Holland America Cruise Lines

"DAM" Ships and their Staterooms/Cabins

Send your HAL Stateroom/Cabin photos to irl_joanie@yahoo.com
Place Cruise Critic Photos in the Subject Line In the body of the email
 give a description of the stateroom, stateroom number, category, why you
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Last Edited August 31, 2010
Handicapped Staterooms Photos & Info Last Edited 8-31-2010
Video Pages Added December 3, 2009

ms OOSTERDAM

Passenger capacity:  1,916   Crew members:  817

 

To view full sized click on each photo below.
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Staterooms: N 1011, N 1012, J 1074, C 1081, C 1082, D 1100, VD 4051, VD 4052, H 4089, H 4090, VD 4131, VD 4132, VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5137, VF 5140, VA 6003, VA 6004, VB 6049, SY 6108, VA 8031, VA 8032 & I 8037 are wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only staterooms. [ Staterooms: SS 8068, SC 6164, SC 6175, SY 5001 & SY 5002 are wheelchair accessible, bathtub and roll-in shower. Staterooms. [ [ Interior Staterooms [ [ Large Interior Staterooms [ [ Category: I, J* & K* [ [ Category: I 8037 & J 1074* wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only staterooms. [ [ Standard  Interior Staterooms [ [ Category: L, M, MM, N & NN [ [ Category: N 1011 & N 1012 wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only staterooms. [ [ 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower. [ [ * This category available in both Large & Standard. Please use stateroom number on deck plan to verify view. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. Large Ocean View Staterooms [ [ Full Ocean View Staterooms [ [ Category: C, D, DD, E***, F*** & G** [ [ Category: C 1081, C 1082 & D 1100 wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only staterooms. [ [ *** E 1117, E 1118, E 1120, E 1121, E 1122, E 1125, E 1127, F 1001, F 1002, F 1003, F 1004, F 1005, F 1006, F 1007, F 1008, F 1009 & F 1010  Staterooms with a shower only [  [ Partial Ocean View Staterooms [ [ Category: G** [ [[ Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms [ [ Category: GG, H  & HH [ [ Category: H 4089 & H 4090 wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only staterooms. [ [ 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub, shower.  [ [ ** This category has more than one view type. Please use stateroom number to verify view. [ [ *** Staterooms with a shower only. [ [ Approximately 185 sq. ft. Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms [ [ Category: VA, VB***, VC***, VD***, VE, VF***  **** & VH******* [ [ Category: VD 4051, VD 4052, VD 4131, VD 4132, VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5137, VF 5140, VA 6003, VA 6004, VB 6049, VA 8031 & VA 8032 wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only staterooms. [ [ *** VH 4001, VH 4002, VH 4003, VH 4004, VF 4005, VF 4007, VF 4008, VD 4166, VD 4170, VD 4172, VD 4173, VD 4175, VD 4177, VC 5171, VC 5174, VC 5175, VC 5176, VC 5178, VC 5179, VB 6148, VB 6150, VB 6152, VB 6156, VB 6157 & VB 6160 staterooms with a shower only.  [ [ **** VH 4001 through VH 4004 and VF 4005 through VF 4042 solid steel verandah railings instead of clear-view Plexiglas® railings.  [ [  2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub, shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.  [ [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for either the Neptune Lounge Access or the One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ [ Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms [ [ Category: SS, SY & SZ [ [ Category: SS 8068, SY 5002 & SY 5001 wheelchair accessible, bathtub and roll-in shower staterooms. [ [ Category: SY 6108 is a wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only stateroom. [ [ 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath, shower and additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling window. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available.  [ [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for Neptune Lounge Access.  [ [ [ [ [ [ [ Approximately 398 sq. ft. with verandah. Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms [ [ Category: SA, SB & SC [ [ Category: SC 6164 & SC 6175 wheelchair accessible, bathtub and roll-in shower staterooms. [ [ 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath, shower and additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. [ **  A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. [ [ Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. Penthouse Verandah Suite Staterooms [ [ Category: PS  [ [ Stateroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. [ **  A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. [ [ [ [ [ [ Approximately 1,318 sq. ft. with verandah. [ [ [ On Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, Prinsendam, Zuiderdam: Every single Stateroom has a cooler (HAL does not like to use the word refrigerator as they don't get as cool as some medicines that require "refrigeration" need... but they will get beverages cold...) [ On the rest of the HAL fleet (and note the above says NIEUW AMSTERDAM... NOT  Amsterdam ) If it has a verandah, it has a cooler!  [ [ IRL_Joanie's Note: The standard Verandah/Balcony is 6 ft. deep by 9 ft. wide. VA aft/stern Verandah/Balconys are deeper (how much depends on which deck, and Vista class (Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam & Zuiderdam) versus Signature class (Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam). VD are 7.5 ft. deep. VF and VE on Vista Class ships, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam, Verandah deck are only 4.5 ft. deep. [ VA 4174, VA 4176, VA 4179 & VA 4181 Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms.  These VA AFT Staterooms are about 3 ft. longer than the other 2 Aft facing cabins (VB 4178 & VB 4183.) They are also about 6 inches wider. Does not sound like much but does help with the congestion around the end of the bed. Verandah/Balcony size is about 10 ft. X 10 ft., with a lounge chair, two deck chairs, a very small table and ottoman/footstool. The Deck 4 Aft VA's are all about 3 ft. longer inside than the side VA's, and the verandah/balconys are about 4 ft. deeper than the side VA's.  [ These sizes are most likely the same on all 4 Vista Class ships, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam & Zuiderdam, though there may be slight differences in the sizes. [ As of this time I do not have information on the Verandah/Balcony sizes of the PS or SY categories Staterooms. [ SA, SB & SC Stateroom Sizes NOT INCLUDING Verandah/Balcony: [ These sizes are most likely the same on all 4 Vista Class ships, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam & Zuiderdam, though there may be slight differences in the sizes. [ The stern Verandah/Balconys on the Noordam are different from the other three Vistas. Deck 4 verandah/balconys are larger and more exposed, and the Deck 5 ones are completely covered. The Oosterdam and Westerdam are like this. The Noordam stern is evenly sloped, so that Deck 4 is not larger nor is Deck 5 covered any more than Deck  4, Deck 6, or Deck 7. Deck 8 has a lot of coverage on all four ships, but probably a little more so on the Noordam. [ These sizes are NOT INCLUDING the Verandah/Balconys, just the Interior of the staterooms themselves. [ Deck 4 SC 4180 & SC 4185  -  324 sq. ft. (Aft Wraparound) Deck 5 SC 5190 & SC 5191  -  365 sq. ft. (Aft Wraparound) Deck 6 SC 6166 & SC 6177  -  311 sq. ft. (Aft Wraparound) Deck 6 SC 6164 & SC 6175  -  311 sq. ft. (Aft Stateroom) Deck 6 SB 6084, SB 6086 & SB 6088  -  393 sq. ft. (Midship Port Side) Deck 6 SB 6093, SB 6095 & SB 6097  -  393 sq. ft. (Midship Starboard Side) Deck 7 SA 7047 & SA 7053  -  391 sq. ft. (Midship) Deck 7 SA 7048 & SA 7086  -  391 sq. ft. (Midship Port Side) Deck 7 SB 7088 & SB 7093  -  270 sq. ft. (Bend of Ship) Deck 7 SB 7142 & SB 7151  -  315 sq. ft. (Aft Wraparound) Deck 7 SA 7057 & SA 7091  -  391 sq. ft. (Midship Starboard Side) Deck 8 SB 8140 & SB 8147  -  300 sq. ft. (Aft Wraparound) [ My thanks to Cruise Critic Members: HNLGAL, TahoeTraveler, RustaRoo & jtl513

LARGE OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ Full Ocean View Staterooms [ [ "C", "D", "DD", "E***" & "F***" are Large Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Approximately 185 sq. ft. "C 1081", "C 1082" &"D 1100" are Large Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only. Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ *** E 1117, E 1118, E 1120, E 1121, E 1122, E 1125, E 1127, F 1001, F 1002, F 1003, F 1004, F 1005, F 1006, F 1007, F 1008, F 1009 & F 1010 Staterooms with a shower only.Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ Large Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. [ [ INTERIOR  STATEROOMS [ ] Large Interior Staterooms [ [ "J*" & "K*" are Large Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ "J 1074" is a  Large Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ * This category available in both Large & Standard. Please use stateroom number on deck plan to verify view. [ [ Standard Interior Staterooms [ [ "N" are Standard Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. "N 1011" & "N 1012" are Standard Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ Large and Standard Interior Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

DECK 1 Layout

The first issue was with the noise from the Queens Lounge. Prior to the refurb many of the dances would be held in the Crows Nest. With the Crows Nest becoming part of the Explorations Lounge the dancing has moved to the Queen's Lounge. The bands that were playing used a bass guitar that vibrated the beams above many of the rooms. This caused loud vibration sounds from 7 until around 11pm. The problem is that they can no longer have bands playing in the Crows nest away from everyone because they now have a library attached to it. This essentially renders the Crows nest unusable except as an extension of the library for reading. There are no other areas to handle bands so the Queen's Lounge is the only other place to do this. I think the only solution is to cancel the bands and dancing, but I don't think that is feasible.

The second issue was with what we think was a broken service elevator. A few times during the cruise there would be a very loud screeching noise and vibrating of the cabin. This happened at 5am the first night of the cruise, another time during the middle of the night on the 2nd or 3rd night, and twice at 11pm on the last night of the cruise. The last time this happened the front desk finally told the stewards to stop using that elevator.

The front desk was very apologetic for these issues and did everything they could to resolve them. Hopefully the elevator will be fixed soon to clear up the second issue. For the first issue, they are still working with the entertainment department to see what they can do, but it is an ongoing experiment.

I would still cruise HAL, but I would think twice about doing a cabin that is on the Main Level. Hopefully these issues will be resolved shortly. These cabins are really at a good location and are close to everything, they just have a noise issue.

Cruise Critic Member: doclove
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J 1037 Large Interior Stateroom   Deck 1 Main Deck
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My cabin aboard was 1037, a J-category inside amidships. Wow, it was lovely.... and LARGE. The bed was WONDERFUL. This cabin has plenty of room for 2 or 3 ... for a single person it was HUGE. The private bath was, pretty much, standard HAL.
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Cruise Critic Member: RevNeal
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C 1066  Large Ocean View Stateroom   Deck 1 Main Deck
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We liked this room because it had the feel of being a larger room then it actually was. We didn't feel cramped for space and felt that there was plenty of open space.  The room is located near the main atrium and down the hall from the Vista Lounge. (IRL_Joanie's Note: I brightened the 3rd photo to make it easier for the viewed to see, see the 4th photo, which is grainier than the original)
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Cruise Critic Member:  doclove
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E 1115 Large Ocean View Stateroom   Deck 1 Main Deck
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Cruise Critic Member: Essiesmom
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DELUXE VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SC" are Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. [ Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise. Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers. Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night. Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request. Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise. Cocktail party with ship officers. Priority boarding for tender ports of call. Special disembarkation service. Priority dining and seating requests. Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only. High tea service in suite on request. A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. Neptune Lounge: A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.  (IRL_Joanie's Note: It has been mentioned by Suite guests that there is at least one (1) lap top computer for the use of guests in the Neptune Lounge. The regular Internet and connection fees would still be applicable.) The Neptune Lounge is ONLY for Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Suite Guests. [ [ DELUXE VERANDAH OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ "VA", "VB", "VD***", "VF*** ****" & "VH***  ****" are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ VD 4051, VD 4052, VD 4131 & VD 4132 are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. [ *** VH 4001, VH 4002, VH 4003, VH 4004, VF 4005, VF 4007, VF 4008, VD 4166, VD 4170, VD 4172, VD 4173, VD 4175 & VD 4177 are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, staterooms with a shower only, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ **** VH 4001 through VH 4004 and VF 4005 through VF 4042 are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. These staterooms havesolid steel verandah railings instead of clear-view Plexiglas® railings.Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for either the Neptune Lounge Access or the One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service. [ Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows.  Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. Oversized 100% Egyptian cotton bath towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Personalized cruise stationery. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Complimentary DVD library. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. [ [ LARGE OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ Full Ocean View Staterooms [ [ "F" & "G**" are Large Full Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ ** This category has more than one view type. Please use stateroom number to verify view. [ [ Partial Ocean View Staterooms [ [ "G**" are Large Partial Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ ** This category has more than one view type. Please use stateroom number to verify view. [ [ Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms [ [ "GG", "H" & "HH" are Large Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ H 4089 & H 4090 are Large Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only. Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ Large Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service [ [ INTERIOR STATEROOMS [ [ Standard Interior Staterooms [ [ "M", "MM", "N" & "NN" are Standard Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ Standard Interior Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

DECK 4 Layout

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The only unusual thing about the cabin was that there was a short ladder off the Plexiglas balcony (you can see it just to the left of where the doors meet in the middle picture)  that led to a light. We never saw anyone use it nor did the light come on and bother us. I guess the ladder would only be used for either cleaning the light or replacing the bulb.

Cruise Critic Member: susanlordjackson
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SC 4185 Deluxe Verandah Suite Stateroom    Deck 4  Upper Promenade Deck
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This is an Aft Wrap Around Stateroom
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Cruise Critic Member: maxsmamma
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DELUXE VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SC" are Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. [ Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise. Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers. Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night. Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request. Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise. Cocktail party with ship officers. Priority boarding for tender ports of call. Special disembarkation service. Priority dining and seating requests. Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only. High tea service in suite on request. A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. Neptune Lounge: A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.  (IRL_Joanie's Note: It has been mentioned by Suite guests that there is at least one (1) lap top computer for the use of guests in the Neptune Lounge. The regular Internet and connection fees would still be applicable.) The Neptune Lounge is ONLY for Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Suite Guests. [ [ SUPERIOR VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SY" are Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available. Approximately 398 sq. ft. with verandah. [ SY 5001 & SY 5002 are Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available. Approximately 389 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for Neptune Lounge Access.  [ Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed featuring plush Sealy Posturepedic® Euro-Top mattress and finely woven cotton linens. Luxurious bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower head. 5x magnifying lighted make-up mirror and salon-quality hair dryer. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Personalized cruise stationery. Oversized bath towels. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. Complimentary DVD library. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available.  [ [ DELUXE VERANDAH OCEANVIEW STATEROOMS [ [ "VA", "VC***", "VE" & "VF" are Deluxe Verandah Oceanview Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5137 & VF 5140 are Deluxe Verandah Oceanview Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft with verandah. [ *** VC 5171, VC 5174, VC 5175, VC 5176, VC 5178 & VC 5179 are Deluxe Verandah Oceanview Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, staterooms with a shower only, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for either the Neptune Lounge Access or the One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service. [ Deluxe Verandah Oceanview Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows.  Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. Oversized 100% Egyptian cotton bath towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Personalized cruise stationery. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Complimentary DVD library. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. [ [ INTERIOR  STATEROOMS  [ [ Standard Interior Staterooms [ [ "L" are Standard Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ Standard Interior Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

DECK 5 Layout

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Cruise Critic Members: IRL_Joanie and Crew-News
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VE 5101 Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Stateroom   Deck 5 Verandah Deck
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Cruise Critic Members: Flindy&Doc
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SC 5187 Deluxe Verandah Suite Stateroom   Deck 5 Verandah Deck
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These photos were taken in Nov. 2007. This is an aft corner cabin. It had a huge wrap around balcony, but I'm not sure what they did to this cabin during the renovation of the Oosterdam.
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Cruise Critic Member: Mrs Mac
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SC 5190 Deluxe Verandah Suite Stateroom   Deck 5 Verandah Deck
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Pictures of and from our suite on the Oosterdam December 2009. Couch and chairs and bar and bed are all in one room. It's a large room and very comfortable. Most suites we have been in had multi rooms but this was comfortable and the storage was amazing.  Floor to ceiling wall of closets just beyond bed. Toilet sometimes had flushing problems. Double Sinks in bath...very handy. Side Balcony great place to watch sail away. Note next balcony is blocked and protects your privacy. Balcony great place to dine or watch sail away. Overhang it really covers the deck.
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Cruise Critic Member: Kentskie
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SC 5191 Deluxe Verandah Suite Stateroom   Deck 5 Verandah Deck
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My mother & I just returned from a 7 day a couple of weeks ago (May 2010). We were in SC-5191 on the starboard side. We were very impressed with the verandah, and I don't think we would have changed a thing. We had very little drizzle at times, (in fact the only rain we got was in Juneau, our other ports were sunny the whole time), but the complete coverage over the verandah was welcome.

We liked the privacy it gave us from above. It was weird looking down to deck 4 and seeing those passengers outside on their verandah, but we could take a couple of steps back and still see everything, without feeling like we were 'watching' the folks below us.

We never even left the comfort of our little space. We were more than pleased with the view that we were able to obtain.

As far as space - I can't find my notes right now, but to the best of my recollection, there is more 'living space' on the lower SC decks.
SC 4180 & SC 4185 --> approx. 372 sq ft
SC 5190 & SC 5191 --> approx. 342 sq ft
SC 6166 & SC 6177 --> approx. 322 sq ft

(I may be off a few, as that is from memory. We were told by the onboard booking folks on the O that those measurements were the same as the equivalent rooms/decks to the Nieuw Amsterdam. They could not provide us verandah dimensions however.)

Bottom line - We loved SC 5191. The only reason we're taking SC 4183 on our cruise next year is that we would like the extra 30 sq ft since we will have an extra 10 days of cruising. (And since all but the SB aft cabins up on the Nav deck are a more 'open' design, we will have a more exposed verandah regardless of the deck so we picked the most living space).
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Cruise Critic Member: Madbullogna
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DELUXE VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SB" & "SC" are Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. [ SC 6164 & SC 6175 are Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. [ Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise. Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers. Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night. Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request. Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise. Cocktail party with ship officers. Priority boarding for tender ports of call. Special disembarkation service. Priority dining and seating requests. Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only. High tea service in suite on request. A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. Neptune Lounge: A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.  (IRL_Joanie's Note: It has been mentioned by Suite guests that there is at least one (1) lap top computer for the use of guests in the Neptune Lounge. The regular Internet and connection fees would still be applicable.) The Neptune Lounge is ONLY for Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Suite Guests. [ [ SUPERIOR VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SY" & "SZ" are Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 398 sq. ft. with verandah. SY 6108 is a Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 389 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for Neptune Lounge Access.  [ Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed featuring plush Sealy Posturepedic® Euro-Top mattress and finely woven cotton linens. Luxurious bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower head. 5x magnifying lighted make-up mirror and salon-quality hair dryer. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Personalized cruise stationery. Oversized bath towels. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. Complimentary DVD library. [ [ DELUXE VERANDAH OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ "VA" & "VB***" are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah,  floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. VA 6003, VA 6004 & VB 6049 are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, sitting area, private verandah,  floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft with verandah. [ *** VB 6148, VB 6150, VB 6152, VB 6156, VB 6157 & VB 6160 are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, staterooms with a shower only, sitting area, private verandah,  floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for either the Neptune Lounge Access or the One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service. [ Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows.  Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. Oversized 100% Egyptian cotton bath towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Personalized cruise stationery. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Complimentary DVD library. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. [ [ LARGE OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ Full Ocean View Staterooms [ [ "F" are Large Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Approximately 185 sq. ft. [ Large Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service [ [ INTERIOR STATEROOMS [ [ Large Interior Staterooms [ [ "I*", & "K*" are Large Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ * This category available in both Large & Standard. Please use stateroom number on deck plan to verify view. [ [ Standard Interior Staterooms [ [ "L" are Standard Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ Large and Standard Interior Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

DECK 6 Layout

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It had some motion but not much weather on the Mexican Riviera cruise that Dec (2008).  We had booked Inside Guarantee Cat MM and were fine with this room, although I think it's the same size and layout as an MM room.  No sofa, so missed that a little.  Showers on HAL inside rooms are more roomy than on some other lines (Carnival, NCL) and are fine for us. No hallway traffic to speak of in this out of the way location; no anchors, no cables, no engines to make noise here, very quiet. This was the second half of a combo cruise; first half 8 days on Carnival Spirit, then cross the pier in San Diego and 7 days on Oosterdam. I think Oosterdam is the most elegant of the HAL ships we've been on (Maasdam, Volendam, Ryndam).  We're booked on Amsterdam for Dec so maybe that will be as elegant. But, "It's hard to have a bad day on a cruise ship".
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Cruise Critic Member: RMLincoln
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VA 6173 Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom   Deck 6 Upper Verandah Deck
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VA 6173 for this cruise. It is a wake view cabin with a nice sized verandah. The room is much the same as all of the other balcony rooms on the Oosterdam except for a little more space. The additional space on the verandah allows for a sun lounger, though the lack of shade makes it very hot in full sun. We liked this size of room and it was more than enough for us. There was plenty of storage and we were able to fit our 3 full size hard shell suitcases underneath the very comfortable “signature of excellence” king sized bed. The sofa is not as large as on other HAL ships, but was comfortable for the small amount of time we used it.
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Cruise Critic Member: brucory from a CC review
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PENTHOUSE VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "PS 7045" & "PS 7046"" are Penthouse Verandah Suite Staterooms: One bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 1318 sq. ft. with verandah. [ Unknown at this time if the Penthouse Verandah Suite Stateroom is wheelchair accessible, though I would assume that it is. [ Penthouse Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Oversized Egyptian cotton bath towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player with Complimentary DVD library. Fresh flowers. Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise. Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers. Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night. Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request. Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise. Cocktail party with ship officers. Priority boarding for tender ports of call. Special disembarkation service. Priority dining and seating requests. Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only. High tea service in suite on request. A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length.  Neptune Lounge: A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. (IRL_Joanie's Note: It has been mentioned by Suite guests that there is at least one (1) lap top computer for the use of guests in the Neptune Lounge. The regular Internet and connection fees would still be applicable.) The Neptune Lounge is ONLY for Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Suite Guests. [ [ DELUXE VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SA" & "SB" are Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. [ Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise. Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers. Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night. Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request. Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise. Cocktail party with ship officers. Priority boarding for tender ports of call. Special disembarkation service. Priority dining and seating requests. Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only. High tea service in suite on request. A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. Neptune Lounge: A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.  (IRL_Joanie's Note: It has been mentioned by Suite guests that there is at least one (1) lap top computer for the use of guests in the Neptune Lounge. The regular Internet and connection fees would still be applicable.) The Neptune Lounge is ONLY for Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Suite Guests. [ [ DELUXE VERANDAH OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ "VA" are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for either the Neptune Lounge Access or the One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service. [ Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows.  Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. Oversized 100% Egyptian cotton bath towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Personalized cruise stationery. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Complimentary DVD library. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. [ [ INTERIOR STATEROOMS [ [ Large Interior Staterooms [ [ "J*" are Large Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ * This category available in both Large & Standard. Please use stateroom number on deck plan to verify view. [ Large Interior Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

DECK 7 Layout

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We agree with others that the Holland America bed and pillows are incredibly comfortable. I did notice this morning that the sheets are somewhat worn with a couple of areas so frayed that if one more thread breaks, there will be a hole the size of a nickel. There was no problem setting thermostat on wall to comfortable temperature. I spent some time napping on one of those wonderful Promenade deck chairs with a wool deck blanket.

Here's another tip. As I went out on the balcony, I just now realized a cabinet at the end of the sofa at the balcony door. I thought it was just an end table. Well, I opened it and discovered two wool deck blankets. Boy, I wish I had realized those were there a few days ago! We had wanted those at Glacier Bay but none were to be found on the Promenade deck. Well, now I know and hopefully a few of you who might not have checked that cabinet will know as well.

we were disappointed that the steward didn't deliver the corsage and boutonniere that are part of the amenities for the deluxe suite. Unfortunately, I forgot about it until we got to dinner and saw others in the dining room with them on and suddenly realized we had not received them. I wasn't about to interrupt our dinner to get up and find out where they were, but after dinner, I went by the Neptune lounge. The concierge speculated that perhaps they weren't delivered because we had the privacy sign on the door, however, since we didn't have the privacy sign up, apparently they just got missed. This has been one of several service problems, albeit minor, from our room steward. No apology, no offer to somehow make it up to us with delivery on another night.

I am making note of some of these minor details so as to give appropriate helpful feedback to HAL instead of just “loved the cruise, thanks”. While they haven't diminished my enjoyment of the cruise, they are the kind of things that are noticed so I'm sure they will want to correct. Thus far, it is by far the most enjoyable cruise experience we have had. The ship is beautiful, the food delicious, the crew is friendly and gracious and despite a few problems with our room steward, the service has been outstanding.

(I am very detail oriented so notice things that others might not)

I am pleased that we purchased the upgrade to the deluxe suite as it is our 20th anniversary but can't say whether the extra cost above a superior suite would be worth it for us for future cruises. Here's why I say that: When we arrived at the terminal, there was no line to check in for any passengers, several HAL reps were available to check folks in with no wait. We were put in the second boarding group with non suite folks in the first boarding group, so unless you arrive during a busy period, being in a deluxe suite doesn't appear to get you on board any more quickly. Our cabin was available at the same time as the others, 1:30pm. The snacks and beverages in the Neptune Lounge were nice, but with all of the other dining venues and food available 24 hours a day, I'm not sure that alone is worth the extra cost. (Although the coffee machine is pretty cool and nice to enjoy). For me, as an early riser, particularly on this voyage, the fact that the Neptune Lounge does not open until 7 am and closes at 8:30pm means that I can't get the special coffees when I would probably enjoy them most, early in the morning and late in the evening after a show. Perhaps HAL might consider having the Neptune open 24 hours at least for the coffee, iced tea and juice since you use your suite key to open the door anyway unless it is standing open. They could have a dining steward check the supplies for coffee and such every hour or two you would think without too much difficulty. They could then just have the foods and concierge services available as they are now, from 7 am to 8:30 pm. The concierges each do provide prompt service, however, aside from a line of three folks on embarkation afternoon, I never saw a line at the front desk and for kicks I did stop by there a couple of times with questions or requests and they were handled immediately with a smile and a great deal of courtesy. But, I am a pretty self sufficient person, so I suppose if you have a lot of requests, or some that are a little out of the ordinary, having the concierge available might be a significant benefit. I don't know if the priority dining helped us with the table for two, we were already confirmed for early dining when we booked, however, I have no way of knowing what effect being in a deluxe suite may have had on our actual table assignment. The laundry is a wonderful benefit, however, unlimited laundry is available for about $7.00 per day per cabin for everyone not in a deluxe suite. A very “modest” bottle of Pol Clemente was waiting for us as well as a bottle of water, that was nice but not that important considering the quality of the champagne. Like I mentioned earlier, we did not receive the boutonniere or corsage the first formal night, nor was any apology or accommodation made for that slip up.

The cocktail party with the captain and hotel manager was a nice opportunity to meet and speak with them, however, there were no cocktails provided, only red and white wine and champagne, although empty glasses were quickly replaced. One disappointment for me is the lack of the “exclusive daily breakfast service” for the first two mornings of the cruise. Since we have early excursions in Juneau and Ketchikan, when we will have to catch an early bite in the Lido or room service, we will only get to enjoy the Pinnacle for breakfast on three of the seven mornings as opposed to the five we had anticipated. I am not sure if this is something that always occurs or just this cruise as no explanation has been given for the Pinnacle not being open for breakfast until Wednesday. We did go by the Pinnacle on Monday morning to confirm that they would not be open until Wednesday and the Pinnacle “manager” confirmed this but said that there was “special seating and service” in the Vista dining room for suite guests. This was not the case at least on Monday morning, we were sat with everyone else and received the same slow service.

Bathrobes are available in all cabins but you do get a pair of very modest and thin terry cloth slippers to keep when you stay in a deluxe suite. The binoculars are a nice perk, since we brought one pair, we now each have a set to look through. There is an umbrella in the cabin. Also, I understand there will be a suite luncheon on Saturday. So each person obviously will have to decide for themselves how important the deluxe suite is for them.

Some wonder, as I did, when booking a balcony for Alaska for a Glacier Bay voyage, which is better for viewing glaciers, port or starboard. Well, when going up Glacier Bay and into Johns Hopkins Inlet, you see Reid Glacier, Lamplugh Glacier and Johns Hopkins Glacier on the port side for a brief period of time and the ship does not stop for those, so on the way back out, you have equal viewing time to see them on the starboard side. For that part of Glacier Bay, I didn't see an advantage. However, when we went to Margarie Glacier, the ship came to a complete stop and maintained about a 45° angle with the port side facing Margarie Glacier for I think about an hour. The starboard side had the better view of Grand Pacific Glacier, which looks like it has been dipped in coal. The ship does turn when leaving and the starboard side would have a brief view of Margarie Glacier, however, the port side was clearly better on this particular voyage. Also, at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, we docked with the port side facing town giving us the view of town (well, in Sitka we were anchored). I will say that a balcony is wonderful for this voyage. It is very cold in Glacier Bay and began raining at the end of Johns Hopkins Inlet. It was nice to be on a covered balcony during the rain and be able to duck just a few feet into our cabin to warm ourselves, grab a bite or something to drink.

There was a letter from the Neptune concierges about luggage options for debarkation for Deluxe Suite guests, we can leave it out the night before we depart, or we can put it out by 6 am on Sunday morning. Since we'll probably be up early anyway, we'll leave it out at 6 am, it will be nice to have our luggage with us as we get dressed the morning of debarkation and then have it all delivered in the terminal instead of carrying some off.

Unfortunately, the service from the team of cabin stewards this entire week has been very inconsistent. On Wednesday, I requested a laundry bag to send out laundry but never received one. Yesterday, I asked again and he said he would bring one by when he turned down the cabin in the evening. When we returned from the late show, the cabin had been turned down but no laundry bag or laundry list. Also, it has now been two days since our ice has been refilled. This morning, I saw one of our cabin stewards in the hall and asked again about the laundry bag. He was apologetic and brought one immediately, but when he saw the pile of dirty clothes, quickly returned with two more bags. When we returned from breakfast, the room had been serviced and we finally had some ice, the champagne bucket was full of it, but none was in the ice bucket! No problem, I put some in the ice bucket from the champagne bucket so it might last the afternoon since I am not confident that we will see ice again this cruise.

Conclusion

While this was not a flawless cruise, I am not sure that there is such a thing. The food and service in the main dining room was outstanding, as was the experience in the Pinnacle, both at dinner and during the deluxe suite breakfasts. The entertainment was also excellent and we found no shortage of experiences to enjoy on board, from cooking demonstrations to the shows, it was all wonderfully done with style and class. The Neptune Lounge was a very nice retreat most of the time, and both Jules and Nette were very attentive and responsive to our needs, which were very few. The coffee machine was a regular stop for both of us throughout the day.

Our room stewards were good, not great, not terrible, just good. I do, however, wonder if the inconsistency in the quality of the service they provided was a reflection of the number of staterooms they must service, as I have read comments here on Cruise Critic from more seasoned HAL cruisers that the number of staterooms assigned to each steward has increased in recent years. I believe that they both worked very hard and they were always very courteous and helpful, so I suspect that forgetting to leave a laundry bag a few times, even after it was requested, and neglecting to refill the fruit basket and ice repeatedly over several days was just an oversight.

Having spent the past seven days on the MS Oosterdam, this has been an excellent experience and reinforced my suspicions when booking this cruise that Holland America probably would provide the type of cruise experience we would enjoy the best. It was elegant without being pretentious with very gracious service, wonderful dining, splendid accommodations and a friendly crew. Without a doubt, we will sail again with Holland America and look forward, as we become empty nesters and eventually retirees, to more frequent and longer voyages with them.
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Cruise Critic Member: alexandria
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VA 7101 Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Stateroom    Deck 7 Rotterdam Deck

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This is an Oosterdam verandah room. Last year, it was cabin 7021, however since the upgrade, the number changed (IRL_Joanie's Note: 7021 is  now J 7021, an Inside Stateroom and is near the front of the ship). I would say it is about VA 7101 under the current deck plan. Great room. Nice to be on this floor as no noise from above or below.

Cruise Critic Member: brucory
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SB 7142 Deluxe Verandah Suite Stateroom    Deck 7 Rotterdam Deck
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These were pictures taken in Nov. of 2008.  Cabin #7132 is now Cabin #7142.  I think the difference is in the size of the verandah, it's smaller now so I didn't include pictures that showed how large it used to be. 3rd photo is Oosterdam from our Hotel Room: We stayed in the Holiday Inn in San Diego and when we opened our curtains in the morning the ship was literally ‘right there’.  Last photo is Our Side Deck:  On that particular cruise the side verandah was less windy than the main part, so we moved some of the furniture over.
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Cruise Critic Member: Travelmatron
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SB 7151  Deluxe Verandah Suite Stateroom    Deck 7 Rotterdam Deck
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Suite notes:  Wonderful suite with a fabulous deck in the aft starboard corner.  Amazing closet and storage space--a zillion little hidey holes for luggage, makeup, electronics, etc. Between this suite and the Thermal suite, we didn't get off the ship once in 7 days.  Loved it!  But, do take ear plugs.  Between 2 am and 5 am this suite has some definite creaks, taps, squeaks, groans, and other unidentifiable noises,  Didn't mind the occasional shudders, but the noise may bother some light sleepers.
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Deck has two loungers, a table for four with chairs and two chairs with ottomans.  Sunny some parts of the day, shady others--you can move the chairs around to find either one.  Very private unless you are at the rail.  No problems with soot, or other debris reported by some previous aft CC reporters.  Noise was occasional chair movement from above or side cabins.  Nothing enough to interfere with our enjoyment.
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Cruise Critic Member: Rower 52
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DELUXE VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SB" are Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Neptune Lounge Access) One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed. Approximately 510-700 sq. ft. with verandah. [ Deluxe Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise. Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers. Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night. Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request. Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise. Cocktail party with ship officers. Priority boarding for tender ports of call. Special disembarkation service. Priority dining and seating requests. Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only. High tea service in suite on request. A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length. Neptune Lounge: A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Verandah Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and wi-fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.  (IRL_Joanie's Note: It has been mentioned by Suite guests that there is at least one (1) lap top computer for the use of guests in the Neptune Lounge. The regular Internet and connection fees would still be applicable.) The Neptune Lounge is ONLY for Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Suite Guests. [ [ SUPERIOR VERANDAH SUITE STATEROOMS [ [ "SS" are Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 398 sq. ft. with verandah. [ SS 8068 is a Superior Verandah Suite Stateroom: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 389 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for Neptune Lounge Access.  [ Superior Verandah Suite Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed featuring plush Sealy Posturepedic® Euro-Top mattress and finely woven cotton linens. Luxurious bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower head. 5x magnifying lighted make-up mirror and salon-quality hair dryer. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Personalized cruise stationery. Oversized bath towels. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. Complimentary DVD library. [ [ DELUXE VERANDAH OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS [ [ "VA" are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. VA 8031 & VA 8032 are Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. Approximately 254 sq. ft. with verandah. [ This Category DOES NOT qualify for either the Neptune Lounge Access or the One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service. [ Deluxe Verandah Ocean View Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows.  Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. Oversized 100% Egyptian cotton bath towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Personalized cruise stationery. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Complimentary DVD library. One-touch telephone concierge service. Fresh flowers. No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service. [ [ INTERIOR  STATEROOMS [ [ Large Interior Staterooms [ [ "I", and "J*" are Large Interior Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ I 8037 is a Large Interior Stateroom: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, wheelchair bathroom accessible, shower only. Approximately 170-200 sq. ft. [ * This category available in both Large & Standard. Please use stateroom number on deck plan to verify view. [ Large Interior Staterooms include the following amenities: [ Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens. Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage. 100% Egyptian cotton towels. Premium massage shower heads. 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers. Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure. Complimentary fresh fruit on request. Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages. Flat-panel TV and DVD player. Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service.

DECK 8 Layout

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We liked going up just one flight of stairs to the Lido buffet and the aft deck pool area and one more for the Library and Crows Nest. We would walk down the stairs to the upper dining room and upper Vista lounge but it was always a trip in an elevator to go back up those long flights of stairs. Never had a problem with the elevators and they were amazingly quick to get us to our floor again.

Again, one bonus for this room was passing the utility door in the same hallway that had enticing sniffs coming up from the bakery where the daily breads were being baked. Yum. Everything in the cabin worked and the stewards were silent and efficient. Ours was an upgrade fairy gift from a VH to a VA room. We were very happy with it though we immediately noticed the room was smaller than verandah rooms on the Rotterdam and Maasdam. There was only a love seat instead of that long, long sofa and far fewer drawers, but had a shelf under the sink in the bathroom and a medicine cabinet so we had no real issues with space.

We discovered the under the bed drawers thanks to an alert poster here, but did not discover the under the love seat drawers too until the very last day. So the loss of dressing table drawers in our prior verandah cabins was more than made up with these two extra sets of deep drawers. Closet space was similar. And the deck was considerably smaller for only two chairs instead of one chair and one lounger, but this was fine. There was a foot rest and a small table along with two chairs on the deck- smoke glass balconies which gave one nice sea views.

Oosterdam # 8117 - Navigation Deck, Starboard side, aft - good choice.
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Cruise Critic Member: SwissMyst
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To make the pages less graphic intensive, I've divided the ship photos into 3 separate pages, the 1st is the Staterooms themselves, the 2nd is Miscellaneous photos of Public Areas around the ship and the 3rd is the Handicapped (HC) Staterooms on the Oosterdam. Click on the links below to see more photos of the Oosterdam.
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