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The main Rotterdam cabins to avoid are the partially obstructed verandahs (category VH) on Deck 4, midship cabins on Deck 4 that sit above the busy Promenade Deck, forward cabins on Deck 1 under the Music Walk, and Deck 8 cabins right below the Lido. If you get seasick easily, also skip the furthest forward rooms and the highest cabin decks. For the best picks on the ship, look at midship verandahs on Decks 5 to 7, the Neptune Suites with their extra-long balconies, and the spa staterooms on Deck 10.

This guide is about Holland America Line’s current MS Rotterdam. She is a Pinnacle-class ship that entered service in 2021 and is the seventh Holland America ship to carry the name. She is a different ship from the older Rotterdam launched in 1997, which Holland America sold in 2020 and which now sails for Fred. Olsen as Borealis. If a review describes a smaller, roughly 1,400-passenger ship, it is about the old Rotterdam, so ignore it.

MS Rotterdam at a Glance

Rotterdam is a sister ship of Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam. She is 99,500 gross tons, about 935 feet long, and carries roughly 2,700 guests at double occupancy. She has 13 decks, and eight of them have cabins: Deck 1 (Main), Decks 4 to 8 (Beethoven, Gershwin, Mozart, Schubert and Navigation), Deck 10 (Panorama) and a small group on Deck 11 (Sun). Decks 2, 3 and 9 are public decks. That layout explains most of the noise issues below.

• Deck 2 (Plaza): the lower level of the World Stage, the Music Walk (B.B. King’s Blues Club, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone venue), Pinnacle Grill, Rudi’s Sel de Mer, the shops and the lower Dining Room.
• Deck 3 (Promenade): the casino, the upper World Stage, Grand Dutch Cafe, the upper Dining Room, more shops and the outdoor promenade with the lifeboats.
• Deck 9 (Lido): Lido Market buffet, the Lido Pool, Dive-In and the aft Sea View Pool.

In 2026 Rotterdam sails Northern Europe from her namesake city in the summer. For winter 2026-27 she moves to Fort Lauderdale for 10-day Western Caribbean and 11-day Eastern or Southern Caribbean cruises. In autumn 2027 she will sail her first Mediterranean season, mostly from Barcelona and Athens. Longer cruises make your cabin choice matter more, because you spend more nights in it.

Rotterdam Cabin Categories Explained

Cruise Critic counts 1,340 staterooms on Rotterdam, and about two-thirds of them have a balcony. Here is how the main types compare.

Sizes and counts come from Cruise Critic’s editor review and Holland America’s category listings. Small differences between sources are normal, so check the exact square footage for your cabin in the booking engine.

Rotterdam Cabins to Avoid (and Why)

No cabin on Rotterdam is truly bad. She is a modern, well-insulated ship. But a few locations get more complaints than others, and they are easy to avoid if you check the official Holland America deck plans before you book.

1. Partially obstructed verandahs on Deck 4 (category VH)

Deck 4 sits right above the Deck 3 promenade, where the lifeboats and tenders hang. Holland America sells some Deck 4 balcony cabins as category VH, a “partially obstructed verandah”. From these rooms you look down onto lifeboat tops, and the view can be partly blocked when you are sitting down. The price is usually lower than a full verandah. That can be a fair deal if you mainly want fresh air and daylight, but it is disappointing if you were hoping for open sea views. Some Deck 4 verandahs in category VF also have solid steel railings rather than glass, which blocks the view when you sit. Check the category code before you pay.

2. Midship cabins on Deck 4, above the Promenade Deck

Deck 4 is the first cabin deck above the casino, the upper level of the World Stage, Grand Dutch Cafe and the upper Dining Room. Guests on the Cruise Critic forums have posted about banging and late-night noise in midship Deck 4 cabins and corridors. Experiences vary, but if you are a light sleeper, Decks 5 to 7 have the same balcony categories with cabins above and below you instead of public rooms.

3. Forward Deck 1 cabins under the Music Walk

Deck 1 has many of the ship’s interior and ocean view cabins, including the Family Ocean View rooms. These are the most stable cabins on board. But the Music Walk on Deck 2 runs live music from B.B. King’s, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone venue late into the evening. Cruise Critic notes that cabins in the forward half of Deck 1 may hear it. Forward Deck 1 cabins can also hear the bow thrusters and the anchor early on port mornings.

4. Deck 8 cabins directly under the Lido

Deck 9 is the Lido Deck, with the buffet, pools and loungers. Cabins on Deck 8 directly below the Lido Market and pool areas may hear chairs and carts being moved early in the morning and late at night. Since the April 2026 dry dock there is also a new bandstand at the Sea View Pool on Deck 9 aft, so aft Deck 8 cabins under that pool may hear more music than before. Deck 8 cabins further forward, under the quieter parts of Deck 9, are a safer choice.

5. Cabins next to lifts, stairs and crew doors

The lift lobbies and stairwells get busy at show times and after dinner. Cabins right beside them hear doors, chatter and the lift chime. Rooms next to crew service doors and pantries can hear early-morning carts. On the deck plan, look for a cabin a few doors down the corridor instead.

6. Cabins with connecting doors

Connecting cabins are great for families travelling together. If you don’t know your neighbours, though, the connecting door lets more sound through than a solid wall. Several verandahs and the Family Ocean View rooms connect. Holland America’s deck plans mark them, so you can avoid them, or ask your travel agent to check.

7. Far forward, far aft and high cabins if you get seasick

Rotterdam is large and well stabilised, but the bow and the highest decks move the most in rough seas. Cruise Critic also notes that cabins at the very stern can feel a shudder from the stern’s ducktail in some sea conditions. That matters most on transatlantic crossings like the December 2027 Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale voyage, and in the North Sea. If you are prone to seasickness, choose a midship cabin on Decks 4 to 6 or on Deck 1.

Holland America Rotterdam Best Cabins

These are the cabins we would shortlist, depending on your budget.

1. Midship verandahs on Decks 5, 6 and 7. These decks have cabins above and below, they are central for motion, and they are an easy walk to the Lido and to the Music Walk. For most couples this is the best-value balcony on the ship.
2. Aft-facing verandahs and aft corner suites. The aft-facing balconies on Decks 4 to 8 look over the wake, and many of them are deeper than the side balconies. They are often booked early. Remember the possible stern shudder, and avoid the aft rooms right under the Sea View Pool on Deck 8.
3. Neptune Suites. With balconies about twice as long as a standard verandah, plus the Neptune Lounge concierge, Club Orange breakfast and priority services, these suites are the best upgrade on the ship. Many are on Deck 7, close to the Neptune Lounge.
4. Spa staterooms on Deck 10. These are forward on Deck 10 near the Greenhouse Spa. They are quiet and close to the thermal suite, which makes them a good mid-priced treat.
5. Vista Suites. They cost a little more than a verandah and have a bedroom that opens onto the balcony. After the 2026 refit, 22 of them have sofa beds that sleep four.
6. Family Ocean View on Deck 1. These rooms have two bathrooms and space for four, and they are very stable. Choose one away from the forward section under the Music Walk.
7. Single Ocean View. There are only 12 of these, and they let solo travellers book without a single supplement. They are small at 127 square feet, so pack light.

If you are still choosing between Holland America ships, our Holland America ships ranked by real customer reviews shows where Rotterdam sits in the fleet. It is also worth reading our guide to whether Holland America drink packages are worth it, because some suite fares bundle drinks and Wi-Fi.

How to Check Any Rotterdam Cabin Before You Book

The top-ranking guides often skip this part. Use these steps for any cabin number you are offered:

1. Read the category code. VH means partially obstructed. Ask whether a VF cabin has a steel or glass railing. The two-letter code tells you more than the marketing name does.
2. Look one deck up and one deck down. Open Holland America’s deck plan and check what is directly above and below your cabin. You want cabins on both sides, not a bar, galley, theatre or pool.
3. Count the doors to the lifts. Three or four doors away is quiet and still convenient. Right beside the lift lobby is not.
4. Check for a connecting door. It is marked on the deck plan with a small symbol.
5. Be careful with “guarantee” fares. A guarantee fare is cheaper, but Holland America assigns the cabin for you. That could be a Deck 4 room above the casino. If location matters to you, pay a little more to choose your exact cabin.
6. Match the cabin to the itinerary. On a Norwegian fjords or Caribbean cruise you will use the balcony a lot. On a cold-weather crossing or a port-heavy Mediterranean trip, a well-placed interior or ocean view may be the better value.

The same approach works on other lines too. See our guide to Celebrity Cruises cabins to avoid for a similar breakdown on Celebrity’s ships.

Is a Rotterdam Obstructed Verandah Worth It?

It depends on how you use a balcony. If you mostly want to open the door for fresh air, step out at sail-away and pay less than a full verandah, a VH cabin can be good value. You still get the same cabin interior, and you are only a few steps from the Promenade Deck. If you plan to sit outside with coffee watching the sea, pay the extra for an unobstructed verandah on Decks 5 to 8. Compare the price gap on your sailing, because it changes from cruise to cruise.

Looking at a smaller Vista-class ship instead? Our guide to Oosterdam cabins to avoid also covers what her 2027 Evolution refit changes.

Prefer a Signature-class ship? Our guide to Nieuw Amsterdam cabins to avoid covers the best and worst cabin locations on her sister.

Thinking of upgrading on Rotterdam? See Holland America suites compared to understand what Vista, Signature, Neptune and Pinnacle Suites each include.

FAQs

What deck is best on the Rotterdam?

For most people, Decks 5, 6 and 7 midship are the best. They have cabins above and below, the least motion, and easy access to both the Lido and the entertainment decks. Deck 1 is the most stable deck if seasickness is your main worry, but avoid the forward section under the Music Walk.

Which Rotterdam cabins have obstructed views?

The partially obstructed verandahs are category VH on Deck 4, where the lifeboats hang along the Promenade Deck below. Some Deck 4 VF verandahs also have solid steel railings. Check the category code on your booking.

Is Rotterdam a good cruise ship?

Yes. Rotterdam is one of Holland America’s newest ships, entering service in 2021. She is known for her live music on the Music Walk, her dining and her spacious cabins, two-thirds of which have balconies. She was refreshed again in April 2026.

Is this the same ship as the old MS Rotterdam?

No. The current Rotterdam is the 2021 Pinnacle-class ship, the seventh of the name. The 1997 Rotterdam was sold in 2020 and now sails for Fred. Olsen as Borealis, so older reviews of “Rotterdam cabins” may describe a different ship.

Are Deck 4 cabins on the Rotterdam noisy?

Some can be. Deck 4 sits above the Promenade Deck’s casino, World Stage, Grand Dutch Cafe and Dining Room, and some guests report noise in midship Deck 4 cabins. Light sleepers are better off on Decks 5 to 7.

The main Koningsdam cabins to avoid fall into four groups: Deck 4 “VH” verandahs, where lifeboats block part of the view; Deck 1 cabins beneath the Music Walk entertainment area; Deck 8 rooms directly under the Lido pool and Lido Market; and cabins at the far forward end of the higher decks if you get seasick. For the quietest, smoothest stay, choose a midship verandah on Decks 5, 6 or 7 with cabins above and below you.

Koningsdam was Holland America Line’s first Pinnacle-class ship. She launched in 2016 with 1,331 staterooms and more verandah cabins than any earlier HAL ship. Her sisters are Nieuw Statendam (2018) and Rotterdam (2021). In March 2026 she spent two weeks in dry dock in the Bahamas. The refit added five new ocean-view cabins, put sofa beds in 22 Vista Suites, replaced the carpets and reworked the area between Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge. Your cabin choice still makes a bigger difference to your trip than any of those updates. This guide covers which areas to skip, which categories are good value and how to check a cabin number before you pay a deposit.

Koningsdam Cabins to Avoid at a Glance

Use this table as a quick filter. Then check the exact cabin number on Holland America’s current deck plan, because layouts can change after a refit.

Obstructed View Cabins on Koningsdam (Deck 4 VH)

Holland America sells some Deck 4 (Beethoven Deck) verandahs as category VH, partially obstructed verandah. The lifeboats hang along the Deck 3 promenade. From these balconies you look over or into the tops of them, so you can see water but part of the view is blocked. How much is blocked depends on the cabin. In some rooms, standing at the railing gives you a decent view. In others, the boat fills most of the frame.

VH cabins can be good value if you mostly want fresh air and a private outdoor space. They’re a poor choice for an Alaska Inside Passage or Glacier Bay cruise, where sitting on your balcony watching scenery is much of the point. Before you book one:

• Search the specific cabin number on Cruise Critic, Reddit or YouTube for photos taken from that balcony.
• Compare the VH fare with the cheapest standard verandah on Deck 5 or 6. If the difference is small, book the unobstructed cabin.
• Remember that a VH is still a verandah inside. HAL’s verandah cabins run from about 228 to 405 square feet, with the same bed, bathroom and amenities.

Several accessible cabins also sit on Deck 4, including 4096, 4107, 4146 and 4167. If you need an accessible layout, put the roll-in shower and turning space first and treat the view as a second priority.

Watch for steel railings too. Some Koningsdam verandahs have a solid steel lower railing instead of clear glass. Standing up, you won’t notice much difference. Sitting down, the steel blocks the water closest to the ship. Deck plans don’t always show the railing type, so ask your travel advisor or HAL before you commit.

Noisy Koningsdam Cabins: Music Walk, World Stage and the Lido

Deck 1 below Music Walk

Koningsdam’s live music is grouped along Music Walk on Deck 2. It includes Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos playing chart hits), B.B. King’s Blues Club and the Rolling Stone Lounge, which Holland America previously called the Rolling Stone Rock Room. The March 2026 refit added seating and a new lounge area between Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge. More seating usually means more people and more music late at night. Deck 1 cabins directly underneath can pick up bass and vibration until the bands finish. Check the deck plan and avoid any Deck 1 cabin directly under these venues.

Deck 4 above the World Stage and casino

The two-level World Stage theater fills the forward end of Decks 2 and 3, with a wraparound LED screen. The forward cabins on Deck 4 are directly above it, so show nights, sound checks and rehearsals can carry through the ceiling. Further aft, the Deck 3 casino (enlarged during the 2026 refit) and the upper level of B.B. King’s are also below Deck 4. If you’re a light sleeper, Deck 5 adds one more deck of cabins between you and the entertainment decks.

Deck 8 below the Lido pool and Lido Market

Deck 8 (Navigation Deck) is the top full cabin deck, and Deck 9 above it holds the Lido pool, the Lido Market buffet and the Greenhouse Spa. Cabins under the pool deck can hear loungers being moved and decks being cleaned, often around 6am. Cabins under the Lido Market can hear carts and kitchen traffic. Deck 8 isn’t bad everywhere. Some cabins sit under quieter areas, so check what’s directly above your cabin number. If in doubt, move down to Deck 7.

Decks 10 and 11

Cabins on the upper decks are close to the open sun decks, sports areas and the Club HAL kids and teen spaces on Deck 10. Some guests like the quick access to the pool. Others notice footsteps or noise from the sports court overhead. The far forward cabins up here also move the most in a swell.

Cabins to Avoid If You Get Seasick

On any ship, you feel motion most at the bow and on high decks. On Koningsdam, that means the forward cabins on Decks 10 and 11. Forum posters often ask about cabins such as 11003 and 11004, which are high and right at the bow. They have great views but are a poor pick for a rough Gulf of Alaska crossing or a Panama Canal repositioning cruise. Aft cabins on the lower decks can also feel some vibration from the propulsion system when the ship is maneuvering.

If you’re prone to seasickness, choose a low, midship cabin. Decks 4 to 6 near the center of the ship are the most stable. You’ll also be a short walk from the main dining room, the Lido elevators and the shore tender stations.

Koningsdam Best Cabins by Category

Koningsdam introduced several stateroom types that were new to the Holland America fleet when she launched. Here’s how the main categories compare and where the better picks are.

Verandah cabins

Verandah cabins make up the majority of the ship’s 1,331 staterooms. The safest picks are mid-ship verandahs on Decks 5, 6 and 7, which have cabins above and below and no public venues nearby. Cruise Critic notes that some lower-deck verandahs have wider, squarer balconies, and some on Decks 5 to 8 have extra-long balconies. These can be good value if you find one at a standard verandah price.

Family ocean-view cabins

There are 32 family ocean-view cabins, about 222 to 231 square feet. They sleep up to five and have two bathrooms, which is unusual at this price level. They are on Deck 1, split between forward and aft. That puts them close to the gangway and away from the pool decks, but it also means some are near Music Walk on the deck above. Ask for one at the far end of the corridor, away from the venues. The March 2026 refit also added five new ocean-view cabins that sleep four, four of which connect. Ask HAL or your advisor where they are.

Single studio cabins

Twelve single ocean-view studios, about 127 to 172 square feet, were Holland America’s first rooms built for solo travelers. They’re forward on Deck 1, and a solo traveler pays a single fare for one instead of a double-occupancy fare with a single supplement. They’re small, and being low and forward means you may hear the anchor in ports where the ship anchors. Even so, they’re often the cheapest way to cruise alone on this ship.

Spa staterooms

Koningsdam groups its spa-category rooms (inside, ocean-view, verandah and two Neptune Spa Suites) on Deck 10, just above the Greenhouse Spa on Deck 9. Depending on the fare, perks typically include spa-themed amenities and access to the thermal suite, so check what’s included when you book. They’re well placed for spa regulars. The trade-off is that Deck 10 has more people passing through on the way to the upper sun decks.

Suites: Vista, Signature, Neptune and Pinnacle

• Vista Suites (104, about 260 to 356 sq ft) are essentially larger verandah cabins, and 22 now have sofa beds after the 2026 refit.
• Signature Suites (14, about 393 to 400 sq ft) add a whirlpool bath and more space at a lower price than a Neptune Suite.
• Neptune Suites (about 465 sq ft and up) include access to the Neptune Lounge and its concierge, and dining in Club Orange.
• The single Pinnacle Suite (about 1,290 sq ft) on Deck 7 has a separate living and dining room and a large whirlpool verandah.

If a Neptune Suite costs too much, a Signature Suite on Deck 7 gets you a quiet midship location and a bigger bathroom. For more on what’s included in a suite fare, see our guide to Holland America drink packages and whether they’re worth it, since some fares bundle drinks in.

Our Picks: The Best Cabins on Koningsdam

1. Best all-round: a standard verandah, midship on Deck 6 or 7, with a glass railing.
2. Best for Alaska scenery: any unobstructed verandah on Decks 5 to 7. Port or starboard matters less on a round-trip, because each side gets views on one leg of the voyage.
3. Best for families: a family ocean-view on Deck 1 at the far end of the corridor, or two connecting verandahs.
4. Best for solo travelers: a single ocean-view studio on Deck 1, or a guarantee verandah if single supplements are reduced on your sailing.
5. Best upgrade for the money: a Signature Suite on Deck 7.
6. Best for seasickness: a low, midship verandah on Deck 4 or 5. Avoid the VH category if the view matters to you.

Koningsdam spends her summers on seven-day round-trip Inside Passage cruises from Vancouver, so a balcony is well worth having. If you’re still choosing a cruise line, compare HAL with the alternatives in our guide to the best cruise line to Alaska for you. If you’re choosing between HAL ships, see how Koningsdam and her sisters compare in Holland America ships ranked by real customer reviews.

How to Check a Koningsdam Cabin Before You Book

Most cabin guides skip this step. It takes about five minutes and catches most problems.

1. Look up and down. Open the official deck plan on hollandamerica.com and find your cabin. Then look at the same position on the deck above and the deck below. If you see a venue, a galley, a pool or crew service doors instead of cabins, choose another cabin.
2. Check the corridor. Avoid cabins right next to elevator lobbies, laundry rooms and stairwells, where doors bang and people gather.
3. Check the code. VH means a partially obstructed view. A connecting-door symbol means you’ll share a wall door with the next cabin.
4. Be careful with guarantee fares. A guarantee (GTY) fare can be cheaper, but HAL picks the cabin, and you can end up in exactly the spots this guide warns about. If you need a specific view, quiet ceiling or layout, pay a little more to choose your own cabin.
5. Re-check after a refit. The 2026 dry dock changed some venue layouts and added new cabins, so older reviews and third-party deck plans may be out of date.

Watching for a good fare? See our roundup of cruise deals for 2027.

Koningsdam’s newer sister has a similar layout; see our guide to MS Rotterdam cabins to avoid if you are comparing the two.

If you lean towards Holland America, check whether the Holland America Have It All package makes sense for how you drink and explore before comparing total costs.

FAQs

Which verandah cabins on the Koningsdam are the best?

Mid-ship verandahs on Decks 5, 6 and 7 are generally the best. They have cabins above and below, no nearby entertainment venues and less motion. Choose a glass railing and avoid the Deck 4 VH category if the view matters to you.

Are Deck 4 obstructed view cabins on Koningsdam worth it?

They can be if the saving is significant and you mainly want fresh air. Lifeboats block part of the view, and how much varies by cabin. For Alaska, most people are happier in an unobstructed verandah on a higher deck.

Is Deck 1 on Koningsdam noisy?

Deck 1 cabins directly below Music Walk on Deck 2, where B.B. King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge are, can hear late-night music. Cabins at the far forward or aft ends of Deck 1 are usually much quieter.

Where are the family cabins on Koningsdam?

The 32 family ocean-view cabins are on Deck 1, forward and aft. They sleep up to five and have two bathrooms. The 2026 refit also added five new ocean-view cabins that sleep four.

Which Koningsdam cabins are best for seasickness?

Low, midship cabins on Decks 4 to 6 move the least. Avoid the far forward cabins on Decks 10 and 11 if you’re prone to motion sickness.