WHY is mid-ship, higher deck more desirable?

[adg06]

So, I'm very close to booking my first DCL cruise, and trying to understand the categories and pricing. I understand that closer to the middle of the ship and higher decks are more desirable, but I don't know the reasons for that. Is it simply proximity to elevators, or is there more to it? The way I understand it, lower decks feel less "motion", so that would seem to be an advantage. Can veteran cruisers fill me in, please?

And also, is there a preference for which side of the ship you are on? What is the reason?

 

[Bishoparc]

A lot of people missunderstand and then think the middle top has less motion. The middle in general but lower as mentioned tends to have less motion. Midship is also considered more convenient due to the proximity of being in the middle of the ship. Deck 11 on the Dream class ships is not only home to the pool and AquaDuck but also the 24/7 drink stations, quick service food, and free soft serve. It really is a convenience thing mostly. We usually stay on deck 9 in the aft (which you'll notice most of the time the same price) just because it's a convenient trip up the aft stairs straight into Cabanas (the buffet which also has drink stations). We try to stay forward or aft because the midship stairs and elevators are always the most crowded.

As far as side of ship, depending on which way they pull into a port (forward or backward) the view can be better BUT you aren't guaranteed which way they will pull in. For example 5 of our cruises they backed into Nassau so the starboard side had a better idea. This last time, number 6, they pulled in straight so the port side had the view of the ocean.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts...

• I prefer the lower decks.... less pendulum swing compared to higher decks. Boarding an elevator is easier at the lower decks. No pass ups at mid deck during busy periods. More noise when docking.
• the aft more likely has engine vibrations
• mid ship? While centralized with lots of elevators..... a lot more foot traffic outside these corridors
• the front will get the first wave impacts.... may get additional noise from theatres. As a night owl, I go to bed when the theatres are closed and foot traffic is minimal

If you are going to Alaska.... I recommend port side for the views

 

[BamaGuy44]

Midship is centrally located, so no matter where you're going, you don't have to walk the length of the ship. Higher decks generally have a nicer view and are closer to the pools, buffets, ice cream station, etc.

Of course everything has pros and cons, and people have different preferences, but those are the general reasons. I've never been able to feel any difference in ship motion on different decks, but I'm not real sensitive to the motion so YMMV.

Port or starboard, I guess for certain ports you'll have a better view on one side or the other. But there's no guarantee which way the ship will dock.

 

[adg06]

This is helpful, thank you! Honestly at this point I think any stateroom on the Disney Fantasy will make me very happy!

 

[hanscarlet]

I prefer higher decks because I like being closer to the action on the higher decks and also I think the rooms are more spaced out... I feel claustraphobic on the really lower decks like 1 and 2. Also I personally can feel more motion in the lower decks than higher decks. I once stayed in aft and it was great except when the ship parked I could feel it shake a bit but other than that I really like aft as much as I like mid ship. Never stayed in forward before.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

We prefer forward bc it seems quieter and less crowded when getting around/ using elevators, and we always stay on a high deck bc we like to take the stairs up to the pool decks etc. Only stayed aft once, and we didn't like the movement. I also don't like the movement in the aft restaurants on the lower decks when ship is going faster or over rougher waters.

 

[msmama]

I like low decks precisely because it is farther from everything else. That's how I get exercise! On a 5 day cruise I probably took the elevator a handful of times.

 

[deanimal]

I've always puzzled about the whole higher deck= higher price thing myself. Maybe it's just a bit of a psychological trick since higher floors on buildings usually cost more, higher rooms in hotels are more prestigious and so people will just pay more because they think it's better? I've sailed on various ships everywhere from the first deck to the 15th and I honestly can't see the difference. Maybe in a few of the more scenic ports you'd get a slightly better view from a higher deck but most of the time the view is the ocean and it's just as good from anywhere. Sometimes it's actually nicer to be a bit closer to the water. For me, it's far more important to check out the deck plans carefully and see what's around, above and below. I always try to book a room with other staterooms above and below and never below a lounge, casino, theatre, galley or other high traffic area. I don't like being down at the end of a long hallway because I find those long walks down the narrow corridors to be boring and a wee bit claustrophobic, but as long as I'm near an elevator/staircase lobby I'm happy getting my exercise going up and down the stairs. A well chosen room in a lower category can be much better than an expensive room in a bad spot!

 

[adg06]

I've always puzzled about the whole higher deck= higher price thing myself. Maybe it's just a bit of a psychological trick since higher floors on buildings usually cost more, higher rooms in hotels are more prestigious and so people will just pay more because they think it's better? I've sailed on various ships everywhere from the first deck to the 15th and I honestly can't see the difference. Maybe in a few of the more scenic ports you'd get a slightly better view from a higher deck but most of the time the view is the ocean and it's just as good from anywhere. Sometimes it's actually nicer to be a bit closer to the water. For me, it's far more important to check out the deck plans carefully and see what's around, above and below. I always try to book a room with other staterooms above and below and never below a lounge, casino, theatre, galley or other high traffic area. I don't like being down at the end of a long hallway because I find those long walks down the narrow corridors to be boring and a wee bit claustrophobic, but as long as I'm near an elevator/staircase lobby I'm happy getting my exercise going up and down the stairs. A well chosen room in a lower category can be much better than an expensive room in a bad spot!

That makes a lot of sense, thank you!

 

[MunFam]

I am a fan of midship, deck 2. Midship for convenience to things and deck 2 for lack of movement since I get sea sick. If we were pool people, I could see how a higher floor would be better. I think out of our 15 nights on DCL, we have had 3 or 4 pools visits.

 

[cheermom2four]

We've stayed mid ship deck 6 both times and have chosen deck 6 again for 3rd cruise. We always make sure we are "sandwiched" between staterooms so we dont end up over the theaters or under pool deck (which deck 6 we will never have a problem with the pool deck lol). Plus we take the stairs everywhere even with a 5 year old for exercise and convenience since the elevators are always busy.

 

[mevelandry]

I like the aft because it's further, less traffic and the engine noises a good white noise. Going from the Front to the Aft
is what... A 5 minutes walk? That's nothing!

I like being located between deck 5 and deck 7 when I have a balcony. It's easier to see the wildlife.

 

[Trera]

We have stayed on deck 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12 on different ships. As long as I am not directly below the pool deck...............I will be happy. We normally stay midship (unless we are concierge on the Dream) but on the aft side of the elevators. This makes it easy to use the aft elevators which seem to not be as crowded.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

I am a fan of midship, deck 2. Midship for convenience to things and deck 2 for lack of movement since I get sea sick. If we were pool people, I could see how a higher floor would be better. I think out of our 15 nights on DCL, we have had 3 or 4 pools visits.

Ditto, we have only stayed on Deck 2 and I LOVE it!! and it doesn't have those never ending hallways like the higher decks do. I feel like you have to walk and walk and walk to get an "out". You are just surrounded by a sea of rooms

 

[mmouse37]

As you can see from all the differing opinions there is no right or wrong answer!!! I never found higher to be better and I still think some of the myth carried over from long ago when there were class systems on ships and steerage (which was the lowest decks) were the place where people stayed who did not have a lot of money. The upper decks were where all the wealthy people stayed (think Titanic).

On modern ships, to me, there is no one area better than another except for personal preference. We have stayed on every deck over the course of our many cruises and I will stay anywhere. My preference would be either Deck 2 or if I am staying in one of the 9D's I absolutely LOVE the forward corner rooms on Decks 7 and 8 because they are so huge.

MJ

 

[Alicatt]

Also, if you have kids using the clubs you might want to be closer to them. I chose deck 7 so that it wasn't too far from the pool deck but also close to the Oceanerrs club.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Yes, I always joke that we are down in "steerage" on deck 2 LOL. But seriously, one flight up to the lobby, same deck as food on the Dream....love love it!

 

[dcassetta]

I am a fan of midship, deck 2. Midship for convenience to things and deck 2 for lack of movement since I get sea sick. If we were pool people, I could see how a higher floor would be better. I think out of our 15 nights on DCL, we have had 3 or 4 pools visits.

Like your pool comment. Over 100 nights on DCL, have not once been in a pool on the ships