Zaandam questions

[rollie]

We're considering cruising on the Zaandam this comming spring. Looking at this cruise we find that there are no regular balcony cabins available. We are looking at the balcony suite. I was wondering if Suites on HAL have the same perks as the other premium lines? Are there any cat. B cabins that are better than the others. Thanks for any help.

[Arubalisa]

Just returned from the Zaandam where we had 4- Cat. A cabins. These are not suites, just "verandah" cabins. Okay for 2 persons, cramped for 3 persons.

If you can afford it, book the Cat. S. suites, and receive all of the "sweet" amenities.

[jhannah]

On Holland America ships, the PH and S categories are the ones with the suite perks. Passengers have access to the Neptune Lounge (snacks and specialty coffees served) and its concierge, who can handle anything the front desk and shore excursion desk would handle. Also ... priority boarding, tendering, and disembarkation, laundry and pressing services. Those are the primary ones that I can think of.

[rollie]

Thanks for the replies. As I was scouting this cruise I noticed that there were no balcony cabins available, they showed a Cat. B cabin as a suite. I found this on Orbitz and Expieda. Must be a misprint.

Were trying to decide between the Zaandam or the Mariner out of Canaveral. Seems as if Hal's Balconies are cheaper than RCCL's for tha dates we want to cruise.

[arzz]

On the Zaandam the category B cabins are considered "mini-suites" - just under 300 square feet including verandah -- personalized stationery, flowers, mini-bar, fridge but no Neptune lounge or other suite perks -- just returned from Zaandam, category A -- oodles of space for two, could be cramped for three, but would still have plenty of storage space for three -- the balcony is private and, personally, of course I would love a category S but would not spend the money at this time of my life -- but the verandah mini-suite could spoil me for life -- we had breakfast in every morning and found little reason to leave our small kingdom until about 11 am except when we were in port.

[jima53]

Personally when I look at the cost for the extra perks, I would'nt have paid it on the Zaandam considering it still doesn't have the neptune lounge and won't till after this next yard session, early this year. We had a S suite on the oct 22 cruise on the Zaandam and enjoyed the size of the suite and balcony. But is it worth the many hundreds of dollars extra, not really. A few bags of laundry, head of the line for the tender at the private Cay. Invitations to parties that people seem to only talk about the freeze booze, we don't drink. We did get fresh fruit several times in the room, and the evening dinner menu was left for us each morning. We took the suite just to be pampered but next time probably a smaller balcony cabin.

Jim

[Lucyt1207]

We are cruising on Zaandam 2/19/05 and have a category B cabin. Has anyone gotten an upgrade from a category B recently?

[arzz]

Christmas cruise Zaandam -- booked category BB guarantee and cruised in category A.