Aft balcony on Mariner of the Seas?

M

MrsPete

Guest
Hi, folks. I'm planning a first-time cruise (cruised Disney once, loved it) on Royal Carribean, and I could use some help. I've seen some great pictures of those room with a huge balcony on the far aft of RC's ships, and I'm trying to pick out the best one!

Judging from the pictures, I have the impression that the "corner back" area is the best spot. I've jotted down a couple numbers: 1688, 1388, 7688, 7388, 8690, 8390, 9690, 9290. Am I on the right track here? Are any of these rooms better or worse than others? Any opinions are welcome!

I didn't write down the category number for these rooms, but am I correct in assuming they're not that expensive? They're not suites, and they appear to cost the same as the side-of-the-ship balconies. Am I right?

Also, we're planning this cruise for October 2006 -- yes, we are advanced planners! When is RC likely to open the booking for these dates? I'm sure these premo-cabins go fast.

Anything else I ought to know? Again, any advice is welcome. Thanks.
 
H

Hucc

Guest
yep... those rooms you wrote down are not suites

the room sizes are around the same (except for 1388 and 1688, which have "suite" size rooms, without suite amenities, for a balcony cabin price)... Best views from Deck 10; and the balconies are much larger than the same category cabins on the sides

However, 7688 and 7388 have super-large balconies with a big open "window" on the side...

check out <http://community.webshots.com/album/48328219CtbGLi> for some great pictures of these cabins and balconies
 
M

MrsPete

Guest
Thanks, Hucc.

I'd like to tag one more question onto my already lengthy post: Does anyone know whether these rooms all sleep four people? I"d hate to have to leave one of the kids at home!
 
H

Hucc

Guest
not sure... but, if any of the ones mentioned do, it would be 1388 or 1688 --- they have sofabeds in them; whereas all those other cabins only have a "3rd person pullman" available and no sofabed
 
L

Lady Jag

Guest
But beware, those sofa beds may not be your typical sofa bed. If they're like the Radiance's sofa beds, they fold out on the floor (like a footon with a hard board underneath) and they are NOT very wide at all. They're barely wider than a twin. The cabin steward uses twin-sized sheets on them and they don't fit quite right. Depending upon the size of your kids, you may want to reconsider. Our two sons were pretty uncomfortable and they were 11.5 and 8 yrs. old.
 
A

Ali

Guest
8390, 8690, 9390 and 9690 DO NOT have sliding doors to the balcony, they have one single door so if you want that sliding door don't choose those cabins.

Here is a link to a thread that was started about portside/starboard side and the smoking policy. It turned into a post about aft cabins on the Voyager class ships. I have a few posts in there with links to photos and there is also a picture of the back of the Mariner where you can see the different balconies.
<http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/read.php?f=24&i=14759&t=14519>
I did stay in 1688 on the Adventure and the sofa was one of those futon things. We didn't use it, but it was very hard when you did sit on it for a couch.
 
M

MrsPete

Guest
Shoot. I had decided I really wanted 7688 or 7388 for the super-sized balcony. Can anyone verify for certain that they don't have sleeping space for four? I'm disappointed.

But 1688 or 1388 MAY have sleeping space for four, right? I guess that's what I'll go for. Will it be one pull-down above the bed and one on the sleeper sofa? I don't much like that over-the-bed deal. When we were on Disney, the pull-down was over the sofa -- it was like bunk beds.

Thanks for the help, folks. I appreciate it even if I don't get the answers I want to hear.
 
W

wishin

Guest
We have 7388 booked for Oct 16/05. The maximum capacity of this cabin is three. So sorry!
 
H

Hucc

Guest
why not book 7388/7688 for two of you, and then an inside guarantee for the other 2 ?


then, all 4 of you can share the nice balcony :)
 
M

MrsPete

Guest
Booking two cabins is a great idea, Hucc, but my girls really aren't old enough to stay across the hall yet. If they were teens, I'd do exactly what you're suggesting. I appreciate your helpful responses!

After a phone call to RC's customer service, I figured out how to distinguish 4-person rooms from 3-person rooms (a triangle on the website deck plan), so now I know that (without moving into the out-of-my-budget category) there are only six far aft rooms that sleep 4 people: 1688, 1690, 1692, 1392, 1390, and 1388 -- the two corners, of course, are more desirable than the middle rooms. So that brings me to my new question: Obviously, I'm going to have to move fast to grab one of these rooms? WHAT'S THE BEST STRATEGY? My sailing dates aren't open yet, and my morning phone call told me that they'll open sometime between August and November.
 
A

Ali

Guest
Just keep checking Royal Caribbean's website until they open up for that booking. Just go in and try to book for your sailing date and see what happens. If RCI told you starting in August the dates would open, I would start checking for your sometime in July just to make sure you don't miss it.



Post Edited (06-10-04 17:35)
 
D

Deb Mumaw

Guest
We were in 1392, I can't imagine having 4 people in that room, we felt crowded with 2 but if the kids are small I guess it could work.
 
S

synlgar

Guest
Well I am the one who asked about the aft cabins in the first place and I leave next Saturday for my cruise. If you have time to wait.....I will let you know what I really think of the cabin upon my return.

I have heard both good and bad about the cabins, which is the norm.

Enjoy!!!!
 


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