a concierge one bedroom, you could price out two connecting family verandahs? You'd have to split the adults on the reservation, but you could have the kids sleep in one and you in the other. It would give you the privacy you might want on your honeymoon without having to feel like you're "wasting" concierge since you'll be sailing with non-concierge friends.

Thank you for your reply. We will have to price that out once the cruises are announced, that is a really great idea.

 

[bethy]

We recently sailed with connecting verandah staterooms - one for us and one for the kids and it was just perfect Best wishes!

 

[chik1987]

We recently sailed with connecting verandah staterooms - one for us and one for the kids and it was just perfect Best wishes!

Thanks! We will have to look into that. I think just the one room will be fine but my fiance is pretty darn set on the 1 bedroom suite. Its helpful to see what everyone's thoughts are.

 

[jrabbit]

and if you want to save some more money - and are comfortable with it, and it depends upon your kids

you could have a verandah for you and an inside across the hall for the kids. I myself would feel more comfortable if they were teens (like 15yo)

I also know that many people love their verandas. on a 4 nighter you will be in port the first day, in Nassau the second, on Castaway Cay the third and a sea day. Is the veranda really necessary? If you are hanging out with friends, most of the "normal room" verandas will not really seat 4 people, so you would probably be up on deck with them. Two oceanview rooms can save a lot of money. And you will be giving Disney a LOT of money for the wedding.

 

[chik1987]

and if you want to save some more money - and are comfortable with it, and it depends upon your kids

you could have a verandah for you and an inside across the hall for the kids. I myself would feel more comfortable if they were teens (like 15yo)

I also know that many people love their verandas. on a 4 nighter you will be in port the first day, in Nassau the second, on Castaway Cay the third and a sea day. Is the veranda really necessary? If you are hanging out with friends, most of the "normal room" verandas will not really seat 4 people, so you would probably be up on deck with them. Two oceanview rooms can save a lot of money. And you will be giving Disney a LOT of money for the wedding.

Honestly our budget more than covers at least a verandah room so I know we will at least get that.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Well you can say we jump in with both feet. This will be our first cruise (ever) and we are hoping to do a disney cruise in october 2017 4 night bahammas (patiently waiting for disney to announce thoese dates). Top it all off we are going through DFTW to get married on board. We have done a ton of research but the main questions I have now are about the rooms. Everyone seems super specific on what rooms they want. We are looking at at least getting the deluxe family stateroom with verandah. If we can afford it we want to get the concierge one bedroom suite mainly for the space and privacy since we are bringing our 2 pre teen children with us. I just don't know if its really worth it to spend that much more money for a little extra space. Everyone says its not worth it for a 4 night cruise since you won't be in your room much, but being our wedding/honeymoon I'm more inclined to spend a little more. I have also read that through DFTW you already get a lot of the same concierge benefits (early check in etc). We plan on traveling with at least a few other families that I know won't be able to afford the concierge so the lounge/sun deck on the dream would be probably unused for the most part since we will want to hang out with our friends as much as possible. So what rooms would you look at in my position. Please include all the ships because we have no idea what one we will end up on. Also in those classes what specific rooms do you feel are the best and why. Thank you all so much I have been lurking on these threads for a while and it has been an invaluable resource in this crazy planning process.

EDIT: Also if we are looking at the deluxe family stateroom and not going with the suite is there a specific room that you would suggest we try to reserve on each ship? I have been looking through all the reviews and its just kinda hard to decide what the pros and cons are when I really don't know much about it.

I would definitely go with 2 connecting rooms, mid ship, deck 7 or above. We've done 3 cruises with connecting insides and 1 with all 4 of us in 1 verandah. By far prefer the connecting cabins.

 

[MPS516]

Depending when you sail in October the 2 connecting Veranda's will normally be cheaper than Concierge. We like to be about 1/2 way between main decks and upper decks, so depending on which ship, 6, 7, or 8. We laid down he law with our DD when she was pre teen; no opening veranda unless an adult was present. I don't think I would sail concierge if traveling with other families, spend too much time away from concierge amenities.