Oosterdam SZ cabins

[cruisin'mama]

I am patiently waiting for the Alaska 2015 itineraries to be released. I am interested in a SZ cabin on the Oosterdam ( assuming that the Oosterdam will remain on the same itinerary that it has this summer ).

 

My question is: when the itineraries are released, will the SZ cabins be available to book, or do they hold them back and wait to offer them as GTYs later on? Can a TA request to get one for me if they don't show as available?

 

Thanks.....

[CruiserBruce]

No way to predict. The sales procedures are based on their proprietary software projecting what to do, how to sell the cabins, etc.

[DaveOKC]

Twice I was able to book a specific SZ cabin, but normally you cannot and must take a "guarantee". To answer your question, most of the time you can book a SZ guarantee, but not a specific cabin.

 

DaveOKC

[frankc98376]

Our PCC has been good at getting us the cabin we want.

[mollyanne]

I thought the SZ's were going away once the reclassification was complete? Sure I read that somewhere....

[cruisin'mama]

Thanks for the replies. I am trying to get an SZ to get some extra space without totally breaking the bank. We travel with our son who has Down Syndrome and he likes to spend the majority of his time onboard in our cabin watching his videos ( except when he's partaking in his favorite activity...eating!) He brings ALOT of books and videos and ends up spreading out all over, so the extra room would be very appreciated! And because he doesn't like to participate in ship-board activities, we spend a lot of time in our cabin. He and my husband will venture to the casino, but if it's smoky, they'll grab food and come back to the cabin, argghhh!

 

So, again, thanks for your help, and keep your fingers crossed for me that I'm able to get one!

 

.....and I know about the videos that can be borrowed, but he is a creature of habit and HAS to have all of his favorites. One time on a cruise to Mexico, he forgot Mighty Ducks 2 and he was so upset that I thought we were going to have to try to find one to buy in Mexico!

[RedmondCruiser]

The SZ guarentee is an escape valve for HAL to offer a suite guarentee without disturbing the other suite pricing. Though SZ cabins are available there are very few of them on the ship. You will normally see that the SZ catagory does not appear on initial offerings, it seems to only show up when the ship is not filling up. We have used it several times and have been very pleased with the result. Several years ago the SZ price was considerably lower than any of the suite prices, but now they have raised its price to be more in line with a SY. We had friends who received an SZ catagory on a Panama Canal cruise and they has great veranda seats for the transit. They are nice rooms. So even if you get one your not getting chopped liver.

[pcur]

I thought the SZ's were going away once the reclassification was complete? Sure I read that somewhere....

 

When is this reclassification for the Oosterdam due to be complete? I'm getting mixed messages from a call my TA made to HAL.

[frankc98376]

When is this reclassification for the Oosterdam due to be complete? I'm getting mixed messages from a call my TA made to HAL.

 

May 11 is the first day that the new stateroom classifications are in effect.

We are on a B2B on Zuiderdam starting May 6- Pacific Coastal and Alaska. When we arrive in Vancouver on May 10 our stateroom changes from SC to SB (yes- the price changed too). I asked our PCC of we needed to be out of the room that day so they could expand and remodel. I told her that for the extra we were paying we should get an "Extreme Stateroom Makeover".

Edited March 8, 2014 by frankc98376

[pcur]

May 11 is the first day that the new stateroom classifications are in effect.

We are on a B2B on Zuiderdam starting May 6- Pacific Coastal and Alaska. When we arrive in Vancouver on May 10 our stateroom changes from SC to SB (yes- the price changed too). I asked our PCC of we needed to be out of the room that day so they could expand and remodel. I told her that for the extra we were paying we should get an "Extreme Stateroom Makeover".

 

Thank you! It seems "George" at HAL's customer service wasn't listening to my TA, because he said the changes would occur before our sailing, but it seems it's happening after. We are waiting for a cabin assignment, and he said it would be done after the cabin reclassification. This means we will NEVER get a cabin assigned!! HA :D

[DaveOKC]

I think the classification date varies by ship. Our April 30 cruise has the changes in place. This makes sense, due to the different routes and schedules. In Franc... example, he is on a Coastal which likely is part of a longer cruise. His second cruise is the first one of the Alaska season.

 

DaveOKC

Edited March 8, 2014 by DaveOKC

[frankc98376]

If you go to Hollandamerica.com then "about out ships" and choose a deckplan you will see the option fro "before xxxdate and after xxx date" for each ship in that ship's deckplan

Edited March 8, 2014 by frankc98376