Cat 8 or Cat 11

[coveman]

Is there really a big difference between a cat 8 balcony and a cat 11? Going on Glory in Oct and thinking about upgrading to cat 11.

 

FANTASY 10/01

SENSATION 12/01

JUBILEE 04/02

PRIDE 10/02

GLORY 10/04

[bajohnsons]

I've never had a category 11, but always have an 8 so I can only base this on visiting the cat 11. For me personally it would not be worth the additional money. I have a hard time calling the 11 a suite in any sense of the word. I think the compromise would be the cat 9 (the "wrap around" balcony cabins at the back of the ship. These rooms are larger with a larger deck. I think they also have a small sitting area/vanity.

 

ECSTASY 1997

PARADISE 2000

PRIDE 2002

PARADISE 2003

TRIUMPH 2004

 

[Stillfloatin']

I am considering a cat 9 on our 2005 Destiny cruise because of the large wrap-around balcony. Seems like you get a lot more space for not too much more $$. Can anyone who has been in one of these cabins describe any differences between these and regular balcony cabins? Appreciate any input in helping us make this decision. Afterall, we're talking about the difference of many foo foo drinks. And THAT'S important! LOL.

 

Destiny 05

Dream 04

Sky 03

Fantasy 98

Ecstasy 91

Norway 89

Life is good

[serene56]

For the extra money I would opt for a Category 9A with a wrap around balcony on the aft. I am not in the cabin that much to warrant the extra cost for a tub/juccuzzi dvd player. I;d rather have the bigger balcony.

 

Going NOWHERE

 

 

Miracle, February 13, 2005

Legend, October 22,2004

Voyager August 31,2003

Victory September 22,2002

Regal Empress,June 2001

Sensation,August 2000

[coveman]

Thanks for the help appreciate it.

 

FANTASY 10/01

SENSATION 12/01

JUBILEE 04/02

PRIDE 10/02

GLORY 10/04

[bar10der421]

We were upgraded to Cat 11 on Pride last year and recently sailed on Miracle in 8A. For free it was fine, but I would not pay the money for the suite. Never used the jacuzzi, vcr, etc. DH did sit in the chair a few times! The only thing I missed was the extra drawer space. Closets were about the same and adequate in 8A.

 

5/2 Miracle cruise

[ali38]

sailed cat.11 on glory, it was nice, more room,and you are in the skippers club which entitles you to priority check in. we walked into the terminal and right into the skippers lounge and 5 min later we were on the ship,we went past at least 200 people. we were one of the first few people on board.

 

<img src=http://home.rochester.rr.com/suer182/a3.gif>

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=0000cd&cdt=2004;08;28;08;00;00&timezone=gmt-0500>

victory...august, 2004

glory...2003

disney...2000

sun line...1984

[imatarb]

Yep, I'd go for the Cat 9. I noticed the Cat 11 cabins weren't as large as they appeared in photos, etc. Personally, I'd rather have that wraparound balcony in the Cat 9.

 

Lisa

 

Monarch of the Seas - 1994

Royal Majesty - 1996

Carnival Victory - 2004

 

<MARQUEE>A day at sea is better than a day at work</MARQUEE>

[garycarla]

Keep an eye on prices as you move towards cruise time. About 60 days before our cruise, I noticed that a Cat11 was about the same as the mid cat 8's. It was a short term deal,but we grabbed it for a few hundred bucks. Price then went up $500 each which does not seem worth it.

 

Alaska via Spirit 6/2/04

[croozer59]

We just got off the May 16 pride and had a Cat 11. The room was very spacious and had a large balcony. Our friends had a wrap-around balcony in the back and I and they were not all that impressed. I am not sure why a longer balcony makes all that much difference. Ours was huge and provided more than enough room for us. The dressing area in the Cat 11 was very nice and the room was much larger than the Cat 8 we visited.

 

Can't Wait !!!

[mnsawyer]

We were upgraded to a cat 11 cabin on our Triumph cruise in March 2003. I thought it was nice but wouldn't have paid any additional $$. It was very nice to have the bigger shower/tub area but haven't been in a regular cabin on a Carnival ship for over 10 years so am not sure of the bathrooms for the others. I remember a shower that was narrow and had a shower curtain. No place to shave your legs, etc., (sorry but it's a big deal for us gals). The dressing area was nice in that two people can get ready at the same time but for my DH and I, that didn't happen too often since I take longer.

[Stillfloatin']

Wow, thanks for all the info. Sounds like both are great choices depending on what's important to me. Just gotta love these boards!

 

Destiny 05

Dream 04

Sky 03

Fantasy 98

Ecstasy 91

Norway 89

Life is good

[S.S. Cruisers]

Stillfloatin: Exactly. We had a cat 11, wrap-around on the Spirit last year. Sis had 8C extended right next door. For the $300pp more we paid, NOT worth it. The corner aft cabin did not have a dressing area, San Diego did not have the Skipper Club check-in and others are right, 2 people can only take up so much room on a balcony! . If you have a group going or more people in your cabin, then maybe worth it.

 

Vision of the Seas 11/04

Carnival Spirit 10/03

Ecstasy 12/02

Ecstasy 05/02

Statendam 12/01

Norwegian Wind 12/00

Viking Serenade 09/00

Rhapsody of the Seas 12/99

Holiday 01/98

Nordic Prince 10/94

Viking Serenade 09/93

Song of America 10/92

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On the Conquest Class vessels (Conquest, Glory, Valor)go for the AFT 9A wrap arounds.

 

On the Spirit Class vessels (Spirit, Legend, Pride, Miracle) go for the AFT 11 wrap arounds.

 

We have been in Cat 1,4,6,8,9,11,12's - and would have a hard time sailing in anything but those wrap arounds - unless on a Fantasy class, where Cat 4's suit us just fine -unless we got a free upgrade to one of the two Penthouse (Owners) suites overlooking Lido Deck!

 

 

 

Tom

 

Sensation - July 1st, 2004

 

Legend - THANKSGIVING - Nov. 19th, 2004

 

Miracle Spring Break, March 20th, 2005

 

 

 

MIRACLE.........3/05

LEGEND.........11/04

SENSATION.....7/04

GLORY............3/04

SENSATION.....1/04

SENSATION...10/03

GLORY............7/03

SENSATION.....7/03

INSPIRATION..11/02

PRIDE.............7/02

FANTASY.......10/01

FANTASY.......10/00

FANTASY........8/00

SENSATION.....6/00

DOLPHIN IV.....3/00

FANTASY........9/99

 

[Stillfloatin']

S.S. Cruisers, thanks for the response. We do have a bunch of people going on this cruise and many will have inside cabins so we thought a big balcony would be great for our nightly pre-dinner cocktail ritual. On our last cruise, on NCL Dream, our little cabin and small balcony was REALLY packed for those party sessions. Sounds like there's not much point in the cat 11 if the cat 9A on the Destiny will also do the trick. Again, thanks for your input, it really helps in the decision.

 

Destiny 05

Dream 04

Sky 03

Fantasy 98

Ecstasy 91

Norway 89

Life is good

[cgresq]

well great to see all the discussion on the merits of the diff staterooms but it seems to just come down to individual choice. what we have done is book 4 of the 6 8a fantail rooms on the Valor for next Apr main reason is the balconies are bigger and the divider walls fold away so we can share all 4 balconies. I understand the dividers on the Spirit class do not fold away so check this out if it might be a concern. Fair winds and following seas.

John

Elation 99

Destiny 02

Conquest 04

Valor 05

 

04/03/05 Valor