Pros/Cons of Aft Cabins on Zuiderdam

[Spot]

Although we have cruised many times, late September will be our first cruise in a side aft cabin and we were wondering what to expect. I have always found these cabins to be some of the first to go.
I recently read that a family (that had occupied a number of aft cabins together) complained that their cabins never cooled down - are there secrets to avoid this happening (keeping curtains drawn during certain hours, etc)?

Also - does anyone know what to expect in weather during late Sept in the eastern caribbean?

I will appreciate any information - THANKS:D

[spcl4cs_gal]

I'd be quite interested in this as well. I am in room 8103 on the Aug 21 cruise.

[jazzsea]

How far aft and what category?

September is the middle of tropical storm season. (June to November) You may not have any bad weather or you may miss a port because of a possible storm. Remember that your captain will never take the ship into danger. I have cruised many times in September and have experienced very few problems. Keep an eye on the Weather Channel the week prior to your cruise.

Once we were cruising in the Eastern Caribbean and didn't know that there was a storm close to us until we docked back in Ft. Lauderdale and saw a report on CNN.

[Spot]

"S" catagory, aft 6158. HAL gave me the following sq ft quote - cabin 396 sq ft, verandah 132 sq ft.

[bepsf]

We toured the larger suites before we disembarked and the corner suites have MASSIVE verandahs - I'm sure that's why they sell out first.

The interior is arranged a bit differently from a standard S - the french doors to the verandah and desk area are reversed and the leather sofa is the same as in an SS (a straight sofa) instead of the sectional that's in a typical S - but the space, amount of storage and amenities appeared to be the same.

I too booked the last available one for my cruise in Sept '05 - Let us know how you enjoy traveling in your corner suite!

[Spot]

Thanks Bepfs - we have never cruised in an aft cabin, least of all a corner aft and I chose it specifically for the amount of deck space as we enjoy the sound and sites of being at sea. There are larger corner afts but I was too late to snag the ones everyone on the boards talk about.
We are soooo excited and I will be sure to write a review of that specific cabin when we return (if not during the cruise). I think it would be helpful if there was a thread on specific cabins of the different ships (sq ft, set up, noise, location, etc) as it appears that many cruisers want to know the best cabins to book.
THANK YOU AGAIN

[stillfrantic]

For my week, I was very surprised...the aft corner S suites were mostly open, and were about the only ones that were! Most along the sides of deck 7 were filled, but those huge aft rooms were available. Made me wonder if they were not, in fact, as nice.

[swmichigan cruiser]

If your in S6158 it should be a great cabin but the size that HAL gave you is for a side S suite. Your balcony is a lot larger than 132 sq ft and the cabin is smaller than 396 sq ft. I'm guessing its about 320 sq ft. We've been in S7133, S5186 and S5187 and were scheduled again in late Nov for S5187. Should be a great cabin and the balcony is awesome

[doone]

Swmichigan, take good care of that cabin, 5187, I have that cabin for my March Zuiderdam cruise. I'll be looking for your review upon your return.

[torpeedo]

We have had an aft corner cabin. We found it very warm as the sun is nearly always on the deck. Cabin was not as large as the regular suite cabins which is the trade off I guess for the larger deck area. We prefer more shade so we now book midship. If you are a sun lover it would be great.

[Spot]

SWMichigan cruiser - it is an S suite and those are the sq ft I was given by HAL (of course like everything else, the truth probably lies in whom delivered the information). The cabin appears (from photos) to be smaller than many other side aft cabins but the verandah looks too good to be true............now we are hoping for wonderful weather so we are able to enjoy it - hurricane season however will still be active and it appears it is getting a late start.
Thank you for the reply and your thoughts, I appreciate all the expert knowledge I gain while on the boards.

[swmichigan cruiser]

Hope that helped. Don't forget the side portion of your wraparound is quite long so if that side of the ship has shade you should also have shade on that portion. Post when you get back to let me know I didn't steer you wrong.. Sorry Doone were gonna trash S5187 but I think you'll be ok we had S5187 in late Feb early March with our grandson and if it was still standing after that it can withstand anything...Happy cruising to you both.

[doone]

Can't wait, first time in a suite!!!!!! There are 5 girls sailing, we have two cabins, S 5187 for 3 of us, and next door mini suite 5185 for the other two girls. Do you think we'll be comfortable????

[swmichigan cruiser]

Well Doone there was 3 of us before in S5187 and were quite pleased with it. 5186 and 5187 have the most room of any S aft wraparound Suites so I would think you'll be comfortable as we were before. But that being said what is comfortable to me might not be comfortable to someone else.. Go enjoy and when you get back you tell me if I was wrong.

[florie]

Spot - my family had the 6th floor aft on the Western Carribean Zuiderdam cruise and I can tell you that the corner suites were nice and cool. However, the other 2 suites and A Class Verandah rooms were considerably hotter. Everyone kept their curtains closed during the day but it only helped a bit. In fact, we sat in almost the same location in the upper dining room and it was hot there as well. I noticed that the aft section of the Lido Restaurant was hot too. So, my advice is - get one of the corner suites...I had 6169 and it was FANTASTIC, cool, comfortable with an enormous balcony that could hold 50 people for drinks!

[Spot]

Thanks Florie, we are in 6158 and it's a corner aft, the opposite of your 6169 - guess it's one of the "HOT" suites you referred to.............hopefully the problems that caused that will be remedied. Since you had the exact same on the opposite side, did you have enough cabin space? The corner cabins "appear" smaller.
Everyone's responses have excited me even more (I didn't think that was possible)!!!!
Now, your best suggestion on a hotel for our precruise...................
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

[777steve]

We enjoyed 5186 on Oosterdam before and 5187 coming soon on Westerdam (although not soon enough) and would plan our cruise around the cabin availabilty. You did get some misinformation on your cabin - the square footage for your cabin is actually 311 according to the HAL booking engine. But the trade off for the verandah is prcieless IMO. :)

You can get any of the cabins' actual floor space directly from the HAL site if you proceed through a booking and get to cabin selection .. use the Select Specific Cabin option and then click on "Stateroom Details" prior to the "commitment" part ... you can see the information there - IGNORE the information the verandah (the goofy thing will say there is none).

Here's another tip when you're browsing there and trying to determine some of the available cabins and dimensions: put in bad information and force the list. Example: Choose Cat S and then Select Specific Cabin .. say 6145 (a AA) which will yield a bad result. The drop down on the left will show you a list of available cabins in the actual category you really want ... then click on Stateroom Details and you can view a number of cabins with their actual interior square footage.

Oh .. and as for the verandah: it will be everything you hoped and then some!!!

And yes it would be a good idea to draw the curtains when you leave the cabin during the day. It will make a big difference in the room's temperature. It was fine anyway but I'm hot natured and wanted it really cool. That worked for us!

I hope that information was helpful - now enjoy your cruise!!!

Cheers!

[doone]

Swmichigancruiser, I am sure we'll be fine. Better Suite 5187 with 3 girls in there than inside cabin with 3 girls!!!!!!!!!!! I'll report back when I return, but that's a ways away, don't sail til March!!!!

[jazzsea]

We were in 6169 on Oosterdam in March. We posted pictures of the verandah but they are gone with the old board. The verandah was wonderful.

We thought the actual cabin was smaller. We got our exercise by walking to and from the spa and to and from the Neptune Lounge.

I would book the cabin again, though.

[Spot]

Steve - THANK YOU, I will try your directions for the future but will go with your first hand experience for this cruise. Our only other experience with an S cabin was on the Maasdam and we loved the "sweet life." I know the cabins are smaller on the Z than the Maasdam but the suite extras, the verandah, and the service were what made the cruise so special and those will not change (except a bigger verandah - yeahhhhh).
The direction and experience of those who have cruised so many times is invaluable to those of us that are babies to the cruising experience.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We enjoyed 5186 on Oosterdam before and 5187 coming soon on Westerdam (although not soon enough) and would plan our cruise around the cabin availabilty. You did get some misinformation on your cabin - the square footage for your cabin is actually 311 according to the HAL booking engine. But the trade off for the verandah is prcieless IMO. :)

Steve, we will be in 5187 on the Oosterdam Oct 8 of 2005. The deal we got could not be passed up. Looking forward to trying that Suite.:p

[terrybiz]

Are you going on the oosterdam on October 1, 2005
I got cabin 5186 on that sailing and my friends are trying to get 5187
Is this too funny that I found your posting and its the same sailing

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Are you going on the oosterdam on October 1, 2005
I got cabin 5186 on that sailing and my friends are trying to get 5187
Is this too funny that I found your posting and its the same sailing
Sorry, terrybiz we are going October 8th 2005 and we have cabin 5187

[scluvsrain]

I was on the Zuiderdam 7/17-7/24 and had aft corner suite # 8135. I have pictures of it if you'd like to see them, email me (labmommy@earthlink.net)and I'll send you an invite to view them on ofoto.com. I liked it, it was a bit smaller than the regular suites but the balcony was massive and wrapped around for what seemed like miles. Being on the top floor, just under the Lido deck, we had mostly shade on the balcony which was great, since it was so hot outside. Only heard a little noise once in a great while from up above. I'd highly recommend the suite (it is a long walk back from some places on the ship, but very close to Lido as it is located aft and the dining room which is also located aft. I'd book the same suite again in a heartbeat.

[florie]

Spot -

Cabin 6158 on the Z was the flip of my cabin. These two cabins were the only cool ones in that whole row of aft cabins (and I know this for sure since our party had all 6). While the room itself MAY be slightly smaller...the balcony is AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!! Much larger than any other Suite balcony except for the PS Suites. I loved having breakfast and cocktails and hors d'oeurves outside on my balcony. You will love it! In fact, it actually got too cool some nights so we had to turn the temp up! Any other questions, let me know.

Florie:D

[iowacruiser]

We have 5187 and 5186 booked for Jan 2nd on oosterdam. The wives insisted on those cabins after seeing pictures posted of the verandas on a different thread.
As someone mentioned previously, the cabins are the largest S suites aft on the ship and although they are a bit smaller than port or starboard S suites the balcony looks to good to pass up.
We usually end up fighting for deck chairs around the pool.. Won't have to now..

[Spot]

Florie -

You have no idea how excited you have helped make this upcoming cruise - thank you so very much!!!
How wide is the side? Enough for chairs? Does it get shade?
When does the aft section of the verandah get shade (if at all except for dark)?
Tell me anything and everything you have to say about this cabin and it's location.
Thank you again for giving me your time and first hand experiences with this ship, the aft suite, the locations, etc.

Spot (Deb)

[florie]

Deb - you can e-mail me at NYerr@comcast.net with any questions. With 2 lounge chairs and a side table, a table and 4 chairs, and 2 sitting chairs you have lots of room to sit, stand, dance and do whatever on the balcony! The shade in my cabin was on the side in the afternoon, but we always had a bit of shade under a 12-15 inch awning over the glass door. Plus, we almost always had an awesome breeze too! You will never want to leave your verandah! Bring CDs and DVDs, but you can also get them in the Neptune lounge. If you need anything, Avon in the Neptune lounge is AWESOME. When you get on the ship go directly to the Neptune Lounge and Avon will book your spa appointments or any shore excursions or anything else you need! Also, enjoy the free laundry service...we had things pressed immediately so our suits and dresses would look good for formal night. Also, you will receive a bottle of champagne from the captain...if you don't drink champagne, your wine steward will trade it in for any other kind of wine! Adrian was our cabin steward and he was a doll, very helpful and accomodating. He kept the room spotless and brought extra of anything we needed!

Please go ahead and e-mail me any Qs you have...we were on the western carribean journey so I can also tell you about our ports if you are interested.

Florie

[Jimbo and Katy]

We have cabin 5186 on the Zuiderdam booked for March. Does anyone out there have any pictures to share? We were in an SS on the Oosterdam in April, but booked this S for the balcony. Just wondered what the layout of the cabin itself will be like.

Thanks,
Katy

[Ziggy7]

We have never been in an aft cabin but, I was asked to look onto the verandahs for privicy issues, I was able to see into alot of them, however I also noted that not many people stood at the back looking into aft verandahs, except maybe sail-away time :)

[artvlay]

Hello, we are booked in Aft cabin 4183, (For January 05)which is next to the corner. Has anyone been in an aft cabin on this deck? we were wondering with the deck extending to the end over us, if it is dark and is it as large as HAL says it is. Thanks

[boards]

I was skimming the responses to the "Aft" cabins and read mostly about size and warmth, but did not read anything about motion. I have thought about booking a cabin toward the "aft" section of the ship, but have wondered how much motion you might feel. I am sure it will be more than the mid section, but is it extreme, say like lately with all the bad weather.

[AZGal]

We had cabins 7132 and 7133 (corner aft) on the Zuiderdam this past Feb. and the feeling of motion was nearly non-existent. I was a bit concerned about that myself before we sailed. I brought along my motion sickness meds and never used them. To me and the folks I was traveling with, including my 75 year old Mom, the aft cabins, with the to-die-for balconies, are the only way to go!