What's Better - 1 Cat.4 or 2 SPH rooms?

[MomTo2Princess]

Since I'm checking out prices for 10/04, I have some options. For a 4-night cruise, DU quoted the following:
1) Cat. 4 room (8028) at $3,539.25 which includes all taxes, fees, and DCL transfers.
2) 2 SPH rooms at $2,959.25 which also includes all charges.

Here are my questions -
1) Besides the obvious fact that I save $580, which option is more preferable?
2) Will I feel the "motion" more in the SPH rooms since they're closer to the front? 8028 is closer to the middle of deck 8.
3) To the experienced travelers, does a verandah make for a more enjoyable cruise since you can be outside? Not sure how much time I'll spend in the room since it'll be our first cruise.
4) Are the portholes in these SPH rooms large?

Lots of questions.... Thanks for helping me out!

 

[PammyK]

I just got off the Wonder yesterday and we had stateroom 8028. It was a lovely room, but honestly, we rarely spent time on the verandah. I also did notice some noise from upstairs on Deck 9 at odd times like 3:30am. It wasn't something that woke me up, but I did notice it when I went to bed. For light sleepers that could be a problem. I think I would probably go with the 2 SPR rooms as you will have two split bathrooms and more space and more privacy if needed.

 

[inkkognito]

Personally, I would go with the two secret porthole rooms. I think it would be really nice to have two bathrooms and two full rooms. I do have to admit that verandahs are awesome, but since it is your first cruise, you'll probably be pretty busy anyway so you won't miss it...you can always get one next time, and meanwhile you can hang out on the "secret" deck 7 aft verandah or in the Rainforest (that's what we did on our three-peat, when we had SPR #5520). There is a lot of overhead noise potential on deck 8...you'll get some hallway noise by the SPRs because of their location at the front of a dead-end hall, but that can happen anywhere (since deck 8 is a lot of families, the halls can be quite noisy up there too). Although the motion seems a bit more noticable forward, it's nothing major unless you are VERY prone to motion sickness, and it's only when the seas are very rough...otherwise, it will be smooth sailing.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[padams]

We stayed in 8028 on the 1/30 and LOVED it. The location was perfect for going up to the pools, and back to the room for a quick change of clothes. I would not have traded 2 SPH rooms for 8028. DH, DSs ages 5 and 7 and I had plenty of room. I did hear that noise at about 3:30 but easily went back to sleep-noise is just a few seconds, the crew must be moving something across deck 9 at that time. To me, it sounded like a closet door opening. DH and DSs never heard it. I am the light sleeper.

We spent more time in the room changing clothes, taking packages back to the room, etc. than I would have anticipated (and we participated in lots of activities). After our late seating dinner, we went back to room to put DSs to bed, and then enjoyed the veranda. At WDW, it seems that we are never in our room because we leave early in the morning and don't return until 9 or 10. In contrast, on the ship, DH and I both noticed that we returned to our room far more often, perhaps the location was just so easy to get back to. We thought having the veranda to go outside was awesome.

DH and older DS suffer from major motion sensitivity and they didn't have any problems in our room. Both of them felt the motion much more on the lower decks, particularly the theatre. Hope this helps.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'd probably take the cat 4 just to be on deck 8 and have the verandah.