Would you pick 8a or verandah staterooms?

[peachizz]

I am looking at booking 2 connecting rooms on the Fantasy. The 8a staterooms 5520 and 5522 are available and they look really nice with the 2 portholes and extra space. However, I am not sure if we would miss having a verandah. We have never been on a cruise before, so I guess we don't really know what we'd be missing. For those of you who have stayed in the 8a rooms, did you miss the verandah? Also, not sure if being so far forward on the ship is a consideration over mid-ship? Which would you choose?

 

[dragynally]

I've had both. I love them both. 8a is great for the large window and view. A verandah is great but it depends on how much room time you expect. My husband and I are bums who spent a lot of the cruise in our room. Eating on the verandah, watching the ocean, relaxing. If you think you'll be busy maybe stick with 8a. I've also heard parents say verandahs are nice when you want a quiet area outside the room. For 8a I like midship. For verandah I like aft.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I think it depends on your itinerary. I have never cruised without a verandah in the four cruises we've done. Coming up, we have two insides connecting for a short 3 night. I'm actually getting anxiety or claustrophobia or something worrying about it. We love the verandah, we love just to sit on it. We don't spend a lot of time in our room but when we do, I need to be outside feeling the sea air and watching the water go by! Just can't imagine cruising without a verandah. That's just us though. But if it was a colder cruise climate like Alaska or New York, maybe you would not really need to be on the verandah . We've only done Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Bahamian cruises so we've always used our verandah a lot.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

I'm in an 8A for my upcoming trip on the Dream. Since it's only a 3-night, I figure I won't spend much time on a verandah. If I were on the Fantasy or another longer cruise, I'd prefer a verandah.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I've had both. I love them both. 8a is great for the large window and view. A verandah is great but it depends on how much room time you expect. My husband and I are bums who spent a lot of the cruise in our room. Eating on the verandah, watching the ocean, relaxing. If you think you'll be busy maybe stick with 8a. I've also heard parents say verandahs are nice when you want a quiet area outside the room. For 8a I like midship. For verandah I like aft.

Like dragynally, we also spend time on the veranda. My wife doesn't start moving right away in the morning, I like to get up early. I will stroll the decks for a while enjoying the piece and quiet, go over to the drink station, grab a coffee and go back to our stateroom to enjoy my coffee and read the current Navigator. We will both take breaks during the day and enjoy sitting out on the veranda as well. Watching for sea life, watching the clouds/thunderclouds off in the distance and the ocean, fresh air, and getting away from the hustle and bustle. And we enjoy sitting out there in the evening before calling it a night.

We have had staterooms forward, mid and aft. With the larger ships; it probably is better to be mid if you don't like longer the hikes. My wife has trouble getting around and would prefer mid. I don't mind hiking and am okay with longer the walks.

If no one in your family will spend any amount of time on the veranda, go with the porthole stateroom. With money saved buy that special souvenir, excursion, Palo or Remy reservation, tuck it away for a future DCL vacation

 

[allears]

We were in 5520 on our cruise last week. This was our second time in an 8A and would choose them whenever we can! We loved this room! So much space and the partial wall makes it feel like you have a living room and bed room.

I've sailed in veranda rooms as well and honestly prefer the ocean view rooms, especially on the Fantasy with the big port holes (those above deck 2). We don't spend a lot of time in the room, but when we do I love the views from the port holes without the railings of the veranda in the way. We spend a lot of time on deck, so a veranda isn't something we miss.

Connecting these rooms will make it seem like a huge suite! You'll like it!

 

[Ichiban]

I say go for the 8A. We did not miss having a verandah at all. The portholes are huge and give you a great view. It is a bit of a walk being forward, but not too bad and totally worth it. But be warned, you will be spoiled with all the space and going back to a regular sized cabin will seem even smaller than normal!