Veranda or not

[Dis Hawk]

Planning on cruising Disney April 2005 and need your expertise. Our family has never gone on a Disney cruise before, or any cruise for that matter. Is a veranda worth the added expense. Currently still deciding between a 4 day or 7 day excursion. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[prymsu]

I love my verandah, and for me and my family it is worth the extra cost. I like sitting out there in the morning watching the sunrise, or at night watching the sun set. Not everyone will agree, but i think once you cruise with a verandah, you are hooked.

 

[herrbeeb]

dis hawk, we are a family of five so in order to stay in one room we booked a large room and it came with a veranda. i would never get a non-veranda stateroom (unless it was free). my dh and i are readers and there is nothing better than reading on the veranda surrounded by a cool breeze and the ocean. in addition, the veranda provides extra room during the brief times that all five of us are there together.

i guess it depends on how you spend your time.

hope this helps,

herrbeeb

 

[Michelemouse]

Well, I'll add my two cents for the other side. We have cruised with a verandah and without one. We will probably never spend the money on a verandah again. Yes, it was nice to have but IMO it was not worth the extra cost.

When we first booked our Cat. 6 cabin we were very excited as it was the first time we would cruise with a verandah. We found, however that we didn't use it as much as we thought we would as we were always out and about doing something on the ship.

I know that many here will not cruise without a verandah, but there are also many who choose not to get one. My advice, since this is your first cruise, is to go with a porthole cabin on a 7-day cruise. The 7-day is wonderful and by going with a porthole instead of a verandah you will probably not spend much more than a 4-day with a verandah. Also, there is so much to do and see on a first cruise that you won't be in your cabin much. Then, if you love cruising and want to rebook (onboard or when you get home) you can move up to a verandah for the next time.

 

[mickeyboat]

No verandah required for us, although we have never sailed with one. We spent very little time in the room. If you have small children, you may want to have one so you can sit outside while the little ones nap.

Denae

 

[hopelea]

I think a verandah would be wonderful. BUT.....on our first cruise we stayed in a CAT 11 and the next cruise is a CAT 10. My DH said, "we can go and stay in a CAT 10 or NOT GO AT ALL"

He can't see spending the extra $$ on a verandah. I am just happy to be there. I think I would sleep on a deck chair!!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

We've sailed both. On our 3rd cruise, we're back in an inside cabin. We just didn't use it enough to justify the cost.

If it's a 4 day w/ verandah vs a 7 day w/o, go 7 days. You'll enjoy the 3 extra days waaaayyyy more than a veranda.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

We had a hard time deciding to go with or without the verandah also. We are taking my 3 yr old DGD and the verandah idea just made me a little nervous!! She is a very good child but I didn't want to take any chances!! I have read that DCL has never lost a child over the edge, but I certainly did not want to be the record breaker!!! I think we will try a verandah on our next cruise, without children!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We stayed in a Cat 4 with a verandah on a seven day cruise, I used it for about 15 mins when we went first to our room, wacthing the sunset at Key west, ( and a boat of nude people going past), and coming into Cozumel one morning.

In all on seven days there was so much to do we must have spent less than 60 mins on the Verandah.

There is so much to do, I will move to a lower catorgory for our next planned cruise and just use it for sleeping, although would like some daylight!

 

[denise5374]

My family of four had a cat. 11 on our first 4 dya Wonder cruise, this year we ae doing 7 day Eastern and got a Cat. 9 with a porthole. On the four day we didn't spend any time in our cabin but I Didn't like not having any natural light. So for the 7 day I decided to splurge and get the Cat. 9....I don't think I would pay the extra $$ for a verandah because it is pricey enough.

 

[TheWog]

We got a Cat. 6 and loved it. If you have young children you can go on the verandah and read while they nap or sleep at night. You can stand out there while docking and that is cool for ummmm children, yeah the children not the adults , to watch the crews all work to get you set and ready for a day at port. You can have coffee or breakfast out there as well as a late night snack. If it's the difference between a 4 and 7 night go with the 7 night, but if you can do it get it. Also helps if you are susceptible at all to motion. The fresh air can do you good.

 

[sstucush]

I really love the verandah. I didn't ever sit and read and I didn't eat a meal on the verandah but I still loved it. I think the ocean and the mountains and all the natural wonders are so amazing. I really enjoyed being able step out from our room and just look at the ocean. It was always a "WOW" experience for me.

On the other hand, I know lots of people don't think it's worth the money. So you just have to decide whether you'll be truly amazed every time you step on your verandah and take in the vast, amazing view from just outside your room.

Oh, and a seven night cruise is a must. Have fun!

 

[natdencro]

Have had both options, and although verandahs are great - we only used it for approx 1 hr in 7 days! We always found plenty of room to sit and enjoy the sunsets etc,, and most of the time we were on our own - especially at the rear of the ship by Topsiders.Just the place to sip cocktails, eat delicious ice cream and take in all the sights. If you are on a tight budget - then dont worry about a verandah: there is SO much to do on board that you really dont have too much time to just SIT!Nat

 

[figment52]

Another vote for no verandah - there are too many other things that I would rather spend the money on and I wasn't in the cabin that much anyway. Besides no verandah could also be the difference between a 4 day or a 7 day and I'll take a 7 day withou rather than a 4 day with.

just my opinion

 

[Carlnne]

Have had both for 4 day cruises and felt the veranda is not worth it for the 4 days. I would rather spend the money on photos or spa services. Our first cruise was during december and it was too cold to be on the veranda while the ship was moving anyway. However - I will not fight an upgrade to a veranda if DCL insists!

 

[CAMICKEY]

I opt for the verandah, but do admit I have a hard time justifying the cost - Until I am sitting out there, with a drink in my hand, looking out at the wonderful things to see. Just so peaceful and relaxing. - Mike

 

[WDWLVR]

Well as my tag says - have veranda will cruise.

I love our veranda as we do like to spend time away from the crowds. My favorite times are early in the morning and late at night. We usually opt for the Navigator's veranda as it is my favorite and the lowest priced veranda. These cabins only hold 3 so they aren't for everyone.

As others have said you have to determine how you will use your cabin. If you only use a hotel room for sleeping and changing clothes than you most likely could do without one. If however you enjoy time on you balcony or in the room then a veranda might be good for you and your family.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Dis Hawk]

WOW! These discussion boards, and more importantly, the people behind them, are absolutely amazing. So many posts in such a short time. Your responses will be invaluable to us as we make our decision. Thanks for all your help. Will keep you posted on our decision.

Mike

 

[crisi]

One more thing to consider. An outside stateroom or a veranda will provide natural light. An inside stateroom won't have natural light. There are pros and cons to both. A lot of folks who like to dance all night like inside staterooms, they stay nice and dark.

We like the veranda. If you look at it as "dollars per minute spent" its probably a rather expensive vice, but its only money after all.

 

[momto2dkids]

We absolutely loved our verandah!! It was my dh's first cruise and though he worried endlessly about one of our children going out on the verandah on their own and falling overboard (next to impossible with the hard lock and heavy door) before we left, he fell in love with the verandah once he was out there. We were able to stand/sit out there as we were docking and leaving ports and were able to see lots of marine life from the verandah. Being able to just open your verandah door, step outside and enjoy the delicious ocean air was the perfect way to pinch ourselves that we really were there, that it wasn't just a dream, which by the way we did often.

My husband and I agree with prymsu- once you have a verandah room it is difficult to go back to one without. When planning our next cruise, my husband wouldn't even consider not having one, even though we will be taking our 18 month old at the time.

If you can swing the extra price, I would give a verandah a try. If you don't like it or don't use it much, you will know for next time and can book a room without.