Lanai cabin question

[Murphycat1]

Hi--
For any of you who have cruised in a lanai cabin, is the closet space the same as one would find in an oceanview or verandah room? Is there any drawer space at all? (i note that the desk has no drawers.)
also, is there the same small table in front of the sofa that you find in other cabins?
Many thanks for your help---we are trying to decide if a lanai room would be a good choice for our 30 day cruise.
All opinions much appreciated.

Murphykitty

[Krazy Kruizers]

Found these pictures from Joanie's wen site:

http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/sm-room-329-toward-deck.JPG (http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/room-329-toward-deck.JPG)--http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/sm-room-329-toward-door.JPG (http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/room-329-toward-door.JPG)

The table looks tiny:

http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/sm-Veendam_Lanai-Stateroom-CA_333-DBA.jpg (http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/Veendam_Lanai-Stateroom-CA_333-DBA.jpg)

[Murphycat1]

Many thanks for the pictures----we are currently booked in an "A" veranda and now believe we have made the right choice!

Kitty

[RuthC]

The lanai has at least as many closets as the inside cabins across the passageway. Can't remember if there's one more, or not.
I didn't check to see if there's any drawers under the beds; it's possible there are, although the other outsides and insides don't have them. You're correct that there's no drawers at the desk. The outside and inside cabins have six drawers there.
There's a love seat, and the standard table that all the outside and inside cabins have.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I think you have made a wise choice.

With the balcony -- you can leave the curtains open in the evening -- you don;t have people walking by all the time.

[marco]

There were double closets in our lanai cabin and half of one of them had shelves (we used them as though they were drawers and actually were easier to find stuff on than had they been drawers. We enjoyed our lanai cabin and the next time we sail on a HAL ship that has them, we will book one, again.

[fleckle]

Found these pictures from Joanie's wen site:

http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/sm-room-329-toward-deck.JPG (http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/room-329-toward-deck.JPG)--

Thank you so much for posting this.
We had been considering a lanai cabin because it sounded like a nice idea in theory from the description, but changed our minds after seeing this picture.

We now realize that there is no way we would be happy with one because we would feel very uncomfortable having strangers walking back and forth right outside our glass doors or possibly standing there.

[NordicPrince]

Thank you so much for posting this.
We had been considering a lanai cabin because it sounded like a nice idea in theory from the description, but changed our minds after seeing this picture.

We now realize that there is no way we would be happy with one because we would feel very uncomfortable having strangers walking back and forth right outside our glass doors or possibly standing there.

This is an unreasonable fear as 98% of the time people cannot see thru the mylar reflective material that is on the outside of the Lanai door.
The only time you need to be concerned is at night when there is an outside light shining on your door. Just close the curtain then - no biggie.

In our experience the Lower Promenade is not as heavily used as one might think. It is used by walkers in the morning and later in the afternoon. Otherwise people just tend to sit by their cabin doors.

The advantage of the Lanai is that it allows you access to the Lower Promenade so therefore you should be outside of your Lanai enjoying your deck chair instead of sitting inside the cabin worrying about who could be looking in.

DW and I loved our Lanai experiences and look forward to booking one again in the future. It allows us to step up from an OV without feeling badly that we can't swing a verandah.

Letting a good opportunity pass you by.

[Okie1946]

This is an unreasonable fear as 98% of the time people cannot see thru the mylar reflective material that is on the outside of the Lanai door.
The only time you need to be concerned is at night when there is an outside light shining on your door. Just close the curtain then - no biggie.

In our experience the Lower Promenade is not as heavily used as one might think. It is used by walkers in the morning and later in the afternoon. Otherwise people just tend to sit by their cabin doors.

The advantage of the Lanai is that it allows you access to the Lower Promenade so therefore you should be outside of your Lanai enjoying your deck chair instead of sitting inside the cabin worrying about who could be looking in.

DW and I loved our Lanai experiences and look forward to booking one again in the future. It allows us to step up from an OV without feeling badly that we can't swing a verandah.

Letting a good opportunity pass you by.

I second, third and fourth any of the statements that was a YES vote for the Lanai cabin. We had one on the Rotterdam, going to Alaska and we absolutely loved it. Whenever we cruise and the ship/itinerary is what we want - we will book the Lanai. Loved being able to set right outside the cabin, able to spend some quality time just watching the world and the BEAUTIFUL scenery go by.

Granted there only drawer space were the two large ones under the bed and the two end tables, there is no mini-bar in the cabin (stewards keep the ice bucket full at all times) and the love seat is somewhat small, but the closets are as large as what you find in a verandah, the bathroom is the same as what you get in a verandah and the bed is the same size. In the evening/night, the only way people can see in from the outside is if the come up and put thier face against the door - so close the curtains.

Personally, we loved the Lanai cabins and will book them as often as we can.

Previous Cruises:

Alaska - Westerdam - September 2009
Alaska - Rotterdam - September 2010
Mexican Riveria - Oosterdam - April 2011

Future Cruise - in planning stage:
Alaska - 14 day cruise OR 20 day cruise/tour - 2012
Eastern Med - 28 day - 2013

[HamburgAvonLady]

I would be uncomfortable in a Lanai cabin for a long cruise of 30 days.
DH and I prefer the privacy of our balcony --- don't know about you
but I love having breakfast on our balcony in my PJ's or having a
cocktail and watching the moon and stars late in the evening --- sure couldn't do that
in this type of cabin. Plus, even though we try to pack efficiently as to the amount of clothes we take --- would need more storage space,
but that's just me.

[gregdude]

I had a Lanai for a 45 day cruise from South America to NYC and enjoyed every second. You can't hear people walking on the deck and at night almost no one uses the deck, so closing the drapes was never an issue until bed time. Being able to walk directly on deck, sitting down, talking to neighbors was an absolutely amazing experience, much better than a verandah. Several times during the cruise the guest in the six cabins around mine met for dinner because we enjoyed each others company. '

Unfortunately we will be on the Zaandam next month in Alaska. The Zaandam still only has "C" cabins so we will have to make due. But if we ever cruise another HAL ship that has Lanai cabins that would be my first choice.

[Murphycat1]

Interesting to read the comments on these "new" cabin types. Have pretty much decided that on this longer cruise, (30 day Hawaii/Tahiti) we will be better off in the verandah room---a space we are familiar with. But if I were traveling solo, after seeing these pictures and reading your comments, the lanai would be my choice without a doubt.

We had originally booked a lanai and were waitlisted for a verandah---when one came up we took a deep breath----and went for it. Since we are two women traveling, the extra space was really the deciding factor and, for us, worth the extra $$$$$.

Thanks again----all opinions appreciated.

Kitty

[HamburgAvonLady]

Are you on the Westerdam departing next month, by any chance ? If
so, check out the Roll Call -- sounds like a really nice group of folks.

[Jade13]

At least on Maasdam the drawer space in the Lanai's is less than the large "C" cabins" on Deck 9. We have been in "C" Outsides on both Veendam and Maasdam. We were suppose to be in a Lanai on Maasdam but moved to a Suite QTY and ended up in a BA. We never used our Veranda (and have not on any ship) so planning on a Lanai next year in South America. Of course if the Veranda is the same price we might move.

To answer your question, there is one less row of drawers based on the "C" we had visited on the promenade deck last fall prior to the renovation. The Lanai cabins are shorter than the large "C"'s we have seen.

The only cabins we would stay home rather than cruise are the inside cabins on Deck 9 forward portside. They look like a closet.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Interesting to read the comments on these "new" cabin types. Have pretty much decided that on this longer cruise, (30 day Hawaii/Tahiti) we will be better off in the verandah room---a space we are familiar with. But if I were traveling solo, after seeing these pictures and reading your comments, the lanai would be my choice without a doubt.

We had originally booked a lanai and were waitlisted for a verandah---when one came up we took a deep breath----and went for it. Since we are two women traveling, the extra space was really the deciding factor and, for us, worth the extra $$$$$.

Thanks again----all opinions appreciated.

Kitty

That's interesting. A friend had a lanai cabin on Veendam with her daughter, and she said she'd take one again, especially if she were in the cabin by herself.

[vb,cruisers]

I think you have made a wise choice.

With the balcony -- you can leave the curtains open in the evening -- you don;t have people walking by all the time.

HOW true! Also, the Lani cabins are smaller than the average outside cabin.....check out the sq. ft. that is why there is a Loveseat, instead of a sofa.

[Murphycat1]

are you on the westerdam departing next month, by any chance ? If
so, check out the roll call -- sounds like a really nice group of folks.

Thank you for the suggestion, but we are booked on the March 4, 2012 Rotterdam.

Kitty

[DutchByAssociation]

Found these pictures from Joanie's wen site:

[/URL]--[URL="http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/room-329-toward-door.JPG"] (http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/room-329-toward-deck.JPG)

The table looks tiny:

http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/sm-Veendam_Lanai-Stateroom-CA_333-DBA.jpg (http://abqreunion2008.com/Veendam/Veendam_Lanai-Stateroom-CA_333-DBA.jpg)

The image I left in the quote is a wheelchair accessible lanai room. FYI

[HamburgAvonLady]

Thank you for the suggestion, but we are booked on the March 4, 2012 Rotterdam.

Kitty

Check out the Roll Call anyway. Lots of great suggestions about private tours and free sightseeing.

[mconthehighseas]

The reason they have lanai cabins AND balcony cabins is that there is a market for each. If the OP would prefer a balcony, that means more lanai cabins available for the people who would really enjoy them.

I'm not a morning person, so I think I would not enjoy hearing the morning walkers/joggers/runners each day, but I really can't say. I do like that HAL has designated chairs on the promenade out side the door for each of the cabins, so that you don't have to scramble to find one.

[Okie1946]

The reason they have lanai cabins AND balcony cabins is that there is a market for each. If the OP would prefer a balcony, that means more lanai cabins available for the people who would really enjoy them.

I'm not a morning person, so I think I would not enjoy hearing the morning walkers/joggers/runners each day, but I really can't say. I do like that HAL has designated chairs on the promenade out side the door for each of the cabins, so that you don't have to scramble to find one.

I too am an early riser and believe me - I did not hear the early walkers, joggers or runners each day. When we cruise we book either the balcony or the lanai cabins. We really prefer the lanai, but when one is not available.........

But we also need to remember that everyone has their own preferences we can only voice our own opinion and hope someone doesn't flame us for stating it.

Either way - I am sure the OP will have a wonderful cruise.

Previous Cruises:
Alaska - Westerdam - September 2009
Alaska - Rotterdam - September 2010
Mexican Riveria - Oosterdam - April 2011

Future Cruise - in planning stage:
Alaska - 14 day cruise OR 20 day cruise/tour - 2012
Eastern Med - 28 day - 2013 (hope to cruise the Black Sea)

[amster65]

The Maasdam class ships have steel walled balconies. If you sit on your balcony you cant see anything. Lania to me would be preferable. My brother in law had a balcony on the Maasdam and he was hardly ever outside. Now the balconies on the vista class have plexiglass. We walked the promenade after dinner on the Zuiderdam a few times and it was usually us and maybe two other couples.:cool: