If you’ve stared at a Holland America booking page and seen ten different Verandah codes (V, VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VH, VT, VQ) with barely any price difference explaining why, you’re not alone. Most of that alphabet soup comes down to deck location, not the room itself.
Direct answer: On Eurodam, the best-value Verandah cabin is almost always a midship category on Deck 5 or 6 (codes V, VB, or VC), since these decks sit surrounded by other cabins above and below, keeping noise low without the price premium of an aft or Spa stateroom. Skip the cheapest guarantee bookings if you’re sensitive to motion or sound, since they can land you in a forward Deck 4 room with a shallower balcony and steel privacy railings.
Eurodam Verandah Cabins Categories, Ranked by Value
Every Verandah cabin on Eurodam gives you the same core setup: floor-to-ceiling glass that opens onto a private balcony, two lower beds that convert to a queen, a sitting area, and a bathroom with a tub/shower combo (with a few shower-only exceptions, covered below). The room itself runs roughly 174 sq ft, plus a balcony averaging 46 sq ft, for a total that lands between 213 and 379 sq ft depending on the exact category.
What actually changes between codes is where you’re sleeping and what’s around you:
| Category Code | What Sets It Apart | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| VQ | Verandah Spa Stateroom, near the Greenhouse Spa on Panorama Deck | Guests who’ll use the spa often and don’t mind a smaller, narrower balcony |
| VT | Highest Verandah tier on Observation Deck (11) | Quiet upper-deck sailors who don’t need to be near the pool |
| V | Standard Verandah, widely available across Decks 5-6 | Best all-around value pick |
| VA-VC | Standard Verandah, mixed locations across Decks 4-8 | Budget-conscious travelers willing to search by deck |
| VD-VE | Standard Verandah, Decks 6-8 | Families needing specific deck proximity |
| VF | Deck 4 (Upper Promenade), solid steel balcony railings instead of clear Plexiglas | Travelers who prioritize price over an open-rail view |
| VH | Deck 4 and 8 | Lower-priced Verandah, same room specs as the rest |
The category letter mostly reflects Holland America’s own pricing tier, cheapest to priciest, rather than any real upgrade in square footage. A VH and a V cabin can be functionally identical rooms with different price tags attached because of deck and location.
The Best Decks for a Verandah Cabin on Eurodam
Deck matters more than category code here. Decks 5 (Verandah), 6 (Upper Verandah), and 7 (Rotterdam) are sandwiched between other passenger cabins on the deck above and below, so you’re not sleeping under a jogging track or above a nightclub.
Deck 4 (Upper Promenade) and Deck 8 (Navigation) sit closer to public spaces and crew work areas, which is where most noise complaints on Eurodam actually originate.
A few specifics worth knowing before you pick a deck:
- Deck 4’s balconies are the deepest, extending further out than any other Verandah deck, but forward cabins here (roughly 4001-4042) sit behind large steel structural walls that partially block the view. You get more balcony floor space and a narrower window on the ocean.
- Deck 5’s indented sections (where the hull narrows) have balconies just 4.5 feet deep instead of the standard 5.5 feet, and side views get partially blocked the closer you are to the indent. The upside: more shelter from wind and rain.
- Aft-facing balconies run warmer in cold-weather itineraries like Alaska, since they’re shielded from the headwind the ship generates while moving forward.
- Deck 6 cabins under the Lido pool deck can pick up chair-dragging and early cleaning noise starting around 6 a.m., a pattern reported consistently enough across sailings that it’s worth avoiding if you’re a light sleeper.
My take: I’d trade a slightly smaller balcony for a Deck 5 or 6 midship location every time. The noise difference between “surrounded by cabins” and “under the pool deck” is the single biggest factor in how a Verandah cabin actually feels at 7 a.m. on sea day, and it costs nothing extra to book for it specifically instead of leaving it to a guarantee assignment.
Verandah Cabins Worth Requesting
Forward and aft cabins in the same category as midship rooms cost the same and offer identical square footage and amenities. Booking one intentionally, rather than defaulting to midship, is one of the few genuinely free upgrades left in cruise cabin selection.
- Aft-view Verandah cabins (typically the highest-numbered rooms on each deck) look back over the ship’s wake and are consistently the first Verandah cabins to sell out on any given sailing, since the view rivals a suite balcony without the suite price tag.
- Deck 6 midship, away from elevator banks, gives you the noise buffer of Deck 5-6 with slightly better views than the lower deck.
- Room 5-118 type cabins (standard midship Verandah on Deck 5) come up repeatedly in passenger reviews as a comfortable, quiet baseline pick with a pull-out sofa option for a third guest.
Verandah Cabins to Watch Out For
A few specific issues show up often enough in cabin-level feedback that they’re worth flagging by number, not just by category.
- Cabins 4005 through 4008 have a shower only, no bathtub, unlike the rest of the Verandah inventory. If a soak matters to you, check this before booking.
- Category VF on Deck 4 has solid steel balcony railings rather than the clear Plexiglas used elsewhere, which changes the sightline when you’re seated rather than standing at the rail.
- Cabin 6145 has been flagged in multiple sailing reports for bed vibration linked to nearby engine noise, a complaint that’s persisted across several years of reviews despite the ship’s 2023 dry dock refresh.
- Cabins near crew stairwells on Deck 7 (roughly the 7001-7050 range) can pick up cart and prep noise from adjacent service areas, especially in early morning hours.
If you book a guarantee (GTY) cabin to save money, know that you’re giving Holland America the choice of exact room within your category. That can land you in a forward Deck 4 room or a location near a noisy public space instead of the quiet midship pick you’d have chosen yourself.
My take: GTY bookings make sense when the price gap is large and you genuinely don’t care where you land. On Eurodam specifically, I’d only take that risk on Decks 5-7, since even the “worst” assignment there is still reasonably quiet. I wouldn’t gamble on a GTY if Deck 4 or Deck 8 assignments are in play for your sailing.
Eurodam Verandah Spa Stateroom (VQ): Is the Upgrade Worth It?
The Verandah Spa Stateroom isn’t a bigger room, it’s the same square footage as a standard Verandah with a different location and a few added extras: yoga mats, an iPod docking station, a countertop water feature, and easier access to treatments at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon.
The trade-off is balcony shape. VQ cabins sit on Panorama Deck (10), where the balconies run narrower than the standard 5.5-foot depth found on lower decks. If you plan to actually sit out there with coffee each morning, that narrower footprint matters more than the spa perks will.
It’s worth the upgrade if you’re already planning to use the spa multiple times during the cruise. It’s not worth it purely for the in-room extras, which you could largely replicate yourself for less.
Verandah vs Signature Suite: When to Spend More
Signature Suites are the next tier up from Verandah on Eurodam, and the jump is bigger than the price difference sometimes suggests.
| Verandah Stateroom | Signature Suite | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 213-379 sq ft | 393-400 sq ft |
| Max occupancy | 2-4 (sofa bed in some categories) | Up to 4 (Murphy, Pullman, or sofa bed) |
| Bathroom | Tub/shower combo (some shower-only) | Deep soaking tub plus separate full shower stall |
| Balcony | Standard or indented, 4.5-5.5 ft deep | Private verandah, teak-lined |
| Priority perks | None | Priority embarkation and tender service |
The bathroom is the real differentiator most articles skip over. A separate shower stall alongside a soaking tub matters a lot more day-to-day than an extra 150 sq ft of floor space, especially for two people getting ready at the same time each morning. If your budget allows a Signature Suite on a longer sailing, that’s where the upgrade earns its keep.
Booking Tactics That Actually Save Money
- Choose forward or aft over midship in the same category letter. Same room, same amenities, frequently a lower price simply because midship gets requested more often.
- Book Decks 5-6 by cabin number, not by category letter alone. Two cabins with different V-codes on the same deck can be nearly identical rooms.
- Check the deck above and below before finalizing, since public venues shift deck-to-deck and a “quiet” category on one deck can sit under a lounge on another.
- Confirm bathtub vs shower-only if that matters to you, particularly in the 4005-4008 range.
Once you’ve settled on a cabin, the rest of the trip planning gets easier. If you’re figuring out what’s included in your fare versus what costs extra at the bar, it’s worth a quick look at the Holland America drink menu before you sail so there are no surprises once you’re onboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a veranda the same as a balcony on a cruise ship?
Yes. “Veranda” or “Verandah” is simply Holland America’s branded term for a private balcony cabin. Functionally it’s identical to what other cruise lines call a balcony stateroom.
What is the best deck on the Eurodam for a Verandah cabin?
Decks 5 and 6 offer the best balance of noise insulation and price, since they’re surrounded by other cabins rather than public venues.
What are the differences between a Holland America Signature Suite and a Verandah?
The Signature Suite adds roughly 150 sq ft, a separate shower stall alongside the soaking tub, priority embarkation, and a teak-lined verandah, all for a meaningfully higher fare.
Which Verandah rooms on Eurodam are the best?
Aft-facing midship cabins on Decks 5-6 consistently rank highest for combining a wake view with low noise, and they book up early.
Are there Eurodam cabins to avoid in the Verandah category?
Cabin 6145 has a documented engine vibration issue, cabins near Deck 7 crew stairwells can be noisy, and Deck 4 forward cabins trade balcony depth for a partially blocked view behind structural steel.
Is an Eurodam VH cabin a good choice?
VH cabins carry the same room specs as every other Verandah code. The lower price usually reflects a Deck 4 or Deck 8 location rather than any real downgrade in the room itself.
Can a family of four fit in a Verandah stateroom?
Some Verandah categories include a sofa bed for a third or fourth guest, though space gets tight with it deployed. Check the specific category’s occupancy before booking for four.
Is the Verandah Spa Stateroom worth the extra cost?
Only if you’ll genuinely use the Greenhouse Spa multiple times on the cruise. The balcony is narrower than standard, and the in-room extras don’t offset that for most travelers.