has anyone had a verandah and then not....

[princess angel]

last sept, I had a cat 5, deluxe stateroom w/verandah for the eastern sailing on the magic 9/21/02, this year I want to go on the western sailing 9/21, I may only be able to get a cat 9 guarantee, can get a verandah if available at time of sailing....

we loved the verandah, the best part about sailing!

but, we can get an awesome deal for the cat 9 guarantee!

would we just die without the verandah... or you think we'd manage by going up on deck late at night...
maybe just have to tweak our routine a bit....

what do you think,
risk not getting the verandah, or not go at all!
(lowest cat we would get assigned is a cat 9)

thanks for your opinion!!!

Laura

 

[KenP]

You'll get varied answers on this. But from my perspective I'd rather cruise more often than spend extra money on a verandah. I have done Cat's 11, 5, and 6's. Break it down to how much more a verandah costs per day and then ask how would you like that amount added to your shipboard account or in a savings account for the next cruise. But if money is no object, go for the verandah.

 

[jlawall]

Well, my first sail was with the verandah which we hardly used....so last summer we sailed without it.....and it was fine....but this summer we are going back to the verandah....because we think we will really enjoy it this time. My 2 cents!!

 

[mmouse37]

We have sailed in Cat 4 with the veranda and loved it, but also sailed in Cat 9's on Decks 1 and 2 and also loved them.

Last week we sailed in a Cat 11 and I would never do that again if I can help it. I thought the cabin was much too small and did not have enough storage space for 4 people as the Cat 9's did. I also love the natural light a cabin with a window provides.

MJ

 

["Ginger"]

We've done Cat. 9 then 5's then Cat. 10 SPR going this time in a 9. It really does make much difference to us cause we don't spend that much time in the stateroom. Veranda's are nice but as stated in a earlier post the cost can be a bit much. Alot of people don't know about deck 7 aft, almost always empty. A great place to watch the ship back into the dock at Castaway Cay.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Last Nov we were booked in a SPR. This Nov we are booked in a cat 6 w/verandah. If it wasnt for this "free consolation" we wouldnt be having the chance to try out a verandah room.
When I cruised NCL Dec 01 I spent lots of time either on the sundeck or the pooldeck - 1st thing in morn, last thing at night.

 

[WDWLVR]

We've done both and while I love a veranda if the choice is between sailing without or not sailing I'd definately sail without.

We've done Cat 5, 6, and 7. For the DVC Member Cruise we could only afford a Cat 8 without borrowing more points so that's what we went with. That was only a 4 day and it was fine.

We were just on the May 10th cruise and back in a Cat 7 (my personal favorites). I love sitting out there in the early morning, during sea days with a good book, and late evening as well.

I say book what you can (that you'll be happy with) and then see if you can upgrade at the port.

 

[Incharge]

My sweetie and I had a verandah on another criuse line that I found enjoyable. However, that was a free upgrade. If we had to pay good money, I probably would not get another one. At night it is pitch black, so you can't see anything anyway(he liked it) In the mornings we would go out there for awhile, but we are not loungers. We liked to get up and go, enjoying all that the cruise ship had to offer. Oh yeah, no laying around wasting time for us. My other trips were inside rooms, which was fine because I went alone on the first trip, and the next one was with 3 friends (2 per room) That worked fine because again, we were gone so much. This trip with Disney is in cat.9. It is DD,DGS, and myself. Getting outside view because I wanted my grandson (8) to be able to see out. I am excited because I will get the chance to compare outside porthole to inside and verandahs and know exactly which kind I will get next. If I had young children with me, I may consider the verandah simply because I believe that you spend more time in your room.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

This is a great question and I'm really enjoying reading all of the responses. Our first two cruises we had a Cat5 (7-day and 4-day). This coming December we have a Cat11 which is a huge difference. We did use our verandah quite often, so this will be a big switch.
I'd have to agree with many of the posters, though. I'd rather stay in a less expensive stateroom and cruise more often than have to wait longer between cruises because I want a more expensive stateroom.
I'll have to remember to give a report when we return in December.

 

[FOJMO]

As I am writing this, my DH is thoroughly enjoying his verandah. He would NOT have a stateroom without one! It is a place to get away from everything for a while and you can still be in your PJ's if you want!

As you can see, I'm catching up on the DISboards.

We are having a wonderful time and on our way to Grand Cayman. Today is a day at sea.

But, for us, a verandah is NOT an option -- it's a MUST!

VAL

 

[dclwdwlover]

Certainly personal preference, but consider this:
Had one our first cruise (husb. & I alone) on the Magic. What a wonderful, romantic experience. We could be alone to see the moonlight & listen to the water or to watch the boat sail away from an island if we wanted to, instead of tons of other people around. There's no way to escape people when you're out on deck if you want some intimate, romantic time. Also, after a long day in the sun & water we could lie around our rooms relaxing for an hour before going onto something else & have a 'porch' to go out onto - with some privacy - & not feel closed in in a room with no openings.
2nd cruise we had only a big, round plexiglass porthole. Altho it was also a very nice room, we definitely missed our verandah very much, so this year we booked with a verandah again. We feel it's worth the $. We booked a room next to ours for our kids who will have a Navigator's verandah.
On other ships I had inside rooms, but I definitely feel the verandahs make the trip a bit more special. Have fun!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by dclwdwlover
Had one our first cruise (husb. & I alone) on the Magic. What a wonderful, romantic experience. We could be alone to see the moonlight & listen to the water or to watch the boat sail away from an island if we wanted to, instead of tons of other people around.

...............

.............

 

[dclwdwlover]

You got it!!! Was trying to 'discreetly' say what I was remembering our 'verandah times' to be

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by dclwdwlover
You got it!!! Was trying to 'discreetly' say what I was remembering our 'verandah times' to be.

 

[princess angel]

LOL! at first I was reading and reading all the replies, and they almost ALMOST had me convinced that not having a verandah might be OK.....then I get to the last few posts, and boom... out the window that went!
we need a verandah!

Laura

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by princess angel
..then I get to the last few posts, and boom... out the window that went!
we need a verandah!

.....................

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by FOJMO
As I am writing this, my DH is thoroughly enjoying his verandah. He would NOT have a stateroom without one! It is a place to get away from everything for a while and you can still be in your PJ's if you want!

As you can see, I'm catching up on the DISboards.

We are having a wonderful time and on our way to Grand Cayman. Today is a day at sea.

But, for us, a verandah is NOT an option -- it's a MUST!

VAL

We totally agree on this. Last December we were both ill (strep throat) and had most of our meals delivered by room service. Having the verandah to both rest and eat on made all the difference between staying in comfort and enjoying the cruise and not.

Always a personal choice but if I cruise, I not only want my verandah - I'm getting pretty possessive about my stateroom also!

Enjoy the rest of your cruise!!!!!!!

Rae

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Incharge
At night it is pitch black, so you can't see anything anyway(he liked it) In the mornings we would go out there for awhile, but we are not loungers.

I think I will miss the morning sun.

It'll be good for us to compare and take it from there for all further cruises. For #4 we have a verandah on the 7-day. We decided that on the 7-days we must have a verandah, but the 4-days we don't spend *as much* time out there so it might not be worth the money.

 

[cathie]

The morning sunrise is definitely worth the verandah! We had 3 cat. 6 rooms in the aft. section of the Wonder. We went out around 7AM & took some awesome pictures of the Lighthouse coming into Nassau & then docking @ CC the next day. The colors are beautiful. Having natural light & a private deck is priceless. We're going back in Feb. 2004 to the same rooms on the starboard side. Can't wait! Cathie

 

[tde1969]

We had a verandah on our April 26, 2003 7 day. I just can't imagine the trip without it. In the morning our 5 year old son would run to the verandah to see if the water was still there or if there was land out there, not to mention looking for the pirate ships that he was sure to come. He and I would take our bagels and my coffee and head out to the verandah to see what kind of weather we were going to have. Does it cost more? Sure! But it's well worth it. That's why we booked on board for May 1, 2004 and with another verandah.