Aft Suites

[MogeyMan]

I hated our middle aft. I believe it was the Statendam, but the jerking and shaking of the ship as it moved kept me awake all nite.  Like THUMP, BZZZ, BANG  is how I described it. And as for the view, my hubby said it was like watching a washing machine run, just same same. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

8 hours ago, MogeyMan said:

I hated our middle aft. I believe it was the Statendam, but the jerking and shaking of the ship as it moved kept me awake all nite.  Like THUMP, BZZZ, BANG  is how I described it. And as for the view, my hubby said it was like watching a washing machine run, just same same. 

Old Statendam or Nieuw?

[tennispretzel]

All I can report on our recent Nieuw Statendam Aft 4211, we felt nothing and heard nothing out of the ordinary. We think it was one of the quietest and most convenient staterooms we ever had for what we wanted to do on the ship. 

[RuthC]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

Old Statendam or Nieuw?

MogeyMan must be talking about the Nieuw Statendam, as the Statendam didn't have any aft cabins. It was all open decks, or the two aft decks of the dining room, and one maintenance deck on that ship. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

2 minutes ago, RuthC said:

MogeyMan must be talking about the Nieuw Statendam, as the Statendam didn't have any aft cabins. It was all open decks, or the two aft decks of the dining room, and one maintenance deck on that ship. 

 

Thanks. I'm not surprised at his rough ride. I had a lot of thumps and bumps at the aft on K'dam.

[Snowerin999]

We just booked 3 aft vista suites on the Konigsdam for an Alaska itinerary on deck 4. They were the last three aft facing rooms available for this particular sailing. I've only been in an aft facing cabin on NCL once and I loved it because of the smooth ride and the larger balcony. I'm a cruise newbie. Is booking this category on this particular ship a mistake?

[JeffElizabeth]

Only had one  aft cabin, the Crown Princess.  It was huge! Bigger than a Neptune Suite on Holland. Downside? Shady the whole time, cold on a Mexican cruise and smelled diesel the whole time you were on deck. 

[molemaui]

Just back from the Nieuw Amsterdam where we had an SB Neptune Suite (upgrade from an SC).

 

I read with interest all the pros and cons and "hoped for the best".

 

First of all, a great cruise-everything near perfect from dining to service. 

 

Now on to the aft corner suite. Even though the balcony was huge, it was like a long, curved tunnel. It was also very narrow but I suspect the length gave an illusion of it being more narrow than it really was. Most times it was pretty windy so we did not spend as much time as we usually would on the veranda. Not a problem.

 

My real issue was the reduced size of the cabin. You had to almost walk sideways in front of the bed not to bump into the chairs or coffee table. If you wanted to use the couch, you had to push the coffee table out almost blocking the path. Storage was more than adequate but the location of the main closets put them always in the way of each other when both of us were trying to dress or get something. 

 

Not complaining - this was a good learning experience. When you take a guarantee, you are taking a risk. Even though I've been victorious on every previous guarantee doesn't mean I always will. 

 

It was mentioned either on this thread or somewhere else that when you're not on a "suite deck' such as 6 or 7, your cabin attendant may not be familiar with amenities and suite procedures. Let me say, our cabin attendant was outstanding (or even better than outstanding!). In fact, I left the largest extra gratuity I've ever left for a cabin attendant. 

 

Next time, I will select a SC (which was fine) or an SA  and just pay and select a cabin. Still a fantastic cruise and to reiterate, my comments are observations and not complaints. 

[0106]

Aft cabins are the best, especially when sailing to Alaska so you can see both sides of the ship.  You will have the best view regardless.

[billbunger]

On 2/11/2020 at 2:04 PM, Snowerin999 said:

We just booked 3 aft vista suites on the Konigsdam for an Alaska itinerary on deck 4. They were the last three aft facing rooms available for this particular sailing. I've only been in an aft facing cabin on NCL once and I loved it because of the smooth ride and the larger balcony. I'm a cruise newbie. Is booking this category on this particular ship a mistake?

No

[ghstudio]

There is no question that you will have more movement in the very front and rear cabins....and more if you are on a higher deck.  We have been in 30' seas on the top passenger deck, aft facing cabin and it was "exciting"....we had to duct tape our drawers and doors shut to avoid banging, etc.  We were recently on the Veendam, top passenger deck, aft facing cabin and we had to avoid two storms....and yes, we definitely felt the sea movement.  Once in the dining room on a lower deck, less movement.

 

If you do get seasick...it's a trade off....the rear facing or rear corner cabins are wonderful, but you will get more movement.  There is always bonine, ginger, sea bands, ......, if you do hit rougher seas.  Note: much sea sickness is caused by your worrying about getting sea sick....not actually due to the movement.  If you feel just the slightest movement, you panic and start to feel ill even though there is almost no movement.  

 

I'd suggest booking a center ship cabin....just so you don't worry, but my bet is that on YOUR cruise, those rear cabins wouldn't have noticeably more movement.  You're not going to hit 30' seas.....

[molemaui]

On 2/23/2020 at 5:45 PM, ghstudio said:

There is no question that you will have more movement in the very front and rear cabins....and more if you are on a higher deck.  We have been in 30' seas on the top passenger deck, aft facing cabin and it was "exciting"....we had to duct tape our drawers and doors shut to avoid banging, etc.  We were recently on the Veendam, top passenger deck, aft facing cabin and we had to avoid two storms....and yes, we definitely felt the sea movement.  Once in the dining room on a lower deck, less movement.

 

 

 

I don't know how high the seas were but as we were returning to FLL through the Straits of Florida (2/15), the seas became pretty rough around 3 in the morning. The ship listed just enough so everything on our bar (glasses, bottles, etc.) crashed to the floor breaking. Most of the glasses in the bar cabinet broke also. Fortunately our shoes were by the bed as there was broken glass everywhere.

 

Just another adventure to recount!!

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, molemaui said:

 

I don't know how high the seas were but as we were returning to FLL through the Straits of Florida (2/15), the seas became pretty rough around 3 in the morning. The ship listed just enough so everything on our bar (glasses, bottles, etc.) crashed to the floor breaking. Most of the glasses in the bar cabinet broke also. Fortunately our shoes were by the bed as there was broken glass everywhere.

 

Just another adventure to recount!!

 

It's often rough there. I was on the way out of FLL that night and yes, it was rough. I'm a sound sleeper, but it woke me around 3:30. Nothing fell over anywhere, fortunately. I was sure we wouldn't be able to go to HMC the next morning, but I woke again at 6:30 and the ocean was calm and we had a perfect day at HMC. 

[sofietucker]

On 1/23/2020 at 11:08 AM, DaveOKC said:

We have mixed feelings on the aft-wraps (SB).

 

Pros - very large balconies on most ships but size varies alot by deck.

          - great views for secenic cruises, especially the Panama Canal (locks appear to be right outside your cabin.

 

Cons - I THINK the cabins are a bit smaller than the other Neptunes (even the SC).  

         - there will be more motion in heavy seas

         - long walks to most places on the ship and the Neptune Lounge (likely different deck)

         - sometimes the cabin attendents are not as well versed in Neptune procedures/perks/notifications

 

All the cons you list are exactly so, in our experience. We book aft suites whenever they are available, in spite of finding this to be the case, because of those pros... Would rather have the huge balcony than more in-room space; we earn our lounge goodies with that long walk, lol. (BUT!! look at photos before booking a lowest-deck aft. Equipt alongside may ruin your view). We did have one in Dec that, for the first time ever, we were seasick, but also due to high seas and gale-force winds--for 2 days! We've had to gently remind the stewards about one issue or another, from time to time.

Edited March 3, 2020 by sofietucker

[willoL]

On 2/10/2020 at 4:43 PM, tennispretzel said:

I promised that I would report back on the Aft Suite we were assigned. ... We were in 4211.

My husband did not experience any motion sickness! We loved the balcony size and the fact that one side could be in the sun and the other in the shade depending on what you wanted. Loved the loungers and the padded chairs with footrests. ... Yes, it was a long walk to the casino and the theater ... The proximity to the dining venues was important to us so we felt the location was perfect. ...

Just wanted to thank you for posting again after your trip. We just booked this stateroom for a 2022 voyage and my questions were exactly like yours due to a husband who gets motion sick. I really appreciate that you gave your update about how the cabin worked for you!

 

There is no review of 4211 on HalFacts (dot com); I don't suppose you have photos that show how the furniture was arranged in that cabin?

 

--willo

[drowelf]

On 1/23/2020 at 12:01 PM, canadianbear said:

We had an aft cabin only once and my husband got sick from the motion.  It’s unfortunate because I loved it.  Now we have to always book a specific cabin in the mid ship area so can’t do the guarantee ones.  

 

I hope your husband loves it and doesn’t get sick from any motion.

Thats us too. The DW has problems mal-de-mere, so we always have to book something in the middle of the ship. Try to do as low as possible too, but thats more difficult as we like to have a balcony to spend time on in the afternoons and on sea days. So no guarantees for us. We've only taken one guarantee, since it was on a casino booking and had not choice. Ended up at the very back end of the ship, but fortunately we did not encounter any weather, so it never had to experience any rock and roll ship motion. Even with a center/low cabin, if the ship really starts rolling, she does not enjoy it. 

[Polar Bear Mom]

We have had a corner aft cabin (Neptune Suite) on deck 4 numerous time.  I love it.  Balcony is fabulous.  The views are great.  If windy on one side of balcony you go to the other side.  The best way to see Alaska.  I can get car sick, cannnot do amusement rides, can get sick watching movies if the motion moves fast.  I never get sick on the cruise.  The movement of the ship is so relaxing.  I always have Gravol with me in case of motion sickness and very rarely do I have to use it on the ship.  Do have to use it on some of the excursion buses.  We have just booked a South America/Antarctica cruise and yes we booked a corner aft cabin (Neptune Suite) on deck 4.  So looking forward to it.  

Edited February 27, 2021 by Polar Bear Mom