First time on DCL - Help me figure out our sleeping arrangement?

[mderh]

We just got our stateroom assignment (booked 7A GTY and got a 5A) for our September Fantasy cruise. I've been on HAL and Princess a good bit pre-kids and I assumed that the main bed could be separated on DCL as well. I'm seeing now that it can't and getting a bit panicky about how we're going to get a good night's rest on this cruise.

My husband is 6'7", a very active sleeper, and uses a CPAP. Our son is 4 and wears a very large and heavy brace that connects both legs at night; he's also all over the place while he sleeps, and the brace is quite unpleasant to get whacked with. Our 7YO daughter will sleep anywhere, any time, but tosses and turns all night just like the boys do. I am a light sleeper with some chronic pain conditions, and really struggle trying to share a bed with any of them - my husband and I have separate beds in the same room at home.

The plan was to separate the main bed for me and my husband, put my daughter in the top bunk, and put my son on the couch bed, which would have been perfect but apparently is not a possibility. I think we're going to have to put my husband and daughter in the main bed, since they're the only two who could potentially coexist in a queen bed for a week. I'm looking for information about (1) whether there's enough head clearance for an adult in the top bunk, (2) whether there's enough of a safety rail on the top bunk to put a small child up there, (3) the relative comfort of the top bunk and the couch bed, and (4) whether people have had success in the past with getting an upgrade at the port to the room with the fourth (murphy) bed.

Thanks so much for any insight anyone can give me!

 

[cvjw]

I would try and upgrade now if you can. We sail the fantasy a lot and every cruise that we have sailed on since late 2022 has sailed full. There is always a sign at guest services stating no upgrades available.

I have slept on the twin couch bed and it is fine. Not super comfortable, but adequate.

 

[Girl of the South]

By upgrade, you may be able to get a room that sleeps 5, which would also have a Murphy bed. Could you bring a yoga/ camping mat and put someone on the floor?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks so much for any insight anyone can give me!

Not a 5A room, but you can see how much room there is in the upper bunk when set up with couch bed also open:

Also, some more information about upper bunk:


Both upper bunk and couch bed are full size twin beds. I wouldn't put your son in the upper bunk. While there's a small rail, and you can always ask for additional rails (they slip under the mattress) I think the extra weight of the brace could be an issue.

 

[Mommb]

There is a rail on the top bunk and you can request an additional longer railing so it could work for a 4 year old. I am not sure how much clearance there is above the bed, but my 20-year-old slept on the top bunk on the Dream last year. However, I think the couch bed would be more comfortable for an adult.

I agree that if you are still a few weeks away, you should check whether you can upgrade your room now to a Category 4 room with both a bunk and a murphy bed. (Note that on the Dream and Fantasy, not all Category 4 rooms have 4 beds.) If that's not feasible, you can ask if there are any such rooms available when you check in at the port. The cost will be less than if you booked a Category 4 to begin with, but there may not be rooms available if other guests have upgraded into them.

 

[lanejudy]

Changing to a room that sleeps 5 might be the best. However an upgrade will be at current prices, so it's possible a Cat. 4 (family verandah) could be out of price range. Maybe also consider a Cat. 8 (family oceanview) if you are willing to forgo the verandah. It's the same room layout as the picture above but with a port hole instead of verandah doors. If you do decide to change, make sure to ask if the new room sleeps 5 -- not all Cat.4 or Cat.8 do.

 

[mderh]

Not a 5A room, but you can see how much room there is in the upper bunk when set up with couch bed also open:
View attachment 889910
Also, some more information about upper bunk:
View attachment 889912

Both upper bunk and couch bed are full size twin beds. I wouldn't put your son in the upper bunk. While there's a small rail, and you can always ask for additional rails (they slip under the mattress) I think the extra weight of the brace could be an issue.

Thank you for the pictures, that's very helpful! I think I could fit up there in the top bunk and not have it be too claustrophobic. My son is only about 55 pounds with the brace, so no concerns on the weight capacity, but I'd be worried about him rolling over wrong and the momentum/weight of the brace yanking him out of the bed since the rail is low.

I did call to see about upgrading to a family verandah and it would be over $2k at this point to get one more small bed, so that's a nonstarter. We will know for next time!

 

[Girl of the South]

Would a handicapped room have more beds?? Here is a too long video of a handicapped cabin. 5 beds. Double bed. Couch bed. Bunk from the ceiling AND a murphy bed. Maybe too late to ask about it but . . . .

Handicapped DCL cabin

 

[Skippyboo]

Could you bring some sort of body pillow to divide the queen bed? The rooms aren’t very wide so don’t think the floor is an option.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

don’t think the floor is an option.

Personally, I wouldn't sleep on the floor. The chemicals they use for cleaning scare me.

 

[lanejudy]

Would a handicapped room have more beds?? Here is a too long video of a handicapped cabin. 5 beds. Double bed. Couch bed. Bunk from the ceiling AND a murphy bed. Maybe too late to ask about it but . . . .

Handicapped DCL cabin

Only if a Family Oceanview (cat. 8) or Family Verandah (cat. 4) HA stateroom is booked.

 

[mmouse37]

I know this is not helpful at this point but back in the day the main bed did split into 2 beds pic below). DCL said it changed to a single main bed as too many people complained about a gap in the beds when pushed together. I for one often travel with non family members and really did enjoy when the main bed could be split in two. Good luck with your sleeping arrangements. I think the place for your husband would be the main bed as that is where a plug is for the CPAP. My husband sleeps with a CPAP also and he always plugs it in by the bed. There is an outlet at the desk but you would need a very long cord from guest services (can't bring your own extension cord).

Also, you can request distilled water now by filling out the special services form at the DCL website. A gallon of distilled water will be waiting in your cabin (free of charge).



MJ

 

[auntlynne]

Since you asked, I’d put the squirmy males in the big bed. Ask for extra pillows to put between them.

Let the little daughter sleep on top bunk (ask for that extra rail). That way you are not climbing up the ladder. And you sleep in the flip-forward sofa. It is an actual mattress in the backside of the sofa. No uncomfortable bar like in a sleeper sofa.

If you find you are uncomfortable with her up high, you can reassign arrangements.

Yours is not the first family who has to figure this out. Those split beds made sleeping assignments easier for a lot of us. They still exist in most cruise lines.

The Murphy bed I had on DCL was a horribly uncomfortable situation.

Good luck.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Since you asked, I’d put the squirmy males in the big bed. Ask for extra pillows to put between them.

Let the little daughter sleep on top bunk (ask for that extra rail). That way you are not climbing up the ladder. And you sleep in the flip-forward sofa. It is an actual mattress in the backside of the sofa. No uncomfortable bar like in a sleeper sofa.

If you find you are uncomfortable with her up high, you can reassign arrangements.

Yours is not the first family who has to figure this out. Those split beds made sleeping assignments easier for a lot of us. They still exist in most cruise lines.

The Murphy bed I had on DCL was a horribly uncomfortable situation.

Good luck.

Why? The Murphy bed, like the bunk and sofa beds, is a basic full-size twin mattress.

 

[auntlynne]

Why? The Murphy bed, like the bunk and sofa beds, is a basic full-size twin mattress.

I don’t know how they got it so wrong. I’m 5’9” and it seemed short. Some combination of mattress and springs just made me miserable. I moved the mattress to the floor. But we were in a one-bedroom suite and maybe it was because I paid half of the cruise fare I expected a better sleep. The birthday girl had the comfortable bed.

The little bed under the TV at Aulani was similarly uncomfortable. And same friend got the bed.

In both cases, my back was sore in the morning.