How to Pick a Stateroom Number ???? 1st Timers, Need Your Replies Please !

[bellenbuzz]

We know we want a Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah, family of 4, on the Fantasy, Nov 2014, Eastern Caribbean , DD's will be ages 16 & 13

How do I pick location on ship ? It's overwhelming, aft, forward ?
What Deck....Are decks 7 and 8 better then lower ??

Never ever cruised anywhere before

Do I put in a request for a specific room number on my ressie ???

Please give me ideas and suggestions !!!

 

[criscoloo]

If you look under "Staterooms" above, you'll find stateroom reports for specific rooms. Also, I know that one of the guidebooks about Disney Cruise includes specific rooms to avoid in any one category (I think it was the Passporter guidebook), such as those by the laundry room or crew rooms, under or over a club or restaurant, etc. Many consider the higher decks better, but you should look at where the tween and teen clubs are, as well as the restaurants and theaters and see whether aft or forward is better located for you. Hope this helps!

 

[n8nally]

Also, some are worried about sea sickness and choose the middle of the ship, on a lower deck because I guess that's where there is the least amount of movement.

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

We prefer deck 8, its very centrally located, and there are cabins above and below it, so it is always quiet. Also, we usually choose the starboard side, as that is the side the faces Castaway Cay when its docked there.
We also like midship, again, because its centrally located. Our favorite room so far has been 8556. We are booked in 8558 on an upcoming Western Caribbean Cruise.
Hope this helps you!

 

[tweis]

We have never chosen a specific stateroom and have never, so far, been in a noisy area. We did learn after our last cruise that we prefer not to be forward. When we booked onboard for our upcoming cruise, our only request was that we have an 8C aft.


Here is the deck plans for the Dream/Fantasy

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/images/DreamFantasy-DeckPlans.pdf

 

[jockotaco]

I look for rooms sandwiched (top and bottom) between other rooms. This gives me some assurance that I won't get ambient noise from kitchen, bar etc.... I also look for something mid-ship. Not sure why I have just always done this. In my opinion the most important factor in choosing your room is what's both above and below you.

 

[ONMom]

We prefer deck 8, its very centrally located, and there are cabins above and below it, so it is always quiet. Also, we usually choose the starboard side, as that is the side the faces Castaway Cay when its docked there.
We also like midship, again, because its centrally located. Our favorite room so far has been 8556. We are booked in 8558 on an upcoming Western Caribbean Cruise.
Hope this helps you!

Agreed! We stayed in 8558 on both the Dream & Fantasy - LOVED it!

 

[JimGA]

definately get on a floor with rooms above and below you. We stayed aft on the dream *same layout as Fantasy) deck 9, loved it, just two quick floors up the aft stairs or elevators and you are in the buffet restaurant, drink stations and pool area. Loved that location.

Side note to consider; If you are worried about smokers on the balcony in adjacent rooms, choose wisely, all the way at the front of the ship or obstructed view verandhas (7a) with window rooms in front of you.

 

[Zandy595]

My advice is don't worry about sea sickness. I am extremely prone to it and it doesn't matter where my cabin is. Bonine is my best friend on a cruise.

Don't choose a room below the pool deck, above or below a kitchen, nightclub or kids club.

On the Fantasy, don't choose the room behind Pepe's door.

I also try to avoid connecting rooms. Sometimes kids like to play with the door on the other side. Although we didn't have any issues with it on our last cruise.

Other than that, I like aft because it's easy to get to Cabanas, where we eat breakfast and lunch almost everyday. It's also easy to get to the drink stations.

This is a great site to locate staterooms. http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/Main/decks.php?ship=Disney%20Fantasy

 

[bellenbuzz]

OP here, yes, all your feedback truly helps. Thanks so much

It's expensive, but it's my dream to go on my first cruise and only wanted DCL.....it's for my 50th birthday!!
So, of course want it to be fantastic

ANOTHER QUESTION: Where can I find a list of what the categories mean.....The numbers followed by a letter
I see those everywhere, what's the code ???? Not figuring that out yet

 

[Zandy595]

OP here, yes, all your feedback truly helps. Thanks so much

It's expensive, but it's my dream to go on my first cruise and only wanted DCL.....it's for my 50th birthday!!
So, of course want it to be fantastic

ANOTHER QUESTION: Where can I find a list of what the categories mean.....The numbers followed by a letter
I see those everywhere, what's the code ???? Not figuring that out yet

The lower the category number the better the stateroom. As for letters, A is better than B, B is better than C and so on. Better usually means location and/or size.

A Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah is classified as Categories 5A - 5E, 6A and 6B located on Decks 5 - 10, as follows:
Category 5A: Decks 9, 10
Category 5B: Deck 8
Category 5C: Deck 7
Category 5D: Deck 6
Category 5E: Decks 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Oversized Private Verandah, some with Whitewall
Category 6A: Decks 8 and 9 Private Verandah with Whitewall
Category 6B: Decks 5, 6, 7 Private Verandah with Whitewall

 

[bellenbuzz]

Whoa....Got it, thank you

 

[byejou]

I would recommend looking at Room Reports under staterooms above. If you have a specific room number in mind, read about it from previous cruisers. It has been very helpful for us.

We prefer Mid-ship or Aft. We like to be closer to beverage stations. The ships are large and hauling drinks to your room can be challenging depending on amt you may need. However, the teen Club is forward if you want them to have easy access.

Don't stay below kitchens, theaters & kids clubs. Unfortunately we learned below deck 2 forward has an anchor and that's a lovely sound!!! And sometime lower decks aft have vibrations.

Also, google search rooms 6510, 6512, 6514 or any other 8A category rooms on the Dream or Fantasy and look at pictures of the layout. That is our next room. Its is square, not rectangular. Not a Veranda but they have 2 large sitting windows and ALOT more space. I'll take space over a Veranda.