Help - Cabin/Dates Decision-Indecision!!

[Pitsley]

Hi All,

I have to start by saying I'm SO HOOKED!!! I stumbled upon this board while doing some research for our first cruise. I've really enjoyed reading the boards, gotten some wonderful hints, and realize that this is a very special family. The great support for the Page family was so touching! I was ready to call DCL myself to see if they would upgrade them!

I'm hoping that some of you veterans can give some advice about the following. If you could choose between a Cat 9 Oceanview on a 3 night or a Cat 11 on a 4 night, which could you pick? My heart says the 4 night, but since we've never cruised, I really don't know about how important the window is.

We're lucky enough to live in FL, so we can take advantage of the FL rates. Does anyone know how and/or when they release FL resident rates? I've been looking for them for the 11/9 4 night cruise, but can't seem to find any yet.

Also, does anyone know ... can you hold reservations for more than one cruise date or will the system "cancel you" if you've got more than one within a given number of days?

Of the 4 night cruises, which do you prefer ... the "day at sea" or the Freeport option?

Thanks so much everyone! I'm sorry for all of the questions! What started out as just a 3 night in a Cat 11, has now become ... gee ... it's not too much more for a Cat 9 with oceanview ... and then ... gee, what if we went for 4 nights instead 3??? I think I'm really getting greedy!!

 

[CRB#33]

Hi and welcome!

Just to say that I thought the 4 night was too short, LOL! We had a verandah which was lovely, but the cruise was lovelier.

As far as the room goes, I would ask how many of you are there? How much do you like to be involved in the activites on board? Do you need a daylight/nightlight routine to sleep? If you want to maximize your time, I would spend ocean viewing time on the quiet deck aft 7 and go for the longer cruise. 3 nights is really only 2 1/2 days when you think about it.

I think you can hold as many reservations as you want as long as you put the required deposit on each reservation. If you cancel one, you will get the full amount back as long as it is outside of 60 days.

 

[SeaSpray]

Welcome to the boards!

I went through this same thing just a few weeks ago when I was planning our "little Disney cruise". LOL It started out as a 4-night cruise in an inside cabin, to a 4-night cruise with a couple of days at Disney World afterwards, to what it is now: a 7-night cruise in an ocean view cabin (Category 9). I realized that the 4-night cruise might be too short; just when my DSs would be starting to get to know the other kids on the cruise, we'd have to leave....so....that's how my little cruise evolved into a 7-night cruise!

Personally, I'd rather do 4 nights in a Cat 11 instead of 3 nights in a Cat 9. DH and I went on our first cruise this summer on a small Royal Caribbean ship and had an inside cabin. Before we boarded the ship I was SO worried that I wouldn't be able to stay in a cabin with no window, but once we got there, it was FINE! It actually felt snug at night sleeping. Of course, it was just the two of us, and the cabins were MUCH smaller than on Disney.

Happy planning!

 

[Lisa F]

We booked a cat 8 on our first cruise and learned that we could really take or leave the window. There is no way that I am going sit and watch the ocean from behind glass when I could be feeling the ocean breeze on my face! For us, the window was a complete waste as it just made us want to get out of the room and out on deck. An extra day or a window? easy for me, I'd pick the extra day in a heartbeat!

Lisa

 

[crazy4cruises]

I agree whole-heartedly with Lisa F. We went on the 4-day cruise this spring and were in a category 10 with a porthole. We are going again this fall, and I spent the extra money on more days. We will be in a category 11 this time, and I think we will be just fine. We were only in the room to sleep anyway.

 

[Pitsley]

Thanks for the warm welcome and all the help!! I laughed when I read about the "little cruise" that turned into the 7 day!! I actually did, for a brief moment, tempt myself by looking at the 7 day rates too!!

Sounds like the 4 day would be the best. I have a feeling we'll only be in the room to sleep anyhow. When we do the parks, we're there from open to close, and I imagine we'll be the same with a cruise. The idea about the quiet deck aft 7 for ocean viewing is a great one.

Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that they open up 11/9 for FL res rates.