How much time do you spend in the cabin?

[RedSox68]

Or....you can bring breakfast to your room. I do that a lot for the sleepy kids....

I think I see the huge spectrum of people that go on cruises now. I just didn't expect it. We have never been on one. It has been enlightening. I am glad people that are like us responded. When trying to find where we can cut expenses, the cabin is one. It may seem crazy, but relaxing for me would be in the wild places like the pool or on deck watching kids just have the time of their lives. Seeing my daughter jump around, playing, and going all over the place is exciting to me. I guess the excitement and chaos is fun to me.

Those are some of our fondest memories -- watching our daughter at the pools. As I said, we are not sun or pool people, but when she was young we made sure she had her time there. Those are the memories you will cherish. Sometimes we take our meals from Cabana and go out on deck to watch the kids and the families having fun. There is a certain type of excitement on cruise ships that is contagious that we love -- unlike amusement parks which are a little to nuts LOL

 

[moremouse]

We haven't cruised yet but when we do it will be with a verandah. I get up earlier than DH and use the balcony at resorts now to read, have a quiet cup of tea and just enjoy the view. We are also not party people and having a place to get away from the crowds is important to us. As for the PP that couldn't understand why some people wouldn't want to take advantage of all the ship activities and instead relax, here's why. When we are home, we have work, volunteer activities, church, family, friends and virtually no down time for weeks at a clip. On a cruise, many of the activities we have read about don't interest us but the various ports do and so we will use the at sea time to relax. When we travel on land, we are busy with almost no down time but that's because we go places that hold our interest all day, every day.

For those of you that have sailed with a verandah, do the sliding doors on any cruise lines have screens? I'd love to keep the door open for the breeze but wouldn't want anything to fly into the room (birds, insects).

We have never seen a screen door on any of our previous cruises (on any line). You shouldn't have problems with "wildlife" while at sea. They actually request that you keep all the doors closed.

We did see a bat on one of our San Juan trips. We were in port though. He was taking a break I guess. I was glad he found his way off the ships before we got too far out to sea.

 

[bethy]

Watching our children enjoy all aspects of DCL is THE best thing about DCL. First, there is the joy factor and second, they are thoroughly entertained and satiated every second of the day!

 

[Amy11]

We are introverted and don't like hanging out on the pool deck, don't even like pools much really. No kids and with 3 beautiful Caribbean ports I don't feel the need to swim in a pretty standard pool. Nice and quiet on the veranda with a view of the sea and ports. Love room service on the veranda for lunch, a snack, or a glass of wine. Nice to have a quiet private outdoor space to spend some time and recharge since we spend the whole cruise and preceding few days in the parks surrounded by lots of people.

 

[darnheather]

Or....you can bring breakfast to your room. I do that a lot for the sleepy kids....

Just be aware they no longer have trays.

 

[Fuhnuh]

We have days where we are barely in our stateroom, but also days where we hang on the veranda quite a bit. We are pretty much the same at DLR and WDW. I for one am glad that there are so many ways to tour depending on your family's vacation style. I can't imagine how crowded the cruise ship would be if we were all out of our cabins all day. I like to hear other people's experiences because I can live vicariously through them and not feel as bad about how much time I spend in the stateroom.

 

[21stamps]

We have days where we are barely in our stateroom, but also days where we hang on the veranda quite a bit. We are pretty much the same at DLR and WDW. I for one am glad that there are so many ways to tour depending on your family's vacation style. I can't imagine how crowded the cruise ship would be if we were all out of our cabins all day. I like to hear other people's experiences because I can live vicariously through them and not feel as bad about how much time I spend in the stateroom.

I don't plan on being in my stateroom very much at all, but the verandah is a "must" for me due to the reasons I mentioned previously.

I do think it's similar to WDW - meaning everyone has different things that are important to them. A theme park view is very impt to me, and we don't spend much time in the room- besides coffee in the morning and one night to watch wishes and order room service. But- waking up every morning and watching my child run to the balcony to see Space Mountain and the Castle- that made the view "worth it", regardless of how much time we actually spent there.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Personally, I would spend as little time possible in the room. But, I'm an extrovert and would prefer to be around others over being in my room. My DH and the teen, are definite Introverts. Last cruise we had to periodically go to the room and shoo the teen out when we knew she had been in the room awhile - and she really enjoyed the cruise. We've done a Deck 8 midship verandah (Dream), and a Deck 2 interior (Magic). We used the verandah a little bit, but did not miss it with the inside. I would take a verandah again if the price was right, and would most assuredly want one if I had napping or sick kids kind of a situation.

 

[DCLSailing]

I too very much enjoy being out and about and meeting new people. With that said, there is something so relaxing about the rooms which is another reason we keep coming back to Disney. I've even bought the Frette linens when they used to sell them on-board. Trying to replicate that comfort at home.

We've spent many Christmas mornings waking up and enjoying the time in our stateroom before venturing out. Even with noise on occasion, it is a peaceful place for me. We are Platinum and only just recently tried an Oceanview Stateroom. It was a delight and if it allows you to cruise more, it was well worth it for us.

While we do not spend a tremendous amount of time in the cabins, the time that we do spend as a family is very intimate and precious.

 

[tcufrog]

While I'm not totally an intovert (I go back and forth between being an extrovert and introvert.) I find large crowds crushed together to be overwhelming after awhile. My older son is the same way. During our only (so far) cruise our travel agent recommended a concierge room on the Dream and got us a good price for it. My older son and I spent a lot of time in the Concierge lounge because we could enjoy socializing with others without feeling overwhelmed by a large crowd.

 

[DCLSailing]

I completely agree. Sailing Concierge is an entirely different experience. Smaller crowds and more intimate service. One could sail Concierge and stay completely on that side of the ship and have a delightful experience.

 

[steves100]

Just be aware they no longer have trays.

They did last month.....

 

[mollyclairesmom]

Ok then. There goes that plan.lol

Are there any continental style offerings or just no breakfast at all available for room service?

Don't toss your plan yet! Nearly every morning we order coffee/beverages from room service, and then DH goes up to Cabanas and brings a tray back down to our room. Eating on the verandah is so relaxing, and such a peaceful start to the day.

 

[21stamps]

Don't toss your plan yet! Nearly every morning we order coffee/beverages from room service, and then DH goes up to Cabanas and brings a tray back down to our room. Eating on the verandah is so relaxing, and such a peaceful start to the day.

Thanks..Plan saved! . I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I hardly spend anytime in the room. The first 2 cruises, I only used the room to shower, sleep, change clothes. The last cruise I was on, which was only a 2 night to nowhere, I spent more time in my room. I took a 3 hour nap (which never happens when I am not on a ship) and had a couple room service meals. It was actually really nice.

I've always booked the cheapest ocean view so I would have more money to be out doing things. That has worked well for me. I am cruising again soon and have the ocean view booked, but am going to check on a port upgrade. If I can get it for only a few hundred dollars, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'm fine with the room I have booked.

Or....you can bring breakfast to your room. I do that a lot for the sleepy kids....

What do you do with the dishes afterward? I've always only brought things I could hand carry like milk and donuts. I'd love be bring a whole plate of food if I knew where to put the plate afterward.

 

[winterface]

We spend a good deal of time in the room.

1.) Its awesome to grab some popcorn from the concerige lounge and watch the shows without having to go all the way down to the crowded/loud theatres.

2.) Enjoying the balcony + room service is great. I love looking out at the ocean

3.) The bath tub big enough for two with jets...well we spent a lot of time in that

 

[RedSox68]

Just be aware they no longer have trays.

What -- no more trays! ARRGGHH.

 

[RedSox68]

I hardly spend anytime in the room. The first 2 cruises, I only used the room to shower, sleep, change clothes. The last cruise I was on, which was only a 2 night to nowhere, I spent more time in my room. I took a 3 hour nap (which never happens when I am not on a ship) and had a couple room service meals. It was actually really nice.

I've always booked the cheapest ocean view so I would have more money to be out doing things. That has worked well for me. I am cruising again soon and have the ocean view booked, but am going to check on a port upgrade. If I can get it for only a few hundred dollars, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'm fine with the room I have booked.


What do you do with the dishes afterward? I've always only brought things I could hand carry like milk and donuts. I'd love be bring a whole plate of food if I knew where to put the plate afterward.

Haven't you ever seen all the dishes outside the stateroom doors

 

[jahber]

Haven't you ever seen all the dishes outside the stateroom doors

And all the threads about dishes outside stateroom doors!

Anyway, I'm home all day with 4 kids, so yes, I spend time in the room...alone when I can. It's dark and quiet there. Did I mention it's quiet? There are rarely (if ever) any completely quiet hours in my house. So, for me, it's not a vacation unless I can a) sit down to eat my meals, b) sit down and read a book or two, and c) lie down and take a nap EVERY day. Most people apparently get to sit down whenever they want in their regular lives and so, understandably, that isn't their idea of fun.
That said, I have never in my life paid $6000 for a week's vacation. We won't pay more than $4000 for all six of us at this point. If I paid $6000 for a vacation...well. I wouldn't at this stage (with a toddler and a baby), so I can't say how I would feel if I had to sit around the whole time.

 

[darnheather]

They did last month.....

I suppose then it depends on the ship. No trays on the Magic last month and I've read reports here from other ships but can't remember which off the top of my head. I'd say it's hit and miss.

For one or two dishes we left them in the stateroom and tipped the hostess extra because she always had them cleaned away at turn down.