VF Balconies on Noordam Upr Promenade Fwd

[7x5090g]

Has anyone cruised in one of these cabins on Noordam recently? The brochure says they don't have plexiglass but have steel railings instead.:mad: I saw pictures of them from the outside and they look ugly.

Can someone tell me how they look from the inside? I am about to spend 11 nights in one of these cabins (I have an assigned cabin VF4038).:confused:

[bepsf]

Same as other verandah staterooms but w/ a steel bulkhead instead of a clear railing.

If you don't like that aspect of your stateroom, why not upgrade yourself? Its not that much more pp to get a higher category, esp if you already know that you wont like the accomodations...

[AlohaPride]

Has anyone cruised in one of these cabins on Noordam recently? The brochure says they don't have plexiglass but have steel railings instead.:mad: I saw pictures of them from the outside and they look ugly.

Can someone tell me how they look from the inside? I am about to spend 11 nights in one of these cabins (I have an assigned cabin VF4038).:confused:

Hi! We are in a VF on the Noordam, but a deck higher. Those cabins DON'T have the metal bulk head :-) See if you can get a cabin a floor higher :) Good luck! What sailing are you on? We are on the Dec. 16th!

[7x5090g]

Hi! We are in a VF on the Noordam, but a deck higher. Those cabins DON'T have the metal bulk head :-) See if you can get a cabin a floor higher :) Good luck! What sailing are you on? We are on the Dec. 16th!

Thanks AlohaPride. I was thinking about that. My choices are ask for 1 floor up but the ones above are just above the life boats so my downward view is kind of obstructed. The other thing is that there are 3 of us in the cabin and they may not have too many of those on the floor above. I am just trying to see if someone already has cruised with the VF with steel bulkhead and would be able to let me know if it's acceptable.

p.s. see my ticker for my up coming cruise. May be I'll let you of my experience via my next cruise review.

[7x5090g]

Same as other verandah staterooms but w/ a steel bulkhead instead of a clear railing.

If you don't like that aspect of your stateroom, why not upgrade yourself? Its not that much more pp to get a higher category, esp if you already know that you wont like the accomodations...

Thanks bepsf. The point is that I don't know if I will like it or hate it since I've never cruised with HAL before. Some steel bulkheads are worse than others in terms of what you can or cannot see through. Have you cruised in one of those before? Any idea how I can get a picture of it so I can see.:confused:

[AlohaPride]

Thanks bepsf. The point is that I don't know if I will like it or hate it since I've never cruised with HAL before. Some steel bulkheads are worse than others in terms of what you can or cannot see through. Have you cruised in one of those before? Any idea how I can get a picture of it so I can see.:confused:

From what I've heard is that it is not just a railing with bars...it's a wall of metal. My DH and I are booked in 5065. It's a room for 3. So, I'm sure there are rooms a floor up with sleeping areas for 3. Also, I've heard that the life boats being below is not a big deal unless you are looking straight down at the side of the ship. I would say to ask to be moved up a floor, or ask to be upgraded.

Have fun, and tell us how the cruise was!

[7x5090g]

From what I've heard is that it is not just a railing with bars...it's a wall of metal. My DH and I are booked in 5065. It's a room for 3. So, I'm sure there are rooms a floor up with sleeping areas for 3. Also, I've heard that the life boats being below is not a big deal unless you are looking straight down at the side of the ship. I would say to ask to be moved up a floor, or ask to be upgraded.

Have fun, and tell us how the cruise was!


Ouchhh!!! Now I really am going to hate it.:mad: I am phoning HAL now!!

Thanks for the tip.

[AlohaPride]

Here is a thread we were discussing the metal wall. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=385415&highlight=Cabins+Noordam

You can see the responses to basically the same VF question. :o

[7x5090g]

Here is a thread we were discussing the metal wall. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=385415&highlight=Cabins+Noordam

You can see the responses to basically the same VF question. :o

Thanks. Left a message with our travel agent. Have to wait to see what she can do.

[AlohaPride]

Thanks. Left a message with our travel agent. Have to wait to see what she can do.

Good luck! I really hope everything works out!! Let us know what happens. :)

[Schplinky]

I have a similar cabin on Westerdam. am hoping someone cancels before the sailing so we can switch. any advice on whether the room is the same will be appreciated. I note some of the the furthest forward do not have tubs but ours does.

[capnjoe]

Wow Im glad I read this thread, I WAS booked in cabin 4016 on the noordam for 11/15, after reading this post I called my travel agent and switched to cat VC cabin#5003, has anyone stayed in this cabin ? And is it a better choice?
Thanks
Capn

[7x5090g]

Good luck! I really hope everything works out!! Let us know what happens. :)

My TA called. Apparently I got the last VF triple Cabin for the Oct 14 cruise. Next upgrade is VE 5112 :mad: but they want $700 more:eek: , Yikes!! Should have browsed the board before booking.

On the slightly up side, I do have 2 other cabins travelling and they are booked on a VF GTY (really keeping my fingers crossed that if they get upgraded they will take us with them.:confused:

[7x5090g]

Wow Im glad I read this thread, I WAS booked in cabin 4016 on the noordam for 11/15, after reading this post I called my travel agent and switched to cat VC cabin#5003, has anyone stayed in this cabin ? And is it a better choice?
Thanks
Capn

At least someone caught the draught early. See picture below capnjoe. Your room would have been the 7th balcony from the front on the first deck that has balconies (just above the navy blue hull) 5003 will be the 2nd balcony from the front on the deck above (but on the other side of the boat). See how your balcony would have been cut in have with that stupid wall of metal.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/548676539/2493421530056134724FZZyNq

I am jealous now since I can't get out of my VF4038 without having to pay $700 for the upgrade. I am going to need a miracle that they upgrade me at the port.:)

[AlohaPride]

At least someone caught the draught early. See picture below capnjoe. Your room would have been the 7th balcony from the front on the first deck that has balconies (just above the navy blue hull) 5003 will be the 2nd balcony from the front on the deck above (but on the other side of the boat). See how your balcony would have been cut in have with that stupid wall of metal.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/548676539/2493421530056134724FZZyNq

I am jealous now since I can't get out of my VF4038 without having to pay $700 for the upgrade. I am going to need a miracle that they upgrade me at the port.:)

If you have three people in a room, then why don't you change to a guarantee and that way you HAVE to get a 3 person sleeper AND you might get an upgrade? I really don't know if this would work, but if your account has 3 people in a room, they really can't "upgrade" you to a 2 person room. Right? Maybe GN, or Greg, HammyBee, or any of the other seasoned cruisers can answer much better than me.

[7x5090g]

They don't book triple in GTYs, or at least that's what my TA told me, They already tried that route.

[capnjoe]

Actually cabin 5003 is the second to the stern of the ship I think on the same side. It did however cost me $400 but id rather pay the difference and enjoy the cabin. It still may be worth it to you to pay the differnce and enjoy. I sure hope it works out for you
Capn

[capnjoe]

Hey 7x i just checked and there are alot of VC cabins left that lookalot more desirable, maybe talk to you TA it only cost me
$400 to upgrade,I hope it works out!
Capn

[bepsf]

Actually cabin 5003 is the second to the stern of the ship I think on the same side. It did however cost me $400 but id rather pay the difference and enjoy the cabin. It still may be worth it to you to pay the differnce and enjoy. I sure hope it works out for you
Capn

Um...
5003 is 2nd from the bow of the ship on the starboard side
(Even numbered staterooms are to port, Odd #'s are starboard)

[7x5090g]

Hey 7x i just checked and there are alot of VC cabins left that lookalot more desirable, maybe talk to you TA it only cost me
$400 to upgrade,I hope it works out!
Capn

Thanks. Got an amazing deal when I booked. I caught some sort of a sale where the 3rd person pays only taxes and my VF room was actually cheaper than an inside GTY. Since that sale is over, it's back to regular rates and therefore the prize difference is enormous. $700 just to upgrade to VE, let alone VC.

Still keeping my fingers crossed for a free upgrade. I do have others travelling with me who are on a VF GTY cat.:confused:

[7x5090g]

Um...
5003 is 2nd from the bow of the ship on the starboard side
(Even numbered staterooms are to port, Odd #'s are starboard)

I know is the "front" of the ship. Just could not figure out if that meant the bow or the stern. It took me a long time to remember Port is left!:)

[Schplinky]

My advice would be to keep trying. We were "stuck" in a VF as that was all that was available when we booked and in checking again today, I noticed that not only had the VA category become available, it was now less than what we paid when we booked. Our cruise "appeared" to be sold out last week and now has tons of rooms and we're nowhere close to final payment.

Keep trying and good luck!

[7x5090g]

[quote=Schplinky]My advice would be to keep trying. We were "stuck" in a VF as that was all that was available .................quote]

Thanks. Had already asked the TA to keep an eye out. Still hoping for that elusive free upgrade when we get tot he pier. I have 2 other staterooms full of parents/in-laws who are booked on VF GTY.

[Karen112999]

I do hope you get a visit from the upgrade fairy...if not free, atleast reasonable. But if you are not that fortunate...enjoy... I took my first non balcony cruise with family and found that I could have even went for an inside cabin. Thats how little time I spent there. As an early riser, I gave up my pot of coffee on the balcony and went to the pool deck for coffee allowing other family member to gather as they woke. It was great.

Unless you get a suite or aft VA balcony, they are really not good for gatherings of more than 2 anyway.

But also be persistent. As the cruise approaches is always seems as though more cabins become available. But you probably still have a month to go before that happens. I had a guarantee = cabin 000 on the noordam until maybe 1 week prior to sailing.

Have a great cruise one way or the other.

Karen