What's better for a family - two connecting cabins or spacious ocean view room?

[Ninja Love]

Hi All

 

We're sailing in October on Rhapsody OTS. We are 2 adults and 2 teenagers, and I'm conflicted between getting two adjoining cabins, or the large spacious ocean view room.

The one room is larger of course, but the total sq ft of the adjoining rooms is more space. And two adjoining rooms means two bathrooms, which is good. 

Anyone have thoughts on this?

[KristiZ]

Welcome to the boards!

Two cabins, 100%. Especially with teens. 2 bathrooms trumps everything!

[RogerC1]

I'd have to go with two rooms. Like you said, two bathrooms is a must! And a little separation isn't bad. It might keep your sanity in tact a little longer .

[FionaMG]

Absolutely agree with @KristiZ. As well as the second bathroom, there's also the added privacy for when you want some adult time.

[EmersonNZ]

Another vote for 2 cabins. It gives a space for someone to have some quiet time if they need it. If you have people going to bed or waking at different times it'll be easier and of course 2 bathrooms

[Pooch]

We had what they called a spacious balcony cabin for me hubby & 10 year old grandson.  Believe me when I say it was anything but!  Could you cram 4 people in? Yes.  Would it be any fun? No!

[Bowen]

We've done it both ways, and I agree with the two cabins. The rare exception being if you can find one of those unicorn rooms Matt has talked about, the ones that have the separate rooms for bunk beds. Even then, having two bathrooms is really nice.

[CruisingNewb]

June was our first sailing with 2 kids.  One is a teen and the other 9.  For us, we didn't feel too cramped at all in a balcony room.  The cost of adjoining cabins was about $1,200 extra and we spent that money towards the UDP and the DBP.  We are contemplating 2 cabins for our next cruise, but do not feel it necessary for us to enjoy our cruise. 

[Pooch]

And that has always been my feeling.  We never got two hotel rooms on vacation.  Getting more claustrophobic as I age though.  I need room!  We took our 2 adult offspring on Harmony in one cabin in March.  But it was an Owners Suite!!

[CruisingNewb]

The thing is, it really depends upon your own family dynamic and ages of your kids.  

For us, we have raised our kids to earn and enjoy their own freedom and at the same time love spending time together.  So, if it is a family cruise, why not make it a FAMILY cruise? We enjoyed spending time together in small quarters playing card games and eating room service.  We enjoyed talking as a family for 30 minutes before lights out and recollecting highlights of the day.  For us, that is a family cruise.

[KJRanch]

We decided to book two interior connecting rooms on our up coming oasis of the seas cruises.  This will be the first time taking our two kids (8,5).  We originally had one central park balcony booked but when checking prices found out that the two connecting rooms on deck 9 with central park window was actually about the same price, so we decided to change.  Having two bathrooms, three beds, two couches should give everyone enough room.  

[Atlantix2000]

Rhapsody's deck plans show:

• Ocean View: 126 sqft, max 4, 2 twins (convert to king) and 2 pullman beds
• Spacious Ocean View: 193 sqft, max 4, 2 twins (convert to king) and 1 double sofa bed
• Ultra Spacious Ocean View: 246 sqft, max 6, 3 twins, 1 double sofa bed, 1 pullman bed

Assuming you're looking at the first 2 options, getting 2 ocean view rooms is 63 sqft per person.  The spacious is 48 sqft per person and those numbers include the bathroom, furniture, and closets.  My personal opinion is a spacious would feel cramped with 4 people (counting the teenagers as adult-sized).  The extra bathroom would also be a huge factor.  Of course, budget can't be ignored.  I wouldn't do two rooms if it cost twice as much.

[WesKinetic]

Two bathrooms is a gamechanger. 

[steverk]

Another option is the ocean view suite (no balcony). I'm in that room with my mother in law and wife on the 19th. I'll let you know what think.

It has two bedrooms,  a sitting area and 2 bathrooms 

[Pooch]

1 hour ago, KJRanch said:

 

[Pooch]

1 hour ago, CruisingNewb said:

The thing is, it really depends upon your own family dynamic and ages of your kids.  

For us, we have raised our kids to earn and enjoy their own freedom and at the same time love spending time together.  So, if it is a family cruise, why not make it a FAMILY cruise? We enjoyed spending time together in small quarters playing card games and eating room service.  We enjoyed talking as a family for 30 minutes before lights out and recollecting highlights of the day.  For us, that is a family cruise.

Gnite John Boy!

[ultimate_ed]

We also do two cabins - but, usually a balcony for us and a interior across the hall, or nearby down the hall.  It's generally ended up only being slightly more than putting all four of us together in a balcony and gets all the bonuses of a second room - more space, extra bathroom.

We get extra key cards so we effectively have one large room that everyone in the family can access.

[Ryan79]

2 cabins = 2 bathrooms = ALWAYS better!!!

[letscruise]

We booked two connecting balcony rooms for a cruise we took in July and it is definitely the way to go for our family of 4 (kids 15 and 12).  It really seemed to go well with them in their own space--own bathroom, own beds (king was converted to two twins), own TV, own keys, own closet, own everything.  We crammed into a balcony room 3 years ago on Symphony and between stepping over their beds (barely!) getting back and forth to the balcony plus their different sleep schedule, it was not the best situation.  So, highly recommend opting for the connecting rooms--the breathing room is welcome.  We booked the same setup for our cruise next year.  

[wstephensi]

With two teenage girls two rooms is the way to go.

[HeWhoWaits]

Agree with all the "two rooms is the right answer" folks.

If you decided to go with a single stateroom, the minimum size is a Junior Suite and even that doesn't give you the second bathroom (although on newer ships it does give you an extra 1/2 bath).

[nferr]

Cruised many times with my wife and daughters. ALWAYS got two rooms. Daughters in one and us in the other. So much better. Usually we took a balcony and put them in an inside somewhere fairly close, never had a problem.