Westerdam....VE verandah or VB verandah?

[Debz62]

Hello...our first cruise to Alaska and with HAL. We booked a VE verandah on Rotterdam deck port side near the front of the ship. After contacting our TA about price drop we've been offered a guarantee VB verandah or higher. My question is what is the difference between VE verandah and VB verandah? Just the location of the room? I looked on the different decks of the Westdam and it looks like VB is more midship, but no other difference. I'm hoping VB has a jacuzzi tub :) Anyone know what the differences are?

 

Thanks!

[cruisevers]

I think it is just the location on the ship but maybe someone who is more familiar with HAL will come by and answer. My niece was able to upgrade from OV to a balcony gty because of the price drop but had to pay extra $.

 

We're less than thirty days now!!

Edited April 13, 2015 by cruisevers

[Debz62]

I think it is just the location on the ship but maybe someone who is more familiar with HAL will come by and answer. My niece was able to upgrade from OV to a balcony gty because of the price drop but had to pay extra $.

 

We're less than thirty days now!!

 

I know...25 days! I've been told Alaska is one of the places where a balcony is a must. I'm new at this and the only thing I kept asking the TA was "we don't lose our balcony right"? Did you book a balcony also? I noticed the price dropped the other day and figured, why not ask about it. That's when my TA called me and was able to get us this "guarantee". I'm still not sure what that means exactly, but we should be getting a nicer cabin or location. The VE verandah we're in now is at the opposite end of the ship from the MDR I believe. Walking would do us good, but getting something midship would be awesome.

[OVgirl]

I think you will also find VB cabins at the back of the ship. Just be prepared that you might not be happy with your cabin assignment if you book a guarantee.

 

If you like the cabin you have at the moment, maybe consider keeping it.

[cruisevers]

If you are already a Gty, and it's a Vh you are moving up in location. I think there are only 4 vh's and they are the very forward balcony cabins. My niece is a Vh gty and we are hoping they move her up a bit.

 

By taking the vb gty you have eliminated being put in anything less and could move up to an even better location!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

No you do not have a whirlpool bath tub.

[jtl513]

The main difference between any of the verandah cabins is location and the size of the balconies. None have whirlpool tubs. If the VE is one of the five on deck 4 it has a 7.5 ft deep balcony but a steel-wall railing so that you can see little when seated. The VBs on deck 4 sides are also 7.5 ft deep while those on the stern are 10 to 12 feet deep. Most VB on other decks are 6 ft deep.

 

Personally I would prefer some OBC rather than the upgrade, but if the upgrade is all you can get, take it.

[qsuzi]

The main difference between any of the verandah cabins is location and the size of the balconies. None have whirlpool tubs. If the VE is one of the five on deck 4 it has a 7.5 ft deep balcony but a steel-wall railing so that you can see little when seated. The VBs on deck 4 sides are also 7.5 ft deep while those on the stern are 10 to 12 feet deep. Most VB on other decks are 6 ft deep.

 

Personally I would prefer some OBC rather than the upgrade, but if the upgrade is all you can get, take it.

 

Nice to see you posting jtl :) Very knowledgeable and good information.

[Debz62]

The main difference between any of the verandah cabins is location and the size of the balconies. None have whirlpool tubs. If the VE is one of the five on deck 4 it has a 7.5 ft deep balcony but a steel-wall railing so that you can see little when seated. The VBs on deck 4 sides are also 7.5 ft deep while those on the stern are 10 to 12 feet deep. Most VB on other decks are 6 ft deep.

 

Personally I would prefer some OBC rather than the upgrade, but if the upgrade is all you can get, take it.

 

We were in VE deck 7 near the front of the ship port side. I asked for onboard credit, but HAL wouldn't give us that. I was told we're guaranteed a VB or higher. I imagine any VB would be nicer than the VE, unless of course the VB is on the 5th deck with a view of the lifeboats directly underneath. That would be horrible!

Edited April 14, 2015 by Debz62

[jtl513]

... unless of course the VB is on the 5th deck with a view of the lifeboats directly underneath. That would be horrible!

The VB on deck 5 are not above lifeboats, but unfortunately with a VB guarantee you could be assigned one of the VA in the 5053 to 5138 range which are above them. Not only that, they have balconies that are only 4.5 ft deep. HAL considers those VA to be a higher level than the VB-VE but I do not. Originally those cabins were all VE, and a good value.

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/main/DeckPlansFull.action?ship=we_2&deck=v&deep=0

 

Edited April 14, 2015 by jtl513

[Debz62]

The VB on deck 5 are not above lifeboats, but unfortunately with a VB guarantee you could be assigned one of the VA in the 5053 to 5138 range which are above them. Not only that, they have balconies that are only 4.5 ft deep. HAL considers those VA to be a higher level than the VB-VE but I do not. Originally those cabins were all VE, and a good value.

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/main/DeckPlansFull.action?ship=we_2&deck=v&deep=0

 

 

Thank you for the information. We'll hope for the best. I do see where they've removed our cabin number from our itinerary on the HAL site. It now shows VB, but no specific cabin number. What do you think about the VB cabins on the aft end? The ones looking toward the ships wake? I wonder if one would enjoy the Alaska scenery from there as well as someone being on the port or starboard side.

[msmayor]

I can't speak for Alaska, since I've never been...but last month for our VH guarantee we were assigned VB 5184, almost smack in the middle of the aft on deck 5.

 

What I CAN tell you is that it was a spectacular stateroom for us. It was not only our first balcony, but also first aft...and my husband and I spent a lot of time on that balcony. Excellent views, especially if I chose to stand at the railing and look to the right/left.

 

Others have said that having a covered balcony in Alaska is great because of the chance of misty weather. Deck 5 afts are fully covered. We had virtually no wind, but the temps were pleasant even in the Caribbean. When we boarded, there were two loungers, two chairs, an ottoman and small table out on the verandah and there was still room to move around.

 

I would take that stateroom again in a heartbeat.

Edited April 14, 2015 by msmayor

[jtl513]

What do you think about the VB cabins on the aft end? The ones looking toward the ships wake? I wonder if one would enjoy the Alaska scenery from there as well as someone being on the port or starboard side.

I don't care for the stern cabins myself, unless it is a corner-wrap. I don't like seeing just what we have passed some time ago. If someone announces on the PA that there is something transient to see (e.g. whales) by the time you get to the point where you can see, they are likely long gone. Even with something static to see, by the time it comes into your view it is rapidly receding. Of course with a side cabin there's a 50/50 chance that you'll be on the wrong side, but with the center-stern it's near 100%. And, the view of the wake doesn't thrill me. ;)

 

With that opinion, on this forum I am in the minority!

[Debz62]

I can't speak for Alaska, since I've never been...but last month for our VH guarantee we were assigned VB 5184, almost smack in the middle of the aft on deck 5.

 

What I CAN tell you is that it was a spectacular stateroom for us. It was not only our first balcony, but also first aft...and my husband and I spent a lot of time on that balcony. Excellent views, especially if I chose to stand at the railing and look to the right/left.

 

Others have said that having a covered balcony in Alaska is great because of the chance of misty weather. Deck 5 afts are fully covered. We had virtually no wind, but the temps were pleasant even in the Caribbean. When we boarded, there were two loungers, two chairs, an ottoman and small table out on the verandah and there was still room to move around.

 

I would take that stateroom again in a heartbeat.

 

Sounds absolutely wonderful. I will keep my fingers crossed that we end up with a VB like the one you described.