oosterdam vs. sapphire

[bunnybee]

Any thoughts on the oosterdam vs. sapphire/Mexican Riv. 4/17ish? Suite on both. I value good food, elegance, spa and peace. Thanks. :)

[FireIce0010]

In my book, Oosterdam over Princess any day. Better food, service and suites along with suite amentities.

Princess has fallen out of my book as one of my favorite cruise lines and I'm not tied down to a certain cruise line. HAL is just better in just about every area.

[bunnybee]

Thanks for the report. I have been on HAL in a SA Suite and just thought I might try another cruise line for variety. I also had thoughts about the Solstice, but I would have to fly to FL (I live in LA), so the cost is greater, as well as the travel time.:cool:

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Have been on the Westerdam (which I believe is similar to the Oosterdam) in an SA suite and have been in a suite on Princess (although not on the Sapphire). I don't think any line has anything comparable to the Neptune Lounge for suite guests so if that is what you are looking for, stay with HAL

On the other hand, we have sailed the Sapphire five times and she is a lovely ship - more passengers than the Oosterdam.

[tnkrbell13]

We chose HAL this time for the longer stop in Cabo.
I really liked the food more on HAL.
We were on the Diamond, which I believe is the sister ship to Sapphire.
Don't know a thing about suites! :(

[bunnybee]

Thanks Susan. We got really lucky on our first cruise to be handed the big boy SA. We will see about this time, though still toying with the Solstice for the Carib. Cannot afford a suite there, but the Aqua class looks nice, but no tub, which is a real downer for me.:rolleyes:

[PathfinderEss]

We've been on both and like both ships. Food on Hal is better and service is a tad better. We loved our suite on Princess, better then on Oosterdam but you have no Neptune and that makes a huge difference. As you can see we are cruising on both this year. I'd have to pick the Oosterdam over the Sapphire, but it is a really close decision

[fcorey]

Any thoughts on the oosterdam vs. sapphire/Mexican Riv. 4/17ish? Suite on both. I value good food, elegance, spa and peace. Thanks. :)

Overall I would give Oosterdam the edge...she's the only HAL ship I have been on, and I am comparing her to Crown not Sapphire but I think its close enough.
The HAL SS/SY suites are larger than minisuites on princess, veranda rooms are about same size, HAL bathrooms are larger in general. The service on Princess was good as was the food, especially the deserts, but overall I think that the Indonesian HAL staff and the food make Oosterdam a better choice. The spa was also nicer on Oosterdam, the thermal suite on Crown was nicknamed the dungeon by me as it was inside the spa, then down a stairway into a windowless area which was always crowded. Sapphire also carries at least 800 passengers more than Oosteram, but neither Odam or Crown really felt crowded except in the thermal on crown :) Oosterdam also used to have thalasotherapy pool...not sure if she still does

[Kentskie]

On Princess they promise you a lot of suite perqs but no one seems to be able to figure out how to give them to you. For example invited friends to our suite for lunch. After having to do battle and wait half an hour to get the dining room menu in our suite (mix up with room steward not knowing which menu was which telling us we couldn't order from the menu that was there...then telling us it was the right one) we finally ordered and waited over an hour for our food.
Plus we have become disenchanted with Princess as well. Long lines. Mediocre food in specialty restaurants etc.
HAL is much better to its suite passengers. The Neptune Lounge is great the concierge will do anything to help you. The Pinnacle specialty restaurant is delicious for dinner and lunch and available only to suite passengers for breakfast. The service is wonderful on board.
NCL is excellent to its suite passengers as well. Flawless caring service.
I'd definitely opt for HAL over Princess.

[Bobs cruising]

Easy to anwser have been on both many times and HAL is far superior than Princess in all aspects. Food, service, amenties etc. HAL also has less passengers and the ships are about the same size.

We also live in Ca. and just returned from the Equinox (11 day Carib) sister to the Solstice. It was well worth the flight to Fl. to cruise on this new beautiful ship. The Solstice class is one of the best we have sailed on, first class all the way.

[luvs2travl]

We had the Singapore Suite on the Sapphire Princess and have had a deluxe suite (SA) on the Oosterdam. I loved them both, but would opt for the service and the ambience on the Oosterdam (or any HAL ship). The deluxe suite perks on HAL cannot be beat anywhere by any line. The Neptune Lounge just spoils you forever and their Indonesian/Filipino staff are quite simply the best. We also liked the food much better on HAL, tho' Princess definitely has the best pizza (LOL)!!

The Singapore Suite on the Sapphire is fully aft, and we loved the privacy, the solitude, and the HUGE balcony. There is free laundry & dry cleaning on both lines with a full suite - also complimentary corsages & boutonnieres on the first formal night.

I'm sure you will have a great cruise whichever line you choose. Bon Voyage and Smooth Sailing Always! :D

[c-cruise]

We have had suites on both these ships and found the suite on the Sapphire to be nicer. It had a separate bedroom and a massive wrap around balcony. The suite service was better on HAL though and you can't beat the Neptune as others have mentioned.

Really enjoyed both ships - Sapphire has much more wow factor to it and Oosterdam has a more traditional feel. Sapphire holds more passengers, but it is also a much larger ship. Passenger/space ratio is very similar on both.

Food and Service always seem superior on HAL.

Oosterdam has better port times and leaves out of San Diego which is preferable in my opinion.