Did I get a good cabin?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

With final payment due on my cruise this weekend I did some checking and saw that cabin S5186 was available so I got my travel agent to switch my cabin.

I thought these aft cabins were highly sought after? If so why was it still available? Is it a bad cabin or something?

Since I have to stay in my cabin after dinner in the Lido on semi formal night, (don't like to watch movies) I figured the extra room would help get me through those nights.

I hope I didn't make a mistake. :confused:

 

Bill

[RevNeal]

Graciousl, Bill, S 5186 is a fantastic cabin. It has a huge verandah that wraps around to the port side. VERY nice. I've never been in one, but they look lovely on the deck plans. The only thing I would be worried about is being seen from above ... remember, no nude sun bathing. :D

 

As for this:

 

Since I have to stay in my cabin after dinner in the Lido on semi formal night, (don't like to watch movies) I figured the extra room would help get me through those nights.

 

Why do you have to stay in your cabin after dinner in the Lido on semi formal night?

[jhannah]

Won't have a jacket?

[Candy]

5186 is a fabulous cabin! If you're moving from a side cat S you will find the interior a bit smaller, but the veranda is easily 4 times the size! Photos of 5187 on the opposite corner are in my sig below. Bon Voyage!

 

Candy <-- 24 days 'til Zuidy IV

 

With final payment due on my cruise this weekend I did some checking and saw that cabin S5186 was available so I got my travel agent to switch my cabin.

I thought these aft cabins were highly sought after? If so why was it still available? Is it a bad cabin or something?

Since I have to stay in my cabin after dinner in the Lido on semi formal night, (don't like to watch movies) I figured the extra room would help get me through those nights.

I hope I didn't make a mistake. :confused:

 

Bill

[RevNeal]

Won't have a jacket?

 

If that's the case he'll miss more than just informal night.

[cruznon]

Bill,

 

LUCKY YOU!!!! What an incredible cabin! The veranda is amazing. Want a picture?

YES---it's all yours PLUS the side, covered veranda approx 7' x 25'

 

 

Yes, you got a good cabin!:D :D :D

[RevNeal]

Candy,

 

Thank you so much for your wonderful photos of the aft S cabins on the Zuiderdam. How very nice they look. I can see the advantage of having one. However, I think I would still be nervous about people looking down on me from above. :)

 

Excellent photos. Thank you!

[T Rex]

With final payment due on my cruise this weekend I did some checking and saw that cabin S5186 was available so I got my travel agent to switch my cabin.

I thought these aft cabins were highly sought after? If so why was it still available? Is it a bad cabin or something?

Since I have to stay in my cabin after dinner in the Lido on semi formal night, (don't like to watch movies) I figured the extra room would help get me through those nights.

I hope I didn't make a mistake. :confused:

 

Bill

 

If you do not mind soot on your balcony furniture and complete strangers staring down at you while you are eating breakfast or sitting around in your bathrobe, you will be fine. Otherwise change your cabin.

[Candy]

Jest don't git nekkid!

 

Candy,

 

Thank you so much for your wonderful photos of the aft S cabins on the Zuiderdam. How very nice they look. I can see the advantage of having one. However, I think I would still be nervous about people looking down on me from above. :)

 

Excellent photos. Thank you!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

In October we will be in 5187 on the Oosterdam. We wanted to see first hand how it may look so on the morning we were disembarking the Westerdam we walked down to 5187 the occupants of that cruise had already left so the steward gladly opened the door and let us take a good look at the room and the huge balcony. We had been in a regular S Suite so we could compare the difference in the size of the Suite. Yes, it was a bit smaller seemed to be more like the size of a SS cabin. The bathroom seemed to be exactly the same size, the dressing area just outside the bathroom did seem a bit smaller but..... the balcony was wonderfully BIG:D

 

We are not sure if we will fall in love with the location being a long way from the Neptune Lounge but this was a cruise I booked in July 2004 for a deal I could not pass up so I thought it was a good time to check it out.

 

By what I see on these boards people either absolutely LOVE the Aft Suites or they hate them.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Jim has the winning answer. No jacket. :)

 

RevNeal,

What else would I miss besides the stuff on semi formal night?

 

Candy,

Nekkid? not in this lifetime. People would get more than seasick ;)

Thanks for the pics.

 

Except for TRex's post it seems like I did OK. Not worried about people looking down. Had the same situation last year on Princess when we booked a mini suite on the Dolphin deck but it wasn't a problem.

 

Thanks for ALL the responses and pics. :)

 

Bill

[RevNeal]

What else would I miss besides the stuff on semi formal night?

 

Without a jacket you'll also miss both formal nights. That would be a shame.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

RevNeal,

I'll have my tux with me for formal nights so I'm good to go for those 2 nights. I'll only miss out on semiformal night(s). How many is there anyway, one or two?

Thanks for your input. :)

 

Bill

[Charliesmom]

My husband frequently leaves his jacket in the room after dinner on semiformal nights. He refuses to wear a tux (wouldn't wear one for our wedding) on formal night but goes to dinner in a jacket. So you could attend any of the shows as long as you are not dressed in messy clothing. I doubt that anyone would say anything to you or even look askance.

 

You lucked out because someone else cancelled their reservation for this great cabin. We've been in 5187 for a party that held 50 people on the balcony. We liked it so much we've booked it for this December on the Westerdam.

 

Now you'll have to go on the Roll Call boards and find the people who will be on your sailing so you can have a great party on YOUR balcony.

 

Roberta

[gizmo]

Since I have to stay in my cabin after dinner in the Lido on semi formal night, (don't like to watch movies) I figured the extra room would help get me through those nights.

I hope I didn't make a mistake. :confused:

 

Bill

 

There is no need to stay in your cabin.

 

This is what I have observed on my cruises.

 

About 50% to 70% (depending on which cruise)wore a jacket in the dining room on the semi formal nights. You will see many with a nice shirt or golf type shirt.

 

After dinner many that wore a jacket to the dining room will take it off.

[peaches from georgia]

Why don't you just take a sport jacket? :confused:

 

What's the big deal? Take the jacket and you'll be good to enjoy the whole evening everywhere.

[RevNeal]

I'll have my tux with me for formal nights so I'm good to go for those 2 nights. I'll only miss out on semiformal night(s). How many is there anyway, one or two?

 

Ah, excellent. Glad to hear you'll have your tux. I guess it's just strange that someone who has a tux to wear on Formal nights doesn't have a jacket, of some sort, to wear on informal night. Perhaps it's just my past experience here, but most of those who refuse to have a jacket for informal night will also pitch a fit about having to dress up on formal night.

 

On a 7-day cruise there is 1 informal night. I solve the informal night problem by wearing the jacket in transit to and from the ship. :) A pair of dockers, polo or sports shirt, and a sports jacket are a nice combo to wear in transit to the ship, and it gets the jacket to the ship without me having to pack it. If it's cold weather at home when I'm departing (or even in the port of embarkation -- as it will be in Feb 06 in New York!) it also gives me something to wear to ward off the cold.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

This is my first cruise with HAL. I have cruised on CCL,NCL,RCI, and Celebrity previously. My one and only cruise on Celebrity was in 1991 before the internet was popular and there were no forums like CruiseCritic so I did not know anything about cruising. It was also my first cruise so all I had was a suit for formal nights.

Since then I have had no need for a sportscoat on any other cruises. We have enough to pack plus the fact that I don't own one. I'm not going out and buying one just for one night.

I also don't want to upset anyone, or be labeled rude,ignorant, or obnoxious, by breaking the rules. I will eat at the Lido and hang out in my cabin on semi formal night. Hopefully it's in the middle of the week when I could use some rest. :)

 

Roberta,

It doesn't look like our cruise on the Zuiderdam 7/23/05 is a popular one with the CruiseCritic crowd. There is only one other family going that I am aware of from CruiseCritic. I started a roll call but alas there have been no post to it. Oh well, we'll have a great time regardless. :)

 

Bill

[RevNeal]

I also don't want to upset anyone, or be labeled rude,ignorant, or obnoxious, by breaking the rules. I will eat at the Lido and hang out in my cabin on semi formal night. Hopefully it's in the middle of the week when I could use some rest.

 

I understand, and appreciate your attitude. I wouldn't want to buy a jacket for just one night either. However, I wouldn't worry too much about it. From what I'm told, on the Zuiderdam the dress code is pretty much ignored. :( We've had one guy post here -- many months ago -- who claimed that he wore Mexican floral shirts on Formal Night on the Zuiderdam. Go figure.

 

Welcome! You'll have a GREAT time!

[viennacruiser]

We had that exact cabin in March and it was wonderful :) ,we had no soot or garbage and I never felt like anyone was looking down on us.

About not having a jacket for semi-formal nights, many of the men wore nice shirts and pants and were just fine.

Take the cabin you will love it :D and have a party in your cabin on semi-formal night with your friends, we did and it was lots of fun.

We ordered hot and cold appetizers, had some drinks and a great time

[ekerr19]

We've had one guy post here -- many months ago -- who claimed that he wore Mexican floral shirts on Formal Night on the Zuiderdam. Go figure.

 

I actually miss Superstein61... he was a great guy after you got to know him. :)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

ViennaCruiser,

Did the suite have the new flat panel TV's and the new bedding? The suite looks and sounds incredible. We have never had a suite. My wife has always wanted one but we really shouldn't splurge like this. My wife has been through a lot this past year with her sister being sick and passing away last month. She has been very upset and deserves the suite. She doesn't know we have the suite booked. I told her we had an SS mini suite booked. Can't wait to see her face when we board the ship. Just want her to be as happy as possible. :)

 

Bill

[RevNeal]

I actually miss Superstein61... he was a great guy after you got to know him.

 

Yep, I agree ... once one got around his always having to be right and always having to have the last word. :) Hey ... perhaps that's why he fit in well here? ;) :D

[KAJOKG]

Without a jacket you'll also miss both formal nights. That would be a shame.

 

Not to everyone! We will go to one formal night, then to the Lido the other night. Do not enjoy all the dressing up. We had to dress for work during our career days, and love....just love....not having to bother with dressing up anymore. Holds no appeal to us whatsoever. In fact, it makes thinking about formal night stressful!!!! So we skip it. However, we do not run around the ship in shorts and sloppy clothes. On those nights we do wear nice attire, but not formal and no jacket for DH. AND we do go to shows and casino, etc. We are never alone, at least not on the Volendam.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Not to everyone! We will go to one formal night, then to the Lido the other night. Do not enjoy all the dressing up. We had to dress for work during our career days, and love....just love....not having to bother with dressing up anymore. Holds no appeal to us whatsoever. In fact, it makes thinking about formal night stressful!!!! So we skip it. However, we do not run around the ship in shorts and sloppy clothes. On those nights we do wear nice attire, but not formal and no jacket for DH. AND we do go to shows and casino, etc. We are never alone, at least not on the Volendam.

 

You still go to the shows and casino? After reading Dave's post he seemed quite insistant that I would be tarred and feathered or a wanted poster put up around the ship that I was some kind of miscreant.

Also I believe it was Heather who stated her dining experienced would be ruined if I did not don a jacket.

So as not to be a hindrance or to offend HAL traditionalist I have come to a compromise that I stated earlier. I am not one of those, "I paid for the cruise, I'll do what I please" people.

 

I do hope you enjoy your cruise immensely. :)

 

Bill