Oosterdam Neptune Suite worth full price?

Past suite passengers, I would love your thoughts on the value for the $$ for Neptune suites. We are sailing on the Oosterdam in June currently in a VE Balcony for 12 days in Europe. We've been contemplating upgrading, but Signature Suites and Neptunes have been sold out for sometime. Today 4 Neptunes opened up, but it's a $2500pp upgrade. Was hoping for a signature, but no luck. The perks are cool, but not needed for $5K. Is the room and balcony worth it for those of you that have stayed there? We've loved mini suites on other lines and suites on Windstar. But truthfully we've never spent a lot of time in the room on previous cruises. Just wondering if it would be different in a suite with large balcony. Many thanks!

Past suite passengers, I would love your thoughts on the value for the $$ for Neptune suites. We are sailing on the Oosterdam in June currently in a VE Balcony for 12 days in Europe. We've been contemplating upgrading, but Signature Suites and Neptunes have been sold out for sometime. Today 4 Neptunes opened up, but it's a $2500pp upgrade. Was hoping for a signature, but no luck. The perks are cool, but not needed for $5K. Is the room and balcony worth it for those of you that have stayed there? We've loved mini suites on other lines and suites on Windstar. But truthfully we've never spent a lot of time in the room on previous cruises. Just wondering if it would be different in a suite with large balcony. Many thanks!

You will get different answers to this because some people will always feel it is worth it and some people feel that if you don't spend a lot of time in the room, the perks are definitely not worth it. To us, $5,000 is a lot of money to SPEND IN EUROPE.

Whatever you choose to do, have a wonderful cruise!!!

We always consider the per diem price, how many days for the entire cruise and how many at-sea days where we would most enjoy having a Neptune upsell. However our first Neptune upgrade was on a 12 day Mediterranean on the old Statendam and we enjoyed it on that short of a cruise immensely.

But then it was a last minute complimentary surprise upgrade that we did not know about until we embarked on the ship, while our checked luggage went to our original cabin. There just happened to be a lot of cancellations due to a storm in NYC on that cruise so they were sailing with a lot of empty cabins. It did hook us on taking any reasonable upsell offer for a Neptune from that point on. From our experiences, we do have a range where we consider them. But everyone will approach this differently. If it is in the cards for a splurge, we will always take it.

Only you can decide if it is worth the extra $5000.

How port intensive is your cruise where you will be off the ship more than on it? How long is your cruise? Will you have the time to be able to enjoy breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill? (nice perk) Will you be using the Neptune Lounge a lot for snacks, etc.?

For us -- we feel it is worth the extra money to have the extra cabin space and larger verandah.

My first Mediterranean cruise ( and first HAL cruise) we received a free upgrade to a NS aft wrap .

Loved the room, and the huge balcony but hated being aft.

It did hook us into Suites .. but we are three females and bicker A LOT! We need the space so I can’t reach out and slap my sister or slyly trip her .

When my husband and I cruise we are happy in a normal balcony room. I like being close to him.

I do know that on the Med. cruise we were exhausted at night and spent more time in the room than we normally would.

But for 5000 buckaroonies I would stay put .. that said I am leaving in one week for another HAL Mediterranean cruise in a NS...but we got it at a great Casino rate with Explore 4 and the 2 night Barcelona hotel stay .

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I've had a suite on a port intensive cruise and enjoyed the space. I was actually surprised how much we appreciated it.

KK raises some good points on how much use you can have of the perks.

If you are getting off the ship early for tours, there might not be time for breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill, for example.

As much as I like suites, for our upcoming cruise, I booked it as a B2B rather than a collectors. I wanted the suite for the sea days and knew we would not be able to take advantage of the Pinnacle on most days of the 2nd segment due to the tenders and timing of tours. So, I booked a different category cabin for that segment and will change rooms.

Here's another possible strategy for you. Wait a while. One of the signature suite inhabitants might snatch the Neptune Suite opening up space. Or they could be offered an upsell.

I don't know if they waitlist categories but if you used a TA or PCC I would give them a call and see if you could be waitlisted for a Signature Suite in case one opens up. Just another thought.

Past suite passengers, I would love your thoughts on the value for the $$ for Neptune suites. We are sailing on the Oosterdam in June currently in a VE Balcony for 12 days in Europe. We've been contemplating upgrading, but Signature Suites and Neptunes have been sold out for sometime. Today 4 Neptunes opened up, but it's a $2500pp upgrade. Was hoping for a signature, but no luck. The perks are cool, but not needed for $5K. Is the room and balcony worth it for those of you that have stayed there? We've loved mini suites on other lines and suites on Windstar. But truthfully we've never spent a lot of time in the room on previous cruises. Just wondering if it would be different in a suite with large balcony. Many thanks!

I think you answered your own question. "We've never spent a lot of time in the room on previous cruises". So, not worth it.

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I would never sail without access to the Navigation (Neptune) Lounge. The suites are very large as are the balconies. We are spared breakfast with the masses and there's food all day long. Priority embarkation, priority tender boarding, free laundry and most important - the services of a concierge. Worth every penny.

lOTS Of times when people say they spend little time in their room it could be be cause the room is not comfortable, is very small, and all indoor air. If hey have an option to open the verandah door, they are happy If they have some space to move around in a larger ca bin, it is all good. If they are happier with the space, they spend more time in their cab in, IMO

I have sailed those suites since Statendam first joined the fleet and (She being the first HAL ship to have that style xabin. They were called "S" suites then , we felt it worth paying th e going rate which we always did. We would not have continued to book thos e suites for more than 100 cruises if we did not enjoy them enough. though I am alone, and Asil solo in my cabin, , I continue to book and pay 200% for t hose cabins now that my DH is gone.

I would never sail without access to the Navigation (Neptune) Lounge. The suites are very large as are the balconies. We are spared breakfast with the masses and there's food all day long. Priority embarkation, priority tender boarding, free laundry and most important - the services of a concierge. Worth every penny.

Welcome to Cruise Critic..

But, "spared breakfast with the masses"???

Really? I hope you didn't mean for that to sound as supercilious as it does. ;)

lOTS Of times when people say they spend little time in their room it could be be cause the room is not comfortable, is very small, and all indoor air. If hey have an option to open the verandah door, they are happy If they have some space to move around in a larger ca bin, it is all good. If they are happier with the space, they spend more time in their cab in,

 

 

 

Yes, I think those cabins worth paying full amount for though a few times, I might had thought it not as good as most other times. :)

 

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Welcome to Cruise Critic..

 

But, "spared breakfast with the masses"???

 

Really? I hope you didn't mean for that to sound as supercilious as it does. ;)

I thought the same thing! $5000 to avoid rubbing shoulders with the masses? Yikes!

We've been in a Neptune Suite twice and, while it was lovely, we just felt that there was NOTHING about them that would be worth $5000 EXTRA. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS to be on the same ship with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of other people. To see the same shows ... to eat the same food (except the snacks in the NL and PG breakfast, I know!) ... to visit the same ports. It's just us, but we don't get it at all.

For me, the extra space, more drawer and closet space, Ne eptune Lounge, Pinnacle breakfast, are not necessarily things g to disregard or dismiss out of hand. I like them. JMO

For me, the extra space, more drawer and closet space, Ne eptune Lounge, Pinnacle breakfast, are not necessarily things g to disregard or dismiss out of hand. I like them. JMO

Absolutely not. It definitely is a case of "to each his/her own". We personally just can't see spending the thousands of dollars extra to have more drawer and closet space -- since we travel light to begin with and have unlimited laundry due to being four star anyway. The snacks in the Neptune Lounge and breakfast in the PG aren't worth hundreds of dollars more (per day), so we enjoy our verandah room and make sure we have a retreat cabana. Instead of concierges catering to dozens of people, we have cabana stewards who cater to a maximum of fourteen (or so) cabanas.

But, as I said, to each his/her own. We just won't be lining up to drop all the extra cash on amenities and a little more square footage that we don't see when we are sleeping.

The price seems high for 12 days. Only you can decide whether or not to upsell to the Neptune Suite - however, $5000 might be enough for a future cruise!

We just did an Upsell on the Rotterdam to a Neptune and it was worth the extra $319 pp IMO. However, I do feel that the value of the Neptune Lounge is declining (over the past several years on different ships).

For example, we now have coffee makers in each Neptune cabin, which we use instead of making a trip to the Lounge (especially so when our cabin is a bit of a walk away). Plus, the snacks provided seem to have been reduced in number and quality. Third, the concierges seem to be less available (on this recent cruise they were not in attendance half of the times we went to the Lounge, with a sign saying they will be back soon) - on embarkation day we had to wait 15 minutes for one to show up and this was at peak embarkation time. One more thing - the first evening cocktail parties for Neptune passengers have also been downgraded (limited free beverages and no officers in attendance) and the turnout for them has certainly been less.

I would book a Signature Suite on the Oosterdam (or any of the larger HAL ships) and watch for upsells, to get the best "value". This is especially true once you reach 4 Star level, as you then get the free laundry and boarding/debarking status anyway.

Welcome to Cruise Critic..

 

But, "spared breakfast with the masses"???

 

Really? I hope you didn't mean for that to sound as supercilious as it does. ;)

I would have said "spared breakfast with the unwashed masses"

We just did an Upsell on the Rotterdam to a Neptune and it was worth the extra $319 pp IMO. However, I do feel that the value of the Neptune Lounge is declining (over the past several years on different ships).

 

For example, we now have coffee makers in each Neptune cabin, which we use instead of making a trip to the Lounge (especially so when our cabin is a bit of a walk away). Plus, the snacks provided seem to have been reduced in number and quality. Third, the concierges seem to be less available (on this recent cruise they were not in attendance half of the times we went to the Lounge, with a sign saying they will be back soon) - on embarkation day we had to wait 15 minutes for one to show up and this was at peak embarkation time. One more thing - the first evening cocktail parties for Neptune passengers have also been downgraded (limited free beverages and no officers in attendance) and the turnout for them has certainly been less.

 

I would book a Signature Suite on the Oosterdam (or any of the larger HAL ships) and watch for upsells, to get the best "value". This is especially true once you reach 4 Star level, as you then get the free laundry and boarding/debarking status anyway.

Upsells like this are certainly worth it. Can’t imagine What it is like to have paid full price when others get deals like this!

We love the Neptune suites. We are doing our 1st signature suite on an upcoming Med cruise and will compare but will miss the Neptune lounge. But $5k seems a bit steep. Like OlsSalt said, we have a per diem that we look at and determine the value to us.

Absolutely not. It definitely is a case of "to each his/her own". We personally just can't see spending the thousands of dollars extra to have more drawer and closet space -- since we travel light to begin with and have unlimited laundry due to being four star anyway. The snacks in the Neptune Lounge and breakfast in the PG aren't worth hundreds of dollars more (per day), so we enjoy our verandah room and make sure we have a retreat cabana. Instead of concierges catering to dozens of people, we have cabana stewards who cater to a maximum of fourteen (or so) cabanas.

 

But, as I said, to each his/her own. We just won't be lining up to drop all the extra cash on amenities and a little more square footage that we don't see when we are sleeping.

As you say, each to their own c hoice. I could not agree more :)

I would never sail without access to the Navigation (Neptune) Lounge ... We are spared breakfast with the masses ... Worth every penny.

Although it may not be the most PC-way of expressing things, I appreciate the honesty (and accuracy) of your Post, Meggie451. The word "masses" is not a pejorative term but rather is nothing (or less) than a descriptive term for "a large number of people or objects crowded together". Too bad some people always look for the dark side in others' Posts. FWIW I also do not enjoy eating breakfast (or any other meal) in a crowded venue such as the Lido, so I generally treat myself to a Neptune Suite. Worth every penny!

Past suite passengers, I would love your thoughts on the value for the $$ for Neptune suites. We are sailing on the Oosterdam in June currently in a VE Balcony for 12 days in Europe. We've been contemplating upgrading, but Signature Suites and Neptunes have been sold out for sometime. Today 4 Neptunes opened up, but it's a $2500pp upgrade. Was hoping for a signature, but no luck. The perks are cool, but not needed for $5K. Is the room and balcony worth it for those of you that have stayed there? We've loved mini suites on other lines and suites on Windstar. But truthfully we've never spent a lot of time in the room on previous cruises. Just wondering if it would be different in a suite with large balcony. Many thanks!

You asked ...... No.

As one of "masses " I am grateful that those who dislike the masses choose to stay away :)

OP, I have been in Neptunes, but a $5,000 premium is a LOT of money. Neptunes are nice, but imho not an extra $5,000 nice. That's another cruise, a reasonable-not-great used car, property taxes for a few months, or (did I mention? ;) ) another cruise.

Only you can decide the value to you. For me, I'd use that $5,000 for something else.

Thanks everyone! We decided to stay put for now!

Upsells like this are certainly worth it. Can’t imagine What it is like to have paid full price when others get deals like this!

What can be even worse is when (especially on the Vista and larger ships) a person who took an upsell ends up in an SA cabin in a great location while another person who paid alot more than that for an SC guarantee ends up in an SB in a secondary location. Hard to believe, I know, but thats how it works on HAL.