Upgrade or not - Koningsdam V category room vs Vista Suite

[Xenni]

I was recently offered to upgrade from my V category room (6049) to a Vista Suite for $300 per person.

 

Ther verandah stateroom I currently booked is larger than a normal verandah room due to the angle of the ship. Just wondering for anyone that have been to a v category room and a Vista suite, is the size of the suite noticeably bigger than the larger verandah room?

 

I'm still trying to decide if I should upgrade or not, especially if the size is similar.

[oakridger]

Hello!  Welcome to Cruise Critic @Xenni!  I can't find it quickly, but within the last 3 months or so someone here took that same type of upgrade and commented that they would not do it again as they felt the room size difference did not warrant the switch or cost.  Because it would be an upgrade you don't get the double "suite" Mariner days.  Another consideration, at least for me is that I prefer to have the sitting area/couch/desk closer to the veranda door and the bed inside.  The Pinnacle Class ship Vistas have the bed by the veranda and sitting area closer to the hallway/bathroom.  

 

If I can quickly find the firsthand post, I'll come back here with the link.

 

Have a great cruise!

~Nancy

Edited July 10, 2022 by oakridger

[*Miss G*]

Depends how long your cruise is.  If only a week, I wouldn’t do it.  Probably would for 2+ weeks.  I like the Vistas but I also like the Verandahs.  You get a few extra feet of space and it’s nice to have a sitting room close to the door for room service orders.  I like the bed further away from the hall on the Vistas.  Either option is a good choice.

[oakridger]

Found one!  Here is one of the previous discussions with many responses.

 

 

~Nancy

[Ine]

If you are happy with the cabin you booked, stay there! Vista suites are hardly larger. Also the beds are near the window, the couch near the bathroom, which we didnot like. 

[DaveOKC]

To me not worth the $300 for a 7 day cruise UNLESS you are now in a guarantee and are moving up to a better location with a confirmed cabin.

[VMax1700]

Having been in several Vista Suites on Koningsdam, including an aft suite, I would not be interested in paying that sort of money for marginal benefits.

[Florida_gal_50]

Nope I wouldn’t do it.  I was on a two week cruise.  For the first week I had a room with a large balcony.  I took the upgrade to a vista over the wake.  The first thing I noticed was the balcony was tiny compared to the large balcony the first week.  There was a lot of vibration too and I’ve had wake rooms before.  The difference in size of the room was very little. 

[PACD_JG]

I accepted a "free" upgrade from VB4154 to Vista Suite 5127.  Since I never saw my VB, I can't compare it, but I really liked 5127.  Mid-ship was certainly convenient, we didn't have storage issues even with 4 in the room (we are carry-on only people though).  And maybe it was all in my head, but all our neighbors were Vista Suites...so it felt...more upscale.

[rotjeknor]

I recently took an upsell( 249 euro pp) for a 14 day cruise on the Rotterdam from a Verandah to a Vista ( 6120) . Would do it again .  I liked the layout of the cabin better than the Verandah (bed closer to the balcony).

[kangforpres]

You would get the double suite bonus for the Mariner loyalty system. But if you are just starting out with HAL that might not mater to much to you. 

[DaveOKC]

5 minutes ago, kangforpres said:

You would get the double suite bonus for the Mariner loyalty system. But if you are just starting out with HAL that might not mater to much to you. 

Not true if you take an upsell offer.  Have to book under normal fare for the Vista.

[LarsenPNP]

Only you can decide if it's worth it. Be cautious before accepting an upgrade. Look closely at the location of the new cabin.  Even though it is a suite, if it's not located with cabins above, below, and beside, you might regret it. What HAL considers an upgrade may not be what YOU would consider a better cabin.

[Xenni]

Thanks everyone for the information 🙂 We have decided against upgrading, as many have said, the suite doesn't seem to be much bigger than our current room.

[oakridger]

Thanks for letting us know what you decided.  If you can, after your cruise would you come back here and tell us how you liked it?  

 

Have fun!

~Nancy

[shiner6]

We just returned from the Koningsdam Vista suite 6104 . I would not pay extra for it.  Room was nice, but not much different than a balcony room and certainly not worth hundreds of $$$ more.

[Jenhilmc]

PACD-JG, can you tell me if the overhead pullman bed in 5127 is over the sofa or the bed? We've booked this suite. Thanks!!

[PACD_JG]

I will upload a photo when I get home, but the pullman is over the bed, directly over our pillows.  My 15 year old daughter slept in it and said it was "fine", whatever that means.  Our first night sleeping the wife and I thought...if her bed breaks, our heads will be smashed in and we'll probably die.  But that's why they have drink package...

[Jenhilmc]

Thanks so much!

 

 

[PACD_JG]

Hendra was our room steward - he's the best.

[Andi Land]

On 7/10/2022 at 10:26 AM, DaveOKC said:

Not true if you take an upsell offer.  Have to book under normal fare for the Vista.

I’ve received the suite bonus days when I’ve taken an upsell. The only time I didn’t was on a casino offer. 
 

OP, what room are you in? If it’s one of the sideways ones like 5050 or 5053, I’d keep that over getting an upgrade. Those rooms are really great  

[*Miss G*]

17 minutes ago, Andi Land said:

I’ve received the suite bonus days when I’ve taken an upsell. The only time I didn’t was on a casino offer

 

I am shocked that you received the suite bonus, unless you upgraded from a suite to a suite, or paid a published fare for your upgrade.  When you are upgraded you remain in POLAR as your original category booking.  Mariner days aren’t applied as they see the original, non-suite, category when calculating the credits.

[crystalspin]

6 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

I am shocked that you received the suite bonus, unless you upgraded from a suite to a suite, or paid a published fare for your upgrade.  

This was our experience taking a last minute upsell on the Zaandam. Since we shared the room with my mom (on the sofa-bed) we were glad of the extra drawer space et al, but we def. did not get double Mariner points.

[Andi Land]

1 hour ago, *Miss G* said:

 

I am shocked that you received the suite bonus, unless you upgraded from a suite to a suite, or paid a published fare for your upgrade.  When you are upgraded you remain in POLAR as your original category booking.  Mariner days aren’t applied as they see the original, non-suite, category when calculating the credits.

I’ve never booked higher than a verandah category. We travel on a tight budget still having kids at home. I guess we’ve gotten lucky. We’ve had 3 upsell offers over the years. The casino one we didn’t get any bonuses. But, the one we took before COVID, we got an upsell about 2 weeks before the cruise for $149 per person and accepted and got the bonus. It sounds like we shouldn’t have but I’ve been the lucky recipient 2 times. Now it makes me wonder why?

[*Miss G*]

8 hours ago, Andi Land said:

I’ve never booked higher than a verandah category. We travel on a tight budget still having kids at home. I guess we’ve gotten lucky. We’ve had 3 upsell offers over the years. The casino one we didn’t get any bonuses. But, the one we took before COVID, we got an upsell about 2 weeks before the cruise for $149 per person and accepted and got the bonus. It sounds like we shouldn’t have but I’ve been the lucky recipient 2 times. Now it makes me wonder why?

 

I want your booking agent!  😂