What Kind Of Stateroom Do You Book?

[dogladyjw]

What kind of stateroom do you book most often?

[Silverfox]

We've done 50 cruises throughout the Caribbean, South Pacific, Trans Atlantic, Europe, Canary Islands, etc. What we book depends on where the cruise is headed.

If it's Caribbean -- even an inside is just fine. After all, one is not in their cabin that much!

If it's for more than 10 days, outside is preferred. South Pacific was a balcony and I'm glad for that as the water and scenery were so beautiful.

We do not book suites, mini suites, or the top categories. Maybe that's why we've done 50 -- we look at the price per category and judge according to that. Especially with the cabin TV showing a camera from the bridge, there's no guess any more about weather. Most days we are only in the cabin to shower, dress, and sleep -- maybe 10 hours a day. So I'm very content with whatever we book.

And sometimes the upgrade fairy comes along and taps our shoulder because of the number of cruises we've done with the various lines.

[RuthC]

Steerage---or at least the modern equivalent of steerage.

If I'm by myself I usually book a J-category inside; cabin J-345 on the S-class ships if I can get it. If it's the Rotterdam or Amsterdam I want K-2619.
If I book a guaranteed share I have to book K-category for an inside.

At least I'm on the ship!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Wow, my answer to the question has changed so much of the past 3 years. In 2002 if asked it would be "any cabin as long as there was a little day light", in 2003 it was "I would prefer balcony but would consider an outside cabin" Then 2004 the answer was "Give Me A Balcony" Now it is 2005 and I have had a taste of the Suite Life and I am hooked. " I want a Suite" Of my next 3 cruises that are booked we are in a suite for two of them and booked in a B catagory for the Maasdam and on a "wait list" for a suite. I am sure hoping that wait list comes thru:o Yes, I know that suites are a lot more but since we cannot take B2B cruises we have just spent money and saved differently so we can have the money for suites.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We book "S" suites.

[General Max]

"S"

General Max

[Tatka]

Only for my first cruise (Celebrity Century) we had outside. My husband didn't go and he didn't know if we would be comfortable in inside room.

Since then it's all inside cabins. We always (almost always) sail during the high season and for three of us there is enough money saved for 1 or 2 shore trips :) . Also we usually have more than 1 cruise/ nice vacation a year so saved money help.

Besides...we loved our category I inside room on Zuiderdam, it was spacey even for 3 people. :D

[Aussie Gal]

We have a mixture. The lowest category we will take is a D with a window but we have had mainly verandah and mini suites. We have yet to taste the "S" suite life and I know what will happen, I wouldn't be able to go to anything less after that, so perhaps it is for the best that hasn't happened as we can now go when we want.

Jennie

[DFD1]

Aussie Gal: You have changed the ship picture. This one is nice, but the Prinsendam was great! Not to worry. We'll enjoy this one as well.

[Aussie Gal]

DFD1,

I thought I had better change it as we are going on the Maasdam in July and this is a photo of that lovely ship. Mind you, it is not as clear as my photo of the Prinsendam, as I didn't take this photo.

Jennie

[cruzbums]

s or ps

[BCEagle78]

Honestly, we are just happy to be on the ship. We have often booked inside guarentee. So far we have 2 cruise where we ended up in an outside cabin and 1 cruise where we ended up inside.

The way I look at it is simple. We spend 90% of our waking time outside the cabin. As long as I am comfortable to sleep, the location is not that much of an issue. If I planned to spend a lot of time in the cabin, I would probably be more picky.

For our next cruise, we are booked outside guarentee (category G) for Veendam on Nov 26.

[jaguarstyper]

On HAL, an S is the way to go for us. On the Vista ships, we are totally hooked on the aft corner suites, specifically 5186 and 5187. We have considered the PS suites, but cant seem to justify the increase in price. It seems a bit of overkill to us.

Tim

[michmike]

We travel with some good friends and typically get D or E (outside) connecting rooms. With the door between them open the rooms seem far more spacious and it's easy to get together for cocktail hour etc.

We were upgraded to verandahs a couple of cruises back (long story) and thoroughly enjoyed that, but for the additional $300 per person (on avg) I'm just fine with an outside. I'd even do an inside but DW draws the line there.

We're out and about most of the time anyway; plus my onboard tab generally runs less than $600 so I figure by foregoing the balcony I've basically covered that. I'd rather spend the additional money on shore trips which we research and arrange on our own. And for the life of me I can't imagine why I need an onboard concierge or a private lounge to eat bfast.. but hey.. if that is worth it to you.. go for it.. different strokes..

[Orcrone]

In four cruises there's one inside, two outsides and my first verandah next month. Mostly it depends on the incremental cost going from one category to the next. The Maasdam has a smaller percentage of balconies than newer ships, so the cost of a verandah is a larger premium (about $300 - $400 per person) on our last cruise. I couldn't justify that cost. The Zuiderdam has a larger percentage of balconies so the price differential was only $100 per person. That's much easier to justify. At the time of booking it was over $200 per person more to go to an SS, so we didn't opt for it. Since then the cost of my cabin has increased so that if booking today the price differential would only be about $85 per person. So if I were booking today it would be an SS.

[Tarkus]

I'm a cheap inside cabin type. Sailed an outside balcony once with my ex-wife and (at least for me) it just didn't justify the extra cost... never used the balcony, and really didn't like the early morning light waking me from my previous late night(s). Besides, I really don't spend much time in my stateroom other than bathing, changing, and sleeping.

[Peggy Sue]

our first cruise was a tiny inside .. we don't have a lot of curises under our belt, but we've booked inside, outside, verandah and suites. We sailed on HAL twice .. our first on the Zuiderdam. We originally had a cat B booked, but right before final payment a special offer was being run and we ended up in an S and paid less than what we were going to pay when we originally booked the cat B...we were so spoiled.... So, this past November, we booked an S .. loved it again. We spend quite a bit of time in our suite...we enjoy our verandah..and will sit there and read, sun etc. instead of being up with the crowds. We had for Alasaka end of May .. taking my dad along. he doesn't have a traveling compainion.so we priced a lot of different options and for the space ratio we decided to book another S .. I'm sure there will come a day when we book another cabin type...by for now, we are enjoying all that wonderful space!!

peggy Sue

[Cracker Ken]

We always book inside cabins. Sure, I'd love a balcony with a huge window and all that, however I'd rather spend less money on cabins, and go on more cruises. We have never had anything other than inside. On HAL, there are these really nice cabins I refer to as a "sideways room." The cabin is situated such that you enter into the side of the cabin. You would be facing forward on the ship while in bed. For instance, 773 on one of the S class ships, or 1875 on the Rotterdam. This are huge cabins. One of our stewards called them "inside suites." These were on the lowest of decks, in steerage. We will be in 773 for the 3rd time when on the Veendam in November.

One word of caution, is that these "sideways" cabins can be tiny on the Vista Class ships (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, etc). An example is 5005 on the Zuiderdam. Very tiny. It's classified as a "standard" cabin, but the don't tell you just how small it is. My estimate, is in the area of 125 sq ft. Unless you are traveling along, don't get those little cabins on the Vista ships.

Ken

[DMRick]

We have the cabin right next door to where your room was in January. On the Holland deck view site, it looks like there is a small storage room jutting into the two rooms. Can you tell me more about these cabins? I'm wondering if these are smaller, because of that jetting in part. Thank you,
Doris
We will be in 773 for the 3rd time when on the Veendam in November.

[JLC@SD]

We usually book the lowest cost......early........and have been lucky to get upgraded many times.

Our philosophy is that other than the cabin......everything else on the cruise is the same........food, entertainment etc. We prefer to travel longer and more often with the saved money and do pre and post cruise trips.

We are going on Sapphire Princess in February.......and with the money saved on the cabin.......inside gty.......we will have a pre cruise stay in Australia......and a post cruise stay in NZ (Queenstown) and Fiji...;)

[jtl513]

Most days we are only in the cabin to shower, dress, and sleep -- maybe 10 hours a day. So I'm very content with whatever we book.
That's our attitude too ... but I have to have a window ... and not just a porthole either.

And sometimes the upgrade fairy comes along and taps our shoulder because of the number of cruises we've done with the various lines.
In our experience the "number of cruises" has nothing to do with upgrades!:) We've only been on 3 cruises ... all HAL ... and will be starting a 4th in about 40 hours. On all four we've been upgraded. On our first, the Amsterdam, it was only a couple of steps ... something like EE to DA. Then on 2 Vistas it was VF to VA, and on Veendam it was HH to FF. Three times we booked through a "large" TA, and this time we called HAL directly. I guess the upgrade fairy just likes the sound of our name! :D (BTW, all were guarantees.)

[lougee1043]

always with a balcony and if the price is right a deluxe--- just love the neptune lounge

[Randyk47]

Prefer S but book B to S depending on cost. Last 3 cabins have been SS, RS (Royal Suite on Celebrity), S, and have a B booked for the Veendam. It was hard to go "back" to the B but I choked at the S fare for a 14-day cruise. :eek:

[Grumpy1]

113 days in a Cat SS, 12 days in a Cat B, 33 days in a Cat S (3 cruises), 66 booked in a Cat SY and 7 booked in a Cat S. We usually go for the Deluxe suite on shorter cruises, and a Superior Suite on Prinsendam. We'll book any verandah if that is all we can get for the cruise we want, but prefer an SS or S.

[Djptcp]

DH and I are sailing on the Zuiderdam on the 16th and have a VF balcony (5070). This is our 11th cruise, 2nd on HAL. We have run the gamut on types of cabins from inside to outside to penthouse suite (Carnival). I liked the inside because we usually stay up very late in the casino every night and not having the light pouring in so early was nice. However, the last inside we took was on Royal Caribbean in 2002 and the cabin was so tiny I got a little claustrophobic. I much prefer outsides, but we don't always need a balcony -- only if the price is right and it was very right for the Z next week. Since we live in Florida now, we feel we can afford to go on 3-4 cruises a year because we can drive to the ports, but not if we want to do a suite. So, an outside is fine and a balcony at the right price is fine, too. As long as we're cruisin' :D

Holland America - 2004, 2006
Carnival - 1995, 1998, 2006, 2006
NCL - 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003
Royal Caribbean - 2002

[Atomica]

I've booked everything from the lowest available inside to an S Suite and have enjoyed them all. We found the S was almost too big, but we loved the Neptune lounge. Now we tend to book balconies - it sure is nice to be able to just step outside and get some fresh air.

[agabbymama]

First two cruises were ocean view with nice sized windows. Then got a good deal on NCL for a mini-suite with a veranda. Have never looked back. Last two cruises were veranda-concierge class. Had to settle for an ordinary VF veranda cabin on Zuiderdam as the SY is $450 pp more and I can't justify $900 difference for the same cruisetour, but I would NEVER cruise in an inside cabin (kind of claustrophobic, even walking in the corridors of the ship).:p

[Love Cruises]

We are frugal and always book an inside guaranteed cabin. Out of our 10 cruises on HAL we have been upgraded to an outside cabin in 8 of those trips. Actually, we love the inside because it is nice and dark.

We rather book this and go on 3-4 cruises a year.

[bepsf]

As much as I enjoyed the additional perks of my aft-corner S, I'm perfectly comfortable w/ the space/location/value of the SS - so that's my preferred category.
I'll be interested to see the details on the upcoming "Glass" staterooms on Eurodam...
...but if it doesnt have a jacuzzi, I'll stick w/ my SS.
;)

[Barbara Hornblower]

We are frugal and always book an inside guaranteed cabin. Out of our 10 cruises on HAL we have been upgraded to an outside cabin in 8 of those trips. Actually, we love the inside because it is nice and dark.

We rather book this and go on 3-4 cruises a year.

Amen to that...we think of our inside steerage cabin as our sleep chamber (no light shining in there!) :rolleyes:

[RevNeal]

On my own, I like the J-category inside cabins on the Lower Promenade Deck of the S & R ships, and the J-category inside cabins on the Main Deck of the Vistas.

If Christopher is cruising with me, a Verandah Cabin or better is nice: an SS on the Vistas, an A or B Verandah Cabin on the S & Rs. But ... I can do without the verandah. I like the space, but if it's just me an inside cabin is certainly enough.

[croozymooner]

Typically we do outside staterooms. Partially obstructed views are fine just so long as it's not entirely obstructed. I need some natural light. I would so much rather spend my money on shore excursions than a bigger room.

[PathfinderEss]

Our first real cruise was on the Ryndam when she was only 6 months old to Alaska. My DH put us in a suite and I was hooked from then on. Its the suite life for us.

[Lachase]

We don't spend much time in our rooms, mostly just to sleep, so it seems prudent to go economy. We do like a window and an outside one however.

[SDHALFAN]

I like an outside with a window because I actually do spend some time watching the motion in the ocean, and being an early riser I love to watch the sunrises. Since I travel solo I sincerely doubt that the upgrade fairy will be visiting me.

Valerie:)

[bottomrung]

We usually go for the inside do to price. Presently we have a balcony booked on the Westerdam. 1st time for a balcony was in an aft cabin on the Explorer of the Seas.
We spend a little extra now and then, what the heck we deserve it. Don't you!

[kryos]

What kind of stateroom do you book most often?
Usually the cheapest guarantee. After all that cheap cabin goes to the same places as the penthouse suite does. And, if I want to watch the world sail by ... I can do that just as well from one of the public decks as I can on a balcony that I am paying a fortune for.

Understand too ... I often travel as a solo, so single supplement has a lot to do with this. The single supplement on the insides and outsides is reasonable ... about 150% or less. Take a balcony stateroom and it jumps to 200%.

I'm not paying that much additional no matter how nice or roomy the cabin is.

I prefer to spend my money on neat shore excursions ... and on additional cruises. I don't need luxury accommodations while aboard ship. I can sleep and shower in the inside cabin just as well as I can in the most expansive luxury suite, and ... after all ... when you're laying in bed asleep in the middle of the night, doesn't matter what that cabin looks like. You're only seeing it in your mind's eye anyway ... and I can very well imagine I'm in the best suite on the ship. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[AWED23]

:cool: On our first cruise in 1972 aboard the Island Princess it was an inside cabin and we were in heaven!....Time passes...We now have over 350 days with HAL on all of the S, R and Prinsendam vessels and all 350 days are "Suite"...We do spend a good bit of time in our room and enjoy all of the Perks...Ryndam on 4/22/07 in number S018,[14 days]...Prinsendam on 3/11/08 in number 014 for 73 days.....

[innlady1]

This will only be our 2nd cruise, but we had a balcony on the Caribbean Princess last February and loved it. We spent quite a bit of time there (it was large enough for four chairs and two tables!). Coffee in the morning, reading and relaxing throughout the day on sea days, and a glass of wine and cheese/crackers before dinner each evening. We brought our own wine aboard, so I figure we saved a ton on bar bills! ;)

That was such a pleasant experience that I'm hooked on verandahs/balconies.

This February, we're on the Noordam with the same friends as last year, and we are in a VC. #5051, I believe.

[ANSalberg]

Let me add this to the discussion of NEEDS in selection you room category.
1. Age matters; we had a small outside on the "Royal"[Princess] and one of us had to crawl to the foot of the bed in the middle of the night -guess WHO'S side was in the corner -I'm TOO OLD!
2. Type of cruise matters. If you are on a "port-intensive/7 day Caribbean cruise" vs a 2 month Asia/Pacific cruise where at-sea days are in GROUPS -a balcony/suite in the latter case is almost a given.
3. Your OWN personalities matter. IF you are totally social and "never in your room except to sleep" or I like my private reading time to just read and watch the ocean.....IOWs -can you entertain yourself or do you need to BE entertained
4. Income matters. The fact is you can cruise no matter what your income with a bit of planning - its all about priorities. WE seldom vacationed let alone cruised during our working years because schedules INVARIABLY conflicted and we spent vacations[ often] visiting my parents etc. now our priorities are different and we are having the learning-experiences of a lifetime while we can still travel easily. We are both retired.
5. WHO you travel with matters. We MOSTLY travel by ourselves, preferring not to be responsible for planning everybody else's days -You know the ones "What are we going to do TODAY????" [expectant look] But you can travel with a like group [cyberfriends] or a group from your Travel agency[sponsored] or a good-sized family group -and your EXPERIENCE changes with each one -AND also your needs. We took our family on Celebrity "Millennium" and had a wonderful cruise- booked 5 balconies together. On a cruise shortly after I retired Dick was still working so I went with a good friend and we had a mini-suite -in the Mediterranian.
6. YOUR abilities matter. Think handicapped cabins/think flights to and from port cities Vs living IN Florida/ think SMALL children who need to room WITH you.
In other words -this isn't about the "Haves and Have-nots" its about individualizing the experience.
Anne

[iceman93]

s or ps

Yup, just look at my signature to see the cabins I've booked. It's hard to give up the space of a PS, and unlike those who seem perfectly happy in an inside cabin I can't imagine being in anything smaller than an S for the duration of a cruise. I'll take fewer cruises in a nicer cabin--after all, I only get so many vacation days a year anyway! :D

[AWED23]

:D Let me add this to the discussion of NEEDS in selection you room category.
1. Age matters; we had a small outside on the "Royal"[Princess] and one of us had to crawl to the foot of the bed in the middle of the night -guess WHO'S side was in the corner -I'm TOO OLD!
2. Type of cruise matters. If you are on a "port-intensive/7 day Caribbean cruise" vs a 2 month Asia/Pacific cruise where at-sea days are in GROUPS -a balcony/suite in the latter case is almost a given.
3. Your OWN personalities matter. IF you are totally social and "never in your room except to sleep" or I like my private reading time to just read and watch the ocean.....IOWs -can you entertain yourself or do you need to BE entertained
4. Income matters. The fact is you can cruise no matter what your income with a bit of planning - its all about priorities. WE seldom vacationed let alone cruised during our working years because schedules INVARIABLY conflicted and we spent vacations[ often] visiting my parents etc. now our priorities are different and we are having the learning-experiences of a lifetime while we can still travel easily. We are both retired.
5. WHO you travel with matters. We MOSTLY travel by ourselves, preferring not to be responsible for planning everybody else's days -You know the ones "What are we going to do TODAY????" [expectant look] But you can travel with a like group [cyberfriends] or a group from your Travel agency[sponsored] or a good-sized family group -and your EXPERIENCE changes with each one -AND also your needs. We took our family on Celebrity "Millennium" and had a wonderful cruise- booked 5 balconies together. On a cruise shortly after I retired Dick was still working so I went with a good friend and we had a mini-suite -in the Mediterranian.
6. YOUR abilities matter. Think handicapped cabins/think flights to and from port cities Vs living IN Florida/ think SMALL children who need to room WITH you.
In other words -this isn't about the "Haves and Have-nots" its about individualizing the experience.
AnneExtremely well put......At 74 my needs, time, wants, abilities and bankroll are entirely different than when I was 44....;)

[hammybee]

In the past, I have booked port intensive cruises and often use the cabin for sleep, so an inside is just fine. When DH and DD and I sail together, we move up cause we like more space, especially now that she is all grown up.

Really wish I could book an inside with 2 baths.

[DMRick]

I brought this back from a search I did in 2005, hoping Cracker Ken could answer it..and it took on a life of it's own. Is there a way to PM people on this board, so I could ask him my question?

We have the cabin right next door to where your room was in January. On the Holland deck view site, it looks like there is a small storage room jutting into the two rooms. Can you tell me more about these cabins? I'm wondering if these are smaller, because of that jetting in part. Thank you,
Doris

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cracker Ken
We will be in 773 for the 3rd time when on the Veendam in November.

[RuthC]

I brought this back from a search I did in 2005, hoping Cracker Ken could answer it..and it took on a life of it's own. Is there a way to PM people on this board, so I could ask him my question?
None that I know of. Sometimes posters have their e-mail addy in a signature, but that's the only way I know of to reach them.

As far as I remember Cracker Ken hasn't been around in a while.
When you're directing a question to someone based on a post a while back it might be a good idea to research their post history to see if they still post to the board.

[amusea]

Yup, just look at my signature to see the cabins I've booked. It's hard to give up the space of a PS, and unlike those who seem perfectly happy in an inside cabin I can't imagine being in anything smaller than an S for the duration of a cruise. I'll take fewer cruises in a nicer cabin--after all, I only get so many vacation days a year anyway! :D

When S accommodations start in the $40,000 pp range for very long cruises I just retreat to the lowest deck midship and enjoy the special advantages and new ports of such a cruise. I hate to blow the whole cruise budget for a couple of years on any one cruise. And I might find it a smoother ride down there anyhow. That's the silver lining syndrome.:rolleyes:

[DMRick]

I did research it, and he does. Or at least he did on Dec 3, 2006., which was just a few days before I resurrected this post.



As far as I remember Cracker Ken hasn't been around in a while.
When you're directing a question to someone based on a post a while back it might be a good idea to research their post history to see if they still post to the board.