Is an ocean view room all that great?

[ryan840]

I was wondering if it would be worth the extra money to get an ocean view room for our first cruise, which will be a three or four day one. I absolutely LOVE the ocean, but is the view a good one, or would I be better just watching from on deck? I want to try to keep costs as low as possible, but I can't help wanting this one splurge- if there really is an advantage. How much time do people actually spend in their rooms- they're pretty cramped, aren't they? On the other hand, I'll have my son and hopefully another addition by then, and they will need to take naps in the room during the day... Please let me know what you think about the bonus of an ocean view vs a standard room. Thanks!

 

[KKB]

We booked an inside but were upgraded to an oceanview on our first cruise, Star Princess in Oct. We sure loved the sunlight, but looking at the ocean made us seasick. And frankly we were in our room to sleep and shower.
We will have a family suite on Disney, so will have a balcony. (5 people)
DH and I saw a balcony room and felt our oceanview was fine, but MIL is paying for Disney, plus w/ 5 we had to have family suite or two rooms--not really an option w/ young children. But my parents are hooked on balconies and don't want to go back to interior.
Good luck!
Kristin

 

[TootyJane]

We've had cabins with balconies, with ocean view windows and once booked an inside cabin (never again!). Yes, we prefer the balcony but if money were an object I'd go with the ocean view. I'd much rather be able to see what's going on outside than being in an inside room where you don't see anything. We always find we spend time in our room so we usually book a stateroom with a balcony. As for how much time you'd spend in the cabin, it all depends on you. You say you have one son (and maybe another little one by the time you cruise) so having a balcony to sit out on would be a definite plus when they're taking naps. HTH

 

[tuckermom]

We have had a balcony (Disney) and an inside cabin (Carnival). We are doing an oceanview with Disney in 3 weeks. We loved our balcony!! I know we are going to miss it, but decided to save a few bucks this time. I'm sure the inside cabins on Disney would be much better than the closet we had on Carnival.

 

[inaminute]

We've had both inside and outside cabins and prefer the outside. Simply because it was easier to tell the time of day! We never realized how dependent we were on the light! The inside cabin felt claustrophobic, as well.

 

[ljql_5969]

My DH and I have cruised twice (not with Disney) and have had ocean views both times. For our DCL cruise next year, we booked inside staterooms because we are going in July and anything higher than that was outrageous in price. I hope we are happy.

 

[lisaann]

HI, YOU SHOULD TRY TO GET A SECRET PORTHOLE ROOM-IT IS A CAT 10 BUT HAS AN OBSTRUCTED OCEAN VIEW. THEY ARE 5020, 5022,5024,5520.5522,5524 I THINK. I HAVE STAYED IN 5520 ON THE WONDER AND HAVE BOOKED IT AGAIN FOR JULY 2006. HAVE FUN-LISA

 

[Mr. Moose51]

We had an inside stateroom once, an oceanview once and verandah twice. Go with the ocean view. It is worth it to see what is outside, to be able to see Castaway Cay when you get up, etc. Sure, you won't be in the room that much, but we feel it is well worth the extra to be able to look outside.

 

[ryan840]

Thanks everyone. What is the window/view like? Do you see lots of sea life, and sprawling oceans? Cuz if that's the case, I'll never leave my room! Thanks again!

 

[kpgclark]

I've stayed in every different category of stateroom and I think if money is tight you should go with an inside cabin. Honestly you won't be in there very often and if you are dying to see the sea then go on deck. The window is circular and you can see the ocean but you absolutely can't see any sealife out that window. Yes it is nice to have the view but if funds are tight save the money for other things. It is just a window.

 

[LakeAriel]

I recently took my first cruise (Disney Wonder March 24 ) and had the ocean view. I loved it! The porthole is large and I stared out to sea many a time. It
was especially nice departing and docking. Go for it!

 

[ryan840]

I've stayed in every different category of stateroom and I think if money is tight you should go with an inside cabin. Honestly you won't be in there very often and if you are dying to see the sea then go on deck. The window is circular and you can see the ocean but you absolutely can't see any sealife out that window. Yes it is nice to have the view but if funds are tight save the money for other things. It is just a window.

This is pretty much what I was wondering about. While I would LOVE to be able to see the ocean from my room, on this trip I think I'll bypass it, since it is so short and I won't be in the room much anyway- especially since I won't be missing anything but water (beautiful as it may be). Thanks again everyone!

 

[mmouse37]

Here is a pic of the stateroom porthole in Cat 9 cabins.....on Deck 2....

The seas were choppy this day but we love the porthole. We once had an inside and I did not like it because I need natural light....I always felt "lost" not knowing what time it was by the natural light and it was so dark in the morning getting ready when I wanted the rest of the family to sleep in....

I prefer oceanview, but if money is tight then definately get an inside...at least you are on that beautiful ship!!!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/61027011/61041717HyLEAf

http://community.webshots.com/photo/61027011/61041815wXbmSm

 

[LAMPSKIES]

DW was a little "woozie" on our first sailing.....we had a verandah and she was happy to be able to open the door and let the freash air in........

 

[ryan840]

mmouse37, thanks for the pics. What was hanging in the window?? It looked like a body cast for a turkey!

 

[ericamanda01]

OMG that does look like a body cast for a turkey! But it's just a towel turkey. The stateroom hosts make them for the guests. But I just wanted to say that DH and I had an inside cabin on our first 4 days cruise and to be honest I forgot what the room looked like because we were in the room so little. Our first cruise was like a blur. But we will have our ocean view on our 3rd DCL. We decided to save the ocean view for the 7 day cruise. I would take the money you save and put it toward your next cruise while on board. Either way you will love it!

 

[Bethipooh4]

To the question what is hanging in the window, our DS's(21 and 14) and I had a debate over what towel animal that is. They had their own cabin, and came in one night to find the very same thing hanging in their room. They said it was a chicken, I thought it reminded me of a monkey. Of course when I saw it, it had a head..
I have almost the very same pic in my photo album.

 

[ryan840]

I didn't even realize it was a towel... I knew they made towel animals, but I was thinking pigs and dogs and stuff- not turkeys hanging in your window! Thanks everyone for the tips, now we are debating whether or not to do (dare I say it?) a different cruise line and to save some more money, you can get an ocean view room for less than a Disney standard on some cruises, or a balcony/suite for the same price... Then we could head to WDW afterwards.

 

[jayally]

We had an inside stateroom on our recent 3 day cruise. I did not like not knowing what time it was and overslept several times. It is nice to not worry about lights at night but it would also be nice to sit and look outside from the comfort of the room. Our next cruise will be at least a porthole window. We spent more time in the room than I thought we would.

 

[debm]

JMO but with kids I'd do the Disney and not switch just to get an Oceanview. That being said, our first cruise was a Secret Porthole. we didin't know how good we had it. Our next cruise was an inside Cat. 10 and we really really missed the light. Kids would sleep half the morning--so would we. DH doesn't like to set an alarm on vacation so we had nothing to wake us up. Honestly, I didn't reallize how much I liked the light coming in. Sure we weren't in the room that much but it was nice to have light when we were. I think it makes a difference if you have kids or not. Our next cruise was with a Cat. 9 Oceanview on Deck 2. We LOVED it. The kids love looking out the window at the water below. It is close when you are on Deck 2! We sailed Deck 5 last fall Cat. 8 and it was good. Next cruise grandparents have paid for and we have a verandah. But since 2 of the kids are in their adjoining room--but I'm sure will still spend most of the time in ours it is going to be cramped. Now I'm wishing for my Deck 2 Cat. 9's again!! I would still stick with Disney because ....well, just because we love it so!! Maybe when our 4 kids are older we would try a different line---or by ourselves! Good luck with your decision. Just buy early and the price will be good for an Oceanview!