Verandah??

[dpuck1998]

I'm going on my first cruise in late Jan.
I have two kids 4 and 3, should I consider getting
the verandah?

I have to get the Cat 6, Cat 8 or Cat 10.

Is the Verandah worth the extra money? Will my kids jump
over the edge into the water

If I opt for Cat 8 or 10 is the porthole worth the extra 700 bucks, or even Cat 9 is 220 extra. Why is 9 $500 bucks cheaper than 8??

I already tried to call and get one of the obstucted view Cat 10 rooms but they were gone already.... the must go quickly.

Should I call a travel agent or just book from the Disney phone number?


Thanks for all the help, this board is awesome!!

 

[floridaminnie]

It all depends on the length of your cruise and how much time you expect to spend in your room. We basically spend no time in the room except for sleeping and the other neccities in life. We prefer a cat 10 inside, b/c we would rather spend the extra money on another cruise. We use the secret decks for our "verenda". It all depends on how much time you plan on spending out there.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We chose Category 9's because I really felt that for 7 days I needed a window. We cruised for 7 nights 13 years ago in an inside cabin and I swore never again. I had no perception of what time it was and just felt very claustraphobic (on the Norway the inside cabins give new meaning to the word tiny).

The Category 8's are more expensive because they are on higher decks and considered more desirable. Otherwise they are exactly the same as Category 9 (if my info is correct).

We chose Category 9 on deck 2 because my mother suffers from some motion sickness and they say the lower the deck, the less the motion.

Beware, if you choose a Category 9 on Deck 1, you get two tiny portholes and compared to one large porthole on Deck 2.

If you would like to look at pictures of them, you can find them on www.castawayclub.com. Barb has great info on all things Disney cruise.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We were on the 3/29 sailing and decided that we would not pay the extra $$ again to have the verandah. We had a Cat. 8 on Deck 6. Don't get me wrong - it was nice but we did not spend much time out there. None of us are claustrophobic and we will probably do an inside cabin next time.

I don't think you'll have to worry about your kids jumping overboard. The railing is pretty high and we could hardly get the verandah door open!

 

[JCarangal]

We were on the 3 night Wonder last June and had a cat. 6 on deck 6 with a very nice verandah (at the time, my kids were almost 3 and 4 1/2). We put our double stroller out on the verandah, which gave us more room in the cabin. I also sat on the verandah a little bit when the kids were napping. We were not worried about the children on the verandah because it was not open railings -- there is a sheet of plexiglass there. Also, the children couldn't have opened the sliding door themselves because it was rather heavy.

We are planning a 7 night cruise on the Magic for next May (kids will be almost 5 and 6 1/2). We are planning to go with a cat. 8 deluxe outside stateroom for a couple of reasons. We won't have the stroller with us, so that won't be an issue, and my kids are not really napping anymore, so I don't expect that we will be in the cabin very often.

My experience has been that the DCL and my local travel agent had similar prices on the cruise. I was able to find better rates with Dreams Unlimited, AAA, allseastravel.com, etc.

Good luck!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[dpuck1998]

Just called and I can't believe how full they are already for January. Amazing...

I can get onto Deck 7 Cat 8 room for 3900 or Deck 2 Cat 10 room for 3200. Seems worth the extra for the higher deck...anyone else thing so or otherwise?? Again this will be our first cruise ever. We have a 4 and 3 year old.

Thanks alot!!

 

[plutojudy]

Remembering back to when our kids were young, we always stayed in a room with veranda or balcony because we could sit outside while they napped. Never enjoyed sitting indoors in the dark on a beautiful "outdoor" day. If I were cruising with small children the veranda would be very important to me. The veranda door is very hard to open even for adults. The only way they could fall overboard is if they stand on the chairs, I would never leave my children unattended on the veranda or any open decks.

 

[dpuck1998]

Are you able to select your room using the website reservations?

Also, is there a AAA discount or do you have to book thru AAA to get the discount?

I would check the allseastravel.com if I'm able to select my room. I am hoping to get a higher deck room in Cat. 8

Thanks again I can hardly wait and I'm not even booked yet!!

 

[rae519]

We've always had the verandah because we want that view and the ability to dine privately (room service). Furthermore, if a person is feeling sick or ends up quaranteened in their room due to illness/injury, it's nice to be able to at least enjoy the view.

DH and I had colds on our December cruise and spent a lot of time on the verandah enjoying the view. I think we would have gone stir crazy if we were anywhere else.

Rae

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey Rae!

because we want the ability to dine privately (room service).

Wouldn't an inside cabin offer even MORE privacy, kinda like solitary confinement...

 

[disny4ever]

always a verandah. Yes, they are more expensive, butif I am going on a vacation I want to enjoy myself the most I can. I do use the verandah quite a bit in the early morning or late evening hours, and to have the doors open and hear the ocean at night.................aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Good morning disny4ever!

and to have the doors open and hear the ocean at night.................aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!

For under $20 you can get an alarm clock that plays ocean sounds and then you won't "lose" your air conditioning...

 

[markey]

We have been on 3 cruises with Disney 00, 01, 02 with the 4th booked for 03. Always a Cat9. I would like a verandah, but I do like to cruise every year so I offset the cost with a lower cat. I do like the location of deck 2, always have rooms close to rear steps, hardly ever use the elevators, even for deck 9. Just a short hop to AP and PC and off the ship at the ports. But That is just my story, from these boards I know some people would not go if they did not have a verandah, and that's what is great. Everyone can choose what they want and what they want to pay for it.

 

[rae519]

BD - "solitary confinement"
OHHHHH! I remember from my cop days. Hope I didn't leave anyone locked in!!!

Nope, gotta have my verandah.

Rae

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
Hey Rae!
Wouldn't an inside cabin offer even MORE privacy, kinda like solitary confinement...

 

[rae519]

Round hole in a square box - now I know what my problem has been for the past 47 years!!!!!!

XXXooo

Rae

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Rae -

Round hole in a square box - now I know what my problem has been for the past 47 years!!!!!!

That's not a problem, just kinky...

 

[rae519]

My Pop used to say, "Honey, everyone in this world is a little crazy about something. Except you and me. But lately, I'm starting to worry about you."

He was one in a million.

Rae

 

[Gillian]

We had a cat 6 last year and loved it! We had an inside cabin before on another cruise line & really liked that too, until we had the veradah. We have one child who naps, and another on the way, so it is nice to have a place to sit and talk without disturbing them. This is also nice after they go to bed.

I'd happily cruise more often in a stateroom with no window. BUT, DH says no way! He wants a verandah. Oh well! I guess I can wait another year.

 

[kdmkdm7]

If you book through AAA, you get refillable mugs for the entire length of the cruise; not a discount, but it sure does help.