Any opinion on DD Staterooms on Maasdam?

[jacank]

We're really booked late for the cruise on 2/27/05 on Maasdam (booked last night) and the best available cabin they had was DD373. It's on the Lower Prominade. I'm sure it's not going to be like the Veranda's or Suites, but I'm wondering if anyone has stayed in these cabins before. Do I take ear plugs and something for white noise? I'm just thrilled to be going on the Maasdam again and don't intend to spend much time in the cabin, but any information is appreciated.

[RuthC]

Nice location---just steps from your own veranda---and very handy for Lifeboat Drill. :)

This cabin will be smaller than outsides on other decks---even smaller than the insides across the passageway, but not tiny. The desk will be shorter with fewer drawers.
Do be sure to keep your draperies closed at night when you have the lights on. :eek:
Only you can decide if you need to drown out noise; are you a light sleeper? You may hear some talking from the outside deck. I had a similar cabin on the Rotterdam once; I could hear a bit of talking once in a while.

[Orcrone]

Personally I would feel on display having an outside cabin on the lower promenade. I would book an outside on A or Main deck, not worry about people looking in and save some money.

[dakrewser]

Personally I would feel on display having an outside cabin on the lower promenade. I would book an outside on A or Main deck, not worry about people looking in and save some money.

What makes you think they'd want to look in? :rolleyes:

-dave
<ducking, and running away very, very fast!>

[Orcrone]

What makes you think they'd want to look in? :rolleyes:

-dave
<ducking, and running away very, very fast!>You obviously have never met my beautiful wife.:) ;)

[dakrewser]

You obviously have never met my beautiful wife.:) ;)

OK, two points for you!:rolleyes:

[kruzkeen]

I have never sailed in a DD, but friends once did and I went around for a look. They have partially obstructed views. When you look out the window you see the bulkhead wall as well as a partial view of the sky and water. Better than a HH which has a fully obstructed view. My friends were happy as they had booked an inside. I remember them saying, as others have posted, that you keep the curtains closed at night when the lights were on.

[the2ofus]

Have had Lower Prom cabins before, and have liked them very much. Did not feel cramped for space at all. Not sure if your cabin has a connecting door to an HH cabin, some of the DDs do. If so, that might be a source of occasional noise. Otherwise, I don't think noise will be a problem. You should be below the dining room, which will not have much activity at night. If your cabin if further forward, you will be below part of the kitchen and may hear noise in the early morning.

As for seeing in from outside, during daylight its not likely unless someone puts their face right to the glass. At night, keep your drapes closed. However, it is our experience that there is very little traffic on lower prom at night.

You will have plenty of light from outside and as another poster said, you will be able to see out to the sea by looking at an angle. Even tho the bulkhead may be almost opposite your cabin, it will be several feet away on the other side of the walkway on lower prom.

[jacank]

Thanks for all the info. Our TA tells us this cabin is just partially obstructed by the end of a lifeboat and we can see out to the left, or out the front. I wasn't aware the cabin was smaller. I asked if it was same size, and she told me it was. But then, she's probably never been in a DD. As for some noise, talking would be fine. I'm not sure if we're under the kitchen and that was a bit of concern. One poster talked about banging pots and loud talking at 2am. It looks like DD373 is under the far right of the kitchen, but I can't be sure. The diagram I saw of the promenade just showed blank spaces. Guess I'll just have to dance the night away til 2am, or gamble. Such hardships..hehe. Any and all comments are appreciated. :)

[Orcrone]

Just curious. If all outside cabins on the two decks directly below (Main and A) have unobstructed views and cost less money, what is the appeal of the lower promenade. It's only up one or two flights to get from those decks to the outside deck around the lower promenade.

[mrsfitz28]

We just returned on the Maasdam the 6th. We had cabin 360 on the promenade. I thought it was wonderful we could go right outside our door and either walk or relax in one of the wonderful deck chairs. The weather on our trip was very rough with swells of 18 to 28 feet. People in the bow complained about the banging when the ship hit a very large swell. The Atlantic can be very rough any time if you're prone to seasickness make sure you take Bonine or a patch before cruise. I wrote a review today and it should be posted in the next 5 days.
Donna

[Linda&Vern]

Just curious. If all outside cabins on the two decks directly below (Main and A) have unobstructed views and cost less money, what is the appeal of the lower promenade. It's only up one or two flights to get from those decks to the outside deck around the lower promenade.
Appeal of LP: As I posted last week -- unless we win the lottery and can book a balcony, we will always book the Lower Promenade. Maasdam Holiday Cruise was made more special by the fact that in a split second we could be out on the deck ... and during the whole 11 days the only person ever looking in the window was DH making faces at me! Personally I could not be comfortable on Main or A knowing there was no way outside fast! If I had to I would even book an inside on the LP deck, as a last resort if I couldn't get an outside.

[RuthC]

Just curious. If all outside cabins on the two decks directly below (Main and A) have unobstructed views and cost less money, what is the appeal of the lower promenade. It's only up one or two flights to get from those decks to the outside deck around the lower promenade.
Since I book an inside I don't deal with the smaller cabin that an outside is on Lower Promenade. What I like---besides being able to get outside quickly---is being done with Lifeboat drill faster! I can wait 'til the last minute to go outside, and have my vest stashed and be heading for fun while others are still waiting for the elevators!
When I'm booking a specific cabin on an S-class ship it's on LP. On an R-class I have a favorite cabin on Main.

[jacank]

I'm curious about the "smaller cabin" on outside Lower Prominade Deck. According to the deck plans, and all I've been able to find..the square footage is exactly the same. I'm also curious about the post about possible noise if I have one of the cabins with an adjoining room. How would that be noisier? Because of a door being there instead of a solid wall? Don't get me wrong..I can deal with most everyday noises, and a smaller cabin isn't a problem either, since the Maasdam's rooms are larger than most ships anyway. As for choosing the Prom. deck rather than Main deck..yes, being able to get outside is a big plus for me. If I can't get a veranda, this is the next best thing, and since I'm one of those people that always forgets something, I can pop back to my room in no time. :)

[Linda&Vern]

I'm curious about the "smaller cabin" on outside Lower Prominade Deck. According to the deck plans, and all I've been able to find..the square footage is exactly the same. I'm also curious about the post about possible noise if I have one of the cabins with an adjoining room. How would that be noisier? Because of a door being there instead of a solid wall? Don't get me wrong..I can deal with most everyday noises, and a smaller cabin isn't a problem either, since the Maasdam's rooms are larger than most ships anyway. As for choosing the Prom. deck rather than Main deck..yes, being able to get outside is a big plus for me. If I can't get a veranda, this is the next best thing, and since I'm one of those people that always forgets something, I can pop back to my room in no time. :)
We were in an outside (C cat) on the LP, but on the last day went across the hall into an empty inside room (J cat) for a look. Sure didn't seem any different to us. Exception was there was a large shower stall (no tub) instead of bathtub/shower combo. As for noise, the crew does wash down the deck early every morning. But only once during our 11 days did DH think that "maybe" he heard something.

[RuthC]

Although I haven't been on the Maasdam yet, I've sailed her three sisters extensively. So, based on that I'll explain:

The inside cabins, and the outsides on other decks have two rows of three drawers at the desk area. The outsides on Lower Promenade have one row of three. Consequently the desk is shorter by that same amount.
Also, the insides have the TV attached to the wall above the desk; the outsides on LP have the TV on the desk. So, not only is there less desk (and drawer) space in the first place, what there is is not totally available.

The walking-around area is the same as other cabins, but since the desk is shorter the room is shorter by the same amount.

I've been in a connecting cabin once (on the Rotterdam). Once I heard some noise from the next cabin, and it did seem to come through the door, but it was minimal. The couch in that cabin was a love seat length to make room for the door. The up-side of that was there was room to put the table and open up the floor area.

[Linda&Vern]

Although I haven't been on the Maasdam yet, I've sailed her three sisters extensively. So, based on that I'll explain:

The inside cabins, and the outsides on other decks have two rows of three drawers at the desk area. The outsides on Lower Promenade have one row of three. Consequently the desk is shorter by that same amount.
Also, the insides have the TV attached to the wall above the desk; the outsides on LP have the TV on the desk. So, not only is there less desk (and drawer) space in the first place, what there is is not totally available.

The walking-around area is the same as other cabins, but since the desk is shorter the room is shorter by the same amount.

I've been in a connecting cabin once (on the Rotterdam). Once I heard some noise from the next cabin, and it did seem to come through the door, but it was minimal. The couch in that cabin was a love seat length to make room for the door. The up-side of that was there was room to put the table and open up the floor area.
Are there 3 closet doors or 4 on an "inside"? DH and I both think that when we looked into the room across the hall from us on disembarkation day that there were only 3 closet doors and that was why the desk area was longer with the six drawers. (Our outside had 4 closets - but you are correct, a shorter desk area with 3 drawers.)

[RuthC]

Are there 3 closet doors or 4 on an "inside"?
Can't remember for sure; certainly could be three.


I've had an outside---Main Deck---on the Statendam and remember four closets. I remember the insides on Lower Prom on her sisters as feeling almost the same degree of spaciousness. I remember feeling the outsides feeling---and being---smaller on Lower Promenade.


Different ship configuration now: I remember on the Rotterdam I had four closets on Lower Promenade inside and am almost positive the inside/out (fully obstructed, but otherwise the same as outside) on the same ship had four closets too. The R-ships have one set of three drawers inside and out.


Only our tapemeasures know for sure!