Zaandam Rm 1842M - Help

[jacank]

DW made reservations before I could check things out.:eek: We're going on the Zaandam May 25th to Alaska. Evidently, the cruise is 75% full already and he wanted a room in the middle (poor guy gets seasick). He just informed me we have room 1842 on the Dolphin Deck. It's an inside room and I see on the schematic that there is a lot of empty space behind it, leading up to the elevator. It also seems to be different in configuration from the others. It has 182 sq.ft. but looks like it's shorter and wider.

Any Zaandam cruisers out there that can give me information on this room?

[RuthC]

I have a favorite cabin on the R-class ships---it's a different configuration, too. If yours is the same lay-out as mine, then I think you'll be pleased. It seems to have a lot more floor space to move around in than the rectangular cabins.

There's only two potential problems---
When the beds are separated you can't open the drawers beneath them (at least not very far). Having the steward use that space for the extra blankets/linens solves that problem. So does having the beds made up as a queen.
The other problem is that the bathroom opens directly into the cabin. If you leave the bathroom light on at night, and someone opens that door, the other person can wake up from the light. To me that's no big deal, but I could sleep through the Second Coming.

[jacank]

Drawers beneath the beds? On our other cruises, Maasdam, we put our luggage under the beds. I don't remember any drawers being there. Is this something particular to the R ships? Thanks for your comments, Ruth.

[RuthC]

IIRC, there were drawers under the beds on the Maasdam, but I won't swear to it. I think I used them when I had a roomie. I know for certain that there are drawers under the beds on the R-class and the Noordam.
The drawers aren't so deep that they would prevent storing your luggage under the bed, so you may have had them and not noticed.

[jhannah]

Often those under-bed drawers are where the steward places pillows and blankets.

[jacank]

I'm laughing at myself - four cruises on Maasdam and I never even noticed the drawers. I guess I was too busy having a great time.

I'd still love to have any information about the room (and if it's an empty space behind it, or some type of utility room.) After doing more checking myself, I found that the ship is already almost 75% full and it looks like DH made the same choice I would have made. (I know I said DW the first time, but I was flustered..:p) Most of the rooms are wait-listed and it was very difficult to get a guaranteed room near the middle of the ship.

It's our first time on the Zaandam, and first time to Alaska. I'm not looking forward to the long flight to get to Vancouver, but I sure am excited about the cruise. Thanks for the comments. I just love these boards!

[RuthC]

I'm not looking forward to the long flight to get to Vancouver,
That one's not so bad because of the time zone difference from the east coast; it's the return that's a pain.

I would suggest, that if it's at all possible, you travel out at least one day early---that will help with jet lag. On my first Alaska cruise we flew the day of boarding, and I napped away most of the first day. :(

And have a great time in The Great Land! :)

[jacank]

We're actually arriving in Vancouver on the 21st (for a cruise on the 25th). We didn't really want to be there that far ahead, but had frequent flier tickets and that was the best we could do - sooo it looks like we have lots of time to explore Vancouver.

Ruth - Did you take a Celebrity Zenith trip to Bermuda a few years ago and talk about a great room steward you had (think his first initial was M)?

[RuthC]

Ruth - Did you take a Celebrity Zenith trip to Bermuda a few years ago and talk about a great room steward you had (think his first initial was M)?
Not I. The closest I've ever come to sailing Celebrity was a 3-day Cruise to Nowhere on the old Chandris line (it morphed into Celebrity). I've also sailed the Parent Company, Royal Caribbean.

I could might, maybe, perhaps get interested in a Celebrity cruise, except for the exorbitant single supplements :mad: . HAL's are much more reasonable :) .

[jacank]

Ruth - It's been awhile since that cruise to Bermuda, but I remember a poster mentioning her wonderful steward. When we arrived, I discovered we had the same steward and mentioned that I had heard of him from the poster on this board and what terrific service she received. He actually preened. I told him these boards were making him famous. I must be getting old <sigh> because I can't remember his name now..though I remember it began with M.