A or B verandah suite?

[shorton]

Now that the early 2006 schedule for the Caribbean is out, I'm just about ready to sign my wife and I up for the free 7-day cruise we amazingly won last September on a Northwest cruise. Our plan is to upgrade to a verandah suite on the Veendam for Feb. 2006 and pay the difference between that and a regular outside cabin. My question is: What is the difference between the A and B verandah suites? Is it just a matter of a higher deck for the A? Also, is there a particular cabin that I should ask for?
Thanks, everyone, for all the terrific tips on this board.:)

[arzz]

I believe that deck number and location (mid-ships, fore and aft) are the only real differences between A and B's

[Sailboater]

The rooms are identical. The difference is location. A's are midship and/or higher deck.

Given the diffence in price I would opt for a B on the lower deck and more towards the middle of the ship. If none available in the mid part, work backs toward the stern for a little better ride than the bow rooms. We actually were booked in a B for our Panama Canal trip on the Volendam just aft of center until I found an unbelievable price for a suite late one night on the HAL website. I upgraded the next morning the moment our TA opened. It pays to keep an eye on prices as they occasionally give a real deal for the last room or two in a category.

[shorton]

Thanks Mary. Great advice. Now one more question: Does it make any difference if you have a cabin on the port side or starboard side? Maybe one side has better views when in port?

[dakrewser]

Thanks Mary. Great advice. Now one more question: Does it make any difference if you have a cabin on the port side or starboard side? Maybe one side has better views when in port?

There's no rhyme or reason as to which side of the ship will be against the dock, so flip a coin...

[DaveOKC]

I like the A cabins due to location on the same deck as the aft pool (just a few steps away) and the S suites. Plus they are just one deck from the Lido resteraunt for a quick snack or cup of coffee.
DaveOKC

[Sailboater]

I like the A cabins due to location on the same deck as the aft pool (just a few steps away) and the S suites. Plus they are just one deck from the Lido resteraunt for a quick snack or cup of coffee.
DaveOKC

I believe that is true of only three of the ships - Veendam, Ryndam & Statendam. The others have the aft pool on Lido deck and the A cabins are on a different deck. If that is an important consideration, check the cabin layout of the ship you will be on either on HAL's website or one of the brochures.

[LynnObie]

You can check Veendam deck plans (http://leisure.travelocity.com/Vacations/Cruise/Ship/DeckPlans/0,2443,TRAVELOCITY_34_244_,00.html) at this link. Just click on the deck you want to see at links on upper portion of screen. The A or B on this class of ship are nicer than A or B on the newer Vista class. You will enjoy either!

[shorton]

Thanks all. Now that I see that the A cabins are that close to the pool (Veendam will be our ship), I think that's for us. And who knows? Maybe we'll make some S cabin friends...:)

[lipoppop]

Thanks all. Now that I see that the A cabins are that close to the pool (Veendam will be our ship), I think that's for us. And who knows? Maybe we'll make some S cabin friends...:)

We were in S 045 on the Veendam in December. It s the last S before the A's start. You should know that the A's on the Navigation deck have their veranda overhung by the Lido dining room. For us it was a blessing as we don't like direct sunlight. But if you are sun worshipers then perhaps it is not a good area. Check the deck plans, line up the elevators and you can tell which cabins are affected.
Perhaps a B on the Veranda deck farther forward would be sunnier.

Either way you will love the ship.

[shorton]

A good thought. I hadn't thought about the Lido overhang. My wife would like something with more sun so a far-forward B would have more appeal.

[Allis154]

Just a question about A and B category suites on the Statendam. We are looking a booking a cruise next year - 27 days on the Statendam. I *think* I have read here somewhere that category A has suite ammenities and the B category doesn't. Counld someone tell me if this is true? I tried checking on the HA site, but couldn't find it there either.

For specific cabins, we are looking at B205 or B220, or A061 or A046, so if anyone has information on those, I would like to hear from you.

Thanks

[dakrewser]

Just a question about A and B category suites on the Statendam. We are looking a booking a cruise next year - 27 days on the Statendam. I *think* I have read here somewhere that category A has suite ammenities and the B category doesn't. Counld someone tell me if this is true? I tried checking on the HA site, but couldn't find it there either.


No, only PS and S categories get the extras. The only difference between a VA and a VB is location - VA's are closer to the middle of the deck.

[General Max]

If you meet some "S" cabin friends they just might invite you to the Neptune lounge with them. We invited several couples on our first cruise on the Ryndam.

General Max

[Bill S]

Cat A cabins do NOT get Cat S amenities. :mad: We have sailed in Cat A cabins several times, including A046 on the Ryndam and while you get to rub elbows with the Cat S guests, that's about the extent of it, but being on the Nav Deck is pretty quiet. . . . . except for A046, at least on the Ryndam. On the Ryndam, the door to A046 was exposed to the "lobby" area between the aft stair case and the rear door out to the aft deck --- it was noisy at times, especially if there was an evening function, ie, a sail away or bbq party out there. A048 is a bit more private and more quiet in our experience. Hope this helps!

[LynnObie]

For specific cabins, we are looking at B205 or B220, or A061 or A046, so if anyone has information on those, I would like to hear from you. Thanks

Here's a link to the Statendam Deck Plan (http://leisure.travelocity.com/Vacations/Cruise/Ship/DeckPlans/0,2443,TRAVELOCITY_50_345_,00.html). You can click on Navigation Deck, Verandah Deck, etc. at top of screen. You might also search the HAL forum here for cabin numbers with OR between each one to bring back relative posts. Between A or B on the Statendam, I would go with whichever had the best location since cabins & amenities are the same.

[Sailboater]

Friends on the Statendam that were in the first "A" cabin next to the suites complained of noise from their verandah partition rattling at night. There is a difference in size of the verandahs and the partitions made quite a bit of noise according to them. Might want to avoid the very first "A" cabin.