Outdoor lighting on Eurodam verandahs?

[dakrewser]

Although I would typically not ever try to book those forward cabins as choice, this is something I'd consider crucial to know in case I ever ended up getting one in a random assignment...because if I had a veranda cabin and found out after the cruise started that I wasn't allowed to have a light on outside, I'd request a room reassignment or a refund - because that would very much ruin a big part of my cruise pleasure. As much as I've cruised, I admit I've never heard this before that there were veranda cabins that were not allowed to have their light on at night...and I wouldn't want those cabins for anything above free.

 

Having the veranda light on is "a big part of [your] cruise pleasure"???

 

You're pulling our collective leg, right?

[Diver2014]

that's what I thought as well.....

In all seriousness, we would never have occasion to turn on our balcony light.

I always choose staterooms on the forward starboard side as high up as possible because I like the location. We love to sit out on the balcony in the evening and watch the stars come out. It's not like we sit out there at night and read. No reason to have the light on. Our next door neighbors on the Oasis last Feb had theirs on the first night while they were partying and they were told to turn the light off. They continued to party until 3am (their first cruise ever, he told me prior to leaving the dock....figures). We let it go the first night but the second night, they were again told to turn their balcony light off. They didn't and continued to party to the wee hours. We were at Customer Relations the next morning. Needless to say, they must have found another place to party because we never saw them for the rest of the week, thank goodness.

[Danni3ll3]

Although I would typically not ever try to book those forward cabins as choice, this is something I'd consider crucial to know in case I ever ended up getting one in a random assignment...because if I had a veranda cabin and found out after the cruise started that I wasn't allowed to have a light on outside, I'd request a room reassignment or a refund - because that would very much ruin a big part of my cruise pleasure. As much as I've cruised, I admit I've never heard this before that there were veranda cabins that were not allowed to have their light on at night...and I wouldn't want those cabins for anything above free.

 

It was a non issue for us. To each his or her own I guess.

[cruz chic]

I've had one cabin 7004 I believe on the Noordam where the light didn't work. It's a non issue for me. I seem to have neighbours that love to leave their balcony light on. I'm very uptight about leaving mine on even for a few minutes.

[ijsprinses]

We were in cabin 8005 on the Zuiderdam, close to the bridge and indeed, the light on the verandah was switched off for navigation purposes. when we stayed late in port, we could use the light on the verandah. I was a bit dissapointed that I couldn't read a book on my verandah after dinner, but luckily it didn't ruin my cruise... :-)

[zackiedawg]

Having the veranda light on is "a big part of [your] cruise pleasure"????

 

Beyond question, it is. Each person has their own reasons to cruise - I cruise often, and one big part of it is to get away from normal work and stress and chores and duties, and relax. Part of relaxing for me is the chance to catch up on a lot of great books, and one of the very best spots for me to read with the most pleasure is on my verandah, at night. I'll typically read 5-7 books on a 7 day cruise, and some of that reading is after dinner and shows, from 11pm to about 2am. I have no interest in reading inside my room - that doesn't 'feel' like a cruise to me sitting in air conditioning with no view. I need to stay more dressed to read in a common area of the ship - whereas on my verandah I can wear old gym shorts and a t-shirt and no shoes. I want to head the sound of the wake and waves, and be able to look out to the stars, watch the lights of passing ships, etc.

 

Some people seem to cruise for the sole purpose of eating 12 times a day. Some people cruise to get to beaches, where they sit at every stop in the sun in a chair. Some people cruise to get on tour busses and ride around. Some people cruise to gamble. I cruise for the places I go, I cruise because I enjoy shipboard life, but yes, part of the reason I cruise is to relax and enjoy peace and solitude to do things like read, without phones and computers and co-workers and family and pets and chores to interrupt me. So if I were to spend my money on a verandah suite, and there was no disclosure that the suite I was booking would not allow a light on the verandah - yes, I would be upset, and yes, that would impact the pleasure of my cruise. The key is the disclosure. If I knew in advance, I wouldn't book that room...or if I could get no other room, at least I could be prepared and have an alternate light source to bring with me like a book light. But if there's no disclosure, you just find out that something you were looking very forward to on that cruise has been taken away, and that's never going to be fun for anyone.

 

I'm sure if I took away the spa, or pool, or the Asian section of the lido, or closed the casino, there would be people upset because that was part of their plans...you'd probably want to know in advance if those things were going to be unavailable to you. Personally, I find many of those things completely useless to me - but should I belittle someone because that's what THEY enjoy on a cruise? Reading on a verandah at night is something that brings me much pleasure on a cruise, and is not something I would ever think would not be available to me - in 30 cruises it's something that's always been available. I'm glad to know that there might be some ships, and some verandahs, that it might not be available on, as that is a good warning for me of something I'd never have thought to ask about.

[mountainmare]

No biggie--just pack a book light, we have old itty bitty booklights that we pack just in case we need them. I go to bed early and DH can read without bothering me.

[cruz chic]

No biggie--just pack a book light, we have old itty bitty booklights that we pack just in case we need them. I go to bed early and DH can read without bothering me.

 

That would be a good idea. I would feel terrible if my light was on all hours of the night possibly bothering my neighbours. I've had it happen to me many times. Even with the drapes closed some light seeps in.

[dakrewser]

That would be a good idea. I would feel terrible if my light was on all hours of the night possibly bothering my neighbours. I've had it happen to me many times. Even with the drapes closed some light seeps in.

 

We always bring bulldog clips to hold the drapes together.

 

And I never travel without my booklight - for ships, for planes, for whenever I want to read without disturbing others.

[cruz chic]

We always bring bulldog clips to hold the drapes together.

 

And I never travel without my booklight - for ships, for planes, for whenever I want to read without disturbing others.

 

If you saw my luggage you'd know why I don't bring them :D but I should give it a thought. That said, I shouldn't have to. One cruise my neighbour kept their light on 24/7. There is no reason for that except to waste electricity.

[jimmy2x]

One of the great things about the newer Kindles, is the ability to read without eye strain under ANY lighting conditions. Truly a boon to those of us of a "certain age" that find reading a a conventional book or magazine under less than optimal conditions more than just a bit difficult.

[Bailey & Sophie]

BTW - if you really want to experience something fun - have one person open your veranda door, and then go over and open your cabin door to the hallway. Get ready for some excitement, but make sure there aren't many loose things around because you'll be in a wind tunnel from hades! (don't actually do this if you can help it - it immediately plums all the cool air out of your room...some of us have discovered it by accident when we were going in or out of the veranda just as the cabin door was being opened by our partner or a cabin steward).

 

This packs quite a whallop. I was amazed at how much force this had.

WATCH YOUR FINGERS!!

[dakrewser]

This packs quite a whallop. I was amazed at how much force this had.

WATCH YOUR FINGERS!!

 

I was coming in from the veranda one day just as the cabin stewart was coming in the door - he ended up in sick bay (and wore a sling the rest of the cruise) :eek: