Opinion on stateroom for 5

[Mr. Moose51]

My niece and nephew are considering a 7 day 2007 cruise. They have a two daughters who will be 6 and 3, and a son who will be 4. Is their best bet two connecting rooms, or to go for a category 4? Is there another option out there. I'm the designated information gatherer, so "thanks".

 

[outahere]

One thing to keep in mind...... if they book two cabins, the first 2 people in each cabin pay full adult price. That may make it pricier than one cat 4. However, if they don't need/want a verandah, booking two inside connecting rooms may be cheaper. A quick look at the DCL website should give you an idea on which option is less expensive.

 

[sharonk]

We are a family of 5 and we just cruised in June. Our kids were 3, 7 and 9.

We got a Cat 4 stateroom and it was fine. For our cruise, it would have been about $1000 cheaper to get 2 connecting Cat 8 or 9 staterooms BUT we really wanted the verandah. We sat out there at least an hour or two every day.

If the verandah is not important, connecting staterooms would be great and would actually be less expensive, but if they want a verandah, Cat 4 is the way to go.

Sharon

 

[Gupsmom]

We ove connecting cabins. We have 3 kids (8, 7 and 5). Connecting cabins are usually cheaper than a Cat 4. I actually didn't want the Veranda (yet) because it would make me nervous (although the kids are getting older..but I'm still not ready). I LOVE having 2 rooms and more importantly, 2 bathrooms!!! The kids can Veg and watch cartoons on one side (not that we're in the room much) and we get the other side for peace and quiet...with the door between always open. Having 2 showers after a day at the beach, or even first thing in the morning, is priceless.

Jess

 

[LCTsMom]

We booked two connecting secret porthole rooms for a four day cruise in 2006. With the SPH rooms you get the inside room price for outside rooms with slightly obstructed portholes. They sell out quickly though, from what I have always heard. We booked extremely early.

 

[CACruisin']

It is nice to have a verandah if anyone will take a nap. I loved sitting out on the verandah reading while DD took her nap in the afternoon. It was very pleasant.

 

[loriace]

Can anyone clue me in where the fifth bed is in this cabin? The web site says sleeps 5 but description says " Room Configuration: Queen-size bed or 2 twin beds, single convertible sofa, wall pull-down bed" I Only count 4, what am I missing? Thanks

 

[CACruisin']

In the Cat 4 rooms there is a murphy bed that pulls down from the wall next to the verandah door.

 

[yippeeDCL]

In the Cat 4 rooms there is a murphy bed that pulls down from the wall next to the verandah door.

This was a super surprise! My kids loved the murphey bed..especially how it "magically" appears

 

[cepmom]

we just returned from a 4 night cruise and we got 2 connecting cat 10 rooms. There were 5 of us (me, DH and 3 DD's ages 5, 8 and 15). I loved having the 2 rooms...it gave us a little more space to spread out, plenty of storage space and the best thing was the 2 bathrooms! Made it very easy to get ready for dinner with 2 showers. I don't think I could go for all of us in one room...too crowded!

 

[Joeski71]

My family is cruising on March 4, 2006 and we booked connecting cat 10 rooms. The price was over a 1,000.00 less and you get 2 bathrooms. We do not spend much time in our rooms, so the money saved offset having a verandah.

 

[cruzings]

when my sis-in-law (she and hubby have 3 kids) booked a cruise for 2006 while still onboard, she was told that it is ALWAYS cheaper to book two connecting cat 10 rooms compared to one cat 4 room. advantages other than price: you get two bathrooms, two TVs, two bunk beds (which the smaller kids seem to always fight about), two coolers/"fridge", more storage space, larger total space to "spread out"......all this if you do not mind missing out on the verandah.

 

[cats mom]

Another option is to do one verandah cabin and one inside cabin.

Of course I wouldn't do it with little ones - but for those who have older kids or maybe an extra adult (I know some folks have brought Grandma, an aunt or babysitter along) it might work out well.

I priced a 7 night cruise Oct. 2006 and getting a cat. 6 and a cat. 11 directly across the hall came out $560 cheaper than getting one cat. 4 for a family of 5.

 

[kristen821]

if you book two cat. 12 rooms can you request the rooms are next to eachother of do you have to go for cat. 11

 

[Karel]

One thing to consider with a Cat 4 is that one bed drops down from the top of the cabin, acting like a top bunk over the sofa bed. Will the six year old sleep on that? I know my youngest was a little put off by it. Luckily, her older brothers have a bunk bed at home and were used to it.

Also, don't underestimate the value of a veranda, especially for naptime, as someone suggested. My daughter was ill our first cruise - took a four hour nap. I ordered room service and sat and read on the veranda, which was really really nice.

Last cruise, because the kids were older, we did the two cabins. I have to admit, I was a little freaked out by how small they were and the fact that there was only a porthole, which I couldn't open. I was ready to go find a Cat 4 cabin and trade!

When the kids were small, I really enjoyed the Cat 4 and didn't find it too crowded at all. I'm glad we did it. Once the kids were older, the two cabins worked out great too. One cabin would have been TOO tight for us all. Next time, we'll probably do the veranda cabin and the inside cabin across the hall.