Cat 11 or 12: 1st hand info About This Page:

[Grandmasam]

I am hoping to spend my birthday at sea this fall. In order to maximize the experience, I want to do 7 days, rather than 4 (I did 3 days last fall - not nearly enough time!) In order to make it affordable, the cheaper category stateroom seems the best buy. I'd like to hear from anyone who has done 4 or 7 days in one of these. How was the experience? Where in the ship was your stateroom, and how much motion did you feel? Would you repeat the experience on a future cruise?

Thanks!

[OffKilter_Lynn]

My first cruise (4-nights) was in an inside Cat. 11 (#6633 deck 6 aft). I loved the aft location as it was right near the stairs and deck 6 is my preferred deck. The stateroom was wonderful, as they are all beautifully appointed but not having any windows / natural light was disconcerting for me. When the lights went out, it was DARK! You couldn't tell if it was morning or night, or even see what the weather was like (unless you turned on the TV to the bridge channel). Leaving the closet door open or the bathroom light on didn't always work (sometimes the ship would rock hard enough to close the door). I've read tips where people use glow sticks which is an awesome idea so you can orient yourself in the dark.

Our next (and subsequent) cruises have been in cat. 6 verandahs and I have forever been spoiled. I don't know that I could go back to an inside cabin - I find that I need the natural light. Others are perfectly fine with it, especially if you're one who's not in the cabin much other than to change or sleep. Light is now a minimum requirement for me. While I could do without the verandah, I would have to have light and would try for a 'secret porthole' cabin to help save money if a standard oceanview cabin priced the cruise too high.

Good luck deciding! What better way to celebrate your birthday!

[Dave Marx]

We did an entire 14-night repo in a Cat 11 on Deck 6. AND we needed a pack-n-play back in those days, so floor space really was at a premium. We survived quite nicely. . The trick is to spend loads of time outside the stateroom enjoying the rest of the ship (certainly no hardship). It's a bit easier to oversleep/sleep in, because there's no sunlight. Besides that, it's not bad at all.

Motion is no different than it'd be in outside staterooms. You can have a Cat 11 on several differnt decks and in any number of locations fore to aft, so there's no way to make generalities. While there are the noise issues on the Deck 2 Cat 12s, if you're planning to be out partying during the evenings you won't be there to hear it.

The only deck I dislike as far as access to ship's facilities is concerned is Deck 1. Deck 2 is nice for access to all the facilities on decks 3 and 4 but you really have to take an elevator if you're headed up to Deck 9. Decks 5-7 are nice no matter whether you're headed up to Deck 9 or down to 3 and 4 - not too many flights of stairs at those times when the elevators are busiest.

[chezp]

We had a category 11 stateroom for our 11 night Med cruise and we loved it. We were on deck seven, fairly near the back - and it was almost opposite our category 7 stateroom on our three night cruise, so we knew it was an area of the ship that we hadn't had any problems with the last time we cruised. We didn't miss having a window or verandah at all and I loved the layout of the room. I wouldn't have a problem with cruising in a category 11 stateroom again.

[JustLorri]

We had a Cat 11 on a 7nighter. It was OK. We brought a night light and plugged it in near the TV and it was fine. We set a wake-up call every morning as well as had our own alarm clock. Like I said, it was OK, but we had our whole family in there and we had no room to move. If we were in our room, the rule for our dc was to sit on the couch!!! We were always telling them to sit down. Otherwise no one could walk in that little space. We got a Cat 8 for our next cruise. But really, if there is only 2 of you in the room, it would be more than enough room.

[Grandmasam]

There is only one (me), so I'm certain I'll fit in the room without too much trouble. Having worked nights for many years, I can usually sleep any time, any place, and the lack of natural light is often seen as a plus. But the night light sounds like a great idea. I'm glad to know that the motion shouldn't be a great problem. The whole thing is looking more and more possible!!

[DisneyMom92]

My sister and daughter stayed in a Cat 11 last year and are doing it again. They loved it. They used the TV as a "window" when they wanted to know if the sun was up or the weather. They tuned to the channel that showed outside when they went to bed. The dark outside was enough light to orient yourself but not too much light. when the sun came up it was like natural light.

[o0lissa0o]

We jsut got back from a 4 day on the Wonder, and had a Cat 11 on deck 6 (6601). It was fine for me! Both other cruises I had balcony rooms, so I was nervous about downgrading, but for just my son and I, I thought it would be fine. We really were hardly in the room, other than to change clothes or sleep, so space wasn't much of an issue. If you're by yourself, I think you'll be very happy with the space.

My only recomendations are to take a digital alarm clock...that's easy to spot in the middle of the night. The clocks in the rooms arent digital, and the room gets SO dark, that you dont have a clue what time it is! Also, take some kind of a night light. I actually got a touch light at the dollar store, it used 2 double a batteries, and I kept it on the nightstand. I only turned it on if I needed to move around, because I actually enjoyed how dark the room was. If I woke up at osme point during the night, I left it on so it would coax me out of bed in the morning.

Other than the strong possibility of oversleeping (which, you're on vacation-who cares?!), I think the room was great. I probaby would have been dissapointed if I had paid for a higher category, because we were NEVER there!

[mmizc00l]

Last September DH and I spent a 3 night (our first cruise and an early anniversary celebration) in a cat 11 on Deck 6 aft and had more than enough room. I wouldn't recommend them for more than 2 people as it doesn't have the split bathroom, but if we take another mom and dad only cruise, I'd book the same room in a heartbeat. We never felt any movement, but we had calm seas the whole time so who knows in rougher seas. We were near the stairs and it was a breeze to get to dinner. We're taking DS and DD in April and got a secret porthole room!! We had planned on an inside cabin but were pleasantly surprised. I'll be celebrating my birthday onboard with both a Palo brunch and dinner on my actual birhtday- can't wait!! Make sure you have them mark your birthday celebration on your ressie. ENJOY!!

[Chris_Wangard]

My parents stayed in a 12 for 7 day (we were in a 9) and had no trouble whatsoever. We spent time in their room, and it really wasn't uncomfortable with 4 adults and 2 kids hanging out in their room. They were, however, a bit jealous of our restroom!