westerdam

Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

The worst thing is that it could be postponed (we missed the Volendam's
inaugural). Keep in mind that it's a new crew and new ship and everyone
(no matter how experienced they are) is making adjustments and getting
their rhythm down.

Candy -- hopes the new Westerdam will be as great as the old one

Stephen M Coates wrote:
Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

"Stephen M Coates" wrote in message
news:MPG.1ad6653f805811f5989680@shawnews...
Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

Can't help you in the inaugural area. But, there was a fire on Westerdam
which caused significant damage to the Lido and some smoke and water damage
to the Navigation Deck below. All of that has been repaired.

Fire while in the Fincantieri Shipyard Oct 17, 2003. A cabin in the aft
deck 7 caught fire and took 4 hours to put out, no injuries. Damage spread
to decks 7 8 & 9 on the aft end. Claims that this will not effect the April
15 Delivery GDJ
"Stephen M Coates" wrote in message
news:MPG.1ad6653f805811f5989680@shawnews...
Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:05:51 -0500, "Danni"
wrote:

But, there was a fire on Westerdam
which caused significant damage to the Lido and some smoke and water damage
to the Navigation Deck below.

Errant (bullet) fire perhaps, Killer?

"Stephen M Coates" wrote in message
news:MPG.1ad6653f805811f5989680@shawnews...
Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

We will be on the May 7th sailing on the Westerdam, Stephen.

We were on the inaugural cruise of the Elation in March of 1998. It was our
second cruise, so we were not really cognizant of its shortcomings, if there
were any~~we did learn from that cruise to carefully choose our cabins from
then on. We accepted outside cabin E-168, which was directly under the
galley and we heard carts rolling, pots and pans falling and loud thumps
until four in the morning! Not much fun trying to sleep for 15 days. We had
graduated from a 7 day cruise to a 15 day one and were concerned that we
chose too long of a cruise~~as it turned out, on the 14th night, we wished
that we did not have to get off in Los Angeles and had opted for 16 days and
gone all the way to San Francisco! So we must have enjoyed it.

Have a great cruise!

--Jean

Information concerning the fire on the westerdam please go to
www.nedcruise.info page news on english section.
Rgds Haco

"Stephen M Coates" schreef in bericht
news:MPG.1ad6653f805811f5989680@shawnews...
Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

Information concerning the fire on the westerdam incl images please go to
www.nedcruise.info page news on english section.
Rgds Haco

"Stephen M Coates" schreef in bericht
news:MPG.1ad6653f805811f5989680@shawnews...
Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

From: Stephen M Coates , asked,

Am sailing on tne inaugural cruise on the Westerdam an April 25/04. Does
anyone have any opinions on inaugural cruises, are there problems with
service or food or crew. Also heard there may have been a fire on the
westerdam in October while under construction?

Hi Stephen,

We have sailed on two Maiden Voyages, one was also the Inaugural. In 1993 we
sailed on HAL's Maasdam Maiden/Inaugural Voyage; we were also there for the
Naming and Christening of the ship's bell. This all transpired in Fort
Lauderdale. The cruise was a 10 day Southern Caribbean itinerary. Every thing
machanical, that I was aware of, worked just the way it was supposed to;
service throughout the ship was excellent. The only tipoff that this was a
Maiden Voyage was the little commemorative gifts that kept appearing in our
stateroom, and the announcements of special festivities to mark the ocassion.

The second Maiden Voyage we were on was last year on RCCL's Serenade OTS,
sailing from Amsterdam to Boston. Again, all mechanical aspects were perfect;
Dining Room service was satisfactory, but less than excellent (newness of crew
working together? I Idon't know). There were no special festivities to mark
the Maiden Voyage, nor commemorative gifts. Even items in the Gift Shops did
not mention the Maiden Voyage, only mentioned the Inaugural Voyage, which was
to take place a month or so later, in NYC.

Different cruiselines, different times. I would be interested in your
impressions of your cruise, and how the cruiseline celebrates the new ship.


Ray

Wishing light winds and smooth seas to all