Alaska 9/11 - Penthouse - Zuiderdam or Rotterdam????

[mrspeck]

Booked on Zuiderdam, but considering changing after looking at flights and other pros/cons. We were on the Eurodam last year and loved the newness of the ship. Just got off the Westerdam and felt as though it needed some work...a little worried that the Zuiderdam will be in worse shape. On either it would be a Penthouse for four. Which would you choose?

Zuiderdam - Pros/Cons
+Glacier Bay
+More scenic cruising days
+Private hot tub on veranda
+familiar ship design (have been on Westerdam and Eurdodam)
-aging interior
-leave from Vancouver - more expensive/or more hassle in getting there

Rotterdam - Pros/Cons
+Hubbard Glacier
+Newly refurbished interior
+leave from Seattle - easy fly in/fly out
+different ship design (only been on vista and signature)
-less scenic cruising days
-no private hot tub on veranda

Anyone have an opinion?
Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?
R/S class penthouse vs Vista/Signature penthouse? What is your favorite? One more conducive to four persons?

Thanks!

[Sage]

I have been in Noordam PS as well as the Rotterdam PS, and if you have four people, than my choice would be the Zuiderdam Penthouse. The Zuiderdam has doors that close to the bedroom instead of a drapery, and the pull down bed is facing the living area instead of directly across from the bedroom which gives the people on the pull down more of a sense of privacy. There are also doors that can be closed to the entry way affording extra privacy as well. And of course the balcony is certainly much larger on the Zuiderdam than on the Rotterdam, perfect for viewing. Any more questions, please ask.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is tough!!

We have stayed in the Penthouse on both the Rotterdam and Zuiderdam.

Don't worry about the hot tub on the verandah -- you are in Alaska and won't be using it.

We really love the Penthouses on the Vista Class ships -- they are so much larger than the S and R class ships.

Since you say there will be 4 of you -- the Zuiderdam has more space and more privacy -- the sofa that comes out of the TV/Cabinet unit faces towards the sofa and the dining room actually separates you all.

On the Rotterdam the "other" bed is right outside the curtains that separates the bedroom from the living room where that pull out bed is.

Also the extra bathroom on the Vista class ships is larger than the S and R class ones.

Another thing we like about the Vista class Penthouse Suites -- we can pull the recliner out in the living room and stack our luggage behind it. Not much space in the R and S class ships -- we were able to get 2 suitcases into a closet -- but the other 2 we had to stand beside the dining room wall.

[mrspeck]

This is tough!!

We have stayed in the Penthouse on both the Rotterdam and Zuiderdam.



How long has it been since you were on the Zuiderdam? What condition was the PH in??

[PathfinderEss]

My choice would be the Zuiderdam! The Zuiderdam has a bigger Penthouse then the Rotterdam. You didn't say where the Rotterdam is sailing out of, would it be Seattle? I prefer going out of Vancouver. The Zuiderdam is a newer ship then the Rotterdam but the Rotterdam just went through a major retrofit. I still would pick the Zuiderdam even so.

[fann1sh]

With all respect to KK, whether you use the hot tub in Alaska may depend on what weather and temperatures you're used to.

I swam in the uncovered Seaview pool on Ryndam in Alaska this summer.

People from Arizona felt the water and thought I was crazy. :eek:

People from Michigan felt the water and thought they'd join me. :D

[cruisinjudy]

Here is a photo from our Alaska cruise last may with people swimming in the aft pool.


http://gallery.me.com/jcastle1/100153/IMG_0160/web.jpg?ver=12432273540001

[Storylady]

I would cruise out of Vancouver rather than Seattle. We did have a long wait getting back on the Ryndam in Vancouver this spring. But the reason, I like to cruise out of Vancouver is because it sails on the inside of Vancouver Island and the mainland of BC both ways on the cruise.

Whereas the ships sailing out of Seattle (Zuiderdam) sail on the outside of Vancouver Island. Not only could you encounter some rocky sailing, but you are about 12 miles from the shore---not as scenic as cruising totally inside passage. And best yet is to sail from Vancouver on the night of a full moon. It is really cool being out on deck seeing how close you are to the shoreline when you sail north through the Seymour narrows.

Now you could have the best of both worlds on the Amsterdam. I believe they are sailing out of Seattle, north along the Pacific Oceanside of Vancouver Island going north bound. And then going southbound, they sail on the inside of Vancouver Island & BC during the daytime. I also think on the Amsterdam 14 day cruise you can see the Hubbard and Glacier Bay.

[cruisecrasy]

I would cruise out of Vancouver rather than Seattle. We did have a long wait getting back on the Ryndam in Vancouver this spring. But the reason, I like to cruise out of Vancouver is because it sails on the inside of Vancouver Island and the mainland of BC both ways on the cruise.

Whereas the ships sailing out of Seattle (Zuiderdam) sail on the outside of Vancouver Island. Not only could you encounter some rocky sailing, but you are about 12 miles from the shore---not as scenic as cruising totally inside passage. And best yet is to sail from Vancouver on the night of a full moon. It is really cool being out on deck seeing how close you are to the shoreline when you sail north through the Seymour narrows.

Now you could have the best of both worlds on the Amsterdam. I believe they are sailing out of Seattle, north along the Pacific Oceanside of Vancouver Island going north bound. And then going southbound, they sail on the inside of Vancouver Island & BC during the daytime. I also think on the Amsterdam 14 day cruise you can see the Hubbard and Glacier Bay.

The Zuiderdam sails out of Vancouver so wld be perfect for the OP..

I so agree with u regarding sailing the inside passage out of Vancouver..besides the city is spectacular..IMHO, well worth a visit along with the exquisite, quaint, smaller capital of BC - Victoria on Van Island (1 & 1/2 hrs away from Van by ferry)..

As per the question regarding Glacier Bay or Hubbard - both are excellent - My preference for sheer size & WOW factor wld be the singular glacier - Hubbard but that said Glacier Bay is a series of smaller glaciers & worth seeing also.. :)

Believe I saw something regarding Zuiderdam going in for drydock soon? Anyone else know exactly when & for what?

Hope u have a wonderful trip whatever ship/itinerary u choose! :)

[mrspeck]

I did the "click to chat" on HAL's website and visited about the drydock. It is going in for drydock later this spring, but I was informed that there would not be any interior refurbishing going on.

I think that we'll stick with the Zuiderdam out of Vancuver as we currently have a room booked on the port side...this is the best side for glacier bay, correct???

Thanks for the help!

[Sage]

I think that you have made a good choice in choosing the Zuiderdam. Enjoy your cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were in the Zuiderdam PS in 2005 -- on our recent cruises on the Zuiderdam -- Oct/Nov we were not able to get the PS.

But the ship was in excellent condition.

Port side -- that is what we book 99% of the time for Alaska. We have found that the majority of the captains keep the port side facing the glaciers longer than the starboard side.

[mrspeck]

We were in the Zuiderdam PS in 2005 -- on our recent cruises on the Zuiderdam -- Oct/Nov we were not able to get the PS.

But the ship was in excellent condition.

Port side -- that is what we book 99% of the time for Alaska. We have found that the majority of the captains keep the port side facing the glaciers longer than the starboard side.

That is great to hear as I have heard so many complain as to the condition of the ship. Thanks for the comfort. Also, thanks for confirming that the Port side is the way or "side" to go.