Ocean view Stateroom v. Verandah Stateroom on Alaskan Cruise

[bcwife76]

Will you come back and give an opinion when you are back from your cruise? thanks

For sure I'm planning on doing a TR when we get back; we are doing the repo cruise Vancouver-San Diego and I haven't found out much info online about this particular itinerary (and have never found a TR) so I'd like to do one

 

[bumbershoot]

Unlike caribbean cruises an Alaskan cruise is constant scenary.

The scenery I saw on our Alaska cruise, and in pictures of others' is just like driving from Seattle to Canada for me. Evergreens, more evergreens...evergreens... I can see that any old time.

For me, looking at the ocean in the Caribbean is scenery.

So funny how something like *where we live* can change what we want to do!




Our first (so far only, since we had to cancel our Alaska cruise that would have come and gone already) Alaska cruise involved an oceanview cabin, and I would never say that even THAT was necessary. We could sit and look out, we could go out to the public areas. We went to the public areas far more often than we sat there. Of course, we were on Radiance of the Seas, which was MADE for Alaska, with all of its huge windows, so that was awesome.

If we have an awesome room, we're spending time in the room. So with a verandah, we'd want to be in the room. And then we'd miss other things. It's like the cabana on Castaway, or even concierge on Dream/Fantasy for us. My budget, my wallet, my sense of value, means that if I book something extra, I'm going to experience that extra. Others have different budgets, wallets, senses of value. We're all better off if we think only of OUR family's sense of value etc, and don't try to match those of others.

That said, the one we had to cancel (well...change...) was a verandah. It was on Royal, again, though, so it was far less than anything I would have found on Disney. With DCL I'd have to go with an Inside. But I'd still be happy with it.

Pick one, DO it, see how you like it.

 

[anricat]

Well, I'm just back from Alaska and I can now speak from experience. We didn't have a verandah and I couldn't be happier that I didn't spend the extra money. First of all, we LOVED our room on deck 2. Our last cruise we were on deck 6 and we liked that, but I will tell you, I loved deck 2 even more. We had an oceanview (one large porthole midship) and it was absolutely perfect. Our entire cruise was overcast, fog and drizzle and I would not have spent much time at all on a verandah. The times I wanted to be outside, I was perfectly content with small snippets on decks 4 and 9. Deck 10 was way too cool and windy for me most times. I was also just happy to watch the scenery go by out the window of our cabin. It was absolutely a perfect choice for our family.

 

[gourt]

We, too, had an oceanview cabin on our Alaska cruise this summer. The verandah cabin was $2k more and not worth it, in our opinion. We loved our cabin but spent most of our time up on deck and running around the ship. The extra money would have been a waste for us.

 

[bcwife76]

Well, I'm just back from Alaska and I can now speak from experience. We didn't have a verandah and I couldn't be happier that I didn't spend the extra money. First of all, we LOVED our room on deck 2. Our last cruise we were on deck 6 and we liked that, but I will tell you, I loved deck 2 even more. We had an oceanview (one large porthole midship) and it was absolutely perfect. Our entire cruise was overcast, fog and drizzle and I would not have spent much time at all on a verandah. The times I wanted to be outside, I was perfectly content with small snippets on decks 4 and 9. Deck 10 was way too cool and windy for me most times. I was also just happy to watch the scenery go by out the window of our cabin. It was absolutely a perfect choice for our family.

Oh I'm very happy to hear this! On the Wonder last September we were on deck 6 (inside, midship) loved the location. We are booked for Alaska August 2017 on deck 2 midship, oceanview. Sounds like we won't regret it

 

[xlxo]

I'm another Deck 2 Oceanview lover. Recommend port side for Alaska.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Well, I'm just back from Alaska and I can now speak from experience. We didn't have a verandah and I couldn't be happier that I didn't spend the extra money. First of all, we LOVED our room on deck 2. Our last cruise we were on deck 6 and we liked that, but I will tell you, I loved deck 2 even more. We had an oceanview (one large porthole midship) and it was absolutely perfect. Our entire cruise was overcast, fog and drizzle and I would not have spent much time at all on a verandah. The times I wanted to be outside, I was perfectly content with small snippets on decks 4 and 9. Deck 10 was way too cool and windy for me most times. I was also just happy to watch the scenery go by out the window of our cabin. It was absolutely a perfect choice for our family.

We were on Deck 2 as well near midship! I'm sure we ran into each other at some point - were you on the left or right side?

And I agree, I can't imagine spending $4,000 more (in our case) for a verandah! Loved our room. We'll be doing a verandah for our little 3 night cruise to the Bahamas but it was only $200 more.

 

[dsnydaddy]

I'm so glad you loved it. I always have a hard time answering opinion questions because "one mans trash..." But I liked having the deck 2 room as well. And if I had it to do again I'd get the same room. The main decks were always available to me so I never felt that I was deprived

 

[jahber]

Well, I'm just back from Alaska and I can now speak from experience. We didn't have a verandah and I couldn't be happier that I didn't spend the extra money. First of all, we LOVED our room on deck 2. Our last cruise we were on deck 6 and we liked that, but I will tell you, I loved deck 2 even more. We had an oceanview (one large porthole midship) and it was absolutely perfect. Our entire cruise was overcast, fog and drizzle and I would not have spent much time at all on a verandah. The times I wanted to be outside, I was perfectly content with small snippets on decks 4 and 9. Deck 10 was way too cool and windy for me most times. I was also just happy to watch the scenery go by out the window of our cabin. It was absolutely a perfect choice for our family.

We sailed in an inside on deck 2 and loved it, as well. If I had the money, would I have gotten a verandah? Maybe. Maybe not. It was a LOT more. And being Floridians, other than Tracy Arm day, we were inside looking out of windows for scenery (when my crazy kids weren't swimming). I wouldn't have been happy sitting out in the cold on a verandah (even though northerners have tried to convince me I would--ha!), so it worked perfectly.

 

[anricat]

We were on Deck 2 as well near midship! I'm sure we ran into each other at some point - were you on the left or right side?

And I agree, I can't imagine spending $4,000 more (in our case) for a verandah! Loved our room. We'll be doing a verandah for our little 3 night cruise to the Bahamas but it was only $200 more.

Port side - room 2050, just about 4 rooms forward of the aft elevator lobby.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Port side - room 2050, just about 4 rooms forward of the aft elevator lobby.

We weren't too far! 2122. I'm sure we passed by each other at some point.

 

[Geomom]

We weren't too far! 2122. I'm sure we passed by each other at some point.

2116! I probably saw you all when I went to/from the laundry on Endicott Arm day!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

2116! I probably saw you all when I went to/from the laundry on Endicott Arm day!

I'm sure you did!

 

[Love2Cruz]

I think you have to ask yourself is this cruise to Alaska a one time thing or is it something you can see yourself doing again? If it's a one time thing, then I would go for the Verandah. I haven't done an Alaskan cruise yet, but when I do, I will book a verandah, probably not with Disney due to price. It will probably be a one time thing for us unless we are totally wowed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think you have to ask yourself is this cruise to Alaska a one time thing or is it something you can see yourself doing again? If it's a one time thing, then I would go for the Verandah. I haven't done an Alaskan cruise yet, but when I do, I will book a verandah, probably not with Disney due to price. It will probably be a one time thing for us unless we are totally wowed.

When we booked our first Alaska cruise, I was faced with the dilemma of "Glacier Bay vs Tracy Arm". At that time, most Alaska cruises went to one or the other, and I was convinced I was only doing Alaska once. I was more that thrilled when I found a cruise that went to both (obviously not DCL).

We visited Tracy Arm first (like day 2 or 3), and I'll just say that I had already decided that we were returning to Alaska. When we reached Glacier Bay, it was a done deal. We booked a 20 night land/cruise tour that also included the Yukon.

We had booked an oceanview room on that first cruise, but the cruise line upgraded us to a verandah. But we spent most of our scenic cruising time on the upper, open decks where we could see the whole 360 degree view. Second cruise we were in an oceanview room, and that was just fine.

I'll just end with - we're going back to Alaska.

 

[anricat]

I thought it was going to be a one-time thing, but I'd love to return when my daughter is older (she's 8). Even if we go back, though, I'm happy with another porthole. My DD could go back tomorrow, though! She literally cried getting off the ship. (Not me, though, it was just dusty that day and something got in my eyes.)

 

[bcwife76]

When we booked our first Alaska cruise, I was faced with the dilemma of "Glacier Bay vs Tracy Arm". At that time, most Alaska cruises went to one or the other, and I was convinced I was only doing Alaska once. I was more that thrilled when I found a cruise that went to both (obviously not DCL).

We visited Tracy Arm first (like day 2 or 3), and I'll just say that I had already decided that we were returning to Alaska. When we reached Glacier Bay, it was a done deal. We booked a 20 night land/cruise tour that also included the Yukon.

We had booked an oceanview room on that first cruise, but the cruise line upgraded us to a verandah. But we spent most of our scenic cruising time on the upper, open decks where we could see the whole 360 degree view. Second cruise we were in an oceanview room, and that was just fine.

I'll just end with - we're going back to Alaska.

We live on the West Coast (Vancouver infact!) so I can totally see us going to Alaska more than once. So I'm happy to have an oceanview with Disney next summer, knowing that on future cruises we'll probably choose a different line (and will probably do a one way cruise so we can do land as well).