Misunderstood and don't love my GTY 9A room.

[BartmanLA]

I don't believe that the giant porthole windows you see in the hallways and common areas of the ship are the same size portholes that are in the deluxe ocean view staterooms, the ones in your stateroom in the above linked video are the ones that are in all the deluxe oceanview rooms. I'm still not sure what you were expecting.

 

[mevelandry]

Not only the portholes are smaller but they are "balcony view" instead of the sea.

 

[kiford]

Whether you love or hate it, the question you need to ask before upgrading or trying to change it is: how much time will you spend in the room? DH and I do actually spend quite a bit of time in our room so it is fairly important to us. We never go less than a cat 5 but had always done a 5A mid-ship. On one of our cruises, there were no cat 5A's available so we went with cat 5B and got a room close to mid-ship. Then at the last minute we were moved more aft. I was really ticked off but nothing we could do about it. Turned out we really liked the location. So much, in fact, that we booked a cat 5B on our last cruise that was aft and liked it just as much. So our opinion has changed about it.

If you don't spend much time in the room, don't sweat it. If you do and are unable to move or upgrade, give it a chance and go with an open mind and, again, don't sweat it. Don't let it overshadow your trip.

 

[Flossbolna]

I don't believe that the giant porthole windows you see in the hallways and common areas of the ship are the same size portholes that are in the deluxe ocean view staterooms, the ones in your stateroom in the above linked video are the ones that are in all the deluxe oceanview rooms. I'm still not sure what you were expecting.

Actually, on the Dream and the Fantasy there are very few 9A staterooms. 6008, 6506, 7008, 7506, 8008 and 8506 are all forward, just next to the category 8 staterooms. If you look at the ship from the outside, you can see that all the portholes on those decks have the same size. So, those staterooms have the same large porthole that the category 8 staterooms have. Those are really large. They are even larger than the portholes in the hallways and common ares. However, in the deck plans you can see that those staterooms are shorter than the neighbouring category 8 staterooms. However, there are also 5186, 5686, 6186 and 6686 that are in category 9A. Those are all handicap accessible rooms and are all like the one the OP got assigned. I think the OP was hoping to get one from the first group of staterooms and might not have seen those HA rooms as an option that might be assigned to her.

 

[tweis]

I'm not saying it's a horrible room at all I just thought I was going to end up with the big porthole.

Am I understanding correctly that even though I'm paid in full and past the cancellation period I can call and pay for a higher category?

Yes, you can. We booked GTY once before and were assigned an HA room that we did not require so we paid to upgrade to the next category.

 

[KirbKirb]

Actually, on the Dream and the Fantasy are very few 9A staterooms. 6008, 6506, 7008, 7506, 8008 and 8506 are all forward, just next to the category staterooms. If you look at the ship from the outside, you can see that all the portholes on those decks have the same size. So, those staterooms have the same large porthole that the category 8 staterooms have. Those are really large. They are even larger than the portholes in the hallways and common ares. However, in the deck plans you can see that those staterooms are shorter than the neighbouring category 8 staterooms. However, there are also 5186, 5686, 6186 and 6686 that are in category 9A. Those are all handicap accessible rooms and are all like the one the OP got assigned. I think the OP was hoping to get one from the first group of staterooms and might not have seen those HA rooms as an option that might be assigned to her.

Yes that's exactly what happened.

I wanted a big window and from what I thought I saw 9A was the lowest category with those so and at the time I booked GTY 9A was the only option it was giving me so I thought I was all good because I really didn't care which one of those rooms it was but didn't realize those other 4 were in that category.

 

[KirbKirb]

Yes, you can. We booked GTY once before and were assigned an HA room that we did not require so we paid to upgrade to the next category.

Ok so I think I'll just call and pay the extra to go to 8C

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't believe that the giant porthole windows you see in the hallways and common areas of the ship are the same size portholes that are in the deluxe ocean view staterooms, the ones in your stateroom in the above linked video are the ones that are in all the deluxe oceanview rooms. I'm still not sure what you were expecting.

No there are huge porthole rooms. We had one. Ds could sit on the ledge (there's even a pad there) in the window. I could fit half my rear onto it (and I was extra-small!).

Really excellent rooms.

That said I would like the room the op got. But when i booked our big porthole room I booked it specifically, not with the gty or gt rates, because of the worry that I would be moved to something else.

Ok so I think I'll just call and pay the extra to go to 8C

Will that get you the big porthole?

 

[KirbKirb]

Called and upgraded to 7180 and it was only $24 more.

So "crisis" averted and I'm only out the cost of a lunch.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I see what you mean. Wouldn't be my first choice either. Seems dark or something.

 

[quickcat]

Called and upgraded to 7180 and it was only $24 more.

So "crisis" averted and I'm only out the cost of a lunch.

Great- Glad it worked out! Have a great cruise

 

[Dug720]

Yeah. the problem was in booking 9A GTY. 9A is not a category with the extra large portholes - and there is no guarantee of being upgraded.

 

[KirbKirb]

Yeah. the problem was in booking 9A GTY. 9A is not a category with the extra large portholes - and there is no guarantee of being upgraded.

9A does have the extra large portholes in all but 4 rooms on deck 5 and 6. I neglected to pay attention to the color code correctly and did not realize those 4 were included in 9A which was my mistake, but any of the other 6 rooms in 9A do have the extra large porthole.

 

[Flossbolna]

Called and upgraded to 7180 and it was only $24 more.

So "crisis" averted and I'm only out the cost of a lunch.

That's the nice thing that's the price differences between the oceanview categories are really not that bad. You were lucky that a room was still available! I think you will really like category 8C. You also get a great round tub with rain shower and a little more space in the room. I love that category!

 

[KirbKirb]

That's the nice thing that's the price differences between the oceanview categories are really not that bad. You were lucky that a room was still available! I think you will really like category 8C. You also get a great round tub with rain shower and a little more space in the room. I love that category!

Oh! I didn't even realize there were other benefits.

I'm so excited!!

 

[tweis]

Oh! I didn't even realize there were other benefits.

I'm so excited!!

Glad it worked out for you! We've had category 8C or possibly D before and loved it. My kiddos (and me) love lounging in the huge porthole.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Called and upgraded to 7180 and it was only $24 more.

So "crisis" averted and I'm only out the cost of a lunch.

I love a happy ending!

I love the phrase "crisis averted" too. And I use it just like you do. They may not be big "crisis" in the grand scheme of things, but getting them resolved to your satisfaction is SUCH a relief!

 

[disfam3mi]

We were assigned 5186 as a GTY room on our first Disney Cruise in 2014. We loved it! Being handicap accessible, it was huge!

I hope you enjoy your new room!

 

[Bear3412]

No cat 9 has the super large port hole with padded seat you can sit on/in like a cat 8 fwiw.

These super large portholes are only in cat 8 cabins.

All cat 8 cabins are "family" size/labeled. 241 sqft. And have the super sized portholes.
Located on decks, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Fore and aft on the sides of the vessel. Almost a 6 foot porthole. As you can see in these images linked.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...see-the-pictures-index-now-in-post-7.2586763/

Except the weird cat 8a's that are mini suites / larger cabins on deck 5 and 6 forward.
Which actually have two of these monster portholes.
Configurations vary in these cat 8a's, definitely more than 241 sqft in these cat 8a's.
Research before reserving cat 8 cabins with 2 portholes though, as they may lack amenities in regular cat 8's.
Cat 8a thread fwiw; https://www.disboards.com/threads/dream-fantasy-8a-cabins.2696288/

The cat 9 portholes are similar throughout the vessel.
They are smaller than the cat 8 portholes.
Cat 9 portholes are located on deck 2, 5, 6, 7, 8.
They are located fore and aft literally. Besides the deck 2 cabins, the others are facing fore and aft.

Cat 9 porthole;

Cat 8 porthole;

And the double portholes available in the cat 8a's;

HTH

 

[Bear3412]

Called and upgraded to 7180 and it was only $24 more.

So "crisis" averted and I'm only out the cost of a lunch.

So happy you figured this out prior to boarding.

Great research.

7180, Cat 8c, has a super large porthole with a padded seat.

Enjoy

Look for 7678 opposite side / mirror cabin;

HTH