DA, by "bunk bed style curtained compartments" do you mean open berth sections? I know from talking with Via crews that there were a lot of surprised complaints about the size of the double bedrooms ("Cabin for 2" in Via speak) by passengers accustomed to cruise line accommodations that expected something similar on this "land cruise". So turning the sections private (aside from issues about how to do it, especially since one of the sections was replaced by the shower room) would not have addressed that. The large Prestige accommodations were targeted directly at that audience. Also, as part of that $8000, you get hors d'oeuvres before your dinner that the hoi polloi don't get, so the price difference is well worth it [/sarcasm]