GoneJohnson

Thanks answered that,

Great photo.

We've never had a veranda next to the glass elevators, but from what I can see of those balconies from the elevators I would judge that the view obstruction would be slight. I believe that the 8068 balcony will be 7 ft deep compared to 6 ft for 5001.

 

I presume that you know both of those are HC cabins.

 

Thanks, yes I need a HC as I am in an electric wheelchair full-time.

Hello,

I'm considering switching my stateroom SY5001 for SY8068.

5001 - a little smaller deck the front corners angled?, more wind, more motion and a long way from everything on board. -- a nice front window good for the canal crossing?

8068 - midship, same sized deck maybe a little bigger with a squared corner, less movement, closer to everything on board.

I am wondering if the elevator obstructs the forward view? I'll looked at many different photos and it some it seems they do protrude out and others make it look flat. - no obstruction... ideas? Anyone used this room or know the elevators.

My room 5001 is booked/paid. You are right no interior room right across from 5001 but it's close. If I could afford to book an inside room we can share the balcony. It would be a nice gesture to take my mother... she'd love it. She has not been many places... it at home always... It would make me feel good to do it if feasible and Mom being up to it.

There's just something about the water, the ship... I just love it.

Both staterooms 5001 and 8068 have pro's vs con's.

I like the location of room 8068. Midship good deck.

Se4deb,

Thank you, that was informative and helpful. I know financially this will most likely be my last cruise. I just want to really enjoy the cruise and not be kicking myself in butt for researching better. Once on board I'll be happy in any room...

I am 75 percent sure I might take my mother along. If my brother and sisters think it won;t be to much for her. She loved the 10 days last year cruised out of California into Mexico and back. I would get an inside room across from mine... when do rooms hit rock bottom prices?

Again, thank you all for so much help.

How good or was/would having the front facing windows? Worth it or not? Will I see more? Through the canal? I am beginning to rethink my first thoughts and get out of the smaller windy deck onto a SY stateroom elsewhere like 8068.

A positive on 5001 I read said it is forward of the sea-break and you can see various critters swimming to get out of the way. This sounded interesting.

I do use and enjoy the deck probably the only reason I'm second guessing.

Any other pro's vs. con's appreciated by those who might have first hand knowledge? I must decide before December and by then will the better option be available?

Last year on the Sapphire Princess on deck 10 Caribe and the dang deck was a full 8' x 10' unbelievable. Got the tip the prior year from a HC couple. So it was awesome room to relax...

I appreciate the feed back. I have a question does anyone know if the mid ship Elevators block the view at all?

I was looking at SY8068 as a possible trade with 5001

So I might have a choice... 5001 the front window but smaller deck more wind.

or call and see what I could swap into.

My cruise is next March in stateroom 5001 Westerdam for the handicap need. I might call and ask what other HC rooms that sleep three and on the exterior and see if they have anything to swap to.

Either way it's going to be fun.

I needed a non interior handicapped room that could hold 3 people... myself and two caregivers. I assumed there would be more wind on that deck... dang.

If it did sleep 4 I might have invited my mother. I took her last year and she throughly enjoyed it I also had her sister along and they had a room. She's not real stable on her feet at times. This might be a little much for her and my sister was also 50/50 on if it was a good or bad idea.

I'm getting really excited over this 21 day cruise next March.

Thanks for the help.

Agreed, the deck plan I just looked at made it obvious you got a queen or 2 twins and a sofa bed for a 3rd. Probably better as my thinking was just going to cost me more and might create a fuss or make a 21 night trip feel like 41 nighter.

A quick question or maybe I should call HAL but does anyone know if cabin 5001 can sleep 4 people?

Hi:

I do have a TA. In the past, I have been the who has found the discounted price for our cruise, on 2 occasions (2 different travel agents). I actually found out about the second one (a Baltic cruise on RCI last June) via cruise critic Roll Call!

I just wondered if there was a special trick to following for price reductions for HAL.

Thank you for your replies.

QG

There is a page or link here at cruise critic I thought but do not see it. It was a tool you put info like cruise ship and trip date and it listed price drops. It's also possible it was else where.

Hopefully a more veteran cruiser knows where it is. I have wondered myself... then do I physically have to look each day? I bought from HAL so need to know when HAL drops a price. My cruise is next March 2016 a 21 day Panama Canal. I'm getting excited.

I would worry more about an accident say on some excursion or even roll down the ships stairs... the medical part of it provides peace of mind out of country and even if it shortened the cruise you may receive some refund depending on insurance bought.

The past two years I have had and used a Travel Agent and bought my travel insurance policy from said Travel Agent.

This year I called HAL about room availability and long story short ended up with a suite for about the same price as a good but plain balcony room the travel agent quoted. Travel agent also made it sound like there were only two handicapped rooms left. This might be true or according to the info at hand... but when I called HAL they had several options.

This year the travel agents price for trip an insurance would have been a lot more. I don't get any special pricing. Just how it happened.

Okay, so I need to use the date I leave home and date I get home.

Also... I don't see it now but thought someone said not to include extra's the prepaid gratuity, fees, Port charges etc. just use the cruise price. Can someone confirm this or explain a little? I have a breakdown of all costs so it's easy to separate. It makes sense that it should lower the cost of the insurance some.

Thank you,

Thank you, nice tenders. Florida I am really glad I can get off there.... first time in the islands off Florida or gulf area. It's not too far away.

I have only spent time on the Mexican Rivera. I expect next March a 21 night HAL East to West with many many port stops along with as many Mexican Rivera ports that I've seen will top my list of where I have been. I'd like to see/cruise Hawaii, Tahiti and so many more I think I could spend my life cruising the warmer weather...

I found another port stop question. First, The "Arubus" is this public transportation only in Aruba? Does anyone know if it can take or lift a large power chair. The photo's make it look big enough to have a lift but it might be just the bus doors. They don't mention any wheelchair accessibility help...

Planing around this char make twice the work...

That's really neat. Thank you, Randy

If you are referring to Half Moon Cay, I think what they are attempting to tell you is that the tender is wheelchair accessible. It is a type that you can roll on and off of, thus you will be able to tender to the island. It is an easy island to maneuver around; you should not have any problems, just stay on the solid (hard) ground. Enjoy the barbecue. They are usually very good. The tourist trap (straw market) is about the same as the other ports, but still fun to snoop through.

These are large vessels, with a ramp to change levels (you use the upper level at the ship, and the lower level at the island). The only question is what would you do once you got to the island. It is a beach, so your power chair would be fine in the entry area, and you could enjoy the first cabana (there's a handicap entrance to that one cabana), but you couldn't do too much else there---unless you have some mobility.

Thanks,

Thank you all for the input you have already provided. Last year in Puerto Vallarta I had a van drop me off down on the Malacon and he came back in 3 hours. I needed 4 or 5 or 6 hrs. Renting vans will be 50/60 plus an hour and that will add up fast. So finding the ports I can walk from the cruise ship will be good. Then if I find something I can't miss renting transportation is an option.

Thanks, just to get off the ship and look around some would be nice. It's all something new on/in this ocean never been on the east coast.

Sorry, I could not get a decent sized image and can't edit now.

Here are the port stops I am interested in...

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas - tendered no go...

Willemstad, Curacao

Kralendijk, Bonaire

Oranjestad, Aruba Oranjestad, Aruba

Cartagena, Colombia

Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa Rica

Corinto, Nicaragua

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Huatulco, Mexico

Mazatlan, Mexico

I have been to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas