Splitting into 2 rooms instead of 1 - family of 5

[goofballs]

Currently booked in one Deluxe Family Verandah cabin on the Dream pending Grandparent desire to cruise post-pandemic.
5 guests: Parents, Grandpa, 18yo and 17yo.

Grandpa just declared he is all in. Do we have to figure out where each guest will actually sleep and book accordingly, or can we move people around once on board?

Would like to move 1 parent and 17yo to maximize how to apply FCC, but would prefer to have 2 parents in 2nd room and give Grandpa and kids the verandah room. Is this feasible? What if we end up sleeping 3 in the room booked with 2? Does it depend on lifeboat assignment? Will they make up an extra bed (extra room sleeps 4 with a sofa and murphy bed)? We would definitely increase our gratuity, but would we be overworking our stateroom host? Just wondering how “locked in” the room assignments are. In all scenarios, the 17yo will be in a room with someone over 21.

 

[HiStitch626]

Currently booked in one Deluxe Family Verandah cabin on the Dream pending Grandparent desire to cruise post-pandemic.
5 guests: Parents, Grandpa, 18yo and 17yo.

Grandpa just declared he is all in. Do we have to figure out where each guest will actually sleep and book accordingly, or can we move people around once on board?

Would like to move 1 parent and 17yo to maximize how to apply FCC, but would prefer to have 2 parents in 2nd room and give Grandpa and kids the verandah room. Is this feasible? What if we end up sleeping 3 in the room booked with 2? Does it depend on lifeboat assignment? Will they make up an extra bed (extra room sleeps 4 with a sofa and murphy bed)? We would definitely increase our gratuity, but would we be overworking our stateroom host? Just wondering how “locked in” the room assignments are. In all scenarios, the 17yo will be in a room with someone over 21.

You can decide who sleeps where once onboard. Your stateroom host will make up the beds you wish to use.

You do need to attend the muster drill for the stateroom where you are assigned. Depending on room location, your rooms may or may not be at the same muster station.

This will give you a sense of the muster locations - https://www.disboards.com/threads/dream-fantasy-muster-stations.2639344/

 

[Karin1984]

I don't think overworking the stateroom host is a criterium because the other room is going to be taken anyway. Either he has 5+2 people to care for in these two rooms or 5 people. I would say you are doing the host a favour as he doesn't have to remember the peculiarities of 7 people, but only 5.

I would do it either way, because 5 adults in one stateroom... that leaves not a lot of room to move around, especially at night when all the beds are out.

 

[Weedy]

FYI: The 17 can only get off the ship with the adult in the cabin he is assigned to. Easy fix when you do your online check in there is a form to fill out saying he/she can get off with the adults in the other cabin or by himself/herself
You can get extra key cards at Guest Services so you can get in the cabin you are not assigned to. Just make sure when you get off the ship everyone has the key card with their name printed on it. Everyone needs this each time they get off and on the ship. Anyone over the age of 18 will also need a government issued photo ID.

 

[OpieDoodle]

So here was our thing. I'd look at the cost difference between trying to book two rooms and one. We have done it with two rooms, we had considerably more people tho and we got a adjoining room and it was great. Now something I noticed is yes when all the beds are down there isn't a ton of space but its really just like that to sleep. I'd imagine your family will be similar to most in the fact that you really don't spend THAT much time in your room.

We now are looking at another cruise with just my immediate family and there is 5 of us. We tossed around the idea of a second room but we decided to save the money since we are never in there.

If you do decide to book two rooms you can split up how ever you want once you're on the boat. Guest services can move around the room cards

 

[goofballs]

Appreciate the helpful information!

Just based on what is available, the rooms will not be that close so I expect we will have different room attendants and drill assignments.

Also, when I move 2 out of the initial booking, should I expect to keep the same (opening week) pricing on the original room for the first 3 guests? But pay current rates for the new room?

 

[OpieDoodle]

Appreciate the helpful information!

Just based on what is available, the rooms will not be that close so I expect we will have different room attendants and drill assignments.

Also, when I move 2 out of the initial booking, should I expect to keep the same (opening week) pricing on the original room for the first 3 guests? But pay current rates for the new room?

I believe if you add a room at this point its at the current rates, the original room should maintain the same rate

 

[flipflop]

We pretty much do this every cruise. We book two adjoining rooms and put DH with two kids in one and me with the other two kids in the second room. When we get on board we let the host know that all 4 kids will be in one room and DH and I are in the other. We have never had an issue - host is very accommodating. As another poster mentioned at check in, make sure any minors can leave with anyone in the party. You can have an extra key made as well at guest services so the person(s) who wasn't initially assigned to the room has access once on board.

Not sure how that would work out with different hosts but still should be able to accommodated.

 

[Cheburashka]

Stateroom hosts work to please you and they see this kind of switch all the time. Just make them aware and they'll take care of it. And don't forget to tip them well. They deserve it.

I would much rather sail even in 2 inside staterooms (especially on the Dream class, which has magical portholes) than cram 5 adults & teens into a single verandah stateroom. If you can make the finances work, I say go for it. The bathroom space alone will be worth it.

 

[goofballs]

Made the switch, but one unintended consequence was that we lost our early dining for the party of 2. Even though we all had early dining to start. Our entire party is a group of 12, and our reservations are all connected. The other 10 still have early dining, so I am hopeful it will work out in the end.

 

[JWG]

Made the switch, but one unintended consequence was that we lost our early dining for the party of 2. Even though we all had early dining to start. Our entire party is a group of 12, and our reservations are all connected. The other 10 still have early dining, so I am hopeful it will work out in the end.

I think it will. Keep checking periodically. Also check at online check-in to see if people changed their minds then and again when boarding if necessary. We've had late dining as the only option and have always been able to switch at some point if needed.

They may even be able to do it now if you call. They can accommodate 12 at a table - we were a group of 11 at our last cruise.