Oosterdam SS or S room?

[kentuckycruiser]

We are going on the Oosterdam in April, our fourth cruise. The last was on the Radisson SS Mariner. Should we pay the upgrade for a S category or is the SS fine? Does the ship do tables for two?

[TedC]

The SS cabins are about 392 square feet, including the verandah.

The S cabins are 528 sq ft, including verandah. But the S has some amenities, such as use of the Neptune Lounge, free laundry and dry cleaning, usually a special cocktail party and brunch, as well as priority boarding and tendering.


Both cabins will be comfortable, it all depends if the extra room and amenities are worth the extra money to you.

Have your TA request a table for two; they're available but limited.

We have been on the Oosterdam and liked it very much.

[Bfson]

I asked my TA that exact questions (she's been on the Oosterdam in both S and SS ) and she didin't think it was worth the $1000 it would have cost on the cruise were are on for the S. So we booked an SS. (I love candid, honest TA's)

[peaches from georgia]

Gee, I would never make a decision on what something might be worth to me based on what it is worth to someone else, even a TA. Get the facts of cost and amenities from the TA- yes; but make the decision on what to book based on what a cabin is worth to the TA- never.

I respect my TA very much and he does a great job giving me information, but he would never tell me what an S 'was worth' vs. an SS. Depends what I want in my cruise, not what he wants and for what cost. It has nothing to do with honesty on your TA's part; it's just her opinion of what something is worth to her. Just my opinion. :)

The real difference between the S and SS has little to do with the size of the cabins. The amenities of the S, and lack of them in the SS, are what make it an S an entirely different cruise experience.

[Renorita]

We are going on the Oosterdam in April, our fourth cruise. The last was on the Radisson SS Mariner. Should we pay the upgrade for a S category or is the SS fine? Does the ship do tables for two?

I mentioned this on another post, but we are booked on the "O" for a guaranteed SS, hoping to get a free upgrade. If not we will still have a very nice cabin! :) Are there any really bad SS cabins that we could get stuck with by doing the guaranteed cabin thing? We are not prone to seasickness, so the position on the ship is not that big of a deal. I suppose we could be close to an elevator and have to endure that noise, but do have the veranda to escape to, if necessary. Any comments would be appreciated.

[Randyk47]

We had an SS on the Oosterdam last March. It's a great cabin and I don't really think there is a bad one. There are only a couple of cabins that are really close to elevators but I don't think you'd notice them much even if you were to get one of those. You do lose a bit of privacy on your verandah if you happen to get a cabin near the midships side elevators but I'm not sure that's a huge issue. As for an upgrade....only the upgrade fairy knows....our cruise was totally booked and there were few, if any, upgrades from SS to S.

[Renorita]

Thanks Randy for your reply! :) Glad to know the odds are pretty good for a decent cabin. I am sure we will enjoy it. Where was your cabin located, and did you like the Oostedam? This will be our biggest cabin, and although the extra perks of the S and higher are nice, the difference in price is something we can't afford. But hey, this will be the first time that we are able to take a cruise two years in a row, and we may possible take a second one this year if it works out. A short Cruise 5 0r 6 nights in an outside cabin on the Infinity or Mercury for a pacific coast cruise! Its either that or a 4 day camp in British Columbia, kayaking with Orca's! Probably will do the latter as it would be a once in a lifetime trip.

[Randyk47]

Our cabin was located forward of midships on the port (left) side of the ship. We were about half way done the passageway between elevators so the foot traffic outside the room was actually quite light. At least we thought it was one of the quieter cabins we'd ever had. As for the ship....the Oosterdam is beautiful and was in great condition since she was only a few months old at our sailing. This was our first time on a Vista class ship and we actually like the smaller S class (particularly the Ryndam) better. I imagine if we'd started with the Vista and then gone to the smaller ones we might not feel the same, it's just a matter of personal experience and choice. The one thing we noticed, and I don't think this had anything at all to do with the size of the ship, was a drop in service from our previous HAL experiences. Again, this is our personal experience and if you look around this board you'll see this is a much discussed topic and not all have noticed or had the same experience. All in all it was a great ship and cruise.....just too short! :) (It was our first 7 day cruise after a number of 10 or more day cruises.)www.geocities.com/theklugspage/ (http://www.geocities.com/theklugspage/)

[woodburykt]

Kentucky

If you can, I would suggest the S Suite. We've sailed the Z'dam and the O'dam and had wonderful vacations.

We've booked our S Suite for the Westerdam for the 2/13/05 sailing and are VERY excited!!!!

The S Suite gives you more bang for your buck. Larger bathroom, a changing/dressing room area, a nice little sitting area and or course the very nice veranda. All that and access to the Netune lounge!! What more could you ask for??

Happy sailing!!

woodburykt
Woodbury, Connecticut

[TedC]

Actually, the bathrooms in the S and SS are identical on the Vista ships, but the SS does lack the dresssing area.

[peaches from georgia]

woodburykt: "The S Suite gives you more bang for your buck. Larger bathroom, a changing/dressing room area, a nice little sitting area and or course the very nice veranda. All that and access to the Netune lounge!! What more could you ask for??"

Absolutely. Neptune Lounge, Concierge service to take care of everything you will need or desire the entire cruise, no charge laundry and dry cleaning, hot/cold hors d'ouevres, special suite parties, priority tender boarding and embarkation, and preferential treatment that is not in writing, but I assure you is given (such as getting that table for 2). There is no way you can compare an SS with an S on square footage alone.

Kentuckycruiser, if your last cruise was on Radisson SS, you should seriously look at an S. ;)

[AmyinVail]

Our first HAL cruise is this April. We've cruised NCL in their Penthouse before (about the same perks) and my mother travels in a mini-suite...on NCL, she was able to come along with us on many things (priority tendering and embarkation, Captain's party, etc.) because she was our "guest". Is HAL the same way? Will she be able to accompany us, even though she's in a SS? I'm going to try and upgrade her closer to sail, but was wondering in the event we aren't able to.

[peaches from georgia]

....she was able to come along with us on many things (priority tendering and embarkation, Captain's party, etc.) because she was our "guest". Is HAL the same way? Will she be able to accompany us, even though she's in a SS? I'm going to try and upgrade her closer to sail, but was wondering in the event we aren't able to.
On HAL, the amenities are for S pax only, as far as I know. This question has certainly been asked here before and the answer everyone has given has always been there are no 'guests' taken to the Neptune Lounge, parties, priority tendering, etc. Amenities are for suite pax only.

I know in the Neptune on the first day the concierge will look for the gold star you are given to wear at embarkation and will ask your name, suite#, etc. Parties are by invitation to suite pax. I've never seen anyone take a guest, though it certainly may have happened.

[bepsf]

For things such as priority embarcation and tenders - HAL will not separate families.

My boss took her entire family on Zaandam last year. She, her husband and two children were in an S, and both sets of grandparents were in Mini-Suites. Everyone boarded in via the Deluxe Suite check-in, everyone had priority tender passes and everyone enjoyed the Deluxe Suite passenger amenities at HMC.

[scopewest]

We just got off the Oosterdam in a balcony cabin. Our steward let us sneak into a suite room and take a look before we left. It had a nice flat screen TV, our room didn't have that! If you can afford it, I'd do S instead of SS.

As for tables for two, yes, there were quite a few of them both upper and lower dining room areas.

[scopewest]

I knew I'd forget something. We didn't notice any priority embarkation as we were able to arrive at 11:30 a.m. and walk right up to register and then walk right onto the ship. We were eating at the Lido deck at noon. As for priorty tenders, we were one of the first in the room to ask for a ticket for HMC and were told just go down and get on now. I did notice that "S" people were the first to disembark the ship according to the numbers they called.

[AmyinVail]

That is a relief to know about not separating families. I would feel TERRIBLE about not having my mother with me and would end up NOT using the perks that I am paying for, just to be with her. I assumed if NCL did this, then HAL would certainly honor the family. As for the Neptune Lounge, I'm certain there will be times that she'll be with me when I go to get coffee, etc. and I'd be terribly alarmed if they kicked my mom out for not having "access"!! As it sounds, though, the lines move fast at embarkation and it wouldn't make a difference....always good to know in advance what you can expect!! Thanks again!

[TedC]

The Neptune lounges are not very large. If everyone in the PS and S suites turned up at the same time there wouldn't be near enough room for all, but I have never seen that happen.

And if everyone entitled to use the lounge brought a guest or guests it could easily be overcrowded.

It really is just for pax registered in the cited suites. Although I'm sure that some pax may, at times, successfully abuse this policy. (There are always those who don't think the rules apply to them.)

[AmyinVail]

Ted,

Let me get this straight...if I'm walking back to our adjoining cabins with my mother and decide to stop off to grab a cup of coffee at the lounge - bringing my mom inside with me while I grab a cup is considering "abusing" the policy? Are you kidding me? Do you suggest that I ask her to wait outside the door while I partake in grabbing my java? That is absurd. Some people sure do take the "suite" label a little too far.....

[peaches from georgia]

The problem with any policy, Amy, is that under some circumstances it may seem unfair, but overall the cruiseline has to look at what benefits all, not just a few and not just in certain circumstances.

You may have absolutely no problem from the concierge about your Mother coming to the Neptune with you. Then again the ship may be full to bursting with lots of families in suites and the concierge will have to maintain the 'suite pax only' rule with everyone, so that the Neptune does not get overcrowded, which is easy to have happen. Would it be fair to allow your Mother in the Neptune as a guest, but not another suite pax's relative(s)? If a guest is allowed in your case then the same thing should apply to all suite guests who have relatives in other cabins. Where does it stop?

Just wait and see the situation when you are on board before getting so angry. You have no idea what it will be like on board or in the Neptune, yet are already mad. Best case scenario, your Mother may get an upgrade and be in a suite anyway.

[AmyinVail]

Oh dear, I'm not mad - I'm simply perplexed at what gets people in a tizzy. I don't intend on "hanging out" in the lounge - not really my style-I'm 33 with two children, always on the run! My scenario was dropping in and out. I'm certainly not one to ever abuse rules (it's the former Marine in me) so for someone to insinuate that I would be a rule abuser is absurd is all. I'm not mad at all....I've learned you encounter all kinds on vacation...

[dakrewser]

I'm certainly not one to ever abuse rules (it's the former Marine in me) so for someone to insinuate that I would be a rule abuser is absurd is all.

Why is that absurd? As I said in another thread, we don't know you. We don't know if you like to "push the envelope" or just have a way of posting which seems to indicate that. So don't get your knickers in a twist when people take your words at face value - that's all we have to go by!

Most likely no one would object to your mother walking in, then back out, with you. But we've heard that there have been times when ID cards were checked at the door. Still, it has nothing to do with "families" - I'd expect the same if I were walking down that hall with any new found acquaintence who happened to not be staying in an S or PS that trip.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Dave, I can see that you are really getting excited about your upcoming Oosterdam cruise.:D

-dave
http://www.divertimenti.com/PuertVallarta/mex.pv.1.gif

[AmyinVail]

Doesn't matter to which topic I respond, you're always there to disect my post! Ironic? I've been posting on these boards for years, recently started posting on HAL for the 1st time, and I have never been so misunderstood. No other board is as aggressive (maybe it's the age factor?). It is "absurd" for someone to immediately ASSUME I'm a rule breaker is what I posted - of course you don't know me (although, it appears with your constant replies to my posts that you're trying to) - why not ask for clarification versus assumption? My knickers are not in a twist, I guarantee that....I'm beginning to believe it's just the posters on this forum - it's my wish that the HAL passengers represented on this forum are the minority to what I'll find on my actual cruise.

[TYMAN]

Amy......Will you marry me??????????? I think I love you!

[dakrewser]

Doesn't matter to which topic I respond, you're always there to disect my post! Ironic?

What's ironic is that you assume any reply (not just mine) to one of your posts should be read in the worst possible light. Yet anyone who bases their response on your actual words is somehow always an old SOB....

Perhaps if you took a bit of time in composing your responses, or understood what the words you are using actually mean, you wouldn't have to spend so much time clearing up "misunderstandings".