Questions about Zaandam and Alaska

[live2beontheseas]

Planning a cruise for my parents on the Zaandam in 2007 R/T Vancouver and have a couple of questions:

1. In the Veranda suite rooms is there a curtain divider between the bed area and the couch/desk area in case someone does not want to disturb anyone sleeping? How about anything in the Deluxe veranda suites? Are the deluxe suites worth the extra money? My parents have only cruised in inside rooms a long time ago and I figured that a regular veranda should be adequate (I don't have an unlimited budget). Any ideas about how much to expect for these roome for late August/ early Sept 2007.

2. Which side of the ship is best for Alaska round-trip from Vancouver? I was thinking that the right (starboard, I think) is best as you may get a little more scenery then port side. Any side better for the ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan?

3. Better to fly into Seattle or Vancouver? My parents will definitely be going a day early but not sure if it will be better to fly into Seattle and stay there and take shuttle next day to port or fly directly into Vancouver and stay there. Suggestions for any hotel at either place in the moderate price range? Vancouver hotels seem very expensive as compared to Seattle, but less traveling going directly into Vancouver.

Thanks for all your feedback and info.

[Krazy Kruizers]

There isn't any curtain separating the sleeping area from the sitting area where the sofa/bed is.

This is just us, we always book on the port side - really isn't any difference in scenery.

Coming from PA we only have to take 2 planes to get to Seattle and then HAL's bus to get to Vancouver. We always stay in Seattle for a few days after the long flights to rest up before the bus trip. To fly from Piitsburgh to Vancouver involves 3 planes and not all on the same air line - also makes too long a day for us.

[lougee1043]

live2beontheseas]:

1. In the Veranda suite rooms is there a curtain divider between the bed area and the couch/desk area in case someone does not want to disturb anyone sleeping? How about anything in the Deluxe veranda suites? Are the deluxe suites worth the extra money?

took this trip a few years ago and i cannot remember if there was a curtain/divider in the rooms----------------i personally enjoy all the extra comforts the deluxe verandahs and the suite perks and am willing to pay extra for it-------------many people agree with me and more feel that since they only need a room to sleep and dress that an inside is more then enough and they save some bucks

2. Which side of the ship is best for Alaska round-trip from Vancouver? I was thinking that the right (starboard, I think) is best as you may get a little more scenery then port side. Any side better for the ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan?

i was in a starboard cabin and felt i had picked the correct side of the ship especially in glacier bay ---


3. Better to fly into Seattle or Vancouver? My parents will definitely be going a day early but not sure if it will be better to fly into Seattle and stay there and take shuttle next day to port or fly directly into Vancouver and stay there.

i live in oregon and decided that i wanted to see glacier bay over the hubbard glacier so we flew to vanc even though it was more expensive--------

[WindyCity]

Vancouver hotels may seem more expensive if you are being quoted Canadian currency. Try converting it. We flew into Vancouver the day of the cruise & had HAL transfers, which also included a tour of Vancouver - very nice. Post cruise, we stayed at the Fairmont across from Canada Place (pier) and walked over with our luggage.

[grannynurse]

In veranda cabins on S and R class ships there is a retractable curtain between the bed and the hall (bathroom area) and one between the bed and sitting area.
If your sitting on the couch or on the veranda and need to go to the bathroom you will have to walk through the sleeping area.
They are long narrow rooms.
The S suites are square shaped approx 560 sq feet. with a much larger and deeper veranda with seating for 4 at the dining table and 2 loungers with another small table.
4 people would be a tight squeeze in a regular veranda cabin. No problem with storage though, there is plenty of drawer and closet space.
The extra added attraction in the "S" is the dressing room which has it's own vanity and sink and 3 large mirrored closets. 4 people would fit very comfortabley in an S.
GN

[RuthC]

"Better" is in the eyes of the beholder, but for my money I fly into Vancouver for a Vancouver embarkation. I always go a day ahead---for a variety of reasons. Then I relax and enjoy my first day of cruising from the very beginning.
Vancouver is a beautiful city. It's well worth spending a few days in, it the time and money aren't an issue.

[live2beontheseas]

Thanks so much for your replies. Any input on good hotels at a reasonable price in Vancouver close to the port?

[elmorejj]

I agree about the curtain, it pulls about 3/4 the way across. The exchange rate is not as favorable now as it was a couple of years ago, it is almost on par with the $US......jean:cool:

[CStorm]

We booked our room through Priceline, 4*, and got the Westin Bayshore for $75.

[Roz]

Vancouver is a pricey city. Depends on your definiton of "reasonable". Close to the port, you're going to pay an avg. of $200 per night.

How old are your parents? I prefer to fly directly into Vancouver. Saves me an extra step. I live in the South and can get a flight to Chicago or Minneapolis, and then on into Vancouver.

In 2003 I stayed at the Hampton Inn on Robson St. It was $175 Canadian, but when it was converted on my credit card, it ended up being $124 American.

Roz

[Roz]

Jean,

Thanks for the update on the exchange rate...I wasn't aware it had changed so much.

Roz