Stateroom Quandry

[engle]

Here is the thing...

I am a DVC member and the points are ALOT less for an inside stateroom compared to say even a deluxe inside stateroom. Will I be disappointed if I go with the regular stateroom....should I just take the hit and get a room with a verandah/oceanview?? I need some opinions especially if you are someone who normally travels in style....like I would never again stay at a value resort on WDW property after staying in a DVC property. That is just for comparisons sake, don't judge me!!

Other than the room itself, the amenities are the same, correct?? Also, I won't have a smaller bathroom or anything will I?? Help me out here!! This is the last part of my decision to go or not!! This will be my very first cruise and I am considering only a 3 or 4 nighter.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Here is the thing...

I am a DVC member and the points are ALOT less for an inside stateroom compared to say even a deluxe inside stateroom. Will I be disappointed if I go with the regular stateroom....should I just take the hit and get a room with a verandah/oceanview?? I need some opinions especially if you are someone who normally travels in style....like I would never again stay at a value resort on WDW property after staying in a DVC property. That is just for comparisons sake, don't judge me!!

Other than the room itself, the amenities are the same, correct?? Also, I won't have a smaller bathroom or anything will I?? Help me out here!! This is the last part of my decision to go or not!! This will be my very first cruise and I am considering only a 3 or 4 nighter.

If it is too costly, point-wise, for a higher category cabin you could always pay for some passengers with points and some with cash. You must pay for at least one adult with points but the rest can be split as you wish. Each passenger must be all-points or all-cash.

That said, we have sailed in a regular inside cabin (Cat. 11), an inside cabin with a split bathroom (Cat. 10), an outside cabin (Cat. 9) and a verandah cabin (Cat. 6). We now always book the Cat. 9 cabin because my DH likes to have a natural light source. If it were up to me I'd be perfectly happy in the inside cabin.

Aside from the suites you will get the same exact services at all category levels. I would book the cabin that you think you will be satisfied with. If I remember correctly you are thinking of the 3-day cruise. If so I would skip the verandah as you really won't have the time to use it. YOu will board on Thursday, be in Nassau on Friday, at Castaway Cay on Saturday and then home bright and early Sunday morning. There is so much to see and do on the ship that you probably won't be in your room that often. I wouldn't bother with the verandah unless you go for the 7-day cruise, but that's just me.

Good luck with your decision and Happy Sailing!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Just wanted to add that the Category 11 and 12 cabins have a single bathroom while the Category 10's have a split bathroom. The split bathroom is two separate (small) rooms. One has the tub/shower and a sink. The other has the toilet and a second sink. The split bathroom can be handy when more than one person is getting ready at the same time.

 

[engle]

What is meant by SPLIT BATHROOM???

OKAY...you were posting about the bathroom while I was!!! Thanks!!


Thanks for the opinions....I was kinda thinking that same thing about the verandah.

 

[Anal Annie]

First, I think you should look at the "staterooms" link at the top of this page - you can read about the different categories, compare their SF and bathrooms + see a few pictures. And yes, if you book less than a Cat. 10 you will be in a smaller room with a single bath, not a split bath. But this is why they have different category rooms and the size & bathroom layout is what separates them from each other. Also Note: Cat 12's only hold 3 people and are only located on Deck 1.

The DVC point system DOES use a lot of points - but we were able to bank enough points from '06 into our '07 UY and were able to book a 4 n. cruise in a Cat. 10 "secret porthole" room for the 3 of us in July (a peak season). We felt very lucky to be able to snag one of these rooms as I just couldn't book a room w/o a window.... "They say" the inside rooms are fine, but I couldn't do it...but from reading your comment about staying in a DVC resort compared to staying in a "value" resort I would say you'd better book yourself at LEAST a porthole room (minimum Cat. 9 - go for Deck 2 so you have the larger porthole or else book early & snag a SPH Cat. 10)!!

 

[CraftyMouse]

The Category 10 cabins are the exact same size and have the exact same fixtures/decor as the Category 5-9 cabins, they just don't have a window or verandah. You won't be skimping on room size if you book a 10 instead of a 5-9. Again if it is the 3-day I wouldn't worry too much about the room as you won't b in it all that much.

 

[crisi]

I think the important thing is if you need natural light. I'd go bonkers in an inside cabin. I've also discovered that when everyone says "you don't spend that much time in your cabin anyway" they obviously don't know me. Just the amount of time I spend changing clothes in my cabin is significant - and that doesn't even get into the "out of the sun, quiet spot to read, enjoy my own cabin" time.

 

[poconoboatniks]

We've stayed in cat 11, 10 & 9. Cat 10 or cat 9 are just fine for us. We need that split bathroom!

 

[engle]

How would I get a SECRET porthole room? Do you ask for one and they can tell you if it is avail or is it a "request" that you may or may not get? Also, what is EARLY? I am looking at September of 2008. If I book in the next 2 months, would that be considered early??

 

[SnowWhite2]

The cabins have been available to book since Jan 31st, 2007 so you are not really "early". People change their minds and cancel cabins so you may be able to get what you want. Just remember that booking a cruise through DVC will not allow you change cabins as easily as booking with cash. You have to cancel your ressie and pay the $95 fee again if you make changes.

 

[CraftyMouse]

How would I get a SECRET porthole room? Do you ask for one and they can tell you if it is avail or is it a "request" that you may or may not get? Also, what is EARLY? I am looking at September of 2008. If I book in the next 2 months, would that be considered early??

The SPH rooms are the Category 10 rooms on Deck 5. The room numbers are 5020, 5022, 5024 (all Port Side), 5520, 5522 and 5524 (all Starboard side). You can call DCL and simply ask if there are any Cat. 10's on Deck 5 available for your sailing and they will help you out. If you have a choice of more than one try for 5020 or 5520. They do not connect and have the least obstructed views. 5022 connects to 5024 and 5522 connects to 5524 with the views getting more obstructed as the cabin numbers go up.

 

[Anal Annie]

How would I get a SECRET porthole room? Do you ask for one and they can tell you if it is avail or is it a "request" that you may or may not get? Also, what is EARLY? I am looking at September of 2008. If I book in the next 2 months, would that be considered early??

We booked ours 16 months out...but sometimes there's one left floating around - but yes, you'd have to ask for the room number specifically. (DCL does not refer to them as "secret porthole rooms" that just how they're referred to by the general public!) The 2008 itineraries have been out for several months now so I'm guessing that most of them are probably gone already but you can also just go to the DCL website. Select your date and a Cat. 10 stateroom & then use the option for selecting a specific stateroom number. When that next screen comes up there's a little box where you can enter a specific room number. Try them one by one...if they're not available it will tell you! Good luck!