christineispink

13 hours ago, Kerwin725 said:

I am interested in possibly renting a cabana...but I thought I read somewhere it is only for 2 people.  Is that so?  My party of 6 couldn't mingle in and out of it throughout a day?

Hi - we were on the nieuw amsterdam this past May as a party of 5. We rented 2 lido cabanas (meant for 2 people each). Our cruise consultant wouldn't confirm that we would be ok, she just gave me the "company line" that each lido cabana is for 2. 

They are separated in between by a fabric curtain - so they tied ours back so we could have one "big" cabana (2 combined). It was pretty clear that we were on a family trip and our cabana staff never gave us a problem about having 5 people (we always got 5 glasses for the afternoon champagne and not limited to 4). We were able to order breakfast and lunch from the cabana - never had issues with the 5 of us in there either. Obviously, it'll depend on your cabana staff whether they'll be cool with other people drifting in and out of your cabana. I think if you just have them come and sit and chat with you that's more on the "likely to be ok" scale. I don't think they'll bring you 6 glasses  for afternoon champagne and deliver 6 meals (it would be a pretty tight squeeze w/6 ppl to fit and eat in there).

What itinerary are you looking at? We did the Alaska Inside Passage and had many ship/cruising days and felt it was worth it. I would note, even with the Lido glass ceiling, this area did get cold. We wore our robes over our normal clothes while hanging out in the cabanas. (Also, when we'd originally booked it was THOUSANDS of dollars cheaper to book 2 inside cabins and 2 cabanas than 2 veranda cabins - we ended up upgrading later on b/c the verandas were the same price as what we'd originally paid for the 2 insides). At the same time, I realized we explored the ship a lot less than other cruises we've been on b/c we had an "automatic" hangout space. We also did the Boston to Montreal cruise later this summer and although it wasn't an option, a cabana would've been a waste for us on that b/c nearly EVERY day was a port day.

The most recent information concerning rental of the Lido Deck cabanas that I can find is from 2015, can anyone tell me the current prices for a day rental? I expect that a daily rental must be done after boarding? Thank you in advance!

I'm on the nieuw amsterdam this Saturday. It was $199 for a weekly rental of a Lido Cabana and $30 per port day and $50 per sea day. Sales are based on availability (if every cabana is filled with a weekly rental, then no daily rentals). I did find a PDF somewhere online - will try to find the link. (this thread)

Hi - I'm sailing on the NA 5/19 out of Vancouver. I can't seem to find information on whether afternoon tea is still served on HAL ships. Would really appreciate some info as we plan out our days as my family LOVES afternoon tea and it's one of our travel rituals. Many thanks!!!

Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for all your comments. We actually went with two large interior cabins and rented/reserved two Lido cabanas. We're hoping to enjoy the loungers and the lunch service on the Lido deck. We're really happy with the choice and excited to use the extra savings to go whale-watching and helicoptering on glaciers!

hi - i'm wondering about how you enjoyed the cabanas. i'm booked for a may 2018 sailing with my family (young 30s with husband and my sister, parents 60/64). we are considering booking two large interior rooms and then 2 Lido cabanas to spend our day with a view of the sea. for me the pros are being shielded from bad weather (lido pool is covered in cold/wind/rain). possible con is that maybe we could get away with 1 cabana instead of 2, or we should do the family cabana in the retreat/cabana club section? i've also read the Lido cabanas can be noisy/not as relaxing b/c it's near the pool. However, i'd prefer having the protection from the elements in the Lido.

curious what your thoughts/experience were. thanks!

FYI the insides (I cabins) on Upper Verandah across from the SS are some one the largest insides onboard, second only to the insides on Main Deck. EM

this is good to know - thank you!

I would also not want 3 people in a regular balcony cabin. When 3 of us went we booked a Signature suite and it was very comfortable. The cabin steward would make the couch into a bed every evening. Much more room than a regular balcony for 3 to share.

 

 

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thanks for your reply. what would you say regarding the balcony size for 5 people? i don't believe we saw any availability for a signature suite adjacent to a balcony and we're trying to maximize time spent together (like it's great that my parents and my sister would have a roomy balcony in the sig suite, but then it's not like my husband and i will be sitting in our inside cabin twiddling our thumbs :confused:)

Warning -- if you go for 2 balcony cabins, it is only a small door near the railing that opens up. Each balcony will have only 2 chairs and a tiny cocktail table.

I would post pictures bit Photobucket has shut many of us down from posting pictures to a third party like CC without paying a big yearly price.

Try googling the ship name and cabins you want to look at.

hi - thanks for the response. i've tried googling the ship name and cabins i am interested in and haven't found the information to help me decide. thank you for clarifying it is just the small door that connects the balconies. from the photos i've seen, i wasn't sure if it was that or somehow ALL the white barriers that would come down.

Hi! I'm new here so please excuse any "dumb" questions. I'm planning my mom's 60th birthday. We decided on the May 19 Inside Passage sailing on the ms Nieuw Amsterdam. Am currently trying to decide whether to book two Verandah staterooms and connect the balconies or one Signature Suite with an Inside stateroom (me and hubs) across the hall.

The rooming situation is:

Room 1: mom 60F, dad 64M, sister 29F

Room 2: me 32F, husband 34M

My sister is ok with either option. We figured we'd like enough balcony space for the five of us to sit and enjoy coffee and cookies and the view (we don't have to be able to lounge or eat a full meal). I think the main pro to 2 verandahs is that we can enjoy the balcony/view and ppl can still have privacy/downtime in the room (like if my mom were to take a nap in the middle of the day in a signature suite we don't want to be tramping in and out of her cabin to chill on the balcony) (or i'm an early riser so i can sit out on the verandah without waking up the sig suite to get there). OTOH, i'm not sure whether having a little more space in the signature suite is necessary for the 3-ppl to have a more enjoyable trip.

I guess my questions are: will a verandah be TOO small to enjoy for 3 adults (all related)? Which would have more balcony space, 1 signature suite or 2 verandahs combined?

i've been reading past threads and wasn't able to find an answer for how big the signature suite balconies are (i think the verandahs are generally 6x9).