Rotterdam 21 day cruise advice

[vlynn]

Hi! My husband and I just booked our first HAL cruise on the Rotterdam leaving 1/25/23 - 2/15/23. This will also be the longest cruise we have been on. We have sailed on several 10-14 day cruises. We are super excited, but know very little about this line/ship. We will be in an inside cabin 4113. Any advice about ship/ stateroom/ cruise would be greatly appreciated!! 😀

Edited May 29, 2021 by vlynn
Mistake

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

8 minutes ago, vlynn said:

Hi! My husband and I just booked our first HAL cruise on the Rotterdam leaving 1/25/23 - 2/15/23. This will also be the longest cruise we have been on. We have sailed on several 10-14 day cruises. We are super excited, but know very little about this line/ship. We will be in an inside cabin 4113. Any advice about ship/ stateroom/ cruise would be greatly appreciated!! 😀

It will be a step up from the lines you have been on .. also join the role call for your cruise .

Edited May 29, 2021 by Gail & Marty sailing away

[AKJonesy]

vlynn,

In terms of your stateroom, you will be above the Atrium and Grand Dutch Cafe and below a similar stateroom.  My experience has been that if there is noise it would be above you.  That is why we like to be above and below two staterooms, or above a quiet area like the photo shop.  The unknown here is that your room will be right next to the elevator.  I've been behind the elevator but separated by a hall.  Since there is really no experience on this ship yet, it's hard to say if you will hear that elevator noise.  It does appear from the HAL pdf doc for that ship there is a small wall that MAY be separating your stateroom.  I looked at the Inside Staterooms and they are beautiful.  Since you are near the center of the ship it should be stable and smooth sailing.  

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by AKJonesy

[MisterBill99]

15 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

It will be a step up from the lines you have been on .

 

How can you say that when you have no idea what other lines they've been on?

 

Never mind, I see her signature says Carnival and Royal.

Edited May 29, 2021 by MisterBill99

[MisterBill99]

If you don't care that much about your cabin, I would recommend switching to a guarantee cabin assignment. That way you have a chance that HAL will upgrade you to something better like an outside cabin for the same price. I know that many people don't like them because they want to be in a specific cabin or spot on the ship. But in your case, I don't think that is the case.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

3 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

How can you say that when you have no idea what other lines they've been on?

 

Never mind, I see her signature says Carnival and Royal.

And I have been on my share of CCL (26) and Royal (6)

[MisterBill99]

2 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

And I have been on my share of CCL (26) and Royal (6)

 

Yes, and the Royal ships she listed aren't even the newer ones so it's not like it will be a step down in amenities.

Edited May 29, 2021 by MisterBill99

[kazu]

9 minutes ago, AKJonesy said:

The unknown here is that your room will be right next to the elevator.  I've been behind the elevator but separated by a hall.  Since there is really no experience on this ship yet, it's hard to say if you will hear that elevator noise. 

 

Agree this ship is an unknown as no one has been on it yet, but I have had cabins next to the elevator on several HAL ships and never been disturbed by elevator noise.  Now and then you may hear people waiting if they are loud (think drinking) but it’s a rare occurrence in my experience.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

2 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

Yes, and the Royal ships she listed aren't even the newer ones so it's not like it will be a step down in amenities.

The biggest difference is the CREW

[AKJonesy]

28 minutes ago, vlynn said:

Hi! My husband and I just booked our first HAL cruise on the Rotterdam leaving 1/25/23 - 2/15/23. This will also be the longest cruise we have been on. We have sailed on several 10-14 day cruises. We are super excited, but know very little about this line/ship. We will be in an inside cabin 4113. Any advice about ship/ stateroom/ cruise would be greatly appreciated!! 😀

Vlynn, I tried looking at the other "Pinnacle class" ships for that same room to see if there were any reviews on trip advisor or other sites, but I did not find any reviews.  The nice thing about that inside room is that it is the larger of the two types of inside rooms offered.  Had you been in one of the smaller inside rooms, with no place to sit, I would have suggested you move to another stateroom.  

 

[vlynn]

Wow, ok I feel rather stupid. I didn't realize this was a new ship. Even more excited. Like I said I know little about this line. I have some research to do. Lol Thanks!

[AKJonesy]

24 minutes ago, vlynn said:

Wow, ok I feel rather stupid. I didn't realize this was a new ship. Even more excited. Like I said I know little about this line. I have some research to do. Lol Thanks!

Well, there was the old Rotterdam which I sailed twice on a few years ago, but that new Rotterdam ship looks awesome.  I can't to sail on her myself.  

[Mary229]

I was on an inside cabin of the Koningsdam, a ship of the same class.  It was fine for 12 days but I wouldn't want to be in it for 21. I agree with @MisterBill99 about taking a guarantee and hoping for an upgrade.    As mentioned by others the service level on HAL is so friendly and congenial you will be pleased.   If your experience is like mine once I did a 30 day cruise you will be in love with cruising. I still take an occasional shorter cruise but not often.     Longer cruises are what sold us on cruising for our retirement leisure.  

[vlynn]

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I was on an inside cabin of the Koningsdam, a ship of the same class.  It was fine for 12 days but I wouldn't want to be in it for 21. I agree with @MisterBill99 about taking a guarantee and hoping for an upgrade.    As mentioned by others the service level on HAL is so friendly and congenial you will be pleased.   If your experience is like mine once I did a 30 day cruise you will be in love with cruising. I still take an occasional shorter cruise but not often.     Longer cruises are what sold us on cruising for our retirement leisure.  

We are already sold on cruising. We normally do 14 day cruises and they are seeming short now. Moving up slowly, we aren't retired yet but those are our retirement plans! We did select the option for upgrade without notification, but either way we will make it work! 

[dfish]

48 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I was on an inside cabin of the Koningsdam, a ship of the same class.  It was fine for 12 days but I wouldn't want to be in it for 21. I agree with @MisterBill99 about taking a guarantee and hoping for an upgrade.    As mentioned by others the service level on HAL is so friendly and congenial you will be pleased.   If your experience is like mine once I did a 30 day cruise you will be in love with cruising. I still take an occasional shorter cruise but not often.     Longer cruises are what sold us on cruising for our retirement leisure.  

The problem with that is that if they don't get an upgrade, they could end up with a smaller inside cabin than the one they have booked.  If they really want the upgrade, then book it.  I would hate to give up a larger inside to end up in a smaller inside.  

[Mary229]

18 minutes ago, dfish said:

The problem with that is that if they don't get an upgrade, they could end up with a smaller inside cabin than the one they have booked.  If they really want the upgrade, then book it.  I would hate to give up a larger inside to end up in a smaller inside.  

It looks like they have a plan.  MrBill suggested a guarantee outside which is probably a similar price.  I guess I should have made that clearer

[MisterBill99]

 

52 minutes ago, dfish said:

The problem with that is that if they don't get an upgrade, they could end up with a smaller inside cabin than the one they have booked.  If they really want the upgrade, then book it.  I would hate to give up a larger inside to end up in a smaller inside.  

 

32 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

It looks like they have a plan.  MrBill suggested a guarantee outside which is probably a similar price.  I guess I should have made that clearer

 

No, I was suggesting booking the current inside category as a guarantee and hoping to get an upgrade to an outside. I checked the category they booked, it's a cat I which is one below the top inside category, which is the IQ, Spa inside. At the moment the only available cat I cabins on her sailing are down on deck 1. Not sure if they are also the large ones, someone with more familiarity can say. So if she booked a guarantee, she could end up with a cat I cabin, a spa interior up on deck 10 (which also look large), or an outside. Booking an outside cabin is like $900 more per person, so I am obviously not suggesting doing that. 

 

I have not tried playing the guarantee system to get an upgrade to a better cabin type (for example, inside to outside, as opposed to category within a type, which I have certainly done) in the past, I typically have booked the minimum cabin I'd be OK with and taken my chances, always ended up with a verandah that I booked, just a better category If they are happy with this cabin and an inside cabin, there I guess just stick with it.

Edited May 29, 2021 by MisterBill99

[Mary229]

6 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

 

 

No, I was suggesting booking the current inside category as a guarantee and hoping to get an upgrade to an outside. I checked the category they booked, it's a cat I which is one below the top inside category, which is the IQ, Spa inside. At the moment the only available cat I cabins on her sailing are down on deck 1. Not sure if they are also the large ones, someone with more familiarity can say. So if she booked a guarantee, she could end up with a cat I cabin, a spa interior up on deck 10 (which also look large), or an outside.Booking an outside cabin is like $900 more per person, so I am obviously not suggesting doing that. 

 

I have not tried gaming the guarantee system to get an upgrade to a better cabin type in the past, I typically have booked the minimum cabin I'd be OK with and taken my chances, always ended up with the verandah that I booked. If they are happy with this cabin and an inside cabin, there I guess just stick with it.

Sorry, I misunderstood.  I don't game the system and always pick the cabin I want. These insides are particularly small and I was happy to have one for a short cruise but wouldn't do it for a longer voyage.  

[MisterBill99]

Just now, Mary229 said:

Sorry, I misunderstood.  I don't game the system and always pick the cabin I want. These insides are particularly small and I was happy to have one for a short cruise but wouldn't do it for a longer voyage.  

 

Well, the category I cabins do seem to come in regular and large size, so that is a chance she'd take. She could also upgrade to an IQ spa inside for what looks like $30 more per person. Those are all larger size, it appears, not very many of them and maybe a better chance of an upgrade.

 

But then she could end up on deck one or two in an ocean-view, and maybe being in an interior on deck 4 is preferable to her. But like you, I would not want to sail in that cabin so I am more inclined to try for an upgrade.

[Cruisepucks]

@vlynn

 

I would not risk a guarantee on the Rotterdam or any Pinnacle class ships if  you are at all concerned about loud noises.  If you were assigned any stateroom above or below the rolling stone venue or the BB kings club there would be a lot of noise and vibration when the bands are playing in the evening. The sound and vibrations travel up several floors. The BB king venue is 2 stories so includes both deck 2 and 3. We've stayed on deck 4 starboard side and although we were over the casino could still feel the Rolling stones -not enough to bother us but noticeable. Those on deck 1 below the rolling stones were not happy campers. If above the BB kings on deck 4 you can hear them play even in the hallway.

 

You are mid ship and in a larger inside. Many of the inside staterooms on the pinnacle class ships are very small and don't have a sofa or chair other than the chair at the desk. Stateroom 6127 on the Koningsdam is the same stateroom but on deck 6. Here are some pictures and a brief review.

 

 

https://halfacts.com/pinnacle-class/6127-koningsdam/

[Vict0riann]

The few spa insides I have visited on the Pinnacle class ships have been tiny.   If @vlynn is happy with the location of her stateroom,  I would say "Don't risk a guarantee!"  

 

We have really enjoyed the facilities on the Koningsdam and the NS.   We have never done Club Orange, but perhaps that is an option they might enjoy.

[vswan]

Perhaps it was a fluke, but we were offered upgrades by email after booking at very reasonable prices. Upgraded from an ocean view to a balcony for $150 per person for a 10 day cruise. Much cheaper than booking the cabin initially. This was several years ago and things may have changed, but it could be an option if this is something they still do.

[MisterBill99]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

We have really enjoyed the facilities on the Koningsdam and the NS.   We have never done Club Orange, but perhaps that is an option they might enjoy.

 

Perhaps, but it won't fix their cabin assignment since the highest inside cabin is the spa category.

[albingirl]

It's all about the location.  I would never change to a guarantee, since I would be concerned about noise, as previously mentioned.  That is just too risky, in my opinion.

[AKJonesy]

1 hour ago, albingirl said:

It's all about the location.  I would never change to a guarantee, since I would be concerned about noise, as previously mentioned.  That is just too risky, in my opinion.

Agree.  I pick my room after looking at the HAL stateroom pdf document, specifically looking for areas that could be noisy.  Every time that I have selected my room I had no problem. My first guarantee ended up being right in the front of the ship and the waves hitting the hull could be heard and the noise from the main stage was vibrating my stateroom.  For me, I would never do a guarantee again, but then I had a bad experience so that soured me.  But, I do know people who had good experiences and upgrades with a guarantee.  It's just not worth it to me to risk a higher category but potentially bad room when I know what I am getting by selecting my own stateroom. A higher category in no way guarantees a better room.  IMHO.