Question for Eastern veterans!!

[jeanie]

Hi,

I am about to book our first 7 day cruise with DU for 2004! I got a great price for Apr vacation and I can get a $200 rebate and $100 shipboard credit!!!

I need advice on whether I should book on the port side or the starboard for the Eastern cruise. We have a cat 5 and we used the veranda on the 4 day alot. We had starboard and we had the best view of CC but not so great of Nassau or Freeport

I know that it depends on whether the Captain pulls in or backs in but I was just wondering what people who did the Eastern thought on this.

Thanks,

 

[Michelemouse]

The consensus seems to be that the Starboard side offers the best views, but as you say it often depends on the captain's choices.

Also, you may want to save yourself even more money by booking a Cat. 6 cabin. They are exactly the same as the Cat. 5s but are located on Decks 5 & 6. Other than their location they are no different.

 

[rae519]

We also had a great view of CC but the view of Nassau (well, yuck!). It was room 5132 (navigator's verandah)
We changed sides (5622) for the 7 day - ended up with a great view of St. Thomas Harbor - not so great of St. M and CC.


If you book within 120 days of your last cruise and are a Castaway Club member, you can ask for and get a $200 onboard credit. Although I make my own reservations, I get a 7% rebate back from a travel agent for my trip (not taxes or port fees, just the cost). He is honest and applies my rebate to my final payment. Have used him three times already and very satisfied.

Happy cruising!

Rae

 

[Euphscott]

It makes no difference!
Get on the ship and the rest is going to take care of itself. There is so much beauty all around, if you don't like your view, get up on deck and take in all 360 degrees!

You just can't count on anything in booking starboard or port. the captain may back in, you may be on one side of the dock versus another, you may get diverted to a different port, and so on.

Just get on the ship - that's all I need!

 

[strawberryblonde]

Thank-you for saying that Scott. I just booked today and my stateroom will be port side. Reading this thread got me alittle worried ("should I have it switched?"). I guess I will leave well enough alone (still a tad concerned though, can't help it, the planner in me)

 

[Señor Ferrari]

As I posted in a similar thread, I once spoke with one of the harbor pilots in St. Thomas. He said that the Magic always requests to back into the pier, so it can get out of the harbor more quickly for the long haul up to Castaway Cay. It's up to the pilot whether they think that the conditions allow the maneuver. Also, the Coast Guard occasionally mandates that the ship drop the lifeboats from one side or the other, so that will also have an effect on which side faces the harbor. I would think you're more likely to have the good view from the starboard side, but there are no guarantees.

In St. Maarten, the ship seems to pull straight in to the new pier, but it is often on the "outside" of the pier, so the starboard side will have a view of the cargo pier, while the port side will have a view of whatever ship is tied to the opposite side of the pier. No real winner there.

At Castaway Cay, the ship seems to back in more often than not, giving the starboard side the good view, but again, there are a lot of variables at play.

With all of the above said, I have not had the side of the ship have a noticable effect on my enjoyment of a cruise. If you're on the port side, please do not worry that you're missing out on something. The view from any verandah when you're at sea is essentially the same, and let's face it, the ship is at sea the majority of the time.

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by jeanie
....I know that it depends on whether the Captain pulls in or backs in but I was just wondering what people who did the Eastern thought on this.

Have been twice, once on the 3-day (had starboard stateroom) and most recently the 7-day (had a port stateroom). It all depends on the weather conditions and what the captain decides. First time at CC we pulled straight in and had a terrific view of CC. This last time we backed in and were lucky enough (being on the starboard side) to have that great view again! I agree with Scott. "Just get on the ship - that's all I need!" HTH

 

[jeanie]

I just booked for 2004 and I went for 6550! Cat 6 and Starboard.... rooms are filling up arleady, I can't believe it!!!!


Thanks and I will enjoy the view, no matter what !!!1

 

[mmouse37]

rae519....I think the CC $200 onboard credit offer has changed. You have to book your cruise onboard to get the credit now. I don't think the 120 day thing applies anymore.

I do not know if they will give Jeanie the credit for rebooking now. But, it is always worth the try!!!

MJ

 

[jeanie]

Hi,


I booked through DU so I got the 100.00 shipboard credit and 200
rebate. (plus I saved 200.00 by going with the Cat6 .....6550 looks like a good area )

DU said that the CC benefits for 2004 are not out yet so the 120 days does not apply to booking in 2004. It seemed like it only applied to booking for this year ...?

Now the hard part....... waiting!!!

 

[rae519]

On Tuesday I booked a 7-day cruise for May 2003, that was within 120 days of my last cruise (February 2001); I asked for my $200 on board credit and received it. Disney may not advertise it or offer it but it's there!

Rae

 

[rae519]

OOOPPPSSS!
I meant February 2002 on my last post ~ seems like I need another vacation - real soon!!!!!

Rae

 

[mmouse37]

hmmmm....I was told that they could not do the 120 day CC credit anymore...I must call because we sailed on 2/23/02 and booked for 8/3/02 within a few weeks of being back.

MJ

 

[rae519]

Tappen, NY! WOW!
What a small world!
Oh my word! I'm originally from Sullivan County then transplanted to Greene County (been in Indiana too long to talk about now though)!

You were on the 2/23/02 cruise also! Even smaller world!
Yes, do call now because I booked this past Tuesday for the May 2003 (7 day cruise) and got my $200 onboard credit by just asking for it.



Rae