Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator's Verandah- Should we be disappointed?

Voguevamp

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 17, 2018
Booked a VGT - GTY and just got our room assignment on the Magic next week. We were assigned a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator's Verandah- after reading more about it, it doesn't sound like this is a traditional verandah and I am super bummed, as I have never had a Verandah before and was really looking forward to it. I also get pretty motion sick when I am on ships, and usually try to book a cabin mid-ship- it appears this stateroom is aft. Wondering if we will have a chance of getting moved if I request a mid-ship cabin once we get to the port. I wanted to request a mid-ship cabin ahead of time, but I guess this is not an option with the restricted fares. Thanks.
 
Booked a VGT - GTY and just got our room assignment on the Magic next week. We were assigned a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator's Verandah- after reading more about it, it doesn't sound like this is a traditional verandah and I am super bummed, as I have never had a Verandah before and was really looking forward to it. I also get pretty motion sick when I am on ships, and usually try to book a cabin mid-ship- it appears this stateroom is aft. Wondering if we will have a chance of getting moved if I request a mid-ship cabin once we get to the port. I wanted to request a mid-ship cabin ahead of time, but I guess this is not an option with the restricted fares. Thanks.
You certainly can ask once at the port if there are any rooms available mid-ship. It's likely that such a room will have an upgrade cost, but getting that upgrade at the port will be cheaper than trying to do it before you arrive at the port.

Not sure why you're disappointed with the navigator's verandah. It's got a large round opening on the verandah, so you're outside, but it's less susceptible to wind than a traditional verandah.
 
You certainly can ask once at the port if there are any rooms available mid-ship. It's likely that such a room will have an upgrade cost, but getting that upgrade at the port will be cheaper than trying to do it before you arrive at the port.

Not sure why you're disappointed with the navigator's verandah. It's got a large round opening on the verandah, so you're outside, but it's less susceptible to wind than a traditional verandah.
I don't know that i am necessarily disappointed- I have no experience with them and one review called it a glorified porthole. I supposed some people might prefer the navigator's verandah since it is less susceptible to wind?
 
I don't know that i am necessarily disappointed- I have no experience with them and one review called it a glorified porthole. I supposed some people might prefer the navigator's verandah since it is less susceptible to wind?
It's also shaded from the sun, for those of us who don't really like baking in the sun.

magic class 2013 Navigators Verandah porthole.jpg


But, no, I don't think you were tricked (sorry - negative connotation of that other word). You booked a Verandah room, and you got a verandah room.
 
I am sorry you are disappointed with your assigned cabin, but if it helps we actually love the navigator over a regular verandah for the reasons PrincessShmoo mentioned! Even booking day 1 for our cruise last week I chose a navigator (though I admit saving money also adds to its charm - perhaps you did also as it was VGT!). The nautical touches are fun, and we don't have to worry about getting too much sun or wind out there either - plus they are also very private. You can absolutely check when you arrive at the port and see if they have any upgrades available too, though it would not be free. You were not in any way tricked - you paid for a verandah and got a verandah... just the lowest cat one.
 
Honestly, I have seen so much hype and excitement about the navigators verandahs. They're usually cheaper and give you a different view than normal! I'm not sure they're a good fit for me because I'm the sit on the balcony reading type that likes to just sit there looking out. I'm not sure you can really do that in the navigators one.

You can ask when you get to port about upgrades. Its usually much cheaper than trying to do it online ahead of time but it will have a cost I am sure. Its a pretty big price jump to go from VGT navigators to a standard no obstructions verandah room.
 
I love the navigators verandah on the original ships, The nautical decor & wood panel is gorgeous. You will not find that on any other ships & the bench seating with cushions is also only on the navigators
 
Our cruise is not even showing any cabins today for booking. Don’t know if they have filled those 10 Concierge cabins that were available last week - even by putting verandah guarantees in them. I was hoping verandah guests would do port upgrades and make their assigned cabins available to us.

Now, I think most of us will end up with no opportunity for port upgrade (we had slim hopes to move up from a guaranteed Oceanview that has poor reviews. I think we will be where we were assigned.)

I have stayed in an aft Navigators Verandah on Deck 5; I don’t have a lot of memories of it. That makes me think it was a fairly normal (meaning good) experience (it was 11 years and a bunch of vacations ago - I also can’t remember my cabin / the cruise the next month on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage. Bottom line, if it’s not a noisy cabin, for me, it is less impact than I would have thought.)

TBH, if you hoped to sit and sip on your Verandah while seated and watching the sunrise and sunset, this Verandah isn’t the best. A big advantage you will have is the ability to open the door and get some fresh air if you are feeling seasick (Lying down really helps). And you can see the sky and water.

The last cruise I took (not Disney), I had glass below the railing. Sounds great. But the wooden rail was right in my sight line when I sat down. And I have had a GIANT balcony at the back of Magic’s Deck 8. But it was metal below the rail. And no cover.

You may love it, hate it, or be neutral. You’ll know pretty soon. Perhaps you will sail again - on a cruise that didn’t go to GTY rates as soon as this one (this is not usual procedure).

My first cabin / cruise was in a Secret Porthole (partially Obscured Oceanview for the price of an interior). I heard the door to a crew work area slam so many times; it was very annoying. But here we go again, 16 years later, on my 20th Disney cruise. Four of the five ports are new experiences to me. As it is a port-intensive cruise, it is a different type experience from the typical Bahamas or Caribbean runs. I hope you have a fantastic time. I certainly expect to. Even in my less than stellar reviewed cabin (yeah, reported to be very noisy! But I saved a bunch of money. And am going on a Disney cruise ☺️)
 
It's just not our cruise, but every cruise out of San Juan in the month of May is not showing - which leads me to think that there is some Disney IT glitch going on but who knows for sure. When we purchase the *GT rate - (I purchased a VGT rate) we give up a few things in exchange for the cheaper rate. To me you give up any ability to cancel, even if booking *GT before the PIF date, entire cruise fare is due at time of booking (can't just make a deposit) and you lose any flexibility to choose your stateroom or get one you want. If those things are not palatable to any one person, then they should not book a *GT room. To me, it is like rolling dice - you could get lucky or you could end up with a "leftover" or less than stateroom.

I agree with @auntlynne that I too was surprised how early this sailing went *GT (I booked ours in mid-Nov) which is usually not the case. Nevertheless, I am going on a DCL ship, where I always have fun, get to enjoy good food and entertainment and meet new people. I am looking forward to a great time next week and I hope everyone else enjoys their cruise regardless of stateroom location.
 
Our cruise is not even showing any cabins today for booking. Don’t know if they have filled those 10 Concierge cabins that were available last week - even by putting verandah guarantees in them. I was hoping verandah guests would do port upgrades and make their assigned cabins available to us.

Now, I think most of us will end up with no opportunity for port upgrade (we had slim hopes to move up from a guaranteed Oceanview that has poor reviews. I think we will be where we were assigned.)

I have stayed in an aft Navigators Verandah on Deck 5; I don’t have a lot of memories of it. That makes me think it was a fairly normal (meaning good) experience (it was 11 years and a bunch of vacations ago - I also can’t remember my cabin / the cruise the next month on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage. Bottom line, if it’s not a noisy cabin, for me, it is less impact than I would have thought.)

TBH, if you hoped to sit and sip on your Verandah while seated and watching the sunrise and sunset, this Verandah isn’t the best. A big advantage you will have is the ability to open the door and get some fresh air if you are feeling seasick (Lying down really helps). And you can see the sky and water.

The last cruise I took (not Disney), I had glass below the railing. Sounds great. But the wooden rail was right in my sight line when I sat down. And I have had a GIANT balcony at the back of Magic’s Deck 8. But it was metal below the rail. And no cover.

You may love it, hate it, or be neutral. You’ll know pretty soon. Perhaps you will sail again - on a cruise that didn’t go to GTY rates as soon as this one (this is not usual procedure).

My first cabin / cruise was in a Secret Porthole (partially Obscured Oceanview for the price of an interior). I heard the door to a crew work area slam so many times; it was very annoying. But here we go again, 16 years later, on my 20th Disney cruise. Four of the five ports are new experiences to me. As it is a port-intensive cruise, it is a different type experience from the typical Bahamas or Caribbean runs. I hope you have a fantastic time. I certainly expect to. Even in my less than stellar reviewed cabin (yeah, reported to be very noisy! But I saved a bunch of money. And am going on a Disney cruise ☺️)
I guess we will see sooner rather than later :) I still may inquire at port. These were the first time I had booked a GTY and I didn't really know what I was getting into! Thanks for your reply :)
 
I guess we will see sooner rather than later :) I still may inquire at port. These were the first time I had booked a GTY and I didn't really know what I was getting into! Thanks for your reply :)
I'm on the same sailing and got the same assignment for my VGT. I was also a little disappointed. I didn't even think about the possibility of getting a navigators veranda because I thought there weren't very many and that people usually booked them. I'm a little worried about not getting the full view sitting out there, but I'm excited to try out something new that I probably never would have booked on my own. Hoping I will be pleasantly surprised. I do think it's going to be nice and hot out and we will probably be getting a lot of sun so maybe we will be very happy to be in the shade while enjoying our veranda.
 
No one cheated you even if you disliked your assignment so much you felt the need to use a slur.
Generally speaking you should book exactly what you want. I like a specific cabin on a specific deck. If it isn't available I don't book.
When you booked what you booked you agreed that you didn't care where you slept and got a reduced cruise fare for it.
 
No one cheated you even if you disliked your assignment so much you felt the need to use a slur.
Generally speaking you should book exactly what you want. I like a specific cabin on a specific deck. If it isn't available I don't book.
When you booked what you booked you agreed that you didn't care where you slept and got a reduced cruise fare for it.
Excuse me- but what are you talking about? I used no slur?
 

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