Large Ocean View Stateroom on Amsterdam

[ricki]

Hello everyone,

We are new to HAL, but not new to cruising. Our previous cruises have all been on Crystal.

We are considering the 2012 Grand Asia voyage, but have no idea what is a desirable cabin to request on the Amsterdam.

Would you seasoned HAL cruisers please give us some suggestions. We generally prefer midship or aft in a quiet location. Thank you very much in advance!

Ricki

[DAllenTCY]

I would recommend a deluxe veranda suite to you. On the port side try to get 7018 but avoid 7020 (noise from the Neptune Lounge pantry) and rooms 7022 and higher (under lido deck movable chairs and tables). On the starboard side any of the following 7017-7019-7021 would be fine. http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/eBrochures/ships/am_ebrochure.pdf
David

[kazu]

definitely do a Deluxe Verandah Suite - you will have concierge service from the neptune lounge and plenty of comfy real estate to relax in your room and on your verandah :D

[ricki]

Thank you for your suggestions, but a veranda suite is twice as much as a large ocean view stateroom on that sailing, so I think we have to stay with that and hope the upgrade fairy intervenes! One of the reasons we are trying HAL is the cost per day compared to Crystal, and a veranda suite would be less than we would pay on Crystal for a comparable sailing, but more than we want to pay.

Ricki

[arzz]

We spent 65 days in a large ocean view cabin on the dolphin deck of the Amsterdam. I am sure that size wise it is nowhere near that of Crystal, but there is plenty of storage space and just enough space for two not to totally trip over each other for an extended voyage. We never had to hide sharp implements from each other. Lots of public spaces to relax and get lost in. The Veranda Suites (deck 6) are a little larger (but admittedly more pricey though not as high as a Deluxe Veranda Suite) but have less storage space than a large ocean view cabin so beware.

I would suggest to you that you do what we did when making our plans for our '08 Grand Voyage. We realized that we were spending more money than we spend to buy a car so we needed to do our "homework" as we would when purchasing a car. So we looked for a seven day cruise on the Amsterdam that was a bargain -- we did an early season Alaska tour -- and did our research. We walked the corridors in the mornings when the cabins are being cleaned and peered into all of them. We did the same when at sea to find noisy areas or areas where there is significant vibration.

In the end we decided that our TA's recommendation of cabin 1909 was just fine. No great noises or vibrations and loads of storage space. Nothing beats the chance to check it our for yourself so that you can apply your own preferences to your proposed home for 70 days.

[arzz]

And do enjoy the 2012 Grand Asia voyage. We went in 2008 and I would love to do it again to get more time in repeat ports and to get to the ports on the 2012 itinerary that we have not yet seen. I personally lust after the Seattle to Singapore leg of the 2012 itinerary.

The '08 voyage was one of two "trips of a lifetime" that we have taken -- you will have a spectacular time no matter where you live for the duration.

[RuthC]

I recommend you take a good look at the outside cabins on Main Deck, especially those between the forward and aft elevator banks. Those cabins are between two passenger decks, so should be quiet.
My preference is between the forward and mid-ship elevator banks; that is based on where I expect to end my day, and making for the shortest walk home. Your preference could easily be further aft.

The outside cabins may not seem spacious to those who are used to the rarefied air of the upper decks, but they seem plenty nice to me.

How I envy you this cruise! :D

[ricki]

Thank you all for your good suggestions and for your enthusiasm about this itinerary! I'm starting to get excited even though it is more than a year away. The roll call thread is VERY sparse!

Ruth, I wish you were on this cruise, too, your smile is a million dollar one!

Ricki

[rkacruiser]

I have had cabins on both the Main Deck and the Dolphin Deck on the Amsterdam and prefer Dolphin Deck, between the forward and midships elevators. On Main Deck, I could hear people walking on the Lower Promenade Deck above me. On Dolphin Deck, be aware that the cabins closest to the forward foyer area on the port side are near the Housekeeping Office. That is an area that can become rather busy in the early morning hours when the cabin stewards come to pick-up laundry/dry cleaning and other items for their assigned cabins. Noise was not a problem; just congestion.

[ab0si]

I just returned last week from my first HAL cruise. It was on the Amsterdam. I usually cruise on Crystal. Two comments which might be helpful:

1) the HAL staterooms have much more storage space than you are used to on Crystal.

2) Stay away from the rear of the ship. Lots of "wiggling" and vibration back there .. much worse than on either Crystal ship.

[ricki]

Thanks, everyone. I did select some cabins and gave the numbers to our TA based on your suggestions. Amazingly, all of them are sold out (but probably not to CC members, since the roll call is still very quiet). I just sent her an email with our second choices.

Best wishes to all!

Ricki

[vbmom87]

Anyone know what is across from cabin 1885 on the Dolphin Deck? here are the deck plans link.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/deckplan/pdf/A.pdf

[ricki]

Again, thank you everyone for your suggestions. We ended up booking 1893 on the Dolphin deck. Has anybody stayed there or nearby?

Ricki

[arzz]

We had sixty five wonderful days in 1909 -- not far. What a wonderful voyage we had. Have a great time!

[SwissMyst]

Thank you for your suggestions, but a veranda suite is twice as much as a large ocean view stateroom on that sailing, so I think we have to stay with that and hope the upgrade fairy intervenes! One of the reasons we are trying HAL is the cost per day compared to Crystal, and a veranda suite would be less than we would pay on Crystal for a comparable sailing, but more than we want to pay.

Ricki

I hear you, we also came to HAL after Crystal and felt we got most of what we were looking for in cruising and even a lot more when we made the switch - I think HAL has better itineraries, larger cabins, better prices, and only a slight notch down for some of the food, which I learned after a few days on Crystal you can only eat so much of it anyway.

Decor in HAL public rooms not as high-end as Crystal, but that may not be the point of doing cruising in the first place if you are more destination bound than looking for on board ship ambiance. I think HAL shore excursions and on board lectures were a lot better than Crystal.

We did a 42 day trip in a very, very small cabin with a porthole on another cruise ship (MV Discovery) that porthole had to be closed for two-weeks because of pirate alerts and high seas anyway, so it became a defacto inside cabin after paying for the port-hole.

But taking that low deck, small and marginal cabin was the only way we could have afforded such a long "grand tour" too(Hong Kong to Capetown) and we would not have missed that trip for the world. (Pun not intended)

So while deluxe verandah suites on HAL are wonderful and the Neptune Lounge services pleasant to have, a regular ocean view cabin on HAL ships is still the far better HAL travel value, and even when compared to the regular ocean view cabins on Crystal.

An ocean view cabin should serve you very well on this long of a trip, if this is what makes doing such a wonderful grand voyage stay within your travel budget. I do hear you on that one.

Welcome to HAL. The Amsterdam is a special ship with a great reputation for world cruising. Lucky you, no matter what cabin you end up in. I think you already know this trip will end up costing more money as you move along anyway, so sticking to your budget early when making your cabin selection is a good place to start. And yes, sometimes the upgrade fairy will smile your way.

Or, your destinations will all blow up between now and then like we are facing right now with our Middle East cruise in November, and prices might drop as other start cancelling. Fingers crossed - all's well that ends well by November for us.

Best wishes and keep in touch with your progress and decisions. We all love sharing "grand voyages", even vicariously.

[almare]

Anyone know what is across from cabin 1885 on the Dolphin Deck? here are the deck plans link.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/deckplan/pdf/A.pdf

My recollection is that it is a steward's kitchenette or maybe a steward's closet.

_____________
Ron

[fann1sh]

Ricki, welcome to HAL. I think EE1893 is a lovely choice for a long cruise. It will definitely be quiet.

HAL will never rival Crystal, but does "kick it up a notch" on Grand Voyages.

HAL often puts a particular cabin category "on sale". Between now and final payment date for your cruise, you may find, for example, category "D" are priced lower than your EE. If there are any pricing shake ups, may I suggest you come back here for specific suggestions? The D cabins on Main deck are an "upgrade", but some people don't like the possibility of early morning feet walking above their heads on the promenade. (Others don't hear a thing.)

I would be delighted to be in a C cabin on lower prom, but they're not for everyone. Many find the prospect of people walking directly outside their window to be unsettling.

So, unless an upsell to a balcony cabin is offered, you may want to stay put, despite opportunities to upgrade.

PS: I agree with Ron, above. I think those two areas are linen storage, and a service area (crew only ice machine, etc.)