Help with room categories

[slackerlida]

Could you please help me with room categories on HAL? I'm trying to help my parents book a cruise on either the Westerdam or the Zuiderdam. I've only cruised Princess, so I'm getting a little confused:confused: . Only letters! No names!

I'd like them to have a Verandah room.

Which locations are the most desirable? Is there a deck or location that is better or more popular than others? I am also concerned with ship's movement, since this is my mom's first cruise and she is nervous about being seasick. So if there are some decks where you feel the ship's movement more, please let me know.

I understand that a lot of this is based on personal preference, but any comments or hints you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[jhannah]

As a general rule, the lower you are on the ship and the more midship you are, the less motion you will feel. However, being at sea there is going to be motion felt even in these locations if the seas are above moderate. Midship is a good location, too, for ease of access to the midship elevators/stairs. A category BA on the veranda deck would probably be a good choice.

[slackerlida]

Thanks for the reply. As a general rule, do the categories A-N or NN or whatever, go best to worst? Is a category A Outside better than a BC or how exactly does the lettering system work?

[jhannah]

From premium downward, it's suites PS, S, SS (although the SS isn't a true suite); outside verandas A, AA, B, BA, BB, BC; outside C, D, DD, E, F, G, H; inside I, J, K, L, M, MM, N, and NN. Within each category it's basically a distinction in real estate ... location, location, location.

[slackerlida]

Thank you very much. Don't know why it was so hard for me to get my head around this concept. Maybe because when I was checking on prices, some insides were more expensive than outsides. Guess that's just determined by availability.

[jhannah]

Pricing is very mysterious! We booked an SS for our Prinsendam cruise next August for slightly less than the rate at the time for a regular veranda cabin. Go figure!

[Renorita]

From premium downward, it's suites PS, S, SS (although the SS isn't a true suite); outside verandas A, AA, B, BA, BB, BC; outside C, D, DD, E, F, G, H; inside I, J, K, L, M, MM, N, and NN. Within each category it's basically a distinction in real estate ... location, location, location.
Oops, SS isn't a true suite? So what is it? We are booked in one so would like to know what the heck we are going to be in.:p It does have a balcony right?

[jhannah]

Yes, it has a veranda. It's a very spacious cabin ... well laid out. But a suite by most definitions is made up of multiple rooms. The S category has a separate bedroom, for instance. The SS is all one big room. You'll enjoy it.

[scluvsrain]

Since when does an S suite on HAL have a separate bedroom? I thought it was only the Penthouse that had the separate bedroom.

[jhannah]

I was speaking from my knowledge of the Prinsendam. Its S suites have a bedroom that is separated by curtains from the sitting area and entry area. On some other ships, the S suite has a separate dressing room.

[lipoppop]

On HAL vessels except for the Princendam these are the relative room sizes:

All A and below ouside rooms "x" square feet"
SS is 1.5 "x" square feet, S is 2 "x" square feet, PH is 4 "x" square feet.

Slight difference on some cabins on the Vista ships where the A is smaller than on the S class vessels.

Verandas have almost the same ratio except the PH is the same as the S. . A veranda S is slightly deeper than on an A but the same width.

Check out the cabin sizes on the HAL web site. Pick the vessel you want under fleet, then cabins. Hope this helps. Aren't you glad you paid attention to your algebra teacher!!!

[kruzkeen]

You may want to go to http://www.hollandamerica.com/fleet/fleetHome.do?ship=we and click on View Staterooms.

Only Vista class ships and the Prinsendam have cat SS "suites". It is a bit of a misnomer as they are in effect large balcony staterooms. They do not have any of the perks that go with cat PS or S.

[Bucky3]

Sailing on Oosterdam - First time on HA - will we like Cabin #5152 near aft elevators port side on Verandah Deck? Are the balconies on Upper Promenade Deck any larger than those on Verandah Deck. Thank you for any information you can give.