Help me pick a cabin category on the Dream, please!

[AmyAnne]

We are veteran DCL cruisers but have mostly cruised on the Magic, in the summer, on port-intensive cruises like the Med and Baltic. We have almost always had an inside cabin, and occasionally an ocean-view cabin--we actually like the inside cabins because we are primarily in the cabin just to sleep, and the inside cabins are dark and quiet. Always mid-ship, mostly for convenience.

I am now looking at a December cruise on the Fantasy and feeling totally lost about what kind of cabin to book. I had initially assumed we would book our usual inside cabin, or perhaps an ocean-view, but have started thinking about the possibility of a verandah, partly because the verandah cabins are not much more expensive and partly because the cruise is half sea days so we might be spending more time in the cabin than usual. My concerns are the location of the verandah cabins that are still available (very aft or very forward) and the weather in the Caribbean in mid-December.

Travel party is me, DH, and DD (17).

Any advice? Should I stick with the tried-and-true mid-ship inside cabin, or be adventurous with the aft or forward verandah cabin?

 

[Bear3412]

Well, I feel you should splurge on a Cat 7. A restricted veranda.
These cabins are fore and aft, and are wonderful, and underrated. And less expensive. Yet have all that most others have.
Have you seen this; http://www.disboards.com/threads/dr...see-the-pictures-index-now-in-post-7.2586763/

Do you know about the 8a's (ocean view) ; ? ? ? ; http://www.disboards.com/threads/dream-fantasy-8a-cabins.2696288/

 

[AmyAnne]

Thanks for the links. Can you explain what a restricted verandah is? I know nothing about restricted (or obstructed or partially obstructed) verandahs--or really anything about verandahs at all. Have never been tempted before now.

We did have an ocean-view once in Europe. It was nice when we were coming into port or leaving, as often there were interesting things to see. I'm not sure an ocean-view on the Eastern Caribbean would be all that interesting, although I could well be wrong. Those large windows do look very nice, though.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We are veteran DCL cruisers but have mostly cruised on the Magic, in the summer, on port-intensive cruises like the Med and Baltic. We have almost always had an inside cabin, and occasionally an ocean-view cabin--we actually like the inside cabins because we are primarily in the cabin just to sleep, and the inside cabins are dark and quiet. Always mid-ship, mostly for convenience.

I am now looking at a December cruise on the Fantasy and feeling totally lost about what kind of cabin to book. I had initially assumed we would book our usual inside cabin, or perhaps an ocean-view, but have started thinking about the possibility of a verandah, partly because the verandah cabins are not much more expensive and partly because the cruise is half sea days so we might be spending more time in the cabin than usual. My concerns are the location of the verandah cabins that are still available (very aft or very forward) and the weather in the Caribbean in mid-December.

Travel party is me, DH, and DD (17).

Any advice? Should I stick with the tried-and-true mid-ship inside cabin, or be adventurous with the aft or forward verandah cabin?

If your on the Fantasy and a verandah is not a lot more go for it. You see sea days, nice having your space, room service on it, some shade, and the kids maybe in the room or someone dressing, but you can still enjoy the sea.

You get sea views, see going in and out of port, fresh air, and it's nice to check where you are.

Fantasy is well stablized and forward aft shouldn't be too much an issue in the Caribbean.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I second the 7A stateroom. My mom and I were in a 7A stateroom last year and loved it (even book the same room next year!) It gives you a taste of a verandah with the extra space without it being a fully open verandah. It was less than $20 extra a night to upgrade to that from an inside stateroom! We enjoy the starboard side of the ship in the forward. I haven't been on the Fantasy but I'm assuming they are similar. Here's some pics of what the 7A looks like…





Like I said, the room was perfect for my mom and I (it slept 3 ppl.) It offered a verandah without the price tag of a full size one!

 

[KristiMc]

6a or 6b is a good choice. They are listed as having a whitewall but it only comes up to about shin height and does not restrict your view at all.

 

[AmyAnne]

Fantasy is well stablized and forward aft shouldn't be too much an issue in the Caribbean.

Thanks - the only time I can recall movement being an issue was in Alaska. Even mid-ship, we could feel the rocking.

We enjoy the starboard side of the ship in the forward. I haven't been on the Fantasy but I'm assuming they are similar.

Thanks for the pics! Any specific reasons why starboard and forward?

 

[MickeyEarrings]

The 8A is a neat variation on an ocean view room - it looks more like a suite, with the sleeping are separated from the sitting area. Google search it!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

The first cruise I took I was in Forward 5A(didn't know any different) and enjoyed it so on the second one, I booked forward 7A because I was able to get a room starboard/forward but enjoy it because it's close to the adult pool, movie theatre, shops, spa, shows, etc. starboard because it's the side facing port canaveral and offers views of CC when docked and of Atlantis when docked in Nassau. Others must prefer SB too bc when we went to book ours for next year most 7A SB cabins were taken except the one we took and the port side had tons of rooms open to book. On the Fantasy because PA and CC, I'm not sure what the docking situation is like in the Caribbean ports. Unless I had a great rate that included another room type, I would always book a 7A if possible. Like I said, it offers a verandah without the price tag of a full size/fully open one. The room size was the same as the 5A I was in.

Everyone has their own preference though. My good friends enjoy Aft because of the food locations, the bars, and they don't use the pools much but like to do a lot of the trivia, mixology, and various afternoon activities. They have kids so it's close to the kids clubs too from what I understand.

 

[kiford]

We're going on the Fantasy in early December and staying aft verandah. We typically have always been mid-ship but last year on the Northern European cruise we were moved more aft for some unknown reason. I thought we'd hate it but it was really no different than mid-ship. We decided to stay aft this time because Meridian is aft and we spent a lot of time there on our cruise on the Dream so its easier to get there from the aft stairs where we'll be.

Weather in the Caribbean is nice in December. The winds can get quite high at Castaway Cay but it's nice on the balcony. We've spent a lot of time on it during our Caribbean cruises. It's quieter than sitting on deck if you want to talk, easy enough to go up top and get a drink or snack to bring down to the cabin and you don't feel silly falling asleep.

We also like verandah cabins because they feel more open and airy to us because of wide expanse of windows and the light it lets in. But you can then block that either with the window curtains or the curtains along the bed. It's also really nice to sit out at night when it's very dark.

Still - whether you choose to take an inside cabin or go balcony it's a great time of year to sail IMO so you can't really go wrong.