Comparing Princess mini-suite to Holland America's veranda cabin

[MSBerliner]

Hello to cruisers more experienced than we are. By looking at the descriptions and the photos of the Princess mini-suite and the HAL veranda cabin it seems that they are mostly compatible. Examples: both have bathtubs with shower and both have sofas. Of course both also have balconies.

Please, those of you who have recently experienced both tell us if our "reading the deck plans" impression is correct, HAL veranda equals Princess mini-suite and for a substantially lower price!

Many, many thanks.:)

[bigenna]

Glad you asked this question. I have cruised Princess but not HAL as yet and have been of the same opinion. HAL will be the next line I want to try out.

[Coral]

You may want to say what ship you are looking at.

 

I had a Holland America verandah cabin on Oosterdam. The bathroom was larger and did have a bathtub. The cabin itself may have been a tad larger than Princess's balcony cabin but not much. It was a small couch in the room and it was tight.

 

I would not consider it an equal comparison to a Princess mini suite which felt much more roomy.

Edited June 11, 2016 by Coral

[OCruisers]

On Princess we book a mini-suite. On HAL a veranda cabin works fine for us.

On Princess the mini-suite has two TVs which is of no importance to us.

We do like the lay out of the closet space better on Princess.

Basically, they are equal! :)

[elycelynne]

I haven't had my Princess sailing yet, but I did book the "deluxe balcony" category on the Royal, which does have a two-seat sofabed (although no bathtub). I'm hoping this category will be at least somewhat similar to the HAL standard balcony cabins.

[TracieABD]

The mini is larger and feels larger, though I liked the tub on the Rotterdam much better, but not the Zuiderdam. The closet on Princess wins the day- It is a separate area vs. the closets that are "laid" into the wall on HAL.

[BumperII]

We like the Princess Mini Suite just a little better than the HAL Veranda. We like the way the closet space is laid out, and I can't quit define it, but it seems more spacious. At least there seems to be more space we can move around in.

 

Our experience has been that the pricing is comperable.

 

Princess has much better pillow chocolates too.

 

If you enjoyed one you will enjoy the other. Bon Voyage!

Edited June 11, 2016 by BumperII

[Coral]

You may want to say what ship you are looking at.

 

I had a Holland America verandah cabin on Oosterdam. The bathroom was larger and did have a bathtub. The cabin itself may have been a tad larger than Princess's balcony cabin but not much. It was a small couch in the room and it was tight.

 

I would not consider it an equal comparison to a Princess mini suite which felt much more roomy.

 

I meant to say that the bathroom was larger on HAL then a Princess balcony bathroom.

 

I honestly felt like the HAL Oosterdam verandah balcony felt like a Princess balcony with a few more inches for a couch. The couch was very tight in there. The Princess mini suite is definitely larger.

[Pam in CA]

A Princess mini-suite is more like a HAL deluxe verandah on the Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, etc. Not sure about other HAL ships.

 

Princess mini-suite:

 

HAL deluxe balcony: