Any bad S suites on the Oosterdam?

[Sea Island Lady]

Are there any bad locations for the S suites on the Oosterdam?

[Sea Island Lady]

Sorry to bring this back up, but I posted last night and it was buried before I got an answer.

We are currently booked in the very popular (for our cruise leaving in 4 weeks) SS suite. There are no more left, but there are currently 11 S suites remaining . We put in for a free upgrade with the booking. On the "chance" that we were to be upgraded, are there any S suites that we would want to avoid? How are the suites next to the elevators? Noisy? Less private?

Has anyone stayed in the Handicapped S suites on the aft. Those have been released to the genral public as well as a price reduction for all S suites of almost $1000 since yesterday.

Has anyone had any experience with free upgrades? What about asking for a reduced price upgrade at the pier?

[Randyk47]

Who knows when and where the upgrade fairy is going to appear. Some folks have had great, or at least good luck, others have sailed for years and not gotten one free upgrade. (We've been cruising for 10 years and have never gotten an upgrade but we normally book A category or above cabins and that doesn't leave a lot of room for upgrading.) Buying your way up at the dock is also a bit problematic. The possibilities range from none....as in all cabins are booked....to paying the full difference between your present cabin and the upgrade. Some folks apparently have gotten discounted upgrades, paying less than the difference but still not free. However, HAL cruises have been sailing full so much lately that upgrades at the dock or on board appear to have virtually disappeared. If I were to take a bet though I'd say once this reduced price gets out to all the TA's the suites will disappear in a heartbeat so if you're interested go for it now and pay the difference. I won't be surprised to see them all get booked today or tomorrow.

PS - In my book there's no such thing as a bad suite (S category) but the SS is a great cabin and you should enjoy it.

[peaches from georgia]

I don't think there are any 'bad' suites, but my last choice to book would be any of the suites directly adjacent to the midship glass elevators. Pax on the elevators can see onto those balconies and there is a loss of privacy. But if it was one of those or no S at all, I would book one. :D

[Sea Island Lady]

After doing some research, I would be afraid of getting a S near the elevators or the one available at an angle. So far none of the S suites have been taken.

Like Randy said, the SS is really nice and I will be just as happy with that, but a good upgrade to the S would be nice as well. ;) With only 4 weeks to go before this cruise starts, the ship seems to be only half full. Some insides are gone and the Veranda Suite is gone... plus all the SS, but the rest are pretty open. I have not read on these boards of anyone else taking our cruise either.

[scopewest]

Just thought I'd throw this in. On our last Carnival cruise I booked a year in advance and booked two connecting verandah cabins. We were upgraded to Cat. 11 suites, much to my shock. We figured someone demanded those connecting cabins and thus we were asked if we'd mind the upgrade. The ship didn't have that many connecting cabins to begin with.

[Sea Island Lady]

That's what I am hoping that someone will demand my staterooms. :D

[Oppgaard]

Sea Island Lady,

Why would you not want to take one of the S suites that are on the angle? I am booked for #7087 on the Oosterdam and thought that it should be a good cabin. What am I missing?

Thanks.

[Sea Island Lady]

I don't want to look right into other passengers balconies or have them look into mine. ;)

[Candy]

We were in Zuidy's 7087 and loved it! The veranda is angular and a little crowded, and the cabins along the side have nearly full view of your veranda (and vice versa), but the cabin itself is very roomy.

On the other hand, we have also been in 6167 on the wake, which is a handicapped cabin. The cabin is slightly smaller and the bathroom has no separate shower stall or jacuzzi, and the roll-in shower rains on the toilet. It also has only one sink and is poorly lit. We were very uncomfortable with the bathroom, but the veranda was easily 4 times the size of the side ones.

Photos of both are in my sig below.

Sea Island Lady,

Why would you not want to take one of the S suites that are on the angle? I am booked for #7087 on the Oosterdam and thought that it should be a good cabin. What am I missing?

Thanks.

[Sea Island Lady]

The HC was smaller than the regular S stateroom? :eek:

I took a look at your pics and it is small. I don't see how a person in a wheelchair gets around in there. And the door to the balcony must be difficult to open.

I do not like the shower/toilet configuration. That's a small bathroom also. I can just see taking a shower when DH needs to use the toilet. :eek:

[Candy]

It's not smaller 'cause it's handicapped; all the wake S suites are a bit smaller. The bathroom is about the same size as a regular S suite... just awkwardly arranged with only one sink and poor lighting. We tolerated it because we loved the huge verana!

The HC was smaller than the regular S stateroom? :eek:

I took a look at your pics and it is small. I don't see how a person in a wheelchair gets around in there. And the door to the balcony must be difficult to open.

I do not like the shower/toilet configuration. That's a small bathroom also. I can just see taking a shower when DH needs to use the toilet. :eek:

[Sea Island Lady]

Handicapped staterooms should be larger than the norm for that said category.

I don't understand why anyone would want to book an S (handicapped or not) if it was smaller or same size as the SS . :rolleyes:

I did some research last night with all the S suites that were available for my cruise (we had been put on an upgrade list.) The sizes varied from 270 (angled) to 393 sq ft. One was smaller and one the same size as our SS (294 sq ft.) The remaining staterooms, 300, 315 & 324 (all corner afts), 360 (HC's), 391 (connecting staterooms or next to elevator), 393 (next to elevator) were not suitable in size and/or location for us to spend the extra money.

We paid $1030 for our SS and HAL was asking $2500 (at the time of booking) for the S suites. They have since been reduced to $1500. The two cats. have the same bath, so with the exception of some staterooms being larger, the perks are not worth another $500 to $1000 for us .

We asked our TA to take us off the upgrade list unless HAL would let us accept or decline a certain upgrade. We don't want to take the chance of getting something smaller, an angled balcony, next to the glass elevator, a HC or a connecting (unless we got both - one for us and one for my parents.) One of the larger corner afts would not be that bad, but if we don't have a choice, we don't want the upgrade. ;)

[Candy]

Where did you get these cabin sizes? I'd love to know exactly what I'm bargaining for.

As for the wake S suites, I'd always trade off the sf inside for a 4X veranda, but I won't take a HCP cabin again.

Handicapped staterooms should be larger than the norm for that said category.

I don't understand why anyone would want to book an S (handicapped or not) if it was smaller or same size as the SS . :rolleyes:

I did some research last night with all the S suites that were available for my cruise (we had been put on an upgrade list.) The sizes varied from 270 (angled) to 393 sq ft. One was smaller and one the same size as our SS (294 sq ft.) The remaining staterooms, 300, 315 & 324 (all corner afts), 360 (HC's), 391 (connecting staterooms or next to elevator), 393 (next to elevator) were not suitable in size and/or location for us to spend the extra money...snip

[Devin]

HI all, and hello from a first time poster on CC!

I thought Id throw in my two cents and ask if anyone knows anything about the S7088 on the Oosterdam?! I was told that the "angled" veranda would provide a tad bit more space, albeit in a non rectangular space. Since I am travelling with my mother, a female friend of hers and myself, privacy on the veranda isnt going to be terribly inportant, but im curious if you have a bit of a better 'forward' view as opposed to 'hanging over the rail' and looking forward! If anyone has any experience with these 'funky shaped' verandas on Oosterdam, or another of the Vista Class ships, Id really be thankful for the info!

Counting down the days to 4/23/05!

Devin:)

[Sea Island Lady]

I found the measurements on Cruises N More.

Devin - Yes, I would think you would have a better view. I found the following about your stateroom. I cannot say for sure if it is accurate, but I do remember reading elsewhere that those staterooms were smaller. :eek:
S7088
ROTTERDAM DECK
Balcony 270 sq ft
If the above is true, then it is 24 sq ft less than my SS. If someone has stayed in one of these angled suites and can say differently, please speak up.

[Candy]

We were in Zuidy's 7087 and loved it! I think it's really about the same sf, only oddly configured. The balcony offers a superb forward view, but also allows pax from forward and above to see yours. If you're not doin' anything funky out there, you'll probably like it. We would book that particular cabin again

HI all, and hello from a first time poster on CC!

I thought Id throw in my two cents and ask if anyone knows anything about the S7088 on the Oosterdam?! I was told that the "angled" veranda would provide a tad bit more space, albeit in a non rectangular space. Since I am travelling with my mother, a female friend of hers and myself, privacy on the veranda isnt going to be terribly inportant, but im curious if you have a bit of a better 'forward' view as opposed to 'hanging over the rail' and looking forward! If anyone has any experience with these 'funky shaped' verandas on Oosterdam, or another of the Vista Class ships, Id really be thankful for the info!

Counting down the days to 4/23/05!

Devin:)

[Candy]

I tried http://www.cruises-n-more.com/ but they don't have the Vista class ships listed. Is that the wrong site?

I found the measurements on Cruises N More.

[Sea Island Lady]

You have to go in and pretend you are booking a cruise, then a page will come up that shows what staterooms are available with the square footage.

[Oppgaard]

Does this mean that the cabin is 270 sq. ft. or the balcony is 270 sq. ft.? This is for either 7087 or 7088.

[O2BNTEXAS]

DW and I were in 7087 on the Oosterdam to Alaska last year. Really liked the suite and the balcony. I had all kinds of room for my photography equipment (2 cameras on tripods) and the extra furniture (table and chairs as well as chairs w/ foot stools) made it easy to use. Neighbors were envious.