Home Away From Home for 112 Days

Beginning January 6, 2012, this will be my home away from home

Inside cabin, category M:

Two lower beds, shower. Approximately 182–293 sq. ft.

Room Amenities

• Luxurious beds featuring Sealy® Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens
• Deluxe waffle weave and terry cloth bathrobes for use during the voyage
• 100% Egyptian cotton towels
• Premium massage showerheads
• 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers
• Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure
• Complimentary fresh fruit on request
• Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages
• Flat-panel TV and DVD player
• Ice service, shoeshine service, and nightly turndown service (with “towel animals”  and sometimes even gifts, I’ve heard J)

Cabin choice was one of the biggest decisions when I first looked into this back in January.  Normally, I would not hesitate to book a Category SA Deluxe Verandah Suite with access to the Neptune Lounge on the Navigation Deck, as I have done in the past on Caribbean cruises; nor would I hesitate to book a Category C Large Outside cabin on the Lower Promenade Deck, as I have done in the past on a Mexican Riviera cruise. 

This time, however, having read about the stormy seas one might encounter, especially rounding Cape Horn between South America and Antarctica, and knowing that I have a tendency to get seasick, I opted for an inside cabin, lower deck, midship.  These cabins are supposedly in the most stable part of the ship.  Of course, after I had booked, I read postings on cruise boards that maybe an inside cabin is NOT the best idea for someone who get seasick – whoops, too late now!  I do wish this cabin came with a bathtub instead of just a shower, though.  Oh well, maybe next time!

CLOSETS AND MEASUREMENTS

There appear to be three closets opposite the bathroom in a hallway between the vanity and the cabin door - two single closets and one double closet

CLOSET #1 (closest to the cabin door):  It seems there might be more shelves in this closet.  One shelf appears to  have been pushed up to make room for the suitcase, and it looks like there may also be one above the lifejacket shelf.  Would be really nice if this had a clothes rod, though, as it is the widest of of all the closet spaces.

Closets 2 and 3 are in the middle:  One half is for “long hanging” (the right side, closet #2), one half has shelves and “low hanging”, plus the in-room safe (the left side, closet #3).

Closet #4, closest to the vanity appears to have a high shelf for the lifejacket, a low shelf for shoes, and “medium” hanging space.  No long formal gowns in this closet – unless the bottom shelf tilts up??

Another measurement that will come in handy is the “under-the-bed” storage – as long as suitcases are less than 12-1/2 inches high, they will fit here, out of the way.  So, guess the packing scheme will include some foldable, squashable duffle bags to fit here.

Holland America provides free luggage shipping from home to cabin for those folks in the higher cabin categories.  For those in the middle cabin categories, two bags are allowed to be shipped for free.  For those in the lower cabin categories, there is a charge ranging from $70 for a small (30 lb) bag to $140 for an oversized (60+ lb) bag.   (That’s one-way, home to cabin only; return shipping rates, cabin to home, will be announced a week or two before disembarkation.)  Some previous cruisers packed items into cardboard boxes wrapped securely, then dismantled the boxes, storing them behind the couch until time to leave the ship.  One lady requested 26 luggage tags for her returning luggage, I read. Holy smokes!!  And I thought I packed a lot! J