Misc. cabin, veranda & land/sea questions

[jenjersnap]

Hello. We're just planning our first family WDW vacation and the idea has us so excited we're thinking of doing a cruise next. Looks wonderful! Anyway, before I peppered our TA with questions I wanted to have a better idea which cabin class would be appropriate for our family. Looking over the deck plans, I have some specific questions, hoping someone can help me:

Several websites I've referred to have stated that the Cat. 7 Navigator's Veranda cabins are only available on decks 5 & 6. However, it looks like there are some available on deck 7 too - at least, they are in the same place that I assume the others are on 5 and 6. We wondered if these enclosed verandas would be a good choice for us since we have two young kids - ages 4 & 1 - but the info also states that only 3 can be accommodated in the Cat. 7. Is this true for all of them - anyone know? The kids would be 5 & 2 when we traveled - would our two-year-old be considered a 4th passenger for room count purposes? Do they provide cribs or pack and plays for babies/toddlers?

Again looking at the deck plans, it appears that some aft cabins in Cat. 5 & 6 have slightly larger verandas. Is this true? I am talking specifically about cabins 7134, 7634, 6148 thru 6152, 6648 thru 6652, 5150 or 5650? Are these extremely difficult to book? There are other larger looking 5 and 6 staterooms in those areas too but I assumed they were reserved for the disabled (since, duh, they do have the wheelchair symbol on them!). Anyone know the advance booking policy for those? One of my boys has a serious health problem and may be in a wheelchair by that time (hopefully not, but we don't know).

Do you think the land/sea cruise offers the best value vs. booking a 4 day cruise and land stay separately? DH has issues with the veranda and safety - any reassurance I can pass along would make my life easier - and would prefer Cat. 8 but I want to stay at the Poly and we can't with the package. Also, honestly, we'd like slightly longer on land than the 7 day package offers. I guess we can add on a few days with a separate ressie even with the package ...

Sorry, one more question that just occurred: is the square footage difference between an oceanview and a veranda all on the veranda? The diagrams make the cabins look similar in size. Are the veranda rooms actually bigger in addition to having the veranda space?

Thank you for reading this epic request for advice!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

There are definitely category 7 rooms on deck 7. I've stayed in most of them. It's our preferred location on board. However, you're correct that these rooms only accomodate 3. That said, I don't think that these rooms are necessarily any safer (or less safe) than the standard verandah rooms. On the regular verandahs, the railings are covered on the inside with plexiglass, so the kids can't climb up. I've never heard of a small child climbing over a verandah railing and falling off a DCL ship. I think that with standard parental vigilance, you won't have any problems. In addition, the door to the verandah is pretty tricky for even an adult to open. The lock is up high and the handle requires a bit of strength. I think it's unlikely a 5-year old could get out there on his/her own.

I believe that they won't book a room with three berths for four people, even if one of them is sleeping in a pack-and-play. My understanding is that you can reserve one of these for your room so you don't have to travel with it.

The rooms at the very aft of the ship do have larger verandahs due to the curve of the stern. I'm not sure how hard it is to get these. They may go early, but the rooms which are aft of the category 7 rooms have a solid metal railing that you can't see through. Many people don't like these rooms for that reason. I can't help with the booking policy for the handicap-accessible rooms. Sorry.

My understanding is that it's usually less expensive to book the land and sea parts of the trip separately. This will also allow you to book the Polynesian without being tied to a specific category on board. I'd say price it both ways and see. You can add extra land days when booking both legs through the cruise line.

As I said above, I think the verandahs are plenty safe for kids. You just have to keep an eye on them, as ever, but I think it would be difficult for them to get out there on their own and they just aren't that big that if you're out there with them they could do anything behind your back.

You're right about the square footage of the rooms. The actual "room" part is the same size (although the oceanview rooms are laid out differently). The size difference is the verandah. At least that's my impression. I haven't actually taken a tape measure to the rooms....

Enjoy your trip. Hope this helps.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Great answer lloyd... I will just add about the handicapp accessible rooms. You would need to advise them when you call to book that you need one (if you do in fact need one) as they will transfer you to the special needs department. Special needs holds the handicap accessible rooms out of the regular avalaiblity (until about a week or two prior to sailing) so they are the only ones that can book those. In order to actually book one you would need to fax a letter from your doctor stating that you require that room for what ever reason.

 

[jenjersnap]

Thanks so much! Just what I needed to know. Sounds like we need to a) sort out veranda vs. oceanview, since the navigator's veranda is eliminated from contention and b) decide to book land/sea package or book separately.

At this point, we're not candidates for a handicapped room but it's good to know that, if the situation changes, we're not shut out of the possibility long before the cruise sails.

 

[mmouse37]

Just wanted to add that if you keep reading these boards you will gain so much info that your TA will be asking you questions about DCL!!!!

MJ

 

[disneygatorfan]

Some of the aft verandahs are solid metal, so it requires an adult to stand to see over, and you would have to hold a child up to see over the edge. These verandahs are larger spacially, but I think most people tend to prefer the plexiglass verandahs, so they can sit and see out, and their children can see out easier.

I would price and see if it is better to book the land/sea package or to book seperately.. but from what I have heard, most prefer to book seperately, so they can can choose their stateroom catagory, and resort... otherwise if you want say a verandah stateroom, you have to select from certain resorts..

To answer another one of your questions, yes infants and toddlers count as an additional person in the room, even if they do not sleep in the bed. The "sleeps" # for the stateroom has to do with number of beds, as well as passenger count for safety reasons.

Hope that helps, and tell your husband not to worry, I've never heard of a child falling overboard. THe verandahs are very safe. In fact, half the time I couldn't even get the door open it has such a childproof latch!