Went from a Veranda to 11C/Inside GTY - Thanks COVID!

[disneyfool_1202]

Well, instead of posting this right now I SHOULD be sipping coffee and taking pictures of the sun rising over the horizon from the pool deck on the Fantasy right now, but instead, I'm sitting here sipping coffee and trying to figure out how long it takes for me to go nuts not knowing what type of cabin we will have in July. My daughter and I both came down with COVID 5 days before sailing. We were good to go, testing, and then BAM- Sunday she started feeling cold symptoms and Monday so did I. Everyone's worst nightmare, right?? Can't do anything about it other than try and rearrange (and tell my husband that this is what he gets for REFUSING to buy trip insurance during a pandemic so YES I did laugh a bit and do think he tempted fate...). So now we are booked for July 9th instead and it gives me a little more time to find the water shoes I couldn't find and refine our packing list a bit since I have been working 12 hour days for the 3 weeks leading up to the trip due to a massive IT project at the hospital I work for.
Anyways, we originally had a room booked with a Veranda and due to the price difference for moving to July, we now have a category 11c GTY with no room assignment. This is my 8th DCL cruise and first without knowing my room. I'm reaching out for some of your expertise with a few questions:

• When you end up GTY, do you usually get assigned a cabin number prior to arriving at the port? If so, how much sooner?
• If you have a cabin assigned before you get to the port, can it change once you get to the port?
• I am a family of 4- my husband and I, with a 19 and 17-year-old. Will we fit if we end up in a standard inside stateroom?
• I am a bit claustrophobic which is why I always try and at least get a room with a large porthole so I can see outside. I'm a bit afraid of an inside stateroom but I know this has a Magic" porthole - does anyone have any experience with how realistic it is?

Thank you in advance for answering~ Only 11 weeks left in the "new" countdown and this time I'll at least have a 90 day recovery letter (for 2 of us) and that is half the stress battle won!

 

[Ohmymonty]

Well, instead of posting this right now I SHOULD be sipping coffee and taking pictures of the sun rising over the horizon from the pool deck on the Fantasy right now, but instead, I'm sitting here sipping coffee and trying to figure out how long it takes for me to go nuts not knowing what type of cabin we will have in July. My daughter and I both came down with COVID 5 days before sailing. We were good to go, testing, and then BAM- Sunday she started feeling cold symptoms and Monday so did I. Everyone's worst nightmare, right?? Can't do anything about it other than try and rearrange (and tell my husband that this is what he gets for REFUSING to buy trip insurance during a pandemic so YES I did laugh a bit and do think he tempted fate...). So now we are booked for July 9th instead and it gives me a little more time to find the water shoes I couldn't find and refine our packing list a bit since I have been working 12 hour days for the 3 weeks leading up to the trip due to a massive IT project at the hospital I work for.
Anyways, we originally had a room booked with a Veranda and due to the price difference for moving to July, we now have a category 11c GTY with no room assignment. This is my 8th DCL cruise and first without knowing my room. I'm reaching out for some of your expertise with a few questions:

• When you end up GTY, do you usually get assigned a cabin number prior to arriving at the port? If so, how much sooner?
• If you have a cabin assigned before you get to the port, can it change once you get to the port?
• I am a family of 4- my husband and I, with a 19 and 17-year-old. Will we fit if we end up in a standard inside stateroom?
• I am a bit claustrophobic which is why I always try and at least get a room with a large porthole so I can see outside. I'm a bit afraid of an inside stateroom but I know this has a Magic" porthole - does anyone have any experience with how realistic it is?

Thank you in advance for answering~ Only 11 weeks left in the "new" countdown and this time I'll at least have a 90 day recovery letter (for 2 of us) and that is half the stress battle won!

Hello! Sorry to hear you and yours aren't feeling well and had to miss your cruise. Hope you feel better soon!

I've booked GTY rooms in the past. I usually end up getting my stateroom within two weeks of sailing. This time I got it 12 days out.

My understanding is it can always change. I remember one time the room on our luggage tags was not where we ended up, but it was fine. Our luggage got there all the same. I also believe you can sometimes request an upgrade at the port. I've personally never had success but I've seen some people here have.

As far as fitting 4 to a stateroom, I believe there are inside rooms that feature the pull down bed to fit 4. I've done 3 in an inside room before and felt like we had plenty of room. The closest to becoming cramped was when we were getting ready in the mornings. So I would ask what your morning routines look like? I think that would give you a better idea of if you're going to be stepping on each other. Also, if it's worth noting, I barely spend any time in my room except to sleep. That helps with feeling cramped, haha.

I can't answer for the magic porthole, but fingers crossed someone else will.

 

[Cheburashka]

Well, instead of posting this right now I SHOULD be sipping coffee and taking pictures of the sun rising over the horizon from the pool deck on the Fantasy right now, but instead, I'm sitting here sipping coffee and trying to figure out how long it takes for me to go nuts not knowing what type of cabin we will have in July. My daughter and I both came down with COVID 5 days before sailing. We were good to go, testing, and then BAM- Sunday she started feeling cold symptoms and Monday so did I. Everyone's worst nightmare, right?? Can't do anything about it other than try and rearrange (and tell my husband that this is what he gets for REFUSING to buy trip insurance during a pandemic so YES I did laugh a bit and do think he tempted fate...). So now we are booked for July 9th instead and it gives me a little more time to find the water shoes I couldn't find and refine our packing list a bit since I have been working 12 hour days for the 3 weeks leading up to the trip due to a massive IT project at the hospital I work for.
Anyways, we originally had a room booked with a Veranda and due to the price difference for moving to July, we now have a category 11c GTY with no room assignment. This is my 8th DCL cruise and first without knowing my room. I'm reaching out for some of your expertise with a few questions:

• When you end up GTY, do you usually get assigned a cabin number prior to arriving at the port? If so, how much sooner?
• If you have a cabin assigned before you get to the port, can it change once you get to the port?
• I am a family of 4- my husband and I, with a 19 and 17-year-old. Will we fit if we end up in a standard inside stateroom?
• I am a bit claustrophobic which is why I always try and at least get a room with a large porthole so I can see outside. I'm a bit afraid of an inside stateroom but I know this has a Magic" porthole - does anyone have any experience with how realistic it is?

Thank you in advance for answering~ Only 11 weeks left in the "new" countdown and this time I'll at least have a 90 day recovery letter (for 2 of us) and that is half the stress battle won!

I'm confused. Why does travel insurance matter in this case when DCL will refund your money in full if someone has Covid or Covid symptoms within 2 weeks of the cruise?

Aside from that, here are answers to your questions:

1. GT cabins are usually assigned within the last couple of weeks before the cruise.

2. Yes, you can pay to upgrade at port or Guest Services onboard if there is availability.

3. A standard inside stateroom for 4 would be very tight. I recommend trying to get an upgrade, especially since you're claustrophobic.

4. The magical porthole is very cute and we liked it a lot. You wouldn't confuse it for a real porthole, though. It's a round screen over the bed. It does show real time views of outside, with characters popping up occasionally (the best part). You can leave it on all night as a night light, too.

 

[Calantha]

Why does travel insurance matter in this case when DCL will refund your money in full if someone has Covid or Covid symptoms within 2 weeks of the cruise?

Maybe they have other things associated with the cruise that can't be moved (e.g., non-refundable hotel or something).

 

[randumb0]

Oh no my cruise is in 2 weeks and you just experienced my worst nightmare. Do you live in the northeast by chance?

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Ah... the travel insurance.... it's not the cruise- it's the flights. We had to pay change flight fees because we were so close to flying from home to MCO. Taxes also happen to be due this weekend so it didn't help my husband's disposition about spending any extra money on cruise to at least get an ocean view. We are sailing with DVC points and borrowed 108 points from Next Year to go down multiple cabin categories- to stay the same it would have been an entire use year (which we were going to bank for a trip to Hawaii or something after my daughter's high school graduation next summer. It just all adds up.
I am a cup half full person- it's room to sleep and change and grab things when needed. He is a cup half empty person- we are paying more for less... and said "let's cancel the entire thing...". I told him he could stay home and I'd use his points to get a nicer room for 3 of us instead!

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Oh no my cruise is in 2 weeks and you just experienced my worst nightmare. Do you live in the northeast by chance?

Yes, I do. Massachusettes born and raised!

 

[mousefan73]

If I am to be honest 11C For 4 adults it’s gonna be a very tight fit. It’s doable but compared to a veranda you are gonna notice a difference. Mainly because I believe the 11 C does not have the split bath.


My mom and I were in 11C on the Magic for a five night and it was good enough for us. We were two people. We were rarely in our room, more on the pool deck or outside didn’t really make a difference. If I were on a longer sailing though in a colder climate Or I’m not laying out in the pool deck in the afternoon I would want a room with a window so at least I can sit and look out and see things during the day. For me personally the issue would be more the bath issue.

One thing I do like about the 11C is how the bed is all the way in the back when you walk in. It did make the room feel larger closing the curtain in the sleeping area and when you walk in from the hallway you had the open living space first.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

If I am to be honest 11C For 4 adults it’s gonna be a very tight fit. It’s doable but compared to a veranda you are gonna notice a difference. Mainly because I believe the 11 C does not have the split bath.


My mom and I were in 11C on the Magic for a five night and it was good enough for us. We were two people. We were rarely in our room, more on the pool deck or outside didn’t really make a difference. If I were on a longer sailing though in a colder climate Or I’m not laying out in the pool deck in the afternoon I would want a room with a window so at least I can sit and look out and see things during the day. For me personally the issue would be more the bath issue.

One thing I do like about the 11C is how the bed is all the way in the back when you walk in. It did make the room feel larger closing the curtain in the sleeping area and when you walk in from the hallway you had the open living space first.

Thank you for your input. I am hoping and praying for some type of upgrade.... we we planned this trip in early 2020 for my son's 2021 graduation, which was cancelled due to the pandemic and moved to this week. And then the covid bug hit the house, so alas....... I don't want to wait until April of 2023 to go!! It's just too long!!!

 

[mousefan73]

Thank you for your input. I am hoping and praying for some type of upgrade.... we we planned this trip in early 2020 for my son's 2021 graduation, which was cancelled due to the pandemic and moved to this week. And then the covid bug hit the house, so alas....... I don't want to wait until April of 2023 to go!! It's just too long!!!

I don’t know how long you’re seamount but for 3 to 5 night Caribbean sailing for me personally I could handle my husband and my two kids who are teens. Plus I heard the showers are open again in the fitness center so I know a lot of people use those if they have a forum

 

[loislane]

We did an inside with the magic porthole for our first cruise. I also tend to get claustrophobic and the room definitely was warm/stuffy for me. In hindsight, I wish I had brought some kind of small fan to move the air a bit. It was ok, but I wouldn't do it again. The porthole is fun - you never know who is going to pop up in there - but it definitely does not feel like a window, even if you have it "tuned" to the camera on the outside of the ship.

 

[Breezer4]

We sailed in a standard inside room for our first cruise and it was fine. You’re there to enjoy the ship and ports, not confine yourself to the room! The magic porthole was above the headboard and we left it on all the time so we still got the sun going down and coming back up. I think this helps.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Thanks, everyone. The fan tip sounds like a good one for me - that will help me immensely. and I think we will be okay with 1 bathroom as I tend to be up and out before anyone, get coffee and then wake the troops and tell them where to meet me (everyone is old enough) so they can deal with each other! LOL! My daughter takes the longest, my husband and son are really quick. I t think we are going to just listen to you experts and plan what I can to make the best of it and hope for a slightly bigger room (certainly not my verandah room). I think as long as I'm not on deck 2 I'll be okay- was there once and didn't sleep at all due to the crew partying all night....

 

[TPgal]

It's so great that the cruise lines are being flexible with rescheduling when something like this hits. Did you have to show anything to prove someone in your party tested positive?

It's too bad they can't manage the same room category if the itinerary is the same. Cruise pricing is so varied that it seems like someone is behind the curtain with a magic 8 ball.

We were also scheduled for March 2020, then changed to a shorter cruise in 2021 (better room) then decided that 2021 was likely going to be a problem, so bumped ourselves out a year and somehow ended up in a concierge room - leaves in 12 days. All play dates and social activities with friends are on hold until we leave. (Mean mama.)

 

[Kwami]

It's so great that the cruise lines are being flexible with rescheduling when something like this hits. Did you have to show anything to prove someone in your party tested positive?

Disney will take your word for it. You don't need to show any proof. Other cruise lines (e.g. Royal Caribbean) require a positive test result as proof.

It's too bad they can't manage the same room category if the itinerary is the same. Cruise pricing is so varied that it seems like someone is behind the curtain with a magic 8 ball.

Summer cruises cost more because school is out and so demand is higher. Plus, the weather tends to be nicer.