Zuiderdam - Upper Berth

[MeAbFab]

Since the board was so helpfull in answering my last non-tradtional-bed question, I'll ask something related.

This fall, I'll be staying in a four-berth AA verandah stateroom on the Zuiderdam, and one of my travel-mates will be sleeping in the upper berth. Now, where exactly is the upper located in the room? My guess would have been over the seating area, like on a Carnival ship, but I'm not sure it's wide enough directly above the sofa. The other place would be over the actuall beds... but this seems somewhat akward.

Does anyone have a clue? Thanks! :-)

[stillfrantic]

The picture I saw had it over the large bed. Very awkard indeed! I gotta say, on 4 person cabins, Disney did it best. The large bed was completely seperated from the living area by a curtain. The third person had the sofa bed. It did not pull out, but instead the back flipped forward so no floor space was lost at night. The 4th berth came out of the ceiling over that bed to form a set of bunks.

Why would they put a 4th person on top of the parents??

[dougnewmanatsea]

The upper berth is over the regular lower bed(s), perpendicular to them. This does not work too terribly if you have your beds configured as twins, as there is a space in between them in which to place the ladder for the upper berth... But if you have it as a double bed, there really is nowhere to put the ladder. This photo (http://shiploverny.fotki.com/zuiderdam/cabin_1015/p4210279.html) is from an inside cabin but it's the same basic setup.

The best setup is indeed probably the one described by stillfrantic, and it's not just on Disney ships - many Carnival ships have this type of arrangement, for instance. The problem here is that the sofa is not as long as a regular berth, so it has to be a pullout. Of course the length of wall above the sofa isn't as long as a regular berth either so that means it has to be moved over the lower bed(s) instead.

None of these problems existed when we just had regular inside and outside cabins where each of the two beds was along a wall from which the third and fourth upper berths could fold out. (And none of this sofa-bed nonsense of course.)

[localady]

Wow!
Thanks for the info Doug!
I'd considered taking my kids on the "Z" and share a veranda cabin, but that set up is unworkable for us I think! I appreciate the info before I make the reservations!

We have been on the Disney Magic and their family suite is much better laid out! Unfortunately, I looked to see how much it would be for us for a week in Mexico on a Disney Ship and for 1 family cabin for the 4 of us it was over $9,000!!!!! :eek: For that I could rent 2 Suites on HAL!!!! Think we will go with a veranda cabin and an interior somewhere in close proximity to the veranda cabin on one of the Vista ships. That is still much cheaper than the Disney ship!!!

[dougnewmanatsea]

I'd considered taking my kids on the "Z" and share a veranda cabin, but that set up is unworkable for us I think!
I agree... I think for three or four people the cabins on the Vista-class ships are poorly designed.

What is ironic is that the Carnival SPIRIT-class ships off which these are based appear to have much better standard cabins from that standpoint... I guess that says something about the design priorities of Carnival as opposed to HAL.

A veranda cabin and an inside (perhaps across the corridor) is probably a good plan, I would say. If you don't mind the price that is.

[MeAbFab]

[/color][/size][/font]
What is ironic is that the Carnival SPIRIT-class ships off which these are based appear to have much better standard cabins from that standpoint... I guess that says something about the design priorities of Carnival as opposed to HAL.

My thoughts exactly. Having sailed on the Carnival ships, I've always been impressed by the spaciousness of the cabins. Although some might dislike the spartan decor, or Pepto-pink bedspreads, there was definitely some thought into the design. Plenty of space for four people to stash all their stuff, and make it in and out of all the berths comfortably, without going too crazy.

So, where exactly does that extra space on a Carnival ship go on a similar Holland America ship? Does a bathtub in the bathroom take up that much more space?? Or, does HAL expand the balcony area and lower the actual stateroom size? Any ideas??

[ekerr19]

We frequently occupy quad cabins on S-class. They are not bad at all, FOR KIDS. As for an adult, I would not recommend putting an adult in an upper berth.

The upper berth is over the large bed, but not in the middle, it is usually off to one side. I have pictures I can post if anyone is interested.

My daughter (11) usually takes the upper. She is light enough, that if she should fall (but there IS a guard rail) and happened to land on us - it probably wouldn't hurt anyone. Our son (16) takes the sofa bed.

We had a Suite on the Zui and the kids did not care for sharing the sofa sleeper, even though it was a queen sleeper. They fought over the covers and made a "do not cross" wall of pillows...

[Skilla6]

Our family of 4 had a suite on the Zui last month. The kids (g13, b11) didn't sleep together in the sofa bed. They took turns and the other one slept on a bed made from the sofa cushions at the base of the king bed. Our cabin steward Sam, knew exactly what to do. He made up the extra bed each night with sheets and blankets and even included the chocolate on the pillow! Then in the morning he took it down and put the sofa back together. He seemed like he did it all the time. The bed was just long enough for our kids and the cushions are about 7 inches deep so it was a pretty good sleep. Sam got a nice sweet extra tip!;)

[localady]

We had a Suite on the Zui and the kids did not care for sharing the sofa sleeper, even though it was a queen sleeper. They fought over the covers and made a "do not cross" wall of pillows...
Oh thank goodness, it is not only my boys that argue like that!!! Yes, I think that it would be easier for ALL of us if we actually consider 2 cabins!!

Skilla6- Rest assured my kids would have handled that couch just as your kids did!!

[dougnewmanatsea]

Although some might dislike the spartan decor, or Pepto-pink bedspreads, there was definitely some thought into the design.I think the pink bedspreads have gone the way of the dodo on the newest Carnival ships. Actually the standard SPIRIT-class cabins look very nice though I've never been in one so I can't say for sure.

I wasn't overly impressed with the decor or fit-and-finish of the cabins on ZUIDERDAM.

So, where exactly does that extra space on a Carnival ship go on a similar Holland America ship? Does a bathtub in the bathroom take up that much more space??Seeing as the SPIRIT-class and Vista-class are the same hull design, that's a good question. So far as I can see, the HAL cabins are completely different... But just where the extra space goes is difficult to say.

[KSCnCA]

My last cruise was on the Carnival Spirit with an obstructed balcony. (we paid for an inside and were upgraded) The cabins look a lot like the pix I have seen of the the Vista Class cabins. Lots of peachy orange, but nice. We had plenty of storage space, robes, hair dryer, mini-bar, safe, everything you need. I didn't even need the over the door bathroom organizer I used on RCCL. I hope the Zuiderdam compares to the Spirit, which I thought was a very good deal. I didn't expect the Ritz, but it exceded my expectations!

[ekerr19]

Oh thank goodness, it is not only my boys that argue like that!!! Yes, I think that it would be easier for ALL of us if we actually consider 2 cabins!!

Skilla6- Rest assured my kids would have handled that couch just as your kids did!!Localady-

We were fit to be tied! We made the kids live with their own sleeping arrangements as we got so tired of hearing about it!!!!!

We actually prefer the outside quad for that reason... no kids sleeping in the same bed! :)