Steel instead of Glass verandahs?

[Musigurl]

Apparently the Zuiderdam has some balconies that have steel instead of glass/plexiglass railings.

Should I avoid these for an Alaskan cruise?

Will we have to stand up to see things?

[JPSnipper]

Here is photo of the steel railing. You will need to stand to see towards the water. The scenery in Alaska may allow you to see above the railing but since I've never been there, I cant speak from experience. I really didnt mind the railing and the veranda is a few feet deeper then ones on the decks above.

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[E-500]

Apparently the Zuiderdam has some balconies that have steel instead of glass/plexiglass railings.

Should I avoid these for an Alaskan cruise?

Will we have to stand up to see things?

The steel ones are only on deck 4 VH and VF categories all the way forward, total of aprox. 34 out of about 600 verandas on the ship. Probably best to try to avoid in Alaska if you can. If you book a VH/F GTY you take a chance of actually being asigned one of these forward cabins. Book a specific cabin or a VE GTY or better to insure no steel railing.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I would definitely avoid the cabins with the steel verandah -- there are times when you might like to sit and watch the glaciers or arriving in a port.

[jtl513]

Should I avoid these for an Alaskan cruise?

Will we have to stand up to see things?I would avoid them. When seated you would only see sky and the tops of nearby mountains, missing any wildlife etc below eye level.

[Typhoon1]

Get the glass veranda. You want to enjoy your veranda to the fullest.

[trophy_23]

I didnt really find the steel to be an issue, while it was nice with the glass on the Eurodam we had the steel 2x to Alaska on the Ryndam and it was jusy fine. I enjoyed standing at the rail watching all the scenery.

[jtl513]

I didnt really find the steel to be an issue, while it was nice with the glass on the Eurodam we had the steel 2x to Alaska on the Ryndam and it was jusy fine.
The verandas on the S (and R) class ships are different than the steel-walled ones on the Vista and Sig ships, in that you have a gap that allows you to look under the wooden rail. That makes a big difference in the view when sitting.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=131603&d=1252690685

[Himself]

Based on the last post this is a good reason to choose an "R" Class ship if you are doing the Inside passage. I highly recommend the Volendam. The Amsterdam and the Rotterdam will be going out of Seattle this coming Alaska season. If you want the ride up to Seward, the Statendam and the Ryndam leave on Alternate Sundays out of Vancouver where the Blackhawks will play the Cannucks tonight.

[Vic The Parrot]

The steel bulkhead balconies (or verandas, or whatever you want to call them) are pretty good. And like mentioned, are a few feet bigger.

The only thing I'm not too fond of about those cabins is the noisyness due to them being above the Vista show lounge. If you book one, bring earplugs.