Cabin comparison - on the Dream

I'm looking at the Deluxe Family Oceanview split layout rooms on the dream. I've got DH's buy off on the more square room vs the rectangle. On a whim, I looked at the veranda rooms and the deluxe family with the veranda is within a hundred bucks of the porthole rooms.

I guess I'm looking for which do you prefer? the space configuration of the split layout rooms, or the veranda? There are 4 of us, 2 adults, 1 tween and 1 9 year old. None of us have a "need" for more space (no cribs, baby gear, medical devices etc) it's truly personal preference. We do tend to spend time in the room, and I'm nervous that while I'll be on the veranda drinking special coffee the other three will be at each other's throats in the more cramped layout of the room. Plus, the portholes looked cool and I can see DD laying in there with her book and enjoying the day.

Also, am I right in that to get a view of Castaway, we need to be on the right hand side?

Has room 5520 on the Dream in May and loved this room but it only sleeps 3. I know some of the others sleep 4. The double portholes were wonderful. We had a great view on Castaway Key and it was fun the site and watch them docket in Nassau. We were on the right side of the ship. The hallway was very quite also since there are no room across from you and you are kind of in a corridor with the other 2 room like it.

We stayed in the larger rooms on deck 5 with the 2 portholes for our first two cruises. Then, we tried the veranda for our 3rd cruise - and, that's been our choice ever since (just completed 8 cruises). So, while we did love, love, love the layout of the double porthole rooms, the veranda could not be beat for us. The main reason is that we (I - LOL) like to be able to look out at the ocean at night, and this cannot be done from a porthole room. For us, there just isn't a substitute for the fresh air and sea breeze that the veranda affords. Also, the larger rooms do not have a split bathroom (this was a not a factor for us). And, yes, right side (starboard) faces CC.

If you are speaking of the forward located OV cat 8a cabins, with two large portholes, as mentioned, only a few sleep 4 pax.

And it comes with sacrifices in most passenger's opinion.
Such as, no split bath, no curtain, shower only, etc.
But configurations vary.

I encourage research, or ask here.

Have you seen this thread?
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-list-of-rooms-needed-1st-post.3194826/

Or this one? Perhaps read backwards, IMO.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/dream-fantasy-8a-cabins.2696288/

And of course the cabins labeled externally is always a favorite;
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...see-the-pictures-index-now-in-post-7.2586763/
(Oh no. The pics are failing in our favorite thread. Please alert the owner.. eek.)

Regarding more square feet, again careful, some # included the veranda, some don't.

Use extreme caution regarding the cat 4e's. The internal sqft in a cat 4e is the same as any cat 5. Regardless of what any website indicates.
The specialty of the cat 4e's is there larger balcony.

I believe the cat 8a's have more room inside than the cat 4a -d's.
And definitely more than the cat 4e's or cat 5's, or any other standard veranda cabin.
Although you give up a balcony, split bath, curtain, etc.
That's the point with some cabins. The ones with verandas sort of eat up that internal space and vice versa. OV's have more internal space because they don't have the veranda.
You can sort of see it on the deck plans.

Though call.

No. .... I would choose Balcony all the way for $100 more. But I know that is what, .. 54 sqft less internally. Tough call. I need more details. Like categories, or cabin #'s.

But I suspect you are comparing an 8a with a 4e or cat 5.

This site rocks too; click details , especially related to the cat 4e's.
Click around abit here , study the cabin sgft/balcony descriptions.
You will find it is different than DCL's. And easier to understand.
Don't forget the details link under cabin description.
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Disney-Fantasy

HTH

ETA; Having said all that noise, if you can get a Family Veranda, cat 4a-d for the several hundred more. I would grab the Family Veranda. But make sure it's not a cat 4e.
Because the cat 4e is not a Family Veranda, regarding size. That was one of my points.

Just a personal preference, but you can't beat having a verandah. It's a whole other living space (albeit small) and just make your cruise that much more special. We would always choose a verandah room over an OV.

Bethany10 said:

We do tend to spend time in the room, and I'm nervous that while I'll be on the veranda drinking special coffee the other three will be at each other's throats in the more cramped layout of the room.

Click to expand...

I fail to see the downside of what you are describing. You are supposed to keep the verandah door closed.

mischief32 said:

Has room 5520 on the Dream in May and loved this room but it only sleeps 3. I know some of the others sleep 4. The double portholes were wonderful. We had a great view on Castaway Key and it was fun the site and watch them docket in Nassau. We were on the right side of the ship. The hallway was very quite also since there are no room across from you and you are kind of in a corridor with the other 2 room like it.

Click to expand...

We had rooms 5020 and 5022 on our cruise on the Dream, and we all LOVED it. We loved the layout and felt like we had loads of space. Rooms were super quiet also.