Is it too cold in Jan-Western Itinery for balcony???

[singitalto]

Hi!!! We love DW and are looking into our first DC. Want to go for my DD12th birthday in Jan 2004, a 7day on the Magic -Western .

Since I have never been on this ship, I am at a loss for what type of cabin to go for. Right now just about every cat has great options and the prices are pretty goodfor when I want to go.
These are my choices and why I debate them:

Cat 10 hidden porthole- $ would be about $2650- this really keeps our budget to where I can afford it---BUT--

Cat 9 is only about a hundred more $2752- if I go for just a porthole, should I just do a cat 9 since it is affordable and gauranteed to have a view????(whick are better cat 10 secret porthole #5520 and 5020 or any cat 9 on level 2??)---OR--

Cat 6 $3382- Will I use a balcony in Jan, I mean if it is cool, I will kick myself for spending the extra$600 and not want to be on our balcony cause its too cold. But I would love a balcony-will I use it?

Face it , these prices are pretty good(from Costco travel) so should I spurge for the balcony- or should I save the money and get one of the other rooms?????
HELP ME!!!

 

[Chattyaholic]

We were on the Magic in January '01 and used our verandah quite a lot. The weather was a bit cool when we left Port Canaveral but the further south we went, the warmer it got. We left the verandah door open every night so we were lulled to sleep by the ocean sounds and warm, tropical breezes. We spent early mornings out there drinking coffee and eating warm, buttered croissants and muffins. I spent an hour or so almost every afternoon out there, just relaxing by myself and reading. And we spent time out there almost every evening, just sitting together, relaxing, gazing up at the stars...it was great!! Oh, and I watched us pull away from port on our verandah too, rather than being up top with the masses. I wouldn't want to cruise again without a verandah, even though it costs more.

 

[mmouse37]

On the other hand.....I have stayed in both veranda and non-verands room on DCL. I won't lie....the veranda rooms are fantastic....but I have also found out that the Cat 9 porthole rooms are great too, and with that extra money I can have more tropical drinks and not feel guilty about what souvie's I buy.

There are so many deck area around the ship. Deck 4 has the most comfortable padded deck chairs...the secret deck 7 aft deck, etc. If this is going to be your only DCL cruise...go for it and splurge for the balcony. If you are like me and plan on going back again, and again, I find I am just as happy with a Cat 9 and some extra money in my pocket!!!

MJ

 

[disny4ever]

My personal choice is a verandah. My DW and I have sailed 3 times on DCL, each cruise having a verandah and I will not sail again ( crossing my fingers ) w/o 1. To wake up each morning and stand outside and watch the sun coming up, or at night watching the stars just before you go to bed. Yes I know you can do that from decks 9 and 10, but to be able to do that with a little privacy is the best.
It all comes down to personal choice and if you feel it's worth the extra cost.
Either way you go, have a great trip, I'm sure your family will love it.

 

[inkkognito]

We are sailing on the January 4th Magic for the Western and fully intend to be after to use our verandah. We have sailed in Jan. and Feb. many times, and although we've occasionally had to wear sweatshirts in the evenings, it has never been too cold for us to swim (of course, we are hearty Chicagoans).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Jack & Monica]

It depends on your circumstances. If you are traveling with young ones -- you may not really get the opportunity to fully enjoy the verandah. Or if you are on a tight budget -- again, you may not feel the balcony is worth the extra money. Having said that, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed above. My wife and I vacation every January (our anniversary is on the 10th). Although this upcoming 11-18 Eastern Car. DCL cruise will be our first Disney cruise, we have been on many other cruises. We will only book WITH a verandah. It is just so awesome to go to sleep at night while listening to the water as the ship cuts through the waves. There is nothing like a sunrise or sunset at sea, and it is fantastic to relax and view it from the privacy of your own verandah! My wife and I especially like starting our day with coffee out on the balcony. We also like enjoying a quiet cocktail in the early evening.
As for the temperature -- true, while you are in Florida waters, you may get unlucky and get some temps that dip down to as low as 50 at night. This is the exception though -- and once you start heading south -- you will not have that problem. If temp is all that is worrying you -- go with the balcony! Good luck and have an awesome trip! Jack

 

[snowwhitemom]

Total personal choice....we are going 1/02/03 in cat6, I felt the extra ca$h was worth it, but then again the only reason why I stay in a deluxe over a moderate in WDW is for the balcony

 

[Melrosgirl]

go for the balcony! we just returned from a Princess cruise and had a mini suite with balcony. I wanted to see the Statute of Liberty on the way back to New York's pier, so I made sure we got up around 5 a.m. It was a bit chilly so we wrapped blankets around us and enjoyed the view!

It's great! (I'm going on Magic in January 2004 and we'll have a balcony then, too.) Can't go back to a room without a balcony now, lol.

 

[my3kids]

If you rule out the balcony, I'll comment on a secret porthole vs. a category 9 on deck 2. We LOVED the location on deck 5. If we couldn't have gotten the same SPR's for the next trip, we likely would have booked 2 other rooms right on the same hall. We really though it was a terrific spot.

 

[SueEllen]

If you are traveling with young ones -- you may not really get the opportunity to fully enjoy the verandah.

Actually I found exactly the opposite to be true. We enjoyed the verandah just as much having our 14 month old son with us, as we did on the last cruise with only our 10 y/o at the time.

When he napped we sat out on the verandah. At night once he was sleeping we sat outside and enjoyed the ocean and stars.

During the morning while getting ready, we would go out there with him and look at the ocean and enjoy the atmosphere. It was wonderful.

If forced to choose between not having a verandah or not sailing, well I'd choose to sail (a no brainer) BUT if I had the choice of a verandah or not, with only a little bit of money being the determining factor--a verandah would win by far!!!!!

Sue Ellen

 

[Gillian]

We booked a Western for Jan 2004, Cat 6. I was worried about the weather in general. I still am, LOL! But no matter when we go, it will be with a verandah - DH now won't cruise without it! We'll have 2 young ones, so I know we'll use it. You can't leave the door open all night, but it's a great place to hang out during naps or after their bedtime.

I was so happy we had a verandah on our Wonder cruise in september. Our 2 year fell asleep (finally!) right after the lifeboat drill. We couldn't go to the party, but I got us some fancy drinks & at least we were able to enjoy the sailaway from our balcony. It would have been great, even with sweatshirts!

 

[prymsu]

we have always had a balcony in January, and never thought it too cold to enjoy!

 

[singitalto]

Ok. I did it!!! Just booked a cat 6 room for our cruise!!!! We are going to be on the Magic for 7 wonderful days in room 6548!!!!! I can't believe we will really be going until we go I guess!

Thanks for all your help!!!!