Dutch Vikings Return from Voyage to New World

"Tom K" wrote:


"Charles" wrote in message
id...
..

The show lounge had lots
of obstructions and weird seating.

The seating was very weird. Some seats had 6 feet of leg room, while others
had about 16 inches of leg room.

IMHO the theatre configuration on this class of HAL ships is the worst
I've seen anywhere.

"Tom K" wrote in message
...

"Charles" wrote in message
d...

SNIP

By the way... this was the only cruise I've ever been on where the captain
YELLED at all of us during life boat drill. He told everyone to BE QUIET
very loudly and sternly. Everyone said that he sounded MEAN. He did joke
about it later at a get together.

SNIP
--Tom

Hi Tom,

What was your take on the captain's attitude? Most of us go through the
drills with a "ho-hum, been there" mind set, but there is a slim chance that
the info could be vital. I think I might have applauded the captain for
literally taking command. Any opinion?

Harry Cooper

Charles and Tom

Loved both your rerviews and boty in my eyes were correct.

My take on the cruise

#1 Group above ship was the importance of this cruise adn 2nd it was
chosen for Itinerary from FLL

Ship: I like this size of ship. Getting off the OASIS prior to this ,
wow what a difference in getting around..... OASIS is the WOW, the
Westerdam was the AHHHHH

I did not care for the Decor the reds and dark colors, but I think in
some ways it grew on me. I did not care for the artwork it was not
whimsicle and I guess I like Whimsy. BUT again I am not a Art Expert.
I took a cheapie Room a Inside- I know I know I always do a balcony
but Lately I never use the Balcony so went to conserve $$$. WOW was I
suprised this was by far the BEST inside room I ever had . IT WAS
HUGE! Comperable to jr Suites on many ships. It was square and had a
corner ( pit style) sofa had a bed in it, a vanity and I thought
plenty of storage some thought not enough But i came with 18 days
worth of luggage from previous stays in FLA and we thought WOW what
space 3 closets and 2 BIG drawers under the bed and in the vanity, We
had NO problem at all. Our tv in our room though would not Swivel so
it made it a little difficult seeing from the bed, and I wish they had
interactive TV all ships should makes it so much easier. ROOM was a A
+.
NOW the Door Key. Hmmm no one mentioned this but our door keys kept
needing to be recharged as did Toms and Many others, We had to do ours
about 5 times. and we never had it near anything that would discharge
it, Just was a glitch I think.

Cabin Stewards A+ Wonderful Clean room and Ice and towels What more
can you ask for! Elemis hair and body items Very nice.
NO problem at all if you get a deck 1 inside NO noise and great ride
and Large room I was in 1018 ....I would take it again in a flash.

Shows- Magician was pathetic. COmedian Julie Barr funny and the 2
productions shows I saw were wonderful. and they were just new to the
ship. Seating was odd, But its a carnivazl thing They have lots of
obstructions and they shovel you in . 16 inches of leg room is being
Kind Tom! Ermalee was jumping on tables to get in to sit.

Pool AreA- not that big and I feel they need pool workers to remove
towels more readily you can not find a seat and do not want to remove
a towel if it was someones and if there is 2 people in the pool and NO
seats where the heck are they??? This needs attention but we went to
back aft pool, that was more fun adn this new Cruise Director Keith
COx was great not Obtrusive and he put on Pool Games somethign I was
told HAL did NOT have, theya re trying to make it YOUNGER. Our cruise
was not YOUNG lots of old people but there were a good amount of our
age too, I do not mind Old I mind Rude, and some of these folks on
there for Channukah were just plain out rude, I would NEVER retire to
that Area because I would not get along with these folks who migrated
from the Bronx area.... They are whiners. BUT that is NOT HALS fault
at all.

The employees on this ship were amongst the finest if not the BESt I
ever have sailed with Kind and gentle folk they weer from Indonesia
( Bali) and Phillipines. Front Desk was marvelous. PRINCESS should
take heed on how a front desk is run, these ones were wonderful.
Another thing from a TA's Point of View was that, everything I asked
for to be in place WAS! Dinner seating was FINALLY done just like I
ASKED no glitches!!!! they bent over backwards to make everything
right for the group too!

DINING ROOM- I loved the touches from the Guy whom before dinner
dressed like a Bell hop or the Phillip Morris guy went around and rang
the DInnger bell via a wood xylophone WAS that ever so cool! the FOOD A
+.... I have never in 45 cruises had such good food....
the lobster was BIG and they gave you 2 and a filet that was delish
although small but it was plenty. I liked everything except Lobster
bisque but that is ME not their Bisque.
Tom liked 3 meals WOW that is alot for Him hahahahahhaha BUT the same
fish he did not like everyone else thought was very good. I had the
Filet of beef he said was chewy mine melted in my mouth and was done
to perfection. the Shrimp that night I also ordered were JUMBO shrimp
and I thought they were done to perfection. Our Waiter was wonderful
and we had a Happy go lucky WIne Steward. many do not even have these
stewards anymore.
A+ for the dining room

Ports- AHH Curacao was great!!! and half Moon Cay is wonderful!

Embarcation SIMPLE Disbarking was even easier JUSt go at the time you
are told and walk off!
The group was wonderful Tobie and barb and Barbara Moore and Ermalee
was first time I we all sailed and I feel like they are family. How
wonderful these new found friends are. I look forward to barb coming
up in the next few months!

ANy questions Just ask!

Susette
Cruise outlets and travel

Welcome home, Susette & The Vikings! (Good band name--I'm afraid to
ask if y'all perform...I know The Vikings put on a show wherever they
go! Hint hint Charles, do you have any pix of the crazy hats on parade
or ?)

Thanks to all for your reviews and impressions. I am so happy y'all
had a great big fun group cruise together!

Tom, you are the Renaissance man--when you put on your creative
writing hat (post 1), there is no better reading! Your nit-picky
analyses are, of course, helpful in evaluating ship/line fits. I had
to ROTFLMAO when you wrote, "We're likely more critical than 99% of
the people out there, but as an engineer, that's the kind of stuff I
notice." Understatement of the year.

Happy tidings, friends from Viking land.

Diana

"D Ball" wrote in message
...
Welcome home, Susette & The Vikings! (Good band name--I'm afraid to
ask if y'all perform...I know The Vikings put on a show wherever they
go! Hint hint Charles, do you have any pix of the crazy hats on parade
or ?)

Thanks to all for your reviews and impressions. I am so happy y'all
had a great big fun group cruise together!

Tom, you are the Renaissance man--when you put on your creative
writing hat (post 1), there is no better reading! Your nit-picky
analyses are, of course, helpful in evaluating ship/line fits. I had
to ROTFLMAO when you wrote, "We're likely more critical than 99% of
the people out there, but as an engineer, that's the kind of stuff I
notice." Understatement of the year.

When some of our old pharmaceutical executives used to do unannounced
cleanliness inspections of the production areas, they'd do it with white
gloves on.

Other people walk down the hallway on the ship, maybe they're looking at the
artwork.... me I'm looking at how the hinges on watertight doors work....

We are what we are...

--Tom

On Dec 15, 12:37*pm, "Tom K" wrote:
"D Ball" wrote in message

...

Welcome home, Susette & The Vikings! (Good band name--I'm afraid to
ask if y'all perform...I know The Vikings put on a show wherever they
go! Hint hint Charles, do you have any pix of the crazy hats on parade
or ?)

Thanks to all for your reviews and impressions. I am so happy y'all
had a great big fun group cruise together!

Tom, you are the Renaissance man--when you put on your creative
writing hat (post 1), there is no better reading! Your nit-picky
analyses are, of course, helpful in evaluating ship/line fits. I had
to ROTFLMAO when you wrote, "We're likely more critical than 99% of
the people out there, but as an engineer, that's the kind of stuff I
notice." Understatement of the year.

When some of our old pharmaceutical executives used to do unannounced
cleanliness inspections of the production areas, they'd do it with white
gloves on.

Other people walk down the hallway on the ship, maybe they're looking at the
artwork.... me I'm looking at how the hinges on watertight doors work....

We are what we are...

--Tom

Well the Dutch Vikings are back from looting the Dutch Caribbean !!
Well Tom how was it ? I"v been on the Zuiderdam & Noordam .Norrdam i
think being the best in the Vista class .being the last one built. .I
love the ports you guy"s did .And from FLA make even better .I think
your like the Statendam class better .The Veendam is doing Bermuda
next summer ,going to both Hamiltonb & St G. .We may take it .
Welcome home mighty Viking .Oh by the way my mighty Vikings won
again !!!
Ken G............

"Susette" wrote in message
news:a83536d1-727b-4767-9b8a-
I did not care for the Decor the reds and dark colors, but I
think in
some ways it grew on me. I did not care for the artwork

When Mrs. Nonny and I cruise, we usually take our own artwork and
hang it in the cabin. That way, we feel more at home and are
assured that the cabin will always be tasteful. The ship folk get
a might testy about the nails in the cabin walls, but since I'm a
big tipper, the steward just spackles them shut when we leave.
The real issue is the poor folk on either side of us who have that
nail point hanging through their wall, or the nail sticking
through the side of the ship.



--
Nonny

ELOQUIDIOT (n) A highly educated, sophisticated,
and articulate person who has absolutely no clue
concerning what they are talking about.
The person is typically a media commentator or politician.

ANSWERED INLINE:
"Charles" wrote in message
d...
This was my first cruise on Holland-America and there were some things
I liked and some things about the ship and line I did not like. The
biggest pros and they are important ones were the food and the service.
The food was better than my recent experiences on any of the other mass
market cruises lines. The service was also better.

Quite a few young people too, eh, Charles? I was surprised at the number of
children of all ages onboard. But I guess school was out for Christmas was
the reason.

What I did not like was the ships public areas, both the decor and
design. Dark and terrible color combinations. The show lounge had lots
of obstructions and weird seating. The pool areas were awful with too
many tables and not enough lounge chairs. The hot tubs were tiny and
too few. The main pool can be covered which seems odd for the Caribbean
but I am sure that is a plus for Alaska.

The cabins were in much lighter colors....some of the main areas were in
dark royal blue and maroon with a touch of peachy red.and deep fuschias. The
deck halls were in a bright royal blue print design...Didn't think it was
all that bad. Like Ermalee said," I'm not going to live here so it makes no
matter". Nice large circles of pretty floral marble seperating different
areas were very attractive. I was disappointed that they had fewer huge live
floral arrangements in the public areas than they usually have on HAL ships.

The cabin was very good. I upgraded to a Verandah and that was a good
decision as there were never any empty chairs on the pool deck because
of the chair hogs.

Activities are not a Holland-America strong point. I did hear good
things though about the Culinary Arts center but I am not into that.

The daily program sheet was not in a user friendly format making it
difficult to keep up with times and places of what activities they had.


The newsletter has changed its format since we last cruised on HAL...The new
one is confusing as it does not list activities in sequence but in several
different columns. The old version had a perforated 3"x 8'' portion that you
could tear off and take with you which listed activities by the hour making
it much easier instead of taking the entire daily program with you.


They moved the library but all the signs and maps had the old location.
the library itself was well stocked with recent books. Best library I
have seen on a ship other than the QM2.

The entertainment, except for the magician was pretty good. The
production shows were better than ones I have seen recently on
Celebrity, RC and Princess. The other entertainers other than the
magician were very good, loved the Elton john and Eagles shoe by Joel
Mason. The female comedian was also good.


The first night magician was pathetic...I don't know where they got him from
even though they said that he had been on the David Letterman Show. The rest
of the entertainment was very good and that is a lot saying from me as I
don't usually like the sing and dance acts but these were great! They had
gorgeous costumes and the four soloists (two men and 2 women) had very good
voices.

I am not going to blame Holland-America for the composition of the
passengers on this sailing but unfortunately we had that rude crowd
onboard that moved to Florida from the New York area. I have
encountered them on the other cruise lines sailing out of Fort
Lauderdale during this time frame so it is not a HAL issue.

BOY! You can say that again! Erm and I ran into one VERY obnoxious mouthy
one in the casino! Funny...they all say they are from Florida but that
accent sure gives it away! ;-)


I have put Holland-America on my list of the mass market cruise lines I
would book on but it would not be my first choice. If there is a
category of premium mass market lines then HAL is in it along with
Celebrity. In general right now I prefer Celebrity followed by Royal
Caribbean when I judge the complete cruise experience for myself.


I especially like the smaller HAL ships in Alaska...they are similar to the
experience we had on the old Pacific Princess. Cozy and friendly.
My favorites remain, Oceania with Celebrity, HAL and Royal Caribbean tied.
I will have to give Carnival a try sometime next year...it is three years
since I was on one of their ships.

I think that HAL changed the impressions of at least some of our Viking
Group. HAL did not object to our hats, in fact they got a kick out of the
whole thing...but the whistles were painful to the people with hearing
aids...the staff treated that situation in a nice manner though, I thought.
From what I remember someone saying, Princess was not quite as nice about
the hats etc.on one Viking cruise. What really got the attention were our
Viking shirts...Very pretty shade of blue with a design that said "Vikings
Go Dutch" in a white banner at the top with pastel colored buildings (like
in Curacao) for the design and of course Susie's flamingo was there, too.
Good job, Susie!...some people wanted to know where they could buy one!

We really enjoyed ourselves.and I think a good time was had by all. Our
Trivia Team won some very nice navy fleeced long sleeved shirts with zippers
at neck. The prizes they gave out this time were much nicer than what they
have given out before.

--Jean


Charles

ANSWERED INLINE:
"Charles" wrote in message
d...
In article
,
TaTa wrote:

Sorry to hear the ship is looking old.

I don't think it looks old. I think it could use some more painting and
varnishing than it is getting. The full lounge chairs on Jean and Ed's
large aft balcony needed varnish badly. On my balcony no wear problem
as the chairs and furniture were plastic :-) The plastic chair on mine
had some pitch to it, a comfortable cushion and a plastic ottoman to
put my feet up on. It was fine.

I did not think that the ship looked old either...although it was last
refurbished in 2007 and probably is due for some renovation soon. As Charles
said, our full lounge chairs needed some varnish but the blue striped padded
cushions were okay. They could have provided a larger wooden table
though...the one we had looked like a stool and needed varnishing badly as
well. I did like the very large balcony and loved sitting smack in the
middle with the view of the wake.
There was a small lip of cover about three feet over the patio door and
privacy was not a problem as far as we were concerned. We specifically asked
for this very cabin as we had it when we went on our Mediterranean cruise in
2004..The ship was new and on its second voyage from Venice to Venice
then...There was no engine noise and I loved the sound of the ship's wake
....you could only hear it when you were on the balcony and the sound of the
water was soothing to me! I think I prefer the lower deck cabins as you are
closer to sea and land and not way up looking down at the scenery...I know,
it is a matter of preference...I know some people like the higher
decks...I've had both and prefer nothing above deck 7.


By the way I preferred my balcony even though it was smaller than
Jean's because it had shade cover overhead and it was much more
private. One would have to lean over and crane ones neck to see from
another balcony. You can see easily see onto the aft balcony from
above. Also personal preference but I did not care for the engine wake
and the wake noise on the aft at deck 4 level. My deck 7 side balcony
was much more serene.

One thing I noticed was there was less cleaning going on than compared
to the cruise I took on Constellation about a month ago or Crown
Princess this past summer.

You must not have been looking when I was, Charles. G There was vacuuming
and polishing of the brass going on often...in fact several people commented
that they thought something was wrong because of the smell and I told them
it was just brass polish. There was often late night vacuuming of the public
areas, too.



I think HAL is unique that it does an itinerary to the southern
Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale on a 7 day itinerary. That was what
attracted us to the Westerdam in the first place. We still love that
itinerary and hope to enjoy Westerdam just as much as we have in the
past.

It is a good itinerary. Half Moon Cay is one of the better private
islands. Curacao has an interesting city center and nice beaches. Aruba
is okay. And there are the right amount of sea days.


Anymore, anything shorter than 10 days is TOO short for us! Seven days go by
too quickly!

--Jean


--
Charles

ANSWERED INLINE:
"Tom K" wrote in message
...

"Charles" wrote in message
d...

I don't think it looks old.

I don't think it looks old either... just not getting the TLC that ships
like Connie and QM2 are getting.

We're likely more critical than 99% of the people out there, but as an
engineer, that's the kind of stuff I notice.

I think it could use some more painting and
varnishing than it is getting. The full lounge chairs on Jean and Ed's
large aft balcony needed varnish badly. On my balcony no wear problem
as the chairs and furniture were plastic :-)

My furniture on the balcony was worn out ratan. They probably replaced
the ratan on yours some time ago. The wooden furniture on Jean's balcony
was much higher end stuff, though the varnish was very worn.

By the way... this was the only cruise I've ever been on where the captain
YELLED at all of us during life boat drill. He told everyone to BE QUIET
very loudly and sternly. Everyone said that he sounded MEAN. He did joke
about it later at a get together.



LOL! Tom, He did get the attention of all the "gabbers!" As you remember, I
asked him at the get together whether he was ticked off or did he always
talk that way because I had the vision of him wearing a black eye patch and
a peg leg...He laughed and answered that it did get the attention he wanted.
He said too many people do not realize the seriousness of the drill and take
it too lightly...He remembered what I said when I saw him a day or two
before we disembarked and mentioned he was not wearing the patch and wooden
leg that day! He was British and a bit reserved but really quite friendly.
He was about and around the ship quite a bit, which was nice.

--Jean


--Tom