State Room

[dogladyjw]

What type of stateroom do you book most often?

Penthouse Suite
Deluxe Veranda Suite
Veranda Suite
Outside
Large Inside
Standard Inside

[heyabbott]

It would depend on who is paying.

[Krazy Kruizers]

AH-----the (FULL) Suite life.

[jhannah]

We have grown accustomed to the SS cabins. Very nice for us. We've been fortunate to find them at a decent price for most cruises. When deals exist on S suites, we jump to them.

[Randyk47]

SS or above for right now. We can only get away once a year as we both still work. That may change in the future but since we're limited we go for the gusto as much as we can.

[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!

[Sow There]

We always book a fully obstructed view outside (super cheap) and take our chances. We are always upgraded to a full view outside. If we lose and get the full obstruct cabin, it's OK as well, because all we want is natural light in the window. We seldom spend much time looking out the window except, perhaps, when we arrive or depart a port.

[Host Walt]

I'm with Sow There, but my DW likes a higher outside. We once got an upgrade to a Verandah Room (now called a Mini-Suite) on the maiden voyage of the Ryndam several years ago so she thinks it might happen again. Hasn't. :(

[ekerr19]

We usually book outside quads when traveling with the kids - on our upcoming Ryndam we are going for two balconies instead...

[boards]

We booked Cat. K - main - first one outside 2638 (Zaandam) second time Nov (05) inside 600 Veendam.
We have booked all other cruises inside cabin - midship. 4 Carnival and 2 NCL and now will be our 2nd - looking forward our 3rd someday

[boards]

We booked Cat. K - main - first one outside 2638 (Zaandam) second time Nov (05) inside 600 Veendam.
We have booked all other cruises inside cabin - midship. 4 Carnival and 2 NCL and now will be our 2nd HAl - looking forward our 3rd someday in 2006

[Sage]

We love the PS and S categories. DH made a mistake booking a PS, and now we are in love with them.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I posted on the other thread before I saw this one. But my answer has changed a lot over the years. I can honestly say Now I would prefer to book a Full Suite. We have found the "Value" in the added expense. Since we have found the cruising is now our vacation of choice we have just changed our priority of where we spend our money so that we can book a suite. If things changed in my life I might consider a different catagory but for right now I will probably always book a suite. The only exception I see right now is the New Noordam, if prices don't drop and we do really want to go in spring 2006 we may book a SS or possibly one of the "V's":)

[bepsf]

I'm partial to the SS's too.

Although I have a corner S booked for Alaska this year, I keep looking for decent pricing on an SS for the new Noordam...

[gorka]

Please what is the itinerary for the sailings of2006 for the Noordam? Thanks Gorka

[Bill S]

Although we really, really enjoy the "suite" life, and we have been fortunate to able to cruise several times in a Cat S, we can live with any verandah category. Our favorite non-Cat S cabin is a Cat A on the S-class ships. We like the proximity to the aft staircase and the quiet of the Nav deck. Also, with a Cat A, if the upgrade fairy were to smile on us, the only upgrade is to a Cat S or PH (yeah, fat chance)!

When budget permits it, we prefer a Cat S, but they sure are expensive lately . . . . at least for the cruises we have booked already!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

When budget permits it, we prefer a Cat S, but they sure are expensive lately . . . . at least for the cruises we have booked already!

Bill, I agree, if we were to book cruises that were longer than 7 days we would probably go SS on the Vista Class. But since they are all 7 day we felt we could easily spend the extra money. I do remember in summer of 2003 when we were booking our 2004 Alaska the prices of the SS and S were so much higher that we would not even consider. For some reason Alaska always cost quite a bit more. But for Mexican Riveria and Caribbean you can usually find good prices.

[jhannah]

Please what is the itinerary for the sailings of2006 for the Noordam? Thanks Gorka
She begins Caribbean sailings in February of 2006.

[Kabana]

Superior Verandah suite (SS)

[bobpatj]

I voted for "outside," since that's where you'll usually find us on longer cruises. In warm places (Caribbean) we like to be in a mini-suite.

[ryansmemom]

We always book S catagory. We really enjoy the suites and spend a lot of time there. Someday a PS.......

Linda

[richnorto]

I would love to be in the ROYAL Penthouse Suite, but we have always just booked outside view. This time, thanks to our wonderful, beautiful, spectacular 3 children, we will be living the interior life in a large room close by. Should be an expereience. Everybody's got to live a little!:)

[doone]

I usually get a cabin to myself, so with the single supplement, I go for the inside cabin. BUT I am trying the "suite life" on the Zuiderdam when I sail with my friends. I may be spoiled after this cruise.

[jhannah]

BUT I am trying the "suite life" on the Zuiderdam when I sail with my friends. I may be spoiled after this cruise.
Um ... yeah! ;)

[doone]

Jim, that's what I am afraid of. I have a suite on the Zuiderdam, then board the Volendam in my category K inside room.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Jim, that's what I am afraid of. I have a suite on the Zuiderdam, then board the Volendam in my category K inside room.

doone, once you have a Suite it is all over from there. We came home from the Ryndam and said change everything to a "S" luckily we had already book a S for our oosterdam cruise in October. We had no problem changing our SS to a S on the Westerdam but I am kicking byself for the Maasdam we are on a waitlist and may not be able to move out of the "B"

You will really enjoy that "S" I thought it was worth every penny.

[1cruiselvr]

We love the Suite on the S class ships but find that we can cruise more often, if we book a balcony instead. Happy Sailing!

[heyabbott]

Do you ever get used to such small rooms? The cabins smaller than the SS are smaller than my bathroom. When we decided on the SS we went into our bathroom and said."Could we live in here for a week?".

[1cruiselvr]

SMALL??? You should try a standard inside on an RCI ship. One step and hop after entering the cabin and you were on the bed. Smallest cabin I have ever sailed in - I think it was around 136 sq. ft. HAL cabins are huge in comparison. Happy Sailing!

[dakrewser]

Do you ever get used to such small rooms? The cabins smaller than the SS are smaller than my bathroom. When we decided on the SS we went into our bathroom and said."Could we live in here for a week?".

You don't know small until you go on a canal barge - 6' X 8' !

http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/FRcabin22.jpg

-dave

[heyabbott]

You don't know small until you go on a canal barge - 6' X 8' !

http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/FRcabin22.jpg

-dave

We did a Seine River cruise from Normandy to Paris, it was small but still had a queen bed, dresser desk TV and bathroom(shower only). Though in on a river cruise you really are awake in the room only about an hour a day and there are about 40 couples, max on the ship.

[dakrewser]

We did a Seine River cruise from Normandy to Paris, it was small but still had a queen bed, dresser desk TV and bathroom(shower only). Though in on a river cruise you really are awake in the room only about an hour a day and there are about 40 couples, max on the ship.

A river barge is HUGE compared to a canal barge with a max of 14-18 passengers. Still, it was great fun - but quite a different experience from a cruise ship! (although the food was better than on NCL!)

[RuthC]

Do you ever get used to such small rooms? The cabins smaller than the SS are smaller than my bathroom. When we decided on the SS we went into our bathroom and said."Could we live in here for a week?".
Then you must have one huge bathroom! Where did you get the idea that HAL cabins are small? :confused: I book the "large" inside, and it's quite comfortable---even when I share with a stranger for a month! :)

Now, the old Rotterdam, now you're talking small. :eek: The steerage insides on those might have been 6' X 8'! Try sharing that for a month. :eek:

[arzz]

Those mini-suites are dangerous for my health -- did our first mini-suite on the Zaandam at Christmas and it has served to only increase my level of cruise ship additiction and has done so in an expensive way -- why it was not too long ago when I was thankful for that bit of sunshine that could come in through the "luxury" of a port hole!!! I now constantly crave the sweet serenity of that verandah and the quiet of the Navigation deck!!

I fear that someday I will stumble upon the comforts and pampering of a full suite and then I will certainly be trapped in the vortex of luxury cravings forever (with bankruptcy certain to follow)!!! Oh, for those sweet innocent days when a small inside cabin with a curved wall up in the bow or at the stern just over the deep rumblings of the old steam engines was heaven...ahh simpler times......

[Globaliser]

You don't know small until you go on a canal barge - 6' X 8' !Even better (or worse?), try a traditional English canal narrowboat, like this one (http://www.canalholidays.co.uk/narrowboat6.htm). They're great fun (I'm doing a weekend trip next month), but you do have to know your fellow cruisers well. Or you will get to know them well by the time you get off.

Back to the topic - I've always wondered where all the CC members are who sail in the inside cabins so generously provided by the cruise lines. Now I know. Everyone really does sail in suites.

Me, I booked and paid for an outside cabin once and vowed never to do it again for myself. It was a waste of money. I don't think I looked out of the window more than once every other day. I was hardly ever in the cabin long enough to do so.

[RevNeal]

My cabin of choice on both S/R and now Vista ships is the J-category inside. On the S/R class vessels those Js are on the Lower Promenade Deck, just a few steps from the ship's biggest Verandah! On the Vista ships the best Js are on Main Deck ... they're so large you can DANCE in them!!!! :)

This preference doesn't mean that I won't or haven't booked different categories. Christopher prefers having a Verandah, and this November we're going to be on the Westerdam for a B2B cruise in an SS category cabin! And, I've been in the "mini-suites" on the S/R ships too. I like them. But, if it's just me, I prefer to go J inside and cruise for as cheap as I can manage. With 5 weeks of vacation a year, I can usually manage 2 cruises ... :)

[CrazyforCruisin]

We just got back from the Mexican Riveria Cruise on the Oostedam 2/5-2/12). The S suite was wonderful. On our first cruise to alaska we had a verandah cabin and DH decided to upgrade on this cruise. We spend time in our cabin, breakfast in the morning, cocktails in the afternoon, sitting on the verandah. We are also very tall, 5'10" and 6'4" so we like the room. We also like the perks with the S. The Neptune Lounge, the free laundry, etc. No going back now! Next cruise will be the Canal. Already planning!

[Iggipolka]

We just got back from the Mexican Riveria Cruise on the Oostedam 2/5-2/12).

oh! I'd love to hear more details about your cruise. How was it? :>

[Melissa at Mohair Meadows]

Interesting everyone stressing how small their cabins have been. I shared a cabin with 4 other girls on a freighter in Norway. Does that count?

We started cruising in an inside cabin on the bottom deck of the Destiny. (Bad plumbing. Thought the toilet would suck us out). We moved up a few decks then finally had our first outside cabins. (2) This cruise we have a CC balcony - can hardly wait. This is a special occasion (30th anniversary) so we probably will go back to outside cabins after this. Unless we get hooked on the balcony. :p

[arzz]

Didn't you see the government warning in the fine print of the brochure on the addictive nature of verandah cabins? -- it specifically states that "Verandah cabins may be harmful to your wallet"!

[CrazyforCruisin]

oh! I'd love to hear more details about your cruise. How was it? :>

Hi, I can email you pics etc if you would like. I am trying to put together a review of trip and ship. We had a wonderful time. One of the best trips we have taken and we have traveled quite a bit.
Jodie

[Iggipolka]

I'd love pics! My email is iggipolka@yahoo.com thanks!

[Host Walt]

We did a Seine River cruise from Normandy to Paris, it was small but still had a queen bed, dresser desk TV and bathroom(shower only). Though in on a river cruise you really are awake in the room only about an hour a day and there are about 40 couples, max on the ship.We did a small barge from Joigny to Paris and a small ship up theNile from Aswan to Luxor.

In both cases there was room for only one of us at a time in the room except when in bed. (Changing in the bathroom was physically impossible. We decided that the first one up gets dressed and ready to go, then goes to the passenger lounge while the other gets dressed.)

The floor space in the smallest HAL cabin is far, far more than a barge room. I would guess that the total sq. ft. of a HAL cabin is more than double the rooms on the barge and the Nile ship.

We spent very little time in our cabin in both cases.

[jturner901]

el cheapo

[BCEagle78]

I didn't see my choices on the list of available ones.

We have booked Inside Guarenteed for our cruises...

[richnorto]

As I made comment earlier in this thread, we have always done an outside, but are trying inside in order to accomodate our 3 children and another cabin in our budget -darn these kids and their vacation killing ways! I don't think it will make one iota of difference. I don't think we looked out the window twice in any week! Bring an alarm clock and have a great time!!!:)

[suemag]

Ok so what does all the s class stuff mean? I'm a first timer( very evident:))

we have a vb which was a deluxe veranndah is that good? Just picked it out of the available choices that fit our budget.

[Randyk47]

S class and V class refer to the two basic ship design/sizes that constitute most of the Holland America fleet with a couple of ships that don't quite fit into either category. For instance, the Prinsendam that was bought from another line so it doesn't fit into either the S or V classification. The S class are the smaller ships and the Statendam was the first of this design thus the "S" or at least that's the way I've always thought and heard the class got its designation. A couple of years ago HAL started launching bigger ships that they called the Vista class, shortened on most boards to the V class. Some people don't care and like either size ship while others prefer one or the other. My wife and I prefer the smaller S class but we honeymooned on the Ryndam, an S class ship, so that may have a lot of impact on our preference.

Might add that our very first cabin was an S category on the Ryndam on a 10 day cruise. (Not counting the 3 day Carnival cruise to see whether we liked cruising or not.....boy did that turn out to be a silly question.) Really spoiled us though we found our SS category on the Oosterdam this past March to be quite comfortable.

[RuthC]

S class and V class refer to the two basic ship design/sizes.... A couple of years ago HAL started launching bigger ships that they called the Vista class, shortened on most boards to the V class.
Actually, Randy, Vista-class is called Vista-class.
V-class refers to the Volendam/Zaandam sisters. They (and the R-class Rotterdam/Amsterdam sisters) have essentailly the same lay-out as the S-class, but are built on a different hull.

So, there is the S-class: Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam
R-class: Rotterdam, Amsterdam
V-class: Volendam, Zaandam
Vista-class: Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam (soon. very, very soon)
Prinsendam

[Randyk47]

Thanks.....never seen it laid out that way. Hadn't really cared until the Odam....which was nice but give me the Ryndam any day. :)

[tess2cruz]

This being our first HAL cruise we went with the SS Cat. Our main objective is the verandah, large and private, hope this is the case with HAL. We have had 2 Carnival verandahs that wrapped the back corner of the ship, room was a little small, but we spend more time out on the verandah anyway. Princess it was a min-suite, but that seems small compared to the deluxe suite on RC. Guess all that matters is relaxing and having fun. And the best part of cruising, is no matter where you are steerage to penthouse, you are treated like royalty always. ONE WEEK TO GO!!!!!

Teri & Bob
OR & TX

[Greengirl]

We don't have a usual...

1st cruise was an outside window
2nd cruise was a cat. 12 suite (Awesome!!)
3rd (upcoming) cruise will be an inside - taking our four kids - a double right next to a quad - trying to keep the costs down

I think I would definately go with a balcony for 7 day or longer cruises, an oceanview for shorter ones. I don't think I'm going to like the inside, but with four kids, we probably won't be spending much time in there anyway.

[bepsf]

Actually, Randy, Vista-class is called Vista-class.
V-class refers to the Volendam/Zaandam sisters. They (and the R-class Rotterdam/Amsterdam sisters) have essentailly the same lay-out as the S-class, but are built on a different hull.

So, there is the S-class: Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam
R-class: Rotterdam, Amsterdam
V-class: Volendam, Zaandam
Vista-class: Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam (soon. very, very soon)
Prinsendam

...However, HAL only refers to 3 classes of ship (S, R and Vista) plus Prinsendam:
http://www.hollandamerica.com/media/fleetFactSheets.do

[ctguy001]

Since I usually travel solo, I book an inside guarantee and hope for the best. On HAL it's been an upgrade 3/4 times to an outside, on other lines, no such luck. Steerage all the time. I've done a balcony cabin and found I almost never went out there. I want other people around and a waiter close by!

[Tarkus]

generally, some form of an inside stateroom. booked a suite once, and found it a waste of money for me - i never stay in my cabin much beyond bathing, changing, and sleeping... think i only used the balcony once (after a night's partying i usually stumble-back to my room and fall asleep as soon as i can hit the bed). much better for me to take the room savings and apply it to drinks & shore excursions.

[General Max]

"S" suites so far.

Cheers

General Max

[Slinkiecat]

We have tried a Verandah, an outside view, and the SS. For 12 days the verandah was fine, and we survived the outside on a 3-day cruise. However, on a 113-day trip I would consider the SS or S the only choice. On the Prinsendam we spent many days at sea in our cabin, and the king-sized bed plus two desks for our laptops were necessities. The verandah was just wonderful to sit and watch the scenery when we were near land, and to watch flying fishes, dolphins and whales when we were in deep water.

My vote of Verandah Suite was the average of the three.

Slinkie

[serendipity1499]

We book a large outside mid-ship with an un-obstructed view....We usually book the longer cruises rather than the 7 day Caribbean Cruises...On the "Westerdam" last year, one couple in our party had a verandah cabin...Their "AA" cabin was smaller than our outside "D"cabin...:( Even they noticed the differednce & were surprised! On the "Prinsendam" Amazon Explorer Trip we've booked an "F" cabin..:)

[Sea Horse 1991]

.,. for Panama, balcony! .,. a must for that cruise .,. especially a stern balcony. You'll understand when you go through the locks. For Mexico, outside the first time, Cat K the others, we had already been there and found on previous cruises that we spent a majority of our time on deck with its broad vista's (and when the sun isn't right we can move to the other side of the ship) doing some people watching, and enjoying the live entertainment by the pool. The cruises we've done in the Caribban have all been outside cabins. For Hawaii, Cat K midship to be down and centered in the ship for the 10 days at sea and again, we will spend most of our time on deck so the balcony would (almost) be a waste. For Alaska, we will go with whatever pot luck brings us (no plan, we'll just go on that one when it feels right).
The cost savings are also a consideration. What we save in life style choice allows us to take four vacations a year with motorcycle trips all over the Northern Hemisphere, hops to Vegas and the East Coast, and just plain runaways to be where-ever together. Cruising is just part of a rich life ... and life is good right now.

[willowoodf]

This is awful, but we haven't even been ON a cruise yet, and we are already hooked on the "suite" life! We booked one for our December Westerdam Caribbean cruise - it was a good deal! and then just booked whatever we could get for our Alaska Ryndam cruise. But after reading this board and thinking about it, we started watching the HAL website and saw a suite open up just one week before sailing. As soon as we saw it we called HAL but they said they didn't have any. We called our TA and she was able to book it for us. Yippee! So we haven't even set foot on a cruise ship yet, and already are spoiled!

Mary

[RuthC]

So we haven't even set foot on a cruise ship yet, and already are spoiled!
Look ashamed. :(

[willowoodf]

How's this?? :o

[RuthC]

How's this?? :o
:D Good! :D

[BJane]

We book an inside so that I can avoid having a bathtub. We had an outside on one HAL ship, but with my disability I don't want to take a chance on falling and the side of the tub was quite high. We do book balcony cabins on RCI because they have showers, not tubs. I love being out on deck or in the public rooms so I really don't mind the inside cabins. They are rather cozy.

[Bones]

I booked a large inside Cabin on my 1st HAL cruise in September. It is on the Navigator Deck on the Oosterdamm. Guess price was motivator. We bought a house this year so have to economize a bit on the vacation.
Dan

Celebrity Infinity 12/01
Celebrity Galaxy 5/02
Celebrity Summit 12/02
Royal Caribbean ROS 2/04
HAL Oosterdamm RSVP 9/3/05

[HAL92]

We usually book a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Superior Verandah Suite on HAL cruises. We like having extra room and drawer space as well as the sitting area. The balcony is great to sit out there and watch the scenery go by. We're people who like to spend time in our cabin, and once you get used to the suite life, you just can't go back.

[Tatka]

We usually take 2 vacations a year (1 week each) that involve flying (Caribbeans or Europe) with 3 of us and airfare from MA it's inside cabin for us. We usually try not to book lowes level though.

On Zui we had wonderful inside cabin I-6067. Very spacey for 3 of us.

[General Max]

Our first two cruises will be in "S" suites. We booked an "A" cabin on the Nordam inaugural cruise because the "S" category cabins were priced very high. If HAL can get it, more power to them.

Cheers

General Max

[lka1012]

I generally try to get one of the cheapest cabins they can put me in.

[HAL92]

I usually try to get an S suite. The balcony is great and the cabin is very large. The special perks that come with them are also very nice. On vista-class ships, if the S are sold out, I go for the SS suite, which are also very nice but don't include all the perks. On the S class ships, if I can't get an S suite, I'll go for a regular verandah suite. The suite life is great-you get addicted once you've experienced it!