Please save my marriage!!

[jnc1970]

OK, maybe that was an overstatement, but my wife and I are in a perpetual disagreement over the value of a verandah. We have a family of four and a category 10 booked right now for our 7-day western in April '05. I would like to move up to a cat. 5 or 6, and have the verandah for added space and private relaxation, but she doesn't think that a verandah is worth $1,600. So those of you who are experienced DCL patrons, please tell me what you think. (Maybe I can get some ammunition to win this epic struggle!!) Thanks

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

You didn't say how old your children are, but if they are young and will be either napping during the day or going to sleep early a verandah can be a great spot to relax while you are in your room. I can do a 3 day cruise without one, but really prefer it for a 7 day cruise. There is something special about having your morning coffee on your verandah that can't be beat.

 

[cwf1028]

I'm in the same "boat". 7 night in April, family of 4, catagory 10. I've been on two other cruises and although I know I would love a veranda, I have not had one. I will, however, have to agree with your DW. The way I look at it, that extra $1600 could be used to rebook while on board! My husband and I are both "thrifty", so we agree on this point. I think a veranda would be wonderful, but I'm just going to have the sit in the comfy deck 4 lounge chairs and imagine I'm on my veranda and think of ways to spend the $1600. To be honest, the other reason is my 3 year old (will be 4 on the cruise) is very sensitive to light in the morning and we have had to hang dark towels over windows on vacation before just to get a little extra sleep in, so there is another reason for our selection of category! We also hope to have a couple of "family" naps in the middle of the day during the week when everyone is overtired and no window or veranda would be nice for that! Curtains are nice, but my kids need it to be DARK!

 

[epjenk]

Probably not what you want to hear- but I'd side with DW too. We spend very little time in our room, and I am pretty sensitive to smoking- with smokers next to us we really didn't get any use of the verandah on our last cruise. We are going on the 2 week reposition and ended up booking adjoining 9's for our family. I don't think I'd want to go without at least a window, though. That thought makes me claustorphobic.

 

[lotsofboys]

Sorry, another post you don't want to hear (but don't worry, at the end of today the overwhelming majority of posts will be for a verandah ) We had a verandah on our first Magic cruise July 2002, in-laws paid for the trip but we have booked cat 8 twice since that cruise. It was so hot and humid in July, any time of day or night, that you could not sit comfortably on the verandah and forget about leaving the door open to hear the ocean at night. The air conditioning would be sucked out of the room in a matter of minutes and take an entire day to cool down again. And no we didn't have a faulty air conditioner, MILs room on the other side of the ship had the same exact problem as did many other passengers as we found out during the cruise. DH and I are also very "thrifty" but could never justify the cost of a verandah.

FYI we've also booked the CA-FL repositioning cruise and thought for 10 seconds about a verandah since we would be on the ship for 14 days and still couldn't justify the added cost!

Have a great time whatever you decide

 

[vikingfans]

I think a verandah is very much worth it! You don't have to crowd the deck to see the ship dock, you can get up in your jammies and watch the ship sail into port. You can have room service send coffee to your room in the morning and just enjoy the morning and let the kids enjoy the cartoons while they are waking up and look at the lovely view!

I have always had a room with a verandah and we think it's very much worth it!! The relaxation time is great! We have never had a bad time with smokers next door. They were never there when we were so it worked out great! They were always up on the upper decks smoking.

Have a great trip!!

 

[natdencro]

Have had both porthole and verandah cabins. Verandahs are nice, but we spent very little time in our cabins as there was always something to do. There is PLENTY of space outside on deck to enjoy drinking morning coffee and evening drinks. In fact, most evenings we were the ONLY people on deck 9 aft - watching the sunsets. We have the photos to prove it! If you can afford the verandahs and want to spend hours on end away from the fun onboard, then great - but the difference in price really isnt worth it. No doubt others will disagree, but not everyone has to watch their pennies. Anyway, ANY cruise is better than none!Nat

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by jnc1970
OK, maybe that was an overstatement, but my wife and I are in a perpetual disagreement over the value of a verandah. We have a family of four and a category 10 booked right now for our 7-day western in April '05. I would like to move up to a cat. 5 or 6, and have the verandah for added space and private relaxation, but she doesn't think that a verandah is worth $1,600. So those of you who are experienced DCL patrons, please tell me what you think. (Maybe I can get some ammunition to win this epic struggle!!) Thanks

We had a verandah on our 7 day Eastern in May and it was, in my opinion, soooooo worth the money! Just having our morning coffee and tea on the verandah, or an afternoon snack out there while the kids took a nap...having a glass of wine at night, with the ocean breeze. Heaven. And while everyone was crowding around Deck 10 to watch us dock at Castaway, I was sitting on my chair on the verandah eating breakfast. I'll never cruise w/out a verandah!!

My motto is...if you can afford it, do it!

 

[tvguy]

We got a free upgrade to a Verandah, yes, THAT was worth it.
We all agreed it would not be worth the $1600. My kids are 13 and 17.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Had a Cat 4 Vadandah familiy room last time, it was nice, and I am glad we booked it, but we spent less than 30 mins on it on the whole Western 7 day cruise.

Apart from sleeping in the room, there was so much ot do, so on the next cruise I have changed to an outside delux room, and used the saved money on the pre cruise hotels etc

 

[erikthewise]

jnc1970,

Let's trade spouses! DW insists on a verandah, because THIS time she's going to use it. Didn't use it much last time. I'd just as soon have a cat 8 and save over $100 a night.

 

[mississaugamom]

Gotta go along with your DW on this one, unless your children are young and you'll be spending A LOT of time in your cabin. $1600 covers a lot of fun onboard!

Arlene

 

[SandraLee]

I LOVE my verandah and would have a hard time cruising for 7 days without one. But, I am ALWAYS outside on my deck at home. I enjoy sitting outside reading and definetly having a cocktail before dinner.

We let the kids (DD5, DS8) relax on the couch and watch TV before dinner and my DH and I have a wine or snack on the verandah. Now THAT is worth it.

And, I really enjoy those at sea days just watching the water go by. I don't have to be cooking in the sun to enjoy the water and breeze.

And, I am nosey and like to watch as people come and go at port. I can't believe how long I could sit on the verandah and watch the people at Key West. I watched the loading and unloading of stuff at Port Canaveral. And, watching the people coming back from Castaway Cay was very entertaining. I actually prefer the side of the ship that faces the dock.

And, I love having the breeze come into the cabin and hearing the water outside.

And, I suppose, you *could* see all these things on other decks, but for me, The Verandah Is Worth Every Penny.

I don't see it as it would cost an *extra* $1,600. I see it as the whole package deal and the verandah is just part of it all.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Sorry!! But i gotta side with your DW also. There is alot of things you could do with the $1600. Let's see.... At $6.00 each you could buy 266 1/2 konk koolers. Then you wouldn't care whether or not you had that verandah!!!!

Just a thought!!!

 

[Dancind]

LOL, we're really helping out the OP, aren't we? We have done with and without. With is nicer, but I'm not sure how nice the veranda will be when cruising in December. I'll let you know. If you book really early next time, your veranda winds up costing the same as a Cat 10 booked much later. One way to look at it!

 

[tecdavidt]

We are verandah people and won't cruise without it. We spend every morning having coffee in our PJ's on it, and it is a great place to get away when you decide you need a bit of piece and quiet to yourselves. When our daughter was younger she went to bed early and we just went out on the verandah and watched the ocean go by. It is peaceful and relaxing. Other people don't use their's at all so you need to decide how you'll cruise--if you take part in an activity as much as possible I doubt you will use it much but if you want quiet time and like my husband, plan to read on the cruise, you probably will use it a lot. If you don't use it the money is a waste. Kathy

 

[MBFergie]

Our first cruise we had a verandah and loved it. Used it all the time. Kids were 4 and 9.

Last summer kids were 8 and 12. We had breakfast out there once. DD used it late at night with some friends after they ordered room service.

This year we booked a Cat 9 and hopefully gonna book a 3 day cruise while on board with the savings.

 

[piglet33]

I think it's definitely worth it. In fact DH always makes sure that I got one.

We find that it is so relaxing to sit out there anytime especially early in the morning to watch the sunrise or later to watch the sunset (depending on which side of the ship you're on). We've also been out there late at night when DD is sleeping. We even leave the door open so we can hear the ship going through the water. Now I really can't wait for our October cruise!

Reneé

 

[TraSee]

If you are taking votes, add another one for the verandah! I can do without on the three day cruise...but not on the 7. The extra room is nice, esp. on those days at sea. We love to leave the door open at night and sleep with the fresh sea air. Go for it!

 

[MoranClan]

Hope this helps..

We wouldnt cruise ever again without one..

Our first cruise with the verandah my DD's were 4 and 5....While they Slept, DW and Myself really enjoyed the Fresh air and the View

I wake up early, So I Would run upstairs get my DW coffee, Ice it down , and wait for everyone to get up while outside on the verandah..

We watched a thunder storm roll up on Castaway Cay, video taped it, and still watch it...

I love the smell and sound of the ocean..

Just my .02

Bobby