If you’ve ever researched a Disney Cruise, you’ve probably noticed stateroom categories such as “11A” or “4B” attached to your selections. But what do those categories mean? How do you know you’re picking the right category for your family? Do you choose the cheapest option or one of the upgraded rooms?
Here’s your (somewhat) quick guide to understanding stateroom categories on Disney Cruise Line!
Main Stateroom Categories
There are four main categories of staterooms you will find on board the ship.
Inside Staterooms
These rooms are located on the interior of the ship and have no exterior views. They sleep 3-4 people and have 169-204 sq ft of space. If you’re cruising on the Disney Dream or the Disney Fantasy, these rooms have “Magical Portholes” with real-time views and virtual effects.
- Categories: 10 and 11
Oceanview Staterooms
These rooms have either one large or two smaller portholes with beautiful exterior views. They sleep 3-5 people and have 204-241 sq ft of space.
- Categories: 8 and 9
Verandah Staterooms
These rooms have private balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows offering wide views of the ocean. They sleep 3-5 people and have 246-299 sq ft of space.
- Categories: 4, 5, 6, and 7
Concierge Staterooms
These suites offer large balconies, separate living and bedroom areas, and Disney’s exclusive concierge services. They sleep 5-7 people and have 306-1,781 sq ft of space.
- Categories: V, T, S, and R
Stateroom Types
These are the five types of room layouts you can choose from. The size of your family and the amount of space you’d prefer will help you determine which stateroom is best for you.
Standard
These include only the Standard Inside Staterooms, which have the same high-end amenities as other staterooms with a smaller amount of space. They also have a traditional bathroom layout (instead of a split bath).
- Inside Stateroom Category: 11
Deluxe
These include Deluxe Inside Staterooms, Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms, and Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandahs. They have a larger amount of space and offer split bathroom layouts (one half with a sink/toilet and the other with a sink and shower/tub).
- Inside Stateroom Category: 10
- Oceanview Stateroom Category: 9
- Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah Categories: 5, 6, and 7
Deluxe Family
These include Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms, Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandahs, and Concierge Level Staterooms. They have an even larger amount of space and often feature two portholes. They sleep up to 5 people and offer split bathroom layouts.
- Oceanview Stateroom Category: 8
- Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah Category: 4
- Concierge Stateroom Category: V
1- or 2-Bedroom Suites
These suites are offered at the Concierge Level and feature separate, spacious bedrooms with living and dining areas. The balconies are very large and the rooms accommodate 5-7 people.
- Concierge Stateroom Categories: S and T
Royal Suite
Each ship has two Royal Suites that offer unparalleled luxury. These rooms have a separate bedroom, 2 bathrooms, living and dining rooms, a wet bar, a walk-in closet, and a large balcony with a private whirlpool tub.
- Concierge Stateroom Category: R
Specific Stateroom Categories
A few of the stateroom categories have distinct features, such as the following. Many of these are offered at a discounted price compared to their counterparts.
Obstructed or Limited Ocean Views
These rooms have portholes with partial views of the exterior. As such, they are cheaper than staterooms with unobstructed views.
- Oceanview Stateroom Categories: 9C and 9D (Disney Dream/Fantasy)
Oversized Private Verandah
These rooms have extra balcony space, great if you’re looking to spend more time outside enjoying your private verandah.
- Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah Categories: 4E and 5E (Disney Dream/Fantasy)
Navigator’s Verandah
These rooms offer enclosed verandahs with large open-air portholes.
- Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah Category: 7A
Whitewall Verandah
These rooms have balconies with solid walls from the deck to the railing instead of clear, acrylic ones.
- Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah Categories: 5E, 6A, and 6B
Stateroom Location
The final determination for the stateroom category comes from where it is located on the ship. Categories correspond to different decks and areas, such as forward, midship, or aft.
This guide will help you determine which stateroom categories are located on each deck!
Disney Magic & Disney Wonder
- Decks 9-11: Pools, Recreation, Lounges, and Restaurants
- Deck 8:
- Category R: Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
- Category S: Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
- Category T: Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
- Category 4A/4B/4E: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Deck 7:
- Category 5A/5B: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 9A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11A: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 6:
- Category 5B/5C: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 9A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 11A/11B: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 5: Oceaneer’s Club/Lab, Theaters
- Category 5C: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 9A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11B: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 4: Restaurants, Lounges, Theater
- Deck 3: Restaurants, Lounges
- Deck 2:
- Category 9B/9C: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10B/10C: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11C: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 1: Tender Lobby
- Category 9D: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10C: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy
- Decks 13-14: Recreation, Lounges
- Deck 12: Recreation, Restaurants
- Category R: Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
- Category T: Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
- Category V: Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Deck 11: Pools, Recreation, Restaurants
- Category T: Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
- Category V: Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Deck 10:
- Category 4A: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 5A/5E: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 11A: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 9:
- Category 4A: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 5A/5E: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 8B: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11A: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 8:
- Category 4B: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 5B/5E: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 8C: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 9A/9C/9D: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11A: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 7:
- Category 4C: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 5C/5E: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6B: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 8C: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 9A/9C/9D: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11B: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 6:
- Category 4D: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 5D/5E: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6B: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 8A/8D: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 9A/9D: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11B: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 5: Oceaneer’s Club/Lab, Lounges
- Category 4E: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 6B: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
- Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah
- Category 8A/8D: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 9A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
- Category 10A: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
- Category 11B: Standard Inside Stateroom
- Deck 4: Restaurants, Theaters, Lounges
- Deck 3: Restaurants, Theaters, Lounges
- Deck 2: Restaurants
- Category 9B: Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms
- Category 11C: Standard Inside Staterooms
- Deck 1: Tender Lobby
Choosing Your Stateroom Category
So now that you know the difference between the rooms, how do you choose one? Here’s what you need to consider:
- How many people are in your party? (This will help determine which staterooms you will fit in)
- Do you want a view of the ocean or a private balcony?
- Would you like concierge level service on your cruise?
- Which deck would you prefer to be on?
- Do you prefer to be aft, midship, or forward? Do you prefer to be on the port or starboard side of the ship?
- Are you interested in any special room features, such as a Navigator’s Verandah or an oversized verandah?
- Are you willing to book a room with a partial view or a whitewall verandah?
- Do you prefer to be near the elevators/stairs or further away from them?
These questions will help you narrow down your search. Of course, the easiest way to find the perfect stateroom category for your family is to discuss your desires with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner such as Ears of Experience. We can help you navigate your options and find the staterooms that will best fit your plans and budget.
As I’ve mentioned before, our services are 100% free for clients booking a Disney Cruise and we provide concierge planning services throughout the entire process. What a great way to start feeling relaxed before your trip even begins, right?
Ready to book your cruise? Fill out my quote form and I’ll be in touch to discuss your plans for your dream Disney vacation!
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I hope this has cleared up some of the confusion about Disney Cruise Line stateroom categories. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email at jtullino@themouseexperts.com or leave them in the comments below.
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