Giant Port hole vs. Verandah ?'s

[Jesslm80]

We've (DH, DS 8, DD5) cruised on the Dream last year with a verandah. We are looking at a 7 night on the Fantasy and I was gonna just go ahead and book a verandah again, but those giant port holes with the seats look awesome too. While we loved have a verandah the plexiglass was so cloudy that when we sat down to enjoy the view we were literally just staring at plexiglass. My kids used the chairs to stand on and look out.

If you've cruised with both or either, what did you think of the giant port holes? Happy with your view?

Thanks!

 

[MUN]

We love the OV rooms with the giant port holes. Plus, your kids can't fall off the ship from the OV rooms, like they can from the verandahs.

MUN

 

[scgustafson]

Much harder to join the verandah club with a porthole.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

I looked at these rooms on our upcoming Fantasy cruise, but honestly, the difference in price for the verandah isn't enough for me to justify it, but they do look awesome and I love the in-window seating and the chair next to it as well. On the classic ships, well that's another story, as the price difference is so great we always get an inside stateroom.

 

[jrabbit]

the "Giant" portholes on the Fantasy / Dream on deck 2 (cat 9) are not that Giant (compared to the deck 2 (cat 9) portholes on the magic/wonder). Maybe the cat 8's are bigger (I think so from the pictures that I have seen). The pictures are a bit deceiving since there isn't anything to compare them too - like a person standing next to them.... But on the Magic / Wonder the window is at least 4 feet in diameter, and the "wall" is only 4 inches thick. Dream / Fantasy the inside opening is about 3 feet and the window is much smaller.

Here's deck 2 mid ship on the Fantasy - you really had to stand up to see the ocean outside...


and here's deck 2 on the Magic / Wonder

 

[lanejudy]

I believe "window seat" porthole rooms on the Dream/Fantasy are category 8, and some category 9a's. Most category 9 rooms are not quite as big, higher and do not have the cushion seat. So as jrabbit mentions, be sure you will get what you expect if booking an OV. Also, rooms on the very front of the ship have angled windows and it's impossible to sit in them regardless of size.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[mtil]

We've been in 9658 (8B) on the Fantasy and loved it. We had a balcony on our two Dream cruises and really did not use the balcony much so we decided to save the money and go with the 8B. We loved the location and the porthole. The only issue we had with the porthole is that the three kids would periodically argue as to whose turn it was to sit in it. The Porthole gives you a nice view from anywhere in the room. Compared to the balcony cabins we had before, we loved the location as it was on a quiet stretch of hallway, very close to the stairs, two levels below Cabana's and four above the kids clubs.

 

[moremouse]

You could always try a cat 8a room with TWO giant portholes. For instance cabin 5522.

 

[iivye]

We always book an 8D category on the Fantasy and the porthole window runs almost floor to ceiling! I haven't booked a verandah yet because I love the giant porthole.

 

[BlondieinFL]

We have stayed in 8A rooms with 2 giant portholes. The view was good I guess for a window where you can't really look side-to-side, you can just see straight ahead, basically. What we didn't like was that we couldn't see anything at night, there was no view at that time. We've since been staying in verandah rooms and like that much better, just because we enjoy the verandah at night.

 

[Jesslm80]

We have stayed in 8A rooms with 2 giant portholes. The view was good I guess for a window where you can't really look side-to-side, you can just see straight ahead, basically. What we didn't like was that we couldn't see anything at night, there was no view at that time. We've since been staying in verandah rooms and like that much better, just because we enjoy the verandah at night.

How many did your room sleep? From the pictures it doesn't look like it can sleep more than 3. Thank you!

 

[bumbershoot]

We had room 6666 on Dream, and it was a LARGE porthole room and it was awesome. The reviews for it say it sleeps 4. There was a sofabed and I know there was a Murphy b/c that's where my son slept.

From looking on the DCL site this must be an 8D room.

icruise says Fantasy's 6666 only sleeps 3, but I have a hard time believing Dream and Fantasy would be so different. If it sleeps 4, and if you can handle the room number (we got some raised eyebrows), book it. Fabulous spot for the Club/Lab. Great room.

Currently uploading my pix to photobucket. Didn't realize I didn't have them uploaded already!

This is where I try to sell room 6666. But just take it as a salespitch for any giant one-porthole room.



Tall 10 year old boy.

From the side I would have looked similar, but grown female hips are too wide for the cushion. Not as comfy for me.

In use! aka "messy"

Brighter view of the giant porthole.

Plus, your kids can't fall off the ship from the OV rooms, like they can from the verandahs.

MUN! You know that kids can't just randomly fall off the ship. They would have to try to do that. (like the post with the kids standing on chairs...be still my freaking-out heart)

 

[MUN]

MUN! You know that kids can't just randomly fall off the ship. They would have to try to do that. (like the post with the kids standing on chairs...be still my freaking-out heart)

You can stand on a stair near the porthole and you definitely won't fall off the ship.

 

[scgustafson]

You can stand on a stair near the porthole and you definitely won't fall off the ship.

Challenge accepted!

 

[BlondieinFL]

How many did your room sleep? From the pictures it doesn't look like it can sleep more than 3. Thank you!

Correct - they sleep 3. We had 2 connecting rooms.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

We've stayed in a Category 8C on the Dream and Fantasy 3 times and loved it! We also stayed in two connecting inside rooms and in a Category 4B verandah, but our favorite is the 8C with the giant porthole (we are also a family of 5).

 

[Simba One]

The giant porthole is awesome but I really need to get outside every morning to check the weather and temp so unless it's Alaska I won't do it again.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can stand on a stair near the porthole and you definitely won't fall off the ship.

This is very true. Excellent point.

 

[xlxo]

We gave up the verandah for the Deck 2 oceanview.... not just for savings.... but it felt like a climate controlled balcony. I found verandah's too windy for us.

 

[ChipCruiser]

It is a big secret of Disney Cruising. Of course I want a room with a balcony.

But, on a recent cruise that I really wanted to go on .........

The only room available was an ocean view on a low level floor.

I loved the room and the window. The window is a very, very nice feature.

Go figure.