Category E Staterooms

[Stevek7]

My wife and I are considering taking the March 23, 2007 14-day transatlantic cruise from Miami to Marseille. We would appreciate advice as to whether Category E staterooms are too small for such a long trip?

[Bruin Steve]

My wife and I are considering taking the March 23, 2007 14-day transatlantic cruise from Miami to Marseille. We would appreciate advice as to whether Category E staterooms are too small for such a long trip?
Personally, I don't think I'd ever book one of those Category Es...(Except if, maybe I absolutely had to go and they were the only cabins left--or, if I were getting an extremely advantageous rate)...

Here is my thought--I'd rather have the larger inside cabin at the lower cost...You don't have a balcony, so there's no advantage of the extra amenity or extra personal space...The only thing you have that an inside cabin doesn't is a window--but with an obstructed view...So, you have a light source and that's about it...But, most of the daylight hours, you're either in port or out and about around the ship...At night, that small obstructed window may as well be a wall...

But, you also lose a considerable amount of area and you get NO SOFA...

You pay more money for less space and no sofa...just for a small viewless window which will be dark most of the time you're in the cabin anyway...

Go to one extreme or the other...If you're looking to save money, get an inside...If you don't care about the money and want the space, light, view and balcony, get a balcony cabin...

A normal window cabin is never any big deal...but one that shorts you 20 square feet, a sofa and a view is just a bad deal...

Of course, that's just my opinion...

[Petoonya]

Well.......

We had a Cat E stateroom last May Barcelona to Venice for 14 days. While it did not have a sofa I really did not notice a lack of space. It was well laid out and comfortable. We don't use a sofa- if we are in our cabin it's relaxing in bed and reading- otherwise we're out on deck. The "sideways" position was fine and the area is very quiet.

[meow!]

A fourteen day trans-Atlantic cruise, you will have to stay on the ship most of the time. Unless you really like the public areas and want to mingle with other passengers, you will stay in your cabin a good deal of the time. What is the point of going on an ocean crossing if you cannot view the ocean from the comfort and convenience of your own cabin, listen to the waves below and smell and feel the sea breeze. It is the kind of voyage that a balcony is paramount. So my own feeling is either take a balcony, or at least a real window with view. Otherwise wait and save a little bit longer until you can get one of those! Hope this helps.

[Jancruz]

Meow, I agree with you 100%, Cat E is neither fish nor fowl..it is very seldom we sell them..
Jan
*************

[ferret]

if I was traveling with someone, I would defintely get a bigger room, but I think for one person, an inside room can be okay.

I get occasional balconies but hardly ever want to go on them. Basically it's wasted and money could better spent elsewhere for me.

[bbqbears]

Can anyone tell me if the sf for balcony staterooms posted on Oceania's website includes the balcony or is for the stateroom alone?

TIA, Kathy

[shoshona2]

The 219 sq. feet for Balcony staterooms INCLUDES the veranda. The cabin is about 190 sq. feet since it is similar to that which we have booked on RCI and Celebrity.

Sheila

[bbqbears]

That's what I recall. Great! Then we will be fine, as we've always found Oceania's cabins to be quite well..."roomy"! Kathy

[meow!]

The regular balconied cabin has a total area of 214 sq.ft., with 172 sq.ft. inside and 42 sq.ft. of balcony. It is very similar to the categor 2 on the Celebrity Mercury. Hope this helps.

[bbqbears]

Meow-thanks, yes this is very helpful.

Kathy