ILiveInFlipFlops Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I'm looking at the floor plans of these tiny balcony rooms (not even the smallest stateroom available) and I'm getting claustrophobic just thinking about it. The ones we're considering are 205 square feet. That means DH and I are in the queen bed, one child is on the sofa bed, and one is sleeping in a pullman bed, which I guess drops down out of the ceiling? How do we even walk around in a room that packed? This will be our first cruise, and while we're excited to be going, we're in a situation where the timing is hard financially, but we have no choice. I'd really rather not pay for two staterooms, but I'm skeptical of whether or not we can make this work without killing each other :huh: Is this what most people do? What is the difference between a balcony room and a "suite," which basically looks like the exact same room, except that there's one extra chair, which they seem to be calling a "seating area"? I'm so confused over this whole thing! Also what do cruise ships do if a big storm hits? We'll be heading from the East Coast to Florida and the Bahamas in mid-July, and hurricanes are not unheard of at that point. I'll be honest and say I'm having some anxiety about the idea of being trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean, irrational though it is! (This smiley seems appropriate here :nopity: ) Any help anyone can offer would be very welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 We had myself and 3 teens in the smallest room this February during our school'a field trip. It was the best vacation ever. But I love cruising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 First off, you spend most of your time out of your room so that shouldn't be a big deal. The room steward will put away all the beds that can be during the day and puts them back down at night. This means during the day there will be more floor space. They also hide suitcases really well so they are out of the way. The balcony is nice if you have kids that might need a nap during the day (no ages listed) so you can sit out of the room while they sleep. As for storms, they avoid them. This means you need to pay close attention to the storm trackers and your cruise line website as it gets closer. Sometimes they will completely change where you are going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 We had myself and 3 teens in the smallest room this February during our school'a field trip. It was the best vacation ever. But I love cruising. I WANT to love it. I really do! But I've made myself all paranoid--on top of my original ridiculous anxiety!--about Norwalk virus and hurricanes and Costa Concordia-type disasters and engine fires. I have definitely researched myself into a crazy state. I'm going to need some Xanax, but first I'm going to need to choose a stateroom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 You'll be fine. It's a bit cramped, but, as someone else said, you won't be in your room often. We are a family of 6 and we usually end up with two connecting staterooms (with balconies if at all possible!!). And, the extra room (and the extra bathroom) is really nice. But, I'd do just about anything to get on a ship! I love cruising. That said, our next cruise is next month. We ended up with one room that sleeps 5. Should be interesting!!! But, it was cheapest to do that (my oldest isn't coming with us this time). Weather - don't sweat it. On our last cruise, the captain kept coming on and telling us how we were changing course to avoid a storm. It was fascinating to know that they could do that on the fly. We once cruised right after a typhoon in the Pacific. The waves were pretty big, but other than that, no issues. Now, the important stuff. Which cruise line????? How many days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 No problem. How old are your kids? On my recent trip to Europe, we stayed in many small hotel rooms with 4 single beds (or a queen and 2 singles) for 5 people. I had one of my kids sleep with her head at the foot of the bed and it was comfy enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 First off, you spend most of your time out of your room so that shouldn't be a big deal. The room steward will put away all the beds that can be during the day and puts them back down at night. This means during the day there will be more floor space. They also hide suitcases really well so they are out of the way. The balcony is nice if you have kids that might need a nap during the day (no ages listed) so you can sit out of the room while they sleep. As for storms, they avoid them. This means you need to pay close attention to the storm trackers and your cruise line website as it gets closer. Sometimes they will completely change where you are going. Oh, this is good info that I did not have! There's a room steward to help with moving all the furniture around every day etc? And that's very good to know about the potential changes in course. Now, the important stuff. Which cruise line????? How many days? :lol: Nothing fancy unfortunately. At first we thought we'd be on the Quantum of the Seas, but it turns out the organizers had the schedule wrong and the Quantum isn't available then. Now we'll be on the Norwegian Gem for 7 days. It seems to have a decent reputation, though I'm less than excited about the amenities after being all psyched for the Quantum. But it will be fun no matter what, I'm sure. I'm mainly grateful that we're using a line that's not sailing from FL. We really can't afford to add airfare to this whole thing! No problem. How old are your kids? On my recent trip to Europe, we stayed in many small hotel rooms with 4 single beds (or a queen and 2 singles) for 5 people. I had one of my kids sleep with her head at the foot of the bed and it was comfy enough. They're 12 and 9. I mean, we've slept in tight spaces before, really--just not quite this tight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 They're 12 and 9. I mean, we've slept in tight spaces before, really--just not quite this tight! I take it you haven't camped much? I think you'll be fine. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Oh, this is good info that I did not have! There's a room steward to help with moving all the furniture around every day etc? And that's very good to know about the potential changes in course. :lol: Nothing fancy unfortunately. At first we thought we'd be on the Quantum of the Seas, but it turns out the organizers had the schedule wrong and the Quantum isn't available then. Now we'll be on the Norwegian Gem for 7 days. It seems to have a decent reputation, though I'm less than excited about the amenities after being all psyched for the Quantum. But it will be fun no matter what, I'm sure. I'm mainly grateful that we're using a line that's not sailing from FL. We really can't afford to add airfare to this whole thing! They're 12 and 9. I mean, we've slept in tight spaces before, really--just not quite this tight! Oh man. that Quantum of the Seas looks incredible!!!! We hope to do that in a couple years when the prices come down a bit. You'll have to post how you like Norwegian. We are sailing them (the Getaway) next year. I'm overwhelmed by the new ship. We usually sail Disney or Royal Caribbean, but we couldn't pass up the amazing deal on the Getaway! You'll have a great time. Norwegian has a great reputation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmtzc2009 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I think a lot depends on your family. I didn't see ages of your kids in your sig. We cruised with 5 (1 was an infant) in a regular stateroom and we'd never do it again! DH and I are both introverts and need to come back to the room sometimes for downtime yet the room was so cramped that we were constantly stressed with no place to recharge. If you know you don't need to use your room except for sleep and you don't mind tight spaces with no privacy, you should manage just fine. If we ever do it again we'd have to be able to afford two rooms or we wouldn't even consider it. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 You will be fine! 205 is a lot of space and can house a family long term even. You will only be sleeping there, not living there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 I take it you haven't camped much? I think you'll be fine. Have fun! :lol: Once. And once was enough! The space was less of an issue than the giant spiders, the heat, and the reports of late-night bear sightings, though. I'm assuming the cruise won't offer those particular perks?! Oh man. that Quantum of the Seas looks incredible!!!! We hope to do that in a couple years when the prices come down a bit. You'll have to post how you like Norwegian. I'll be sure to report back in :D I alternate between feeling excited and feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing. Maybe I should make DH take over the planning? DH and I are both introverts and need to come back to the room sometimes for downtime yet the room was so cramped that we were constantly stressed with no place to recharge. Errr, well, you just described both DD12 and me, so... Maybe I'll rerun the price for two staterooms! You will be fine! 205 is a lot of space and can house a family long term even. You will only be sleeping there, not living there. This is what I keep telling myself :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 It sounds like you are sailing with an organization/group, correct? Are these people friends with kids that are your kids' ages? If so, you will be lucky to even see the 12 yo during the cruise. Even if you do both end up for a decompression hour during the day, one gets to chill on the bed, the other on the balcony. Just remember there are other places to hang out on the ship that are quiet places. I don't know if the Gem has a library, but if so, that's a quiet place. There is also a quieter adults only area on every ship or any number of areas you can hide. If you just avoid the bars/casino/pools, you can find quiet spaces. Norwegian takes norovirus serious. You can't get into any eatery without being bombarded with the "happy, happy, washy, washy" guys/gals standing there with their heavy duty germ-x (not all versions will kill noro). One thing I did not like about Norwegian that I thought I would love was the anytime dining. At first it sounds good, but in reality if you weren't at the dining room within the first 30 or so minutes of dinner times, you had to wait to be seated just like at a restaurant. Depending on the crowd, the wait could be 30-45 minutes. We just always ate early and snacked later at the buffet if we were still hungry. We are cruising Carnival next time and I am happy to have assigned dining times again. BTW, this wouldn't stop me from cruising Norwegian again, as it was just a small annoyance for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 We would not hesitate to have four people sharing one cabin if two of them were children. I would much rather pay the smaller price for my accommodations and be able to afford to go on vacation more often, but some people think differently. They would rather spring for a larger room with a balcony and hang out in their room. We'd rather spend our time out and about on the ship and do not hang out in the room. For a first cruise, I'd say to just get the one cabin. Why pay more than necessary? Save the extra money for your next cruise! And then you will know next time whether it is worth it to you to pay more to get an additional room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I'm looking at the floor plans of these tiny balcony rooms (not even the smallest stateroom available) and I'm getting claustrophobic just thinking about it. The ones we're considering are 205 square feet. That means DH and I are in the queen bed, one child is on the sofa bed, and one is sleeping in a pullman bed, which I guess drops down out of the ceiling? How do we even walk around in a room that packed? This will be our first cruise, and while we're excited to be going, we're in a situation where the timing is hard financially, but we have no choice. I'd really rather not pay for two staterooms, but I'm skeptical of whether or not we can make this work without killing each other :huh: Is this what most people do? What is the difference between a balcony room and a "suite," which basically looks like the exact same room, except that there's one extra chair, which they seem to be calling a "seating area"? I'm so confused over this whole thing! Also what do cruise ships do if a big storm hits? We'll be heading from the East Coast to Florida and the Bahamas in mid-July, and hurricanes are not unheard of at that point. I'll be honest and say I'm having some anxiety about the idea of being trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean, irrational though it is! (This smiley seems appropriate here :nopity: ) Any help anyone can offer would be very welcome. It is feasible. Not awesome, but feasible. You will, out of necessity, not hang about in your room. You will use the ship for "living space." Heed this warning: pack light. Bring not one thing that you will not use over and over. There won't be space for much luggage and you will fiercely detest a large suitcase. You will want to fold up the wall bunkie when your child is not sleeping in it. I have never stayed in a suite, so can't speak to that. You can get trip insurance against having to cancel for a hurricane. Which line are you on? ETA: i see, norwegian. I love that cruiseline! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 This is a year away! The room isn't the problem. 200 sq feet is an entire apartment at Ikea! I'm looking around my bedroom. It's smaller than 200 sq feet and I could make that set-up work with a cot and a full-sized Murphy bed. A BIG camper has less floor space! You may need to take your TeA in the bathroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 This is a year away! The room isn't the problem. 200 sq feet is an entire apartment at Ikea! I'm looking around my bedroom. It's smaller than 200 sq feet and I could make that set-up work with a cot and a full-sized Murphy bed. A BIG camper has less floor space! You may need to take your TeA in the bathroom. Or the balcony. Heehee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lea1 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 We went on a Carnival cruise a couple of years ago and, like you, I was kind of dreading it. Dh plans our vacations and is usually pretty frugal and he picked an interior room, so no windows!, and it was the smallest they had I think. It had a king size bed (two twins put together but it was comfortable), each had room for a small nightstand on the side. It had two of the twins that pull down from the ceiling for our sons who were 6 or just turned 7 at the time I think. I was really dreading it, and thinking I would really hate this vacation. Maybe it was because my expectations were so low (LOL) but I was very impressed with how efficient and easy the room was for us to be in. The ceiling beds were ready every evening when we returned from dinner and were put away every morning while we were at breakfast. There was plenty of room under the king bed for our suitcases and there was plenty of room in the closets and drawers for our clothes. Dh and I are both introverts and need downtime also but we never had a problem. There were plenty of quiet places on the ship to hang out with a good book, the boys loved going to the kids area to play, which gave dh and I both a break and we would sometimes take turns taking the boys out somewhere and giving the other a break. Overall, we all ended up having a fantastic time and still talk about it. We would love to go again but have had other vacations we needed to take first. It is definitely on the list to do again and I would not hesitate to get that kind of room again. And that is saying a lot from me. I used to travel a lot before dh and I got married and I traveled so often that I pretty much got to go first class everywhere and stay first class everywhere. So I was very spoiled. So, this ringing endorsement from me is really saying a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Yes, you may be able to stow your suitcases underneath the bed. Even if it looks like a solid platform, lift up a corner of the bedframe and see if it has a space underneath to stash things. I wouldn't have guessed that there was room under there, but there was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Bring not one thing that you will not use over and over. Can we do laundry on the ship?! I was so worried about packing. I have a little obsession with washing clothes on vacation. Whenever possible I come home with all laundry already washed so I just have to put it away :blushing: You may need to take your TeA in the bathroom. :lol: :lol: :lol: We are indeed going with a group--possible the most outgoing and social group of people I've ever met. If I have five minutes of downtime, this introvert is SO not wasting it on teA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Oh man. that Quantum of the Seas looks incredible!!!! We hope to do that in a couple years when the prices come down a bit. You'll have to post how you like Norwegian. We are sailing them (the Getaway) next year. I'm overwhelmed by the new ship. We usually sail Disney or Royal Caribbean, but we couldn't pass up the amazing deal on the Getaway! You'll have a great time. Norwegian has a great reputation. The Getaway is my next cruise! 43 days and counting. Tick-tock. To the OP, I have not sailed the Gem, but I've sailed the Pearl and the Jewel, both sister ships. I really like them both, and so do my kids. We've had 4 in a room many times, and will again next month. It's tight. Cruise ship staterooms are all tight, unless you're in an actual suite. You'll be fine. And I hope you love the cruise! The only exception to the space issue was the one time I got a great upsell deal to a suite. NOT a mini-suite. Do not be fooled. Norwegian really should call those rooms "Deluxe Balconies", because they just have a bit of extra interior space. The suites, on the other hand, or Ah.Maz.Ing. Seriously incredible. I was fortunate to get the price I did the one time, and will likely never be able to do it again, but wow.....unreal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 It is feasible. Not awesome, but feasible. You will, out of necessity, not hang about in your room. You will use the ship for "living space." Heed this warning: pack light. Bring not one thing that you will not use over and over. There won't be space for much luggage and you will fiercely detest a large suitcase. You will want to fold up the wall bunkie when your child is not sleeping in it. I have never stayed in a suite, so can't speak to that. You can get trip insurance against having to cancel for a hurricane. Which line are you on? ETA: i see, norwegian. I love that cruiseline! Me, too! My favorite. One thing about storage.....the suitcases fit nicely under the bed which you probably know. Not sure if the OP knows, though, so I thought I'd point it out. But yeah, I second your recommendation to pack light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 We are a family of four and have done three cruises in the smallest inside room of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class ships. We started when the kids were 10 and 12. They are now 16 and 13 and we are heading out in a couple of months for a Mediterranean cruise in, yes, an inside room. It has worked out just fine for us. They have all been very quiet rooms. We choose the ones that have two Pullmans in the ceiling right over our bed. A sofa and a Pullman will be fine for you. I've read to avoid two in the sofa bed unless they are little ones, even though they sometimes advertise them as sleeping two. One tiny bathroom was no problem for us. None of us are primpers and getting ready for dinner just took a little maneuvering! The cabbie stewards have all been really good about putting the beds away during the day and getting them ready at night. We don't spend much time in the room, so getting the cheapest one lets us cruise even more. More than worth it in our book! We are pretty introverted, but there are so many nooks and crannies on the ships to find a quiet comfortable spot that we never felt stressed. The kids always made friends and disappeared every day anyway, so it was fine. We have never gotten Noro, but I live in fear of all of us getting it with one tiny toilet in one tiny room! Actually I refuse to think about it. I wash hands like a champ and I squirt everyone with hand sanitizer after they touch any serving utensils in the buffet line. So far, so good. Have a great cruise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 It would be too tight for us, but if it was the only option, we would find a way to make it work. If money is tight, I would vote for making the best of it, unless your kids don't get along very well. In that case, four people in a small room could make for a miserable vacation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Can we do laundry on the ship?! I was so worried about packing. I have a little obsession with washing clothes on vacation. Whenever possible I come home with all laundry already washed so I just have to put it away :blushing: :lol: :lol: :lol: We are indeed going with a group--possible the most outgoing and social group of people I've ever met. If I have five minutes of downtime, this introvert is SO not wasting it on teA! I don't think there is DIY laundry, but I know you can order cleaning for a small charge. I brought enough socks and undergarments to wear a new one each day (not really interested in sending my drawers out for washing), but relied on layering and subtracting to wear some clothes repeatedly. This is a strange-but-true reason I like NCL: no formal night. I do not want to pack a separate dress and dress shoes to wear for a few hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Cruises are a BLAST!! One tip: if the room size concerns you, it's not a bad idea to make sure you have a balcony. That extra bit of room makes me less claustraphobic. Second tip: go to your dr. now and let him/her know your claustrophobia concerns. I did and my dr. gave me some Valium. I'll only take it if I have serious anxiety or a panic attack. (I've only had one in my life but I don't want situational anxiety to ruin our cruise in August.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2samlibby Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Norweigen Cruise line is great! You'll have a wonderful time!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Can we do laundry on the ship?! I was so worried about packing. I have a little obsession with washing clothes on vacation. Whenever possible I come home with all laundry already washed so I just have to put it away :blushing: :lol: :lol: :lol: We are indeed going with a group--possible the most outgoing and social group of people I've ever met. If I have five minutes of downtime, this introvert is SO not wasting it on teA! I am reading the Norwegian does not have self service laundry area. You could pay them an arm and a leg to do it for you though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 We were in an interior room a few weeks this summer. 17ds and 5 yo dd were in our room (the other girls were in other rooms with cousins). The first morning I was awoken by a noise that sounded a phone ringing in another room at 6:45 in the morning. Then I realized that it was in our room, so I got up searching for the noise. It was from ds's phone. He didn't want to waste time sleeping in. The boat was rocking like crazy from Arthur (moving away, not going through). I felt very claustrophic at that time and felt like I needed to go get fresh air right away. Dh got up and was getting ready and I was able to calm down enough that I fell back asleep. That was the only time I felt like that during the trip. I wore a patch to prevent sea sickness. It worked very well. The only thing I would do differently is to wear a patch off the boat for a couple of days. I was seasick for a couple of weeks afterwards, some days so bad that I couldn't do much. I ended up wearing a patch for 3 days. Today, I still feel a bit seasick. Apparently, it is not that uncommon, but I was not expecting this. My dr had never heard of this before, but I was her second patient this month feeling this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 We've never used the patch for seasickness. I've read that it has some side effects. I've actually never taken anything for seasickness myself, but when we took our children on a cruise a few years ago, I was worried about DD12, who sometimes feels sick in the car. We took Bonine (over the counter) and gave each of the children half a pill on the first few days, when the ship was rocking more, then stopped. We also had SeaBands (terrycloth bracelets that push on a pressure point in the wrist -- can also be bought over the counter). We had no problems. We followed a suggestion to start taking the seasickness meds before starting the cruise, because if you wait until symptoms begin, it can take some time for the meds to catch up and help you feel better. It's too bad that you are feeling sick now that you are solid ground, Carolyn. I know sometimes physical therapy can help with vertigo, because there are exercises to help with adjusting the vestibular system. My sister actually found a few online and tried them on her own and said they helped her a bit. If you don't find relief soon, maybe you could ask your doctor for a referral to a PT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 We've never used the patch for seasickness. I've read that it has some side effects. I've actually never taken anything for seasickness myself, but when we took our children on a cruise a few years ago, I was worried about DD12, who sometimes feels sick in the car. We took Bonine (over the counter) and gave each of the children half a pill on the first few days, when the ship was rocking more, then stopped. We also had SeaBands (terrycloth bracelets that push on a pressure point in the wrist -- can also be bought over the counter). We had no problems. We followed a suggestion to start taking the seasickness meds before starting the cruise, because if you wait until symptoms begin, it can take some time for the meds to catch up and help you feel better. It's too bad that you are feeling sick now that you are solid ground, Carolyn. I know sometimes physical therapy can help with vertigo, because there are exercises to help with adjusting the vestibular system. My sister actually found a few online and tried them on her own and said they helped her a bit. If you don't find relief soon, maybe you could ask your doctor for a referral to a PT. Thanks for the suggestion. I may ask one of my frind's who is a pt about this. I have been feeling crummy all day today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.