Eurodam Caribbean inside vs. balcony

[iamaqt2]

Need some input from seasoned Eurodam cruisers. DH and I are looking at doing a cruise on the Eurodam, and he really wants a balcony. I'm just fine with an inside. Finances dictate that we should both be fine with an inside. In an effort to compromise, I'm looking at possibly booking a cabana in the Retreat for the week.

Has anyone else compromised this way and been happy about it? Or did you still wish you had your own balcony?

And if we did go with an inside, any recommendations on which deck for best access to the cabana?

Thanks!

[Hlitner]

Need some input from seasoned Eurodam cruisers. DH and I are looking at doing a cruise on the Eurodam, and he really wants a balcony. I'm just fine with an inside. Finances dictate that we should both be fine with an inside. In an effort to compromise, I'm looking at possibly booking a cabana in the Retreat for the week.

Has anyone else compromised this way and been happy about it? Or did you still wish you had your own balcony?

And if we did go with an inside, any recommendations on which deck for best access to the cabana?

Thanks!

Am feeling your pain. We have two X cruises booked for the next two months and we have the cheapest inside cabin for one of the cruises (14 days) and an Aqua Class balcony for the other cruise (12 days). We will love both cruises, will appreciate the balcony cabin more then the inside, but will count our savings on the inside cabin cruise. There is no right or wrong answer. I will admit that we would never dream of spending any money on a cabana. We can always find our own deck chairs and keep in mind that you will probably not use that cabana on port days. A balcony offers several advantages in that its a nice place to enjoy a quiet morning coffee or early evening drink, it gives you an excellent sea view, and it makes the cabin feel larger. The cabana alllows you to pay for a chair (so what if its a nicer chair) when there are plenty of free chairs scattered around the deck.

Hank

[Hawaiidan]

I did both and booked a J on the main deck of the sister ship the New Amsterdam. (which is the same layout)
We had prior sailed only Regent Seven Seas in penthouses and suites.
Both my wife and I were totaly blown away with the comfort , layout and flat out size of the J cabin on Main deck. It was like being back on Regent.
The next week we spent in a Veranda... what a sad experience. Tiny cabin in floor space, tiny balcony that was in name only and even smaller bathroom.. In truth we , in the carribbean, founf the balcony pretty worthless and subject to wind, daily rain squalls and not what we expected
We are presently booked on a 30 day cruise in a J cabin and and would not trade our J ( square design) for even a free Veranda :eek:

One hidden advantage is that the main deck, amid-ships is without a doubt the best positioned, most restful and quietest cabin we have had on any Holland America ship...

Considering its almost 1/2 the price we save our $$$ for on board experiences outside the cabin.. Look at the deck plan these beauties go like hot-cakes and if you get one be sure to check NO-Upgrade,, because you cant upgrade from perfection.:D

[RuthC]

And if we did go with an inside, any recommendations on which deck for best access to the cabana?
I don't see it as which deck so much as where on the deck. The elevators make for an easy ride even from Main Deck. But you will want to be closer to the forward elevator bank/staircase. This is a long ship, and coming from the aft area too often will take the fun out of the cabana.
Whichever deck you choose (if you do take an inside) get something between the forward and mid-ship elevators.

Now, if you are asking which deck for the best inside cabins, that's something else altogether.
The largest insides are the J- and K-category cabins on Main Deck, and the I-category cabins on an upper deck (I forget which one).

DO NOT get a "standard" inside.

[Megsie1000]

We are booked on an upcoming January Eurodam cruise and I took these HAL vet's opinions and booked an inside "J" cabin on the main deck and marked "no upgrade" because I didn't want to be "upgraded" to a lesser room. We are going to book a cabana, too, so that we have our "own" outdoor space to enjoy. Doing it this way will cost us *much* less than doing a verandah and our cabin will be much larger and more comfortable.

We are doing a Lido cabana but that is because we have small children with us. If it was just the two of us, I would not hesitate for a moment to rent a Retreat cabana based on the reviews I have read here about them.

Re the person who said you are just paying for a deck chair, my understanding is that the cabanas offer much more than just a chair.

[surfergirle]

If we booked a satndard room, which we will soon-

I would book a J inside with retreat cabana (w/no kids)

or

VD4166 with 18ft secret balcony and book a lido cabana.

I am really looking forward to someday trying either or-
with the suite amenites package and a cabana.

I think it would be great.

[Essiesmom]

I'm, with Hawaiidan...I booked an inside gty on Westerdam and ended up in one of the K cabins on Main. I liked it so much that when I booked the NA for the Med. next year, I booked the same cabin. It will be the first time my sister has sailed in an inside, but it will also be the largest cabin so far. I simply can't afford anything better, and when I decided to change to the 24 day collectors cruise, I managed to keep the same cabin. Would we like a verandah? Yes, but we get more space in this cabin, and in 24 days there are only four sea days. I told my TA no upgrades unless it is (free) to a suite. EM

[iamaqt2]

Thanks for the input everyone. I do have my eye on one of those J or K's. We are looking at 2013, so lots of time to snag one. I think with the larger cabin, and the cabana, we'll be just fine. I know there are plenty of free chairs, but the perks and a guaranteed area will be worth the price, especially forgoing the balcony.

[debsjc]

I would rather have an inside and a retreat cabana, than a balcony. The cabana is so luxurious, and you can have your lunch up there. On most of the balconies there is just normal chair, but in the cabana you have a comfortable lounger.

[lizziebargain]

I was in a inside cabin ( I think 8037) on the Eurodam in Europe in May and the size was large and generous-the only downside to me is that there was no bathtub but of course you can always shower and soak in the hot tub. They offered to upgrade us to an obstructed outside cabin but we turned it down as that would have been smaller and on a lower deck and less to our liking. I love the inside cabins on higher decks because they seem quiet with less foot traffic passing the cabin. As well on this 7 day Europe cruise there was only 1 sea day so not much time to enjoy the verandah. However I will soon be doing a South Pacific cruise with lots of sea days and have paid the extra for the verandah because I will have more time to appreciate it.




Need some input from seasoned Eurodam cruisers. DH and I are looking at doing a cruise on the Eurodam, and he really wants a balcony. I'm just fine with an inside. Finances dictate that we should both be fine with an inside. In an effort to compromise, I'm looking at possibly booking a cabana in the Retreat for the week.

Has anyone else compromised this way and been happy about it? Or did you still wish you had your own balcony?

And if we did go with an inside, any recommendations on which deck for best access to the cabana?

Thanks!

[HALrunner]

I am booked on a 14 day Caribbean cruise on the NA in January. I had previously secured a Cat J cabin on the main deck and purchased a lido cabana. However....just this weekend I was given the chance to move up to a category E oceanview and drop $200/pp. I checked the size of the cabins: Cat J was 196sq ft and the Cat E I was in was 181sq ft. I rather impulsively took it. Not sure if I made the best decision now, but I like to save money and the only difference was 15 sq ft. We will see if I say "only" 15 sq ft after 14 days in a smaller cabin;)

[Hawaiidan]

196 for a main deck J ( square ) is wrong Holland admitted that they are actualy about 263 sq ft/ I measured mine 1053 last time and came out with 280+- ;)
Not to mention the layout is totaly outstanding with a huge dessj. large corner sofa... a real sofa sfa not the over size chairs in the veranda and outside they call sofas
An ocean view is a rectangle cabin and much of the space is cramped in a tunnel desgn... and the bathroom is almost 40% smaller in an outside.
way more difficult to move around

Hollands main deck square cabins are the ONLY way to go on my opinion.:cool:

[HALrunner]

Ugh. I should have just stuck with it:( Just to confirm, was that on NA? If so, I think I will try to switch back.

[HALrunner]

196 for a main deck J ( square ) is wrong Holland admitted that they are actualy about 263 sq ft/ I measured mine 1053 last time and came out with 280+- ;)
Not to mention the layout is totaly outstanding with a huge dessj. large corner sofa... a real sofa sfa not the over size chairs in the veranda and outside they call sofas
An ocean view is a rectangle cabin and much of the space is cramped in a tunnel desgn... and the bathroom is almost 40% smaller in an outside.
way more difficult to move around

Hollands main deck square cabins are the ONLY way to go on my opinion.:cool:

I just called the TA. The only one left is 1018. They keep saying it is 196sq ft, even though I told them what you said:) They say there is a range, but for that it would be 196sq ft. Both the TA and HAL are imploring me to stay in my Cat E!
I can't remember if I mentioned it, but I orginally booked in a Cat J Main Deck, then was give the choice to receive x amount of money off the booking to stay in it or and even greater discount to go to the Cat E. So they would make more money off me going back to the Cat J. I feel like they have some incentive to keep me in the E....maybe because the J would be easier to sell?!? So confused!
Also, from your post, it sounds like the sleeper sofa in Cat J would be bigger than the one in Cat E....is that correct? THANKS!

[RuthC]

Also, from your post, it sounds like the sleeper sofa in Cat J would be bigger than the one in Cat E....is that correct? THANKS!
The sofa bed in the J- cabin on Main Deck is a twin pull-out. Do you need the third bed? When it's open it pretty much blocks walking space in the cabin. It's difficult for those in the queen bed to get to the bathroom, and the chair, ottoman, and table have to go somewhere. It's very, very tight with the twin open.
However, if there are more than two of you, the J-cabin might be more comfortable than the E-.

Now, if there's just two people, the E-cabin is more than adequate. It has the extra advantage of natural light.

[Megsie1000]

I think they're both twins. The difference is that the twin in the E would flip "up" while the one in the J pulls "out."

As I said in the other thread, the flip-up seems like a good thing (b/c it takes up less floor space), but I found it impossible to figure out how to convert it back myself.

This cruise we are planning on doing at least some room-service breakfast (for the kids), so I like the idea that I can convert the pull-out couch in the J back first thing in the morning to give us somewhere to sit while we get ready. I always felt like the bed in the E category was holding our couch hostage until the room steward came. He didn't even convert it back the first few days until we kept asking him to do it each day. I think it is a PITA.

Even I can figure out a pull-out sofa. Right? ;) Worried. LOL

[Hawaiidan]

It is a friggen monster cabin.....260-280 ft
same as mine tha i am in again for a 30 day
Its in Holland Americas best interest to play down insides and play up-upgrades a suites, verandas...$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ different:eek:

[HALrunner]

Convinced! Back in the J:) Thanks!

[piscesgal223]

I feel no need to get anything other than a inside cabin. I'm not going to spend that much time there, so it doesn't matter.