Explorer- Deck 2 OV or Deck 7 inside?

[kruzerci]

I'm being indecisive and I think I've been overthinking this, so I hope you all can give me a levelheaded opinion

 

We are taking the entire family on a little five night on the Explorer this December. We have three cabins, one for us, one for each kid and their significant others.

 

We generally book a balcony or suite, but for this short cruise, prices are high for balconies and above, but insides and oceanviews are very affordable. My hope is that prices will level out for balconies and suites and my wife and I can upgrade our room.

 

For the time being, I have three oceanviews booked on Deck 2 forward for an unbelievably good price. I'm just wondering if the window is worth being on the lowest passenger floor. We could downgrade to inside cabins for the same price, but it has been a looonnnngg time since we have stayed in an inside room. Well it's been just as long since we stayed in an oceanview for that matter.

 

I'm trying to decide whether it's worth sacrificing a window for better location or vice versa. Like I said, hopefully we will be able to upgrade ourselves down the road and this won't be an issue, but at this point I'm just not willing to pay over double for a balcony when we are bringing the whole family!

 

Thanks :)

[molly361]

For the same price I would keep the window on the lower deck.

 

We are also looking at the 5 night EX for early 2015 and have booked a PR room. In our case the OV's right now are a lot higher. We are hoping that they come down and had already decided to move to a lower deck in an OV if that happens.

Edited April 13, 2014 by molly361

[SnowshoeCat]

I just got off Explorer, deck 2, OV. Because I'm afraid of seasickness, I like lower decks, midship. It was kind of far from everything (except the gangways - they were right under my window) but I was so happy when we hit rough seas and I hardly felt a thing. I got a few good pictures of the waves as they splashed over my window. It was kind of fun. So for me, the lower deck is a better location, although I'm not sure I'd want to be at the pointy end of the ship.

[Clarea]

I'd also go with the OV. Nothing wrong with deck 2, and we like the natural light.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We were on deck 2 on the Explorer to Bermuda. The only issue we had with the lower deck was that sometimes we had to go up to the Promenade level and back down to get from one end of the ship to the other. [because of location of venues in the middle, like ice rink]

[kruzerci]

Ok, we will keep the OV and hold out for a balcony price drop. Thanks for the reassurance :).

[Ocean Boy]

We were on deck 2 on the Explorer to Bermuda. The only issue we had with the lower deck was that sometimes we had to go up to the Promenade level and back down to get from one end of the ship to the other. [because of location of venues in the middle, like ice rink]

 

Actually you only have to up to deck 4 unless you don't like walking through the casino.

[Clarea]

Actually you only have to up to deck 4 unless you don't like walking through the casino.

We like to use the outside promenade on deck 4 to avoid the casino.:)

[Ocean Boy]

We like to use the outside promenade on deck 4 to avoid the casino.:)

 

We do too. I didn't think of that when I posted.

[Leslie K]

Enjoyed our OV on explorer. Would prefer a window anytime over a dark inside cabin. It was also easier getting a down elevator at peak times from decks like promenade. I would do it again anytime.

 

 

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[molly361]

Not to hijack the thread but would you pick an OV on deck 2 oer a PR cabin on deck 7 or 8?

[Clarea]

Not to hijack the thread but would you pick an OV on deck 2 oer a PR cabin on deck 7 or 8?

Continuing with the hijack (Ellen started it:p), I would take the OV on deck 2 over the PR. I think the PR is a novelty once, but I'd rather have the natural light and privacy in the OV.

Edited April 13, 2014 by clarea

[molly361]

Continuing with the hijack (Ellen started it:p), I would take the OV on deck 2 over the PR. I think the PR is a novelty once, but I'd rather have the natural light and privacy in the OV.

 

 

Thanks Bob, at least it is in the same topic of conversation-:D Never have stayed in a PR room

Edited April 13, 2014 by molly361

[kruzerci]

Continuing with the hijack (Ellen started it:p), I would take the OV on deck 2 over the PR. I think the PR is a novelty once, but I'd rather have the natural light and privacy in the OV.

 

 

That's what we thought. We had PR on Freedom in 2007 and it was fine for a change, but I don't know if I'd do it again unless it was a great deal. My only real annoyance with them was the room layout. It feels tiny. And it's kind of strange how the Royal Promenade lights turn back to daytime mode from night mode at like 2AM. It's pretty confusing when you wake up in the middle of the night :p.

 

These OV's that we booked were about $20 p/p more than the PR, so we opted for the natural light.

[Ocean Boy]

I would not take a PR over an OV and I would not take the inside over the OV. I would not even take an OV on a higher deck. I am one who really likes deck 2. It is quiet down there. There is no reason for anyone who is not staying on the deck to be there and when the elevators get down there they are always empty as everyone has gotten on or off on the other decks. Coming back from ports of call it is only one flight of stairs back to the cabin so you can skip the elevators.

 

If we do not book a balcony then it is deck 2 for us.

[molly361]

That's what we thought. We had PR on Freedom in 2007 and it was fine for a change, but I don't know if I'd do it again unless it was a great deal. My only real annoyance with them was the room layout. It feels tiny. And it's kind of strange how the Royal Promenade lights turn back to daytime mode from night mode at like 2AM. It's pretty confusing when you wake up in the middle of the night :p.

 

These OV's that we booked were about $20 p/p more than the PR, so we opted for the natural light.

 

 

Right now the OV's are around $70 per person more than the PR for 5 nights. That seems like too much to me. $20 pp more we would for sure switch. For now we will stick with the PR and hope for price drops.

[kruzerci]

Right now the OV's are around $70 per person more than the PR for 5 nights. That seems like too much to me. $20 pp more we would for sure switch. For now we will stick with the PR and hope for price drops.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :p. if you haven't had a PR room before I think you'll enjoy it. It's definitely different and beats a standard inside cabin.

[Can'tWait2SetSail]

I get seasick so the last 2 cruises I booked where I had a choice I did an ov midship on Deck 2 (on carnival). We have the same type of cabin for our upcoming RC cruise. I love it. It is easy to get off the ship when in port, and it makes us use the stairs rather than elevator to help burn off some of the alcohol and food calories. I would always choose an ov over an inside cabin.

[steveru621]

We were on deck 2 on the Explorer to Bermuda. The only issue we had with the lower deck was that sometimes we had to go up to the Promenade level and back down to get from one end of the ship to the other. [because of location of venues in the middle, like ice rink]

 

Great answer, except deck 4 is available! It really doesn't matter because you need to go up to get across the ship.

 

Enjoy your cruise...

[LSSloves]

I could never cruise in an inside stateroom. How is that a vacation?

[molly361]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :p. if you haven't had a PR room before I think you'll enjoy it. It's definitely different and beats a standard inside cabin.

 

 

Thanks- It is not until January so a lot can happen before then- our cruise is 1/4- we actually would prefer the on 1/24 as it goes to Freeport but that one is $300 more for a PR then going on 1/4. That is too much for us !! Only time will tell:)

Edited April 14, 2014 by molly361

[Ocean Boy]

I could never cruise in an inside stateroom. How is that a vacation?

 

A window determines whether or not you are on vacation?

Edited April 14, 2014 by Ocean Boy

[SnowshoeCat]

I could never cruise in an inside stateroom. How is that a vacation?

 

Some people spend very little time in their stateroom.

Some people like the darkness for sleeping.

Some people can't afford anything else.

Some people spend their money on other things.

 

You're still on a ship, traveling, being fed and entertained, away from the routine of daily life.

 

I've stayed in hotels in Scandinavia that had windowless rooms. I'm pretty sure I was on vacation.

[Barb Nahoumi]

We are recently off of the Explorer, and stayed in cabin #2590. Being on deck two gave us a very smooth ride----not much bumpyness.

 

Through the large porthole window, we had a fantastic view of the sea. This would be lacking in an inside, and is the reason we would never book an inside.

[davy jones]

I personally avoid forward cabins. I tend to feel the most movement there.

 

If deck 2 were mid or aft, then deck 2 OV. If deck 7 inside is mid or aft, then deck 7.

 

If both are forward, then deck 2.