![]() ![]() I have learned not to trust the HAL booking agents they aren't familiar with the ships, or the cabins. ![]() Anything longer, I choose my own, with the help of a cruise site that shows exactly where the cabin is and also has warnings about cabins that aren't so great and why. I have always had good luck booking a guarantee, but I only do that on a shorter cruise, less than ten days, which I can handle, even if it's not the most convenient cabin. Never again will we book a Guarantee anything! The suite was much smaller than the regular Neptunes with the same amount of furniture so we were always bumping into something. Hated the location as it was so far from everything, especially the Neptune Lounge, and I have some mobility issues of which the cabin inventory dept. Only one time we were very unhappy with a Neptune - we had to take a Guarantee Neptune in order to get a cheap casino rate and were stuck in one of the aft Neptunes on the Oosterdam. The concierges are so helpful and order our dinners for us every night we decide to eat in the suites. We try to get close to the Neptune Lounge as we enjoy the peace and quiet and the great food offerings during the day. The extra space is wonderful and I love the separate vanity area for makeup and doing my hair. We would say the Neptunes are definitely worth the extra cost. Out of 10 HAL cruises, we have sailed in Neptune Suites 5 times, a Vista Suite once and Verandahs the other four. Twenty years ago, the Neptune Suite passengers were treated like royalty and showered with perks, and over the years it's become less and less, but it's still been worth the experience. The ships' offerings have always varied slightly in their Neptune Suites, and who knows what's to come. It's kind of a 'learn-as-you-go' experience'. The HAL site doesn't mention half of the perks in their description. When the Lounge is closed, just call your 'special' number and get immediate assistance 24 hours. No problem getting a table for two in the upper dining room either. You'll never have to stand in line at Customer Service because the Neptune Lounge has people there who do EVERYTHING for you, from booking reservations to printing up personalized stationary. The main dining room will deliver your dinner selections to your suite, if you prefer private dining. Other than the extra space in both the room and the balcony, there are plenty of other nice perks. No waiting in line for tender tickets, for example. The in-room dining menu is extensive, and offers complimentary mimosas. I think everyone should try a Neptune Suite at least once, just for the luxury of it. Unless the current price difference is relatively small-$100 pp, per day or less)-I'd go with the Signature Suite. The Neptune Suites we've had were certainly big, but much of the space seemed wasted. It was spacious and had the perfect layout. We thought it was about the nicest cabin we've ever been in on any ship, any cruise line. The one time we were on the Oosterdam, we were in a Signature Suite. We're now Four Star Mariners, so, as DaveOKC has pointed out, we get the free laundry and other perks, anyway. The two times we've been in a Neptune Suite (on the Noordam and the old Ryndam), we were originally booked in Signature Suites and got very attractive last-minute upsell offers (of course, you can't count on that). The Vista class ships (like Oosterdam) seem to offer this upsell more often, likely due to the higher number of Neptunes vs Signatures that they have. In my experience, the paid upsell costs are about 1/3rd of the price difference (if you were paying full price) between the two. If you decide to stay in the Signature (nice cabins to be sure), remember that you might get offered a "paid upsell" deal to a Neptune about 2-4 weeks prior to sailing. To me, it really depends on how much more is the cost. This is a tough call, especially if you are not at least a 4 Star Mariner with HAL (4 stars get some of the Neptune perks anyway). In a SS you may want to purchase the unlimited laundry service package. You can send laundry out every day with a NS. We really enjoyed our New Zealand cruise in 2019. The expedited tendering is a questionable feature as I have never seen it working. The Signature Suites are somewhat smaller and lack the NS perks of free laundry services and special dining and expedited embarkation and disembarkation. The aft Neptune Suites are a long way from the Neptune Lounge. Neptune Suites are very nice if you can afford them. Neptune Lounge services and snacks are available only for Neptune Suites. You can have breakfast in the Pinnacle dining room with a free mimosa on Oosterdam, a special check in line for the MDR with one added entree on a special CO menu. ![]() You will also get the Club Orange perks except for the “extra” offering just for CO. The perks of a Neptune Suite are listed on HAL’s website.
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