Windsurf Suite 501?

:confused::confused:We have sailed on Windsurf 3 times in a Deck 3 suite, but just booked the lone 501 suite next to the Bridge (same price!). Posts about this suite are few and far between...and older, so I am revisiting the topic here to see what people are saying who have now sailed in this cabin. I understand slight lack of privacy, but can deal with it. I would love to see pictures of this "hidden" suite? Anyone?

Thanks!

I posted a similar question about this cabin several months ago after disovering the same scarcity of recent information that your research revealed. The post eventually worked its way down the board and disappeared.

Apparently there are few peolpe who sail in this cabin and report on Cruise Critic.

All I know is that it has a different configuration since it was a suite all along - not two converted smaller cabins with the resulting two bathrooms. My remaining question concerns access. I think you have to go out on the open deck to get to other parts of the ship - no interior hallway/ staircase. If so, that could be a problem in bad weather.

I hope someone can give more details.

bzv and Babr, My husband and I sailed in this stateroom a few months ago. From our experience you will be very happy you booked 501. It feels more spacious than the Deck 3 suites. I liked that we were just a few steps away from the open deck. I did not feel like we had a lack of privacy, as our 4 windows had one way glass.

We mostly had good weather on our trip, but the few days it was rainy we used an interior stairway that takes you right into the dining room. I had read about the back stairway on an older post and when we were shown to our cabin I asked about it. The route is somewhat like a maze, but I thought it was fun to have this extra unique exit! Otherwise to get downstairs it is a shortish walk on the deck and into the entrance for the large suites. From there you can access the upstairs dining areas, get to the lounge area or go down to the lower decks using the elevator or stairs.

Happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Thanks, prfs62915.

Did you take any pictures of the cabin? I'd love to see them.

An older post I read said there was a table and chairs in this suite. Is that still accurate?

We sailed in one of the suites on Deck 3. At first I thought two bathrooms would be wasted space, but I loved having my own. The bedroom side of the suite turned into my dressing area; the desk on the other side turned into a catch-all for cameras, chargers, etc.

Is the sink/ vanity area of 501 larger than in the regular suites? A double sink perhaps? Is there a separate shower? A place to sit down and do hair/makeup as in the regular suite?

Babr, I do have a couple of pictures of the stateroom. I will try to get them posted in a few days, as I have to edit them first.

In the meantime I will try to answer some of your questions.

There are 3 chairs in the sitting area. One is a small armchair and the other two are small club style chairs on either side of the coffee table. Of course there is the same type of couch that you find in the Deck 3 suites.

The bathroom is different as it has 2 separate spaces.... as you enter the bathroom there is a jacuzzi tub and decent storage units on the opposite wall. Separating the tub area from the shower/vanity area is a glass door. The vanity area is exactly the same as all the other rooms.

There is a desk/vanity that could be used for make-up. I didn't use it, as the lighting was better in the bathroom.

Another little difference, is that when you enter 501 from the corridor, you have a small entry way with a mirrored wall. Then there is another door that leads into your actual stateroom. Not that you need this for quiet, as you may never see another person in your hallway as there are only a few room there that belong to the officers. I only saw someone else once.

Hope this helps. I was trying to find info about 501, too, before our cruise.

Thanks for your detailed reply. I'm looking forward to the pictures.

At this point, it is still a toss up for me. The big tub isn't that much of an incentive as a trade for two bathrooms. On ther other hand, the location with its easy access to the deck and the more spacious feel of the cabin sound good.

Given that you have sailed in both, which would be your first choice?

We could clearly see into 501 as we walked by when the lights were on. The glass is not one-way.

prfs62915--thank you so much for responding. I would LOVE to see pictures since I already booked this particular cabin for next year. I love the idea of being so close to the outside--and then there is the added benefit that if the Windsurf gets into any kind of trouble, we'd be the first to hear of it by the pounding of little officer feet outside our door....:D

Babr, this trip was our first cruise. I had a friend on Deck 3 in a regular stateroom. As I walked down the hallway to her room I noticed that a suite room was being cleaned, so I peaked in and thought the sitting area looked a lot smaller. I agree with you about the 2 bathrooms, that is a plus. Then later in the trip we became friendly with several people who were in deck 3 suites and I invited them up to see 501. They confirmed that it had a better configuration and they wanted to know how the heck I was able to book it!

bzv, I had similar thoughts about liking being on Deck 5! :-)

ducklite, I had my husband go out and check the windows and he couldn't see in, but it was in the daylight. I just went to google to see why you had a different experience. Seems that some one way glass is only effective in the daytime. The Google link says: "We can see that the installed film is providing privacy during the daytime, when it is substantially brighter outside than it is on the inside. At night, this effect reverses. When interior lights are turned on at night, persons on the outside will be able to see right in."

As I am always one to be cautious, I pulled the drapes after dark anyway. :-)

I was amazed that 501 was in the same category as the "suites" on Deck 3. Perhaps I should not say this too loudly, however, or Windstar might see it and raise the Category for this suite to a "SuiteX" and price it higher. :D

I remember the good 'ole days when cabins were either Deck 1 pricing, and Deck 2 pricing. Now, the Windstar Powers have decided that being more midship should be at a higher premium. Sigh....:(

We had previously posted a response about Suite 501 in November, 2013.

We have stayed in 501 several times, as well as the suites on Deck 3, and other regular rooms on board the Surf.

Suite 501 is an original suite, while the Bridge suites are newer and were converted from conference rooms. The Bridge suites are twice the size of 501 and all other suites, and much costlier.

Suite 501 has the same square footage as the suites on deck 3 and has one bathroom. It has 2 sets of windows. One has reflective glass (can’t see in from the outside) and the other does not.(you can see in at night) It has one bathroom with a tub and shower, and the living area is larger than the suites on deck 3….but the deck 3 suites have 2 bathrooms which is very appealing to many people. You do have to access 501 from the outside, but in inclement weather the room steward will escort you to the dining room via an inside staircase….as stated previously. We were in 501 in February, and will be again in October. Whatever room you choose on the WindSurf you will have a wonderful voyage. The room is less important than the overall experience. Attached are some pictures of Suite 501.

Thanks for all the information on Suite 501. My husband and I have booked this suite for a Dublin to Lisbon cruise at the end of this month. Almost all the other suites were booked, but for some reason this one was still open, so we booked it. We were a little concerned that something was wrong with it since it was still open, but we decided to take a chance. It sounds like we will really enjoy it!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the wiring in this cabin, though one poster did say she used the bathroom mirror because the lighting was better.

The only outlet in the bathroom is the 110 for shavers. In the rest of the cabin, the outlets are the round, European style placed discreetly along the baseboard, often behind furniture. Several are already in use for the lamps and the TV, leaving few options for recharging devices and no good option if your grooming routine requires a blow dryer or a curling iron.

The vanity is really just a little cubbyhole in a dimly lit corner by the closet with a single European outlet on the back wall in the knee space under the vanity top. It is used for a small illuminated mirror on a stand.

The cabin is lovely and spacious. It just has some quirks.

Thanks for the heads-up on the outlets Babr!