Is the Neptune Suite on the Zaandam worth the extra cost?

[islandwoman]

Do you think the Neptune Suite on the Zaandam is worth the extra cost above that of the Vista (notice I didn't say "Vista Suite") ?

I'm not asking you to guess whether it would be worth it to me.  But I would like to hear your perspective on whether it would be (or was) worth it to you, and why. 

[rotjeknor]

I waited for un upsell from a Vista suite to a Neptune on the Rotterdam VI, ( basically the same ship , also R- class) was worth every penny imho. We were with three people , but even with two I would have done it. So much more room and amenities. Big balcony and the use of the Neptune lounge. 

[Gigi1977]

The vista is nothing more than a veranda.  You do receive double cruise credits and a few other things but I would never call it a suite.   If you want, need more space - book the Neptune.  

[crystalspin]

We took a paid upgrade to the Vista (at that time it was called a Verandah Suite), from an OV, with three adults. It was great! Lots of room, a sleeper sofa that flipped rather than pulled out, three banks of drawers, three closets. No double points bc upsell.

 

Can't speak to the Neptune, sorry OP, but just hate it when people say "Vista Suite is JUST a Verandah". It is a fine cabin!

[YourWorldWithBill]

The reason that it's so tough to recommend something like this is our individual perspectives. We loved the Neptune suites on our recent cruises, but are in a verandah for the next, as it is a longer, more expensive cruise. So, it's always weighing cost against benefits. 

 

As others said, the Neptune lounge is very nice; in addition to the snacks, etc. available, we found being able to talk anytime to the concierge, who could handle just about any issue, was something that was a real benefit for us and made it worth it. This meant more than the extra space, although I'll always take the space if I can! Nice large bathrooms and good closet space, also.

[YourWorldWithBill]

Just now, crystalspin said:

We took a paid upgrade to the Vista (at that time it was called a Verandah Suite), from an OV, with three adults. It was great! Lots of room, a sleeper sofa that flipped rather than pulled out, three banks of drawers, three closets. No double points bc upsell.

 

Can't speak to the Neptune, sorry OP, but just hate it when people say "Vista Suite is JUST a Verandah". It is a fine cabin!

Now I wish I'd booked a Vista suite on our May cruise on NS. And it's sold out, so can't even hope for an upgrade.

[CDRonboard]

As a observer who booked a Neptune suite for our 2026 19 day Hawaii cruise ,I find tour comments very interesting  .Thank you

[Dutchman48]

58 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

Do you think the Neptune Suite on the Zaandam is worth the extra cost above that of the Vista (notice I didn't say "Vista Suite") ?

I'm not asking you to guess whether it would be worth it to me.  But I would like to hear your perspective on whether it would be (or was) worth it to you, and why. 

Have stayed in multiple Neptune suites on both Vista and Panicle class ships and enjoyed the immensely. That being said on the Zaandam and Voleendam we opt for the vista suite as the cost differential between the two is more than I am willing to pay. Would consider an upgrade offer but not at the price we see at time of booking.

 

[crystalspin]

15 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

Now I wish I'd booked a Vista suite on our May cruise on NS. And it's sold out, so can't even hope for an upgrade.

I was speaking of the R-class Vista Suites, above, Bill. On the Pinnacle class ships, the storage is much the same (three deep drawers and smaller ones in desk and nightstand). The differences are Vista Suite is about four feet deeper and the sitting area is toward the hallway rather than toward the balcony. Oh, and the locations on the ship are prime for the V.suites! 

[kazu]

Ok, you can gamble and hope there is an upsell to the Neptunes or decide if you want to pay the price.

 

The Neptune Suites on the R class ship are the largest in the fleet with wonderful balconies.  Bigger than any of the other classes of ship.  You can easily put 8+ people on the balcony to wave at sail away if you want.  Neptune Lounge is nicer IMO as well since there is no key entry - you just walk in.  The concierges KNOW who their guests are.

 

Service is more personalized as well IMO.  

 

the only 2 negatives I can think of are that the Pinnacle Grill (where you are entitled to have your breakfast) is an inside venue with no sea views and the bathroom still has the tub/shower combo.

Otherwise they have been completely upgraded and are very nice.

 

If you are not a 4* Mariner, the extra perks are nice - free drycleaning, laundry & pressing, priority embarkation, priority tendering, etc.

 

There aren’t many of them on the Zaandam & Volendam and they can sell out.  On our upcoming cruise, there were no upsell offers.  They were sold out and now the ship is sold out (that’s a familiar refrain these days).

 

Is the price worth it?  Depends on the persons who will be in it.  My DD DH enjoyed the extra space very much and would take a break and spend a bit of time in the cabin, balcony and often read in the Neptune Lounge (I believe they still have their little library).  Looking back, I am glad we did them when we could and he had a chance to enjoy them while he was here ♥️ 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. We have been blessed to sail HAL since the 1970s and in Neptune Suites countless times for a few decades. Well worth it. I personally love the lounge in the early am and at times during the day. I highly recommend you consider. 

[YourWorldWithBill]

3 hours ago, crystalspin said:

I was speaking of the R-class Vista Suites, above, Bill. On the Pinnacle class ships, the storage is much the same (three deep drawers and smaller ones in desk and nightstand). The differences are Vista Suite is about four feet deeper and the sitting area is toward the hallway rather than toward the balcony. Oh, and the locations on the ship are prime for the V.suites! 

Good to hear: Thanks! That's why we chose the V that we did: location. But it's great to know that the storage is about the same. Before booking I had read on CC that the Vista suites on the Pinnacle were not significantly enough better to justify the price. I like space, and it's always a tough decision to accept a bit less! And as I said on another board, I was hoping for an inexpensive upgrade, but the cruise is now sold out. 

[YourWorldWithBill]

2 hours ago, kazu said:

The Neptune Suites on the R class ship are the largest in the fleet with wonderful balconies.  Bigger than any of the other classes of ship.  You can easily put 8+ people on the balcony to wave at sail away if you want.  Neptune Lounge is nicer IMO as well since there is no key entry - you just walk in.  The concierges KNOW who their guests are.

Although we haven't been on a R class ship, compared to the Vista class ships the bathroom on the Neptune in the Rotterdam (Pinnacle, as you know) was much nicer, with a spectacular shower! Even though neither cruise was that long ago, my memory about the room is a bit fuzzy; but I remember the bathroom very clearly! And our concierge was also the best, very attentive, and we asked for a lot.

[kazu]

39 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

Although we haven't been on a R class ship, compared to the Vista class ships the bathroom on the Neptune in the Rotterdam (Pinnacle, as you know) was much nicer, with a spectacular shower! Even though neither cruise was that long ago, my memory about the room is a bit fuzzy; but I remember the bathroom very clearly! And our concierge was also the best, very attentive, and we asked for a lot.

 

I’ve only sailed in a Pinnacle Class ship as a solo - so in verandahs not the Neptune suites.  I agree the Pinnacle Class does the showers well (if you like a shower 😉).  

 

I’ve looked at pics though and notice that the Pinnacle Class NS do not have the dressing/make up area and only on looking, certainly seem smaller than the NS in the other classes.  

 

there’s no question IME that as you move up in the class of the ship (from R class, to Vista, to Signature to Pinnacle) the balconies and size do shrink.  They are still a good size but….

[Suslor]

3 hours ago, kazu said:

Ok, you can gamble and hope there is an upsell to the Neptunes or decide if you want to pay the price.

 

The Neptune Suites on the R class ship are the largest in the fleet with wonderful balconies.  Bigger than any of the other classes of ship.  You can easily put 8+ people on the balcony to wave at sail away if you want.  Neptune Lounge is nicer IMO as well since there is no key entry - you just walk in.  The concierges KNOW who their guests are.

 

Service is more personalized as well IMO.  

 

the only 2 negatives I can think of are that the Pinnacle Grill (where you are entitled to have your breakfast) is an inside venue with no sea views and the bathroom still has the tub/shower combo.

Otherwise they have been completely upgraded and are very nice.

 

If you are not a 4* Mariner, the extra perks are nice - free drycleaning, laundry & pressing, priority embarkation, priority tendering, etc.

 

There aren’t many of them on the Zaandam & Volendam and they can sell out.  On our upcoming cruise, there were no upsell offers.  They were sold out and now the ship is sold out (that’s a familiar refrain these days).

 

Is the price worth it?  Depends on the persons who will be in it.  My DD DH enjoyed the extra space very much and would take a break and spend a bit of time in the cabin, balcony and often read in the Neptune Lounge (I believe they still have their little library).  Looking back, I am glad we did them when we could and he had a chance to enjoy them while he was here ♥️ 

Like @kazu we enjoy the Neptune Suites. We’re currently on the Zaandam for a 14 day Panama Canal cruise. We book a NS from the onset because we want a room very near the lounge. In fact we’re sitting in the lounge typing this message.
Sorry they still have the shower/tub combo and only one sink. Tons of drawers but only three closets. We’re spoiled on the Zuiderdam with six closets which we need on a longer cruise. 
No BB King or Rolling Stones venue and for some reason you can’t walk deck 4 to get to the DR. You have to go aft on Deck 5 and then go down. 
Love that you don’t need a key to enter the lounge but agree the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast lacks the windows. It’s more like an upgraded Club Orange. Be warned that the Zaandam permits smoking in the casino which is directly adjacent to the shops and bars so the smoke smell permeates the area. And if you have any lung issues you can’t really gamble. 
 

Having the lounge is a great perk - never having to stand in the Guest Services line can be worth the price sometimes. 

 

Susan

[REOVA]

We've  done Neptune Suites on both R class and Pinnacle Ships. The new bathrooms are much better than the older ships but the rooms are slightly smaller. We find the "value" is not there for us. (We got spoiled on another line's suite experience). Yes you do get a small lounge and concierge but for us there are not any other benefits that justify full rate. If you get an upsell, maybe.  But then again if you haven't tried a Neptune (or been on Pinnacle), experience another cabin. 

[sciencewonk]

We only cruise in Neptune Suites, so for us it's worth the money.  We like the extra space, the larger balconies, the included laundry, and having breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill or Club Orange.  Most of all, we love the Neptune Lounge with its access to the concierges, who have fixed so many small and large problems during our cruises.

[CNSJ]

As with most cost-based travel decisions, "Is a suite worth it" depends on what you could do with the cost difference between a Verandah (or in this case a Vista Suite) and a Signature or Neptune Suite.  Sure, an upsell is nice and is usually a bargain, but even then.... it depends on your financial situation.

 

For some folks,  thousands of extra dollars for business class airfare and a Neptune suite mean much less cruising.  Then again of you only get two weeks vacation a year, and want to have a great time, maybe its worth spending the money....

 

No clear cut answer unless you are wealthy and cost is no object.  In those cases....why not a Pinnacle Suite?

[islandwoman]

10 hours ago, sciencewonk said:

 Most of all, we love the Neptune Lounge with its access to the concierges, who have fixed so many small and large problems during our cruises.

It is my understanding (although I have no experience) that in hotels, concierges expect large tips in return for fixing problems.  Is it the same on HAL, or are their tips covered by the assessed crew gratuities?

[kazu]

9 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

It is my understanding (although I have no experience) that in hotels, concierges expect large tips in return for fixing problems.  Is it the same on HAL, or are their tips covered by the assessed crew gratuities?

 

Concierges in hotels  don’t usually fix problems in my experience.  That falls to someone else.  And, there are no obvious hands out although I do tip if they are helpful.  Neptune Suite concierges provide a variety of service - a combination of front desk/specialty dining, etc.  Tips are not expected just as you don’t tip the front desk, however many of us do show our appreciation - especially if they have been particularly helpful.  it’s neither necessary nor needs to be large - depends upon each person and their circumstances.

[Hlitner]

I do think the answer to the OP's question is that it depends on what you consider good value.  Some folks are willing to pay a lot of money for more cabin space and others do not think that the extra space justifies the cost.  We fall into the latter, because we enjoy socializing on cruise ships and spend very little waking time in our cabin/suite.  We have sometimes posted a thought that we can cruise in a normal suite on some luxury lines for about the same (or less) than a Neptune on HAL.  Consider that we have cruised on Seabourn for under $400 per person/day.  With Seabourn, that gets you all-inclusive (except for shore excursions).  If we pay $400 per person/day on Seabourn, spend a month on the ship, we will disembark with a zero account.  No cost for the alternative restaurants, no such thing as an add-on in any dining venue, no tips, no ship photographer, no extra cost for drinks, etc.  On HAL, we could easily pay $400 per person/day for a Neptune, but we would then need to add tips, drinks, extra dining fees, etc.

 

I think for those who are wedded to HAL and have the money, a Neptune makes sense.  For those looking for the best value for your cruise dollar, if you are willing to pay Neptune prices you might want to take a close look at some other more luxurious cruise lines.

 

Hank

[Mary229]

I assume by the title of your thread you are considering the economic value

 

I consider buying a Neptune on Holland (without an upsell value ) equivalent to buying the most expensive house in the neighborhood.  @Hlitner makes a case for the more sound principle of buying the low priced house in the neighborhood.  The only caveat is that HAL offers unique itineraries and that could affect your economic decision. 

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, islandwoman said:

It is my understanding (although I have no experience) that in hotels, concierges expect large tips in return for fixing problems.  Is it the same on HAL, or are their tips covered by the assessed crew gratuities?

Hotel concierges generally arrange things...dinners, shows, transport. 

 

The Neptune Lounge concierge does those things as well, but also fix problems. They are not covered in the Hotel Service Charge pool. Tipping them is optional, as always. Many, including us, will tell you the Neptune Lounge concierges earn their tips. 

[DaveOKC]

On the R class ships (Zaandam and Volendam) there is a HUGE difference from the Neptunes to any other cabin IMO.  Basically they are twice as large.  Plus all of them are located on the same deck as the Neptune Lounge and not far from it.

 

Only negative is that some of these Neptunes are under areas of the Lido pool, which can be a bit noisy at times.

[Hlitner]

10 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

On the R class ships (Zaandam and Volendam) there is a HUGE difference from the Neptunes to any other cabin IMO.  Basically they are twice as large.  Plus all of them are located on the same deck as the Neptune Lounge and not far from it.

 

Only negative is that some of these Neptunes are under areas of the Lido pool, which can be a bit noisy at times.

Another downside to that location is if you find yourself on a cruise where the foghorn is going night/day.  We have been on a few cruises where the foghorn sounded (every 2 minutes) for several consecutive days.  Those in the lower cost inside cabins were able to sleep like babies.  The folks that paid the big bucks also got the "big noise."

 

Hank