Family of 5: one family room or 2 inside cabins?

[NancyIL]

We plan to sail on Jewel of the Seas on a 12-day Baltic cruise next summer. We're debating between all of us in one Family Oceanview room (319 sq. ft) or two inside cabins (165 sq. ft. each). We'll be with our 3 teenagers, and they're all taller than me! The family room is a few hundred dollars less than 2 cabins, but 2 cabins = 2 bathrooms. Also, how tolerable is it to have 3 adults in a standard cabin? Is the pullman over the other bed(s), and does anyone know where I might find a photo of one?

[mom22]

Nancy,

You may want to look into connecting staterooms as another option. Can't comment specificly on the Jewel, but we went with our two kids (15 and 10) on the Voyager in January. We had origanly booked a famiy oceanview, but opted to go with conecting balconys (cat D) instead. Total extra cost was only $500. I can't say enough about the convienence of having two bathrooms, two tvs, and two closets, not to mention the extra space and the balconys to boot.
12 days with 3 teens is a looong time to share a bathroom. Especially if one or more of them is a girl! When we were all in one room hanging out it was a bit crowded, so we kept the connecting door open most of the time to give it a more spacious feel. Whatever you choose will be fine. Happy cruising!

Nile river cruise 4/84
Song of America 12/87
Voyager of the Seas 1/04/04
Ecstacy 7/26/04

[justcruzin85374]

I'll chime in for 2 cabins! Connecting would be the perfect answer. The 2 cabins will also give the option of letting some sleep late. But you'll thank yourself over and over again for the extra closet space and 2 bathrooms!

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[NancyIL]

Most connecting cabins are outside, and we are trying to conserve costs where possible. Also the few connecting inside cabins don't appear to have a bed available for a 3rd person. But I read you loud and clear about the value of the extra bathroom! And yes, my 2 oldest kids are girls, ages 17 and 20 at the time of the cruise!

[bbrad8]

Nancy,

Would have to agree with mom22. While we have not been on the Jewel, we have had an oceanview with 4 adults (2 adults, 2 late teens) twice (although not the family oceanview). While you will have additional space over what we had in a regular ocean view, you still will have only 1 bathroom. If you are traveling with at least 2 women, IMHO I would not want to be in that cabin for 12 days. In our situation, we had 2 women and have done this twice in the past. If your budget can handle it, would look at 2 cabins in any combination as opposed to sharing 1 bathroom (even as much as I do not like inside cabins)! Remember that you are looking at 12 days with this arrangement. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] We will not go back to 4 adults in 1 cabin again. It is so much more pleasant and relaxing with 2 cabins and 2 bathrooms for all (no matter how much time you spend in your cabin).

Bruce

[justcruzin85374]

Nancy, I just looked at the deck plans and I see one cat. M (yellow)connecting with a third pullman cabins #'s 8573 & 8575 on deck 8.
I also see cat. L (pink) connecting with third pullman-cabins # 9503 & 9505 on deck 9.

without a date its hard to tell if these cabins are actually available.

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean
Majesty 95 W. Caribbean
Granduer 97 E. Caribbean
Rhapsody 00 Mexico
Vision 02 Alaska
Radiance 03 Panama Canal
Brilliance 3/29/04



Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]Are we there yet?
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My bags are always packed!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;3;29;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Brilliance 3/29/2004

[NancyIL]

Thanks for your help, everyone. You've convinced us to go with 2 cabins!

My hubby doesn't think we need to have a door between the cabins, as long as they are next door to each other. In other words, he doesn't want to pay the price difference to go from a Cat. N to Cat. M!

[daisey]

Hi NancyIL:
I am also deciding between one or two cabins. This is what I found out. We are booking on the Serenade of the Seas for Feb.5, 2005. We can have a Cat FO, Family Stateroom which is 319 sq ft with two separate sleeping areas which accommodate six, sitting area, picture window, mini bar, etc. OR we can book one ocean view cabin for two then put the girls across the hall in an inside cabin for four.

Getting the two cabins is actually $300 more BUT the girls would have their own space and bathroom!!

Last year was the first time we separated into two cabins and it was VERY nice, I didn't spend my vacation picking up after everyone! So I am leaning towards the two cabins again especially because of the bathroom time with girls and all their primping!!

Happy Cruising!
Daisey

[yogi]

We went with our three"adult" kids. We had a nice balcony and they had an inside across the hall. They were a little squished but they had fun. And we saw lots of them because they liked our balcony! Worked out perfectly.

[Kmay104692]

Definitely go for the two rooms. On Voyager-class ships there are two sets of connecting cabins (Deck 9)where an outside balcony room connects to an inside room. We have stayed in those rooms before and loved them. It is great to have the second bathroom. Also, one balcony was good enough for us and the cost was held down by having one inside cabin. Plus the rooms are at the back of the ship which worked out well for us.

[gnfcon]

We went with 3 boys, 10, 15, 18, and had adjacent but not connecting cabins. It worked out fine!! When we registered we requested an extra room key for their cabin so that we could wake them up, lay out dinner clothes and so on and that was really helpful. Having the adjoining/connecting cabins really reduces your privacy as the door is always open, you can't lock it some of the time...just something to consider!

NOS 04/03/04!!!
Majesty 04/03, 08/03

[NancyIL]

I got quotes for both room types yesterday at CruiseQuick, and happened to notice this evening that the prices on Royal Caribbean's site had gone up $100/pp minimum since yesterday! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] So, I went ahead and put down a deposit on two inside adjacent (but not connecting) cabins on deck 4 midship, and was able to get yesterday's rates! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] My in-laws are also going on this trip, and they are getting a cabin with a balcony. I said we'd hang out on theirs. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]