Super-newbie booking and stateroom ?

[babybunrab]

Can you book really far ahead? Like for August 2006? I ask because I'm going, come heck or high water, after I finish my graduate degree which will be 2006. I'd like to start paying now, so I don't have to put any of it on a credit card.

Also, how do you feel about inside cabins vs. those with a porthole or window? I've got a while to pay for this trip, so I might want a window, but I've never been on a cruise EVER, so I don't know if it makes a difference or not.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[vikingfans]

Welcome to the board!

I've been on 3 cruises myself and I've had a verandah each time. I think its worth the extra money. DH and I watch the ship dock, we watch the sun rise and set from our room and lots of fun things like that.

As far as booking, go ahead and book as far out as you want! The farther out you book, the less you have to worry about price increases.

Happy Sailing!!

 

[babybunrab]

Thank you, Vikingfans! (and I am prepared to overlook the fact that you are Vikings fans in the appreciation of your quick response). I think I will get us at least a porthole of some kind. I worry about no daylight in the room for four days!

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Now, if there was only a way to get DH to come with us. I've got a couple years to work on him, though!

 

[DrCavin]

Disney has not released pricing for that far out yet. The latest they have pricing for is Dec 2005. You could fax a request for a specific room to Inventory Control & they will put you on a waiting list. Usually this is done when you want a Cat. 1 - 3, because there are very few of these available.

You can definitly start reading this board & get TONS of info on planning your future cruise.

 

[babybunrab]

Dr. Cavin- "There are 10 people who understand binary language... those who do & those who dont." Tee-hee...!

Yes, time to plan is a fine thing. Think of how planned I'll be with 1 1/2 years in between Disney trips! Thanks for the information. Now, to find a fax machine in the North Country...

 

[2kidsmom]

We were not in our room enough to even notice if it was daylight or not. We have had inside cabins for both of our cruises and will again. In my opnion it is not worth the extra money. I can buy cool stuff in the DCL souviner shop with the savings.

 

[Bethipooh4]

We were in a Cat. 9 deck 2 room with a HUGE porthole picture window. Large enough for my DS(7) to sit in it. I like some light also, and this was a great room at a good price.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

I think your choice of a verandah , window or inside cabin depends on how much time you are planning on spending inside your cabin. We opted for the porthole room (Cat. #9 deck #2) because I like the natural light during the day. We are also sailing with our 3 yr old DGD and although she is extremely well behaved, we wanted to take NO CHANCE of being Disney's first statistic of "child overboard"!!!

Even when it was just my DH and myself, we chose the port hole over the verandah for several reasons. One, the price difference, and two, we are "people persons" and like to meet and interact with other cruisers. We found we spent very little time inside our cabin. There was just so much to do!!!

Have fun with your planning!! Ask lots of questions and read the cruise boards. You find out everything you need to know (and even some "stuff" you didn't know you needed to know!!!)


Welcome onboard!!!

 

[TerryU.]

You could also order a Passporter, you could get it from Barnes & Knoble ot passporter.com. It will answer all of your questions and you could also learn more about the cruise. I was never on a cruise and just bought it. I am no longer confused on what to do.

 

[babybunrab]

Thanks for all of the information! I just got a Passporter today for a WDW visit in July and saw the cruise one, but I'm so far away, I decided to wait...

I will definately do a category 9. The pictures I've seen of the Portholes look great...and no kid overboard.

 

[NJ Cruisers]

To babybunrab ...... I've been on more than 20 cruises and the ONLY time I had a porthole or window (or any light at all) was in Alaska. I've had an inside cabin for all the others. The only time we are in the room is to dress for dinner and sleep. I figure that I get AT LEAST 3 cruises without a window for the price of 2 with a window. AND ..... sometimes the window rooms are DOUBLE the inside room prices.

Now if I was really rich, I'd go for the verandah because if I had all that money I could take as many cruises as I wanted and not worry about how to pay for them.

But as someone else said ... it all depends how much you think you'll be in the room. But it seems to me if you are going to be saving for 2 years that you want to spend your cruise dollars wisely.

Diane

 

[babybunrab]

Hello-

Thank you, Diane, for your advice. I likely would have changed my mind and taken it except that my mom has now decided she's coming. (Yeah! I'm very excited about this and DS will be beside himself). She very much wants a Verandah, so we will do that, I think.

Thanks for all the help, everyone! Thanks to all the good adivce, by the time 2006 rolls around, I'll know my 'fore' from my 'aft' for sure!

 

[jrabbit]

Dr. Cavin- "There are 10 people who understand binary language... those who do & those who dont." Tee-hee...!

It cracks me up 10! I wonder how many other people get it.

I see that you've decided on a veranda. I was going to say my first cruise was a 4 nighter (family of 4) in a cat 11 (inside - NO split bath) and it wasn't a problem. We were only in the room to change and take a short nap from 1am to 7am every night. On the longer (7 nighters) we've decided that we need the natural light so we try for one of the SPR's or a cat 9.