Staterooms

Westerdam's cabin apportionment reflects the industry-wide trend toward more verandahs, especially at lower price points. Seventy-four percent of the outside cabins have balconies. The smallest measure 254 square ft.; 54 square ft. make up a verandah sufficiently large for comfortable rattan furniture and a small teak pedestal table. The smallest cabins on the ship are standard insides at 170 square ft. (though some measure 200); standard outsides come in at 185. The largest accommodations are the 1,318-square-ft. Penthouse Verandah Suites. Twenty-eight staterooms are specially designated for handicapped passengers.

All staterooms have "Eurotop" mattresses, high-thread-count bed linens; bathrobes; premium massaging showerheads; magnifying lighted makeup mirrors and powerful hair dryers; direct-dial phones with voicemail; televisions; mini-bars; and safes. Suites also include DVD players for which there is an onboard lending library.

All staterooms above inside categories have tubs with showers. At the suite levels the tubs are whirlpools, and an extra shower stall is added, along with dual sinks.

One nice amenity for suite passengers is the Neptune Lounge, a private room with concierge, which serves various snacks (from light breakfast fare in the mornings to hors d'oeuvres at cocktail hour). The concierge can book dinner reservations and shore tours, as well.

Penthouse Verandah Suite Deck: Rotterdam Penthouse Verandah Suites PS feature a private bedroom with a king-sized bed, private verandah with whirlpool, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, living room with sofa bed, dining room, private bathroom with shower and oversized whirlpool tub, additional shower stall, dressing room, guest bathroom, pantry, minibar, refrigerator, microwave, DVD player, private stereo system, television, minisafe, telephone, multichannel music, and a hairdryer. Enjoy additional suite amenities including complimentary bathrobes, personalized stationary, feather pillows by request, complimentary laundry/dry-cleaning service, fresh fruit, video library, afternoon tea, exclusive use of Neptune Lounge and a personal concierge, exclusive Indonesian Rijstaffel luncheon hosted by the Captain or Hotel Manager, hors d'oeuvres served before dinner upon request, corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night, and special disembarkation privileges. Approximately 1,343-sq.-ft. suite, including verandah.

Deluxe Verandah Suite Deck: Rotterdam Deluxe Verandah Suites SA offer two lower beds that convert to a king-sized bed, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, large sitting area with sofa bed, private bathroom with shower and full-size whirlpool tub, additional shower stall, dual sink vanity, dressing room, DVD player, television, minisafe, minibar, telephone, multichannel music, and a hairdryer. Enjoy additional suite amenities including complimentary bathrobes, personalized stationary, feather pillows by request, complimentary laundry/dry-cleaning service, fresh fruit, video library, afternoon tea, exclusive use of Neptune Lounge and a personal concierge, exclusive Indonesian Rijstaffel luncheon hosted by the Captain or Hotel Manager, hors d'oeuvres served before dinner upon request, corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night, and special disembarkation privileges. Approximately 528-sq.-ft. suite, including verandah.

Superior Verandah Suite Deck: Navigation Superior Verandah Suites SS offer two lower beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sitting area with sofa bed for one, private bathroom with shower and full-sized whirlpool tub, additional shower stall, dual sink vanity, DVD player, television, minisafe, minibar, telephone, multichannel music, and a hairdryer. Enjoy additional suite amenities including complimentary bathrobes, personalized stationary, feather pillows, and a video library. Approximately 392-sq.-ft. suite, including verandah.

Deluxe Verandah Stateroom Deck: Navigation, Rotterdam, Upper Promenade, Upper Verandah, Verandah Deluxe Verandah Staterooms VA feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, a private verandah, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sitting area, private bathroom with tub and shower, television, minisafe, telephone, multichannel music, and a hairdryer. Approximately 241-sq.-ft. stateroom, including verandah.

Large Oceanview Stateroom Deck: Main Large Oceanview Staterooms C feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, a picture window, private bathroom with tub and shower, minisafe, television, telephone, multichannel music, and a hairdryer. Approximately 194-sq.-ft. stateroom.

Large Interior Stateroom Deck: Navigation, Upper Verandah Large Interior Staterooms I feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom with shower, minisafe, television, telephone, multichannel music, and a hairdryer. Approximately 185-sq.-ft. stateroom.

Westerdam's cabins are smaller than one normally finds on a Holland America ship, but still large enough for a comfortable one-week cruise. Standard inside cabins are 182 sq. feet, while outside staterooms are 197 sq. feet, while standard balcony cabins are 284 sq. ft. Balcony cabins have a spacious veranda with two chairs and a table. But standard inside, outside and balcony staterooms have a few shelves but no drawers! Standard cabin features include a tub, color TV, mini-fridge and hair dryer.

If you occupy one of Westerdam's suites, you'll also get the use of a private concierge club with coffee and light snacks available throughout the day. The club also has a large TV, comfortable leather seating and board games.

The category SS cabins are called suites, but come with none of the perks of the higher S and PS categories, other than personalized stationary and a separate shower stall and tub. The use of the Concierge lounge and priority embarkation and debarkation are reserved for the higher-category suites.

In our SS category, the towel racks were directly above the toilet, and the top towel rack extended farther from the wall than the toilet. For men around 5'10' or taller, this can be a bit of a hazard for hitting their heads.

The Euro-top mattresses in all cabins not only look attractive, but make bedtime one of the most comfortable times of day.