Cruise Talk: HAL Noordam Baltic Cruise

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Topic: HAL Noordam Baltic Cruise

mitch
First Class Passenger
Member # 708

posted 07-16-2001 02:45 PM

After cruising twice before this cruise on the whole was a little disappointing.

The ports of call were fascinating and truly wonderful as was the amazing weather of 22-27 degrees Celcius for 10 days and no rain can you believe it.

Our request for beds to go together didn't happen and the toilet fuction was intermittently disfunctional as was the radio. They didn't take Diners Club like the other cruise lines and this caused a little stress towards the end of the cruise. I don't remember reading this fact in any brochure? The staff on the whole seemed tired and bored with some being a little sharp and at times discourteous. The dining alternatives on formal nights were non existant, as was the case on our long stay in Warnamunde with excursions being late back. The food was very average and a big disappointment.
Don't get me wrong I love formal nights but on the case of the 2nd night we were exhausted and just wanted the low key option.

This was our first cruise without our teenagers and we were looking forward to the experience. All in all it was still a wonderful itinery and I would try another Hal ship before giving this cruise lines the thumbs down.

Posts: 87 | From: australia | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

mitch
First Class Passenger
Member # 708

posted 07-25-2001 06:42 PM

I had hoped that HAL cruisers would be able to comment on this ship and others in the line?

Others who have travelled the baltic on other lines? please

Posts: 87 | From: australia | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Dolphins
First Class Passenger
Member # 2043

posted 07-28-2001 09:05 AM

Noordam is the oldest ship in the HAL fleet and rumor has it that it will be next to be sold. That may have had some influence on the crew since it is doubtful HAL would assign their best people to that ship.

Posts: 324 | From: Commack, New York | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-28-2001 10:10 AM

Mitch - glad you enjoyed the itinerary but sorry you were not happy with the ship. Noordam was one of my favourite ships, alsog with her sister ship the Nieuw Amsterdam, however, I have not been on her since the "S" class ships came out, so can't comment very much about the ship itself.

Your TA should have told you the beds could not be put together and that HAL does not take Diner's Club - they never have. If you had looked at the brochure at the descriptions of each of the ships, the Noordam is the only one that does not say "twin beds convertable to Queen". Sorry - the ships that were built after the Noordam have a great number of cabins where the twin beds convert to a Queen. In our case we always wanted twin beds and invariably would walk into the room to find a Queen. The cabin steward was very obliging and had then switched right away.
I am sure the Noordam will be the next on the "chopping block", after the transfer of the Westerdam to Costa.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 07-28-2001 01:43 PM

When do you think the Nordam will be sold? We are booked to go on her 3/3/02 and am looking forward to this cruise very much. seems like all the ships we like get sold!

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

BTF
First Class Passenger
Member # 2024

posted 07-29-2001 09:35 PM

Sorry to hear about your experience on the Noordam. Despite her age, she is considered as a fine ship and usually Holland America maintains her up to their standards. There is no doubt that in cruise ship terms, she is considered old and no doubt Holland America is trying to sell her as she no longer fits readily into their fleet. But with the recent shakedown in the cruise industry, many of the second tier companies who might be interested in a ship like the Noordam have gone under or just not expanding. However with Holland America receiving soon the Prinsendam (ex Seabourn Son) and the new Vista class vessels (first one the Zuiderdam in 2002), the Noordam is becoming less and less a viable vessel so I suspect that by 2003 she will be gone (no insider info but the writing is on the wall).

Posts: 287 | From: Ottawa, Ont. Canada | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

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