What exactly is the difference between cat 5 and 6??

[slk537]

We've been flirting with the idea of booking a cruise next winter and splurging on a verandah room...but what is the difference between a 5 and 6? And is it worth the difference in cost?

Any advice or opinion is appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Which deck you are on.

Verandah's on Deck 7 are Cat 5 while the verandah's on Deck 6 are Cat 6.
With Cat 5, you get a verandah that is higher-up on the ship AND a deck where there isn't as many other cabins (i.e. in theory, should be a little more quieter). Just check out the Deck Plans (link at top of DIS page) and you will see that there are a bunch of inside cabins on Deck 6, but relatively few on Deck 7.

 

[MelissaE1]

They are identical except for location on the ship - most often one deck difference. I believe all of the fives are on deck seven, most of the sixes are on deck six, with a few on deck five. We booked a cat 6 last time and were upgraded to a 5 via the Florida resident rates and this time we booked a 6 again, because to us it's not worth the extra money to be one deck up. I have actually heard that many of the cat 6 balconies are a bit deeper. For us at least, we would only book a cat 5 if 6 was not available.

 

[slk537]

This is exactly what I was looking for - thanks!!

 

[Buddy Bear]

Another thing to consider is the location of the stateroom. We like to book a Cat 6 to save the money, but we are a family of four that likes midship. There are not that many staterooms on deck 5 (Cat 6) that sleep four so you need to book early. A Cat 5 on deck 7 that sleeps four midship is much easier to come by.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I have actually heard that many of the cat 6 balconies are a bit deeper.

The only thing I'm aware of in differences in balcony depths is the difference between Deck 5 and Deck 6 (not Cat 5 and Cat 6). I'm not sure how I noticed at first, but a review of the deck plans lead me to believe the balconies on Deck 5 were not as deep as the balconies on Deck 6. During our most recent DCL cruise, we were in a Deck 5 balcony room while my brother was in a Deck 6 balcony room. Based on the patterns on the floor of the balconies, we determined that the Deck 5 balconies are about 1' smaller than Deck 6 (even thought both are listed as Cat. 6).

While I have not tried to do any direct measurements, all indications based on pictures and deck plans is that Deck 6 (Cat.6) balconies are the same size as Deck 7 (Cat.5) balconies.

 

[MelissaE1]

The only thing I'm aware of in differences in balcony depths is the difference between Deck 5 and Deck 6 (not Cat 5 and Cat 6). I'm not sure how I noticed at first, but a review of the deck plans lead me to believe the balconies on Deck 5 were not as deep as the balconies on Deck 6. During our most recent DCL cruise, we were in a Deck 5 balcony room while my brother was in a Deck 6 balcony room. Based on the patterns on the floor of the balconies, we determined that the Deck 5 balconies are about 1' smaller than Deck 6 (even thought both are listed as Cat. 6).

While I have not tried to do any direct measurements, all indications based on pictures and deck plans is that Deck 6 (Cat.6) balconies are the same size as Deck 7 (Cat.5) balconies.

Ohhhhh... DECK 5 and 6, not CAT 5 and 6. Must have read the original info wrong. Thanks for clearing it up for me.