WWYD: Category change (before final payment)

[jmmess]

On our August sailing we booked our next cruise. In August, we were in 05E (and spoiled with our corner room!), but they didn't have that category available for the next cruise, so we ended up booking a 05C (kind of as a placeholder until we figured out actual plans). I just checked today (final payment due by Christmas) and they have a 05E available, but the price differential is only ~$100. But I noticed there is a 08C available on the same level and it would save ~$500. I know this is Verandah vs. Oceanview. We have 2 kids (6&8), so porthole means I don't have to worry about them on the balcony and also wondering how much we will actually use the balcony. So WWYD?

Also, the taxes have significantly changed from when we booked until now (of course the rate for the room went up offsetting the difference), but why does that happen? Does it have anything to do with the hurricane?

 

[Shanti]

On our August sailing we booked our next cruise. In August, we were in 05E (and spoiled with our corner room!), but they didn't have that category available for the next cruise, so we ended up booking a 05C (kind of as a placeholder until we figured out actual plans). I just checked today (final payment due by Christmas) and they have a 05E available, but the price differential is only ~$100. But I noticed there is a 08C available on the same level and it would save ~$500. I know this is Verandah vs. Oceanview. We have 2 kids (6&8), so porthole means I don't have to worry about them on the balcony and also wondering how much we will actually use the balcony. So WWYD?

Also, the taxes have significantly changed from when we booked until now (of course the rate for the room went up offsetting the difference), but why does that happen? Does it have anything to do with the hurricane?

Which ship, what itinerary, and how many days? Those are important factors in the verandah vs. oceanview consideration.

 

[jmmess]

Fantasy, Eastern, 7 nights I don't feel like we really utilized the balcony enough, but the last cruise was on the Magic for 4 nights and was the around the corner extended verandah.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On our August sailing we booked our next cruise. In August, we were in 05E (and spoiled with our corner room!), but they didn't have that category available for the next cruise, so we ended up booking a 05C (kind of as a placeholder until we figured out actual plans). I just checked today (final payment due by Christmas) and they have a 05E available, but the price differential is only ~$100. But I noticed there is a 08C available on the same level and it would save ~$500. I know this is Verandah vs. Oceanview. We have 2 kids (6&8), so porthole means I don't have to worry about them on the balcony and also wondering how much we will actually use the balcony. So WWYD?

Also, the taxes have significantly changed from when we booked until now (of course the rate for the room went up offsetting the difference), but why does that happen? Does it have anything to do with the hurricane?

Personally, oceanview is what we usually pick. We've had some verandah rooms, but haven't really spent a lot of time on them. Whether you will or not is up to you. Do you "hang out" outside at home when the weather is nice and you don't have anything else to do?

Port Fees & taxes vary all the time. When a cruise line offers an itinerary for booking, it's a best guess as to what those will be. Generally, if the port fees & taxes go down (for whatever reason the port lowers them) you'll get a credit back on your onboard account in that amount. If the fees/taxes go up, the cruise line generally just eats the difference.

 

[jmmess]

Personally, oceanview is what we usually pick. We've had some verandah rooms, but haven't really spent a lot of time on them. Whether you will or not is up to you. Do you "hang out" outside at home when the weather is nice and you don't have anything else to do?

Port Fees & taxes vary all the time. When a cruise line offers an itinerary for booking, it's a best guess as to what those will be. Generally, if the port fees & taxes go down (for whatever reason the port lowers them) you'll get a credit back on your onboard account in that amount. If the fees/taxes go up, the cruise line generally just eats the difference.

How does the fees/taxes work - when we booked onboard, they reduced our fees/taxes for the discount (rather than the rate per person). 1st & 2nd passenger fees/taxes are less than the current fees/taxes (if booking today, although rates are higher), but 3rd/4th are higher for fees/taxes. Is this a call to the TA to ask them to work with Disney for a credit? Let's say that current fees are $100pp, our fees are $60,$60,$200,$200.

 

[Shanti]

Fantasy, Eastern, 7 nights I don't feel like we really utilized the balcony enough, but the last cruise was on the Magic for 4 nights and was the around the corner extended verandah.

On the Fantasy, I would go with the oceanview if the money makes a difference to you. I'd even be fine with an inside (and was happy with one on our Fantasy cruise last year). There just isn't that much to see on a Caribbean cruise.

 

[koala1966]

We like the verandah when we have it, but if the price difference was enough we'd give it up. We were just saying that having it sometimes causes us to miss out on deck time because we are too comfortable lol

 

[hnthomps]

How many people? And small kids?
We loved having a verandah on the Fantasy. Sometimes we needed to be in the room but in different spaces from each other. Or to let the kids have a room service snack outdoors. And with early risers, it was nice to take one outside to read books in the beautiful Caribbean sun while the other(s) kept lounging. Whether that is worth $500 really depends on your family situation - I think if our kids were older, we'd rather have the money to spend on other things. And if we were travelling just as a couple, then for sure. But right now it's a sanity saver.

 

[jmmess]

How many people? And small kids?
We loved having a verandah on the Fantasy. Sometimes we needed to be in the room but in different spaces from each other. Or to let the kids have a room service snack outdoors. And with early risers, it was nice to take one outside to read books in the beautiful Caribbean sun while the other(s) kept lounging. Whether that is worth $500 really depends on your family situation - I think if our kids were older, we'd rather have the money to spend on other things. And if we were travelling just as a couple, then for sure. But right now it's a sanity saver.

There are just four of us. The kids are 6 & 8. I found on the Dream that while we loved have the extended balcony (it was incredible!), we didn't spend much time out there. It was totally cool to have it, but we didn't take enough advantage of it. Maybe if we had been on Disney a few times and knew the boats and didn't partake in the activities, I'd be more inclined. So I think I'm leaning towards the maybe next time or down the road, and instead try Remy or Palo with the money "saved." Now just need to pull the trigger and switch.

 

[mmouse37]

We are perfectly happy with oceanview cabins and for the $500 savings I personally would jump on it.

MJ

 

[mareed]

Whenever I consider a price difference between categories, I break it down to a cost per day per person and ask myself if we'd get that much value from the different feature. For my upcoming cruise on Wonder, we're in a standard inside. It's $35 per person per day to upgrade to ocean-view and $84 for verandah. We're sticking with our inside!

 

[jmmess]

So I bit the bullet this morning. The original 08C wasn't available, but there was a 08D on 6. It ended up being $580 less, so can't complain! Will be good to see another category and don't plan to be in the room much. Thanks for all the advice!