Cruise Talk: Any news on westerdam??????

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Topic: Any news on westerdam??????

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 03-10-2004 03:07 PM

I have an offer I cannot refuse for maiden voyage april 25th, but seem to remember there was a fire in dockyard, so will it make the 25th?? lots of space on that cruise so our USA friends are holding back but later cruises are selling fairly well
Also i have heard it said that "let someone else iron out the systems & not book a maiden voyage cruise", think they had a few probs on Oosterdam maiden voyage & if this is late to the starting gate they may not have enough time to train crew!
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 03-10-2004 03:57 PM

Go for it Eric [if Mrs E will alow

]. HAL put out a press release last week re Westerdam's European itineraries this year, in Monday's Cruisenews, which states "The Westerdam will spend her inaugural months calling on the great ports of "the wine-dark Mediterranean Sea," as Homer put it. Sailing her inaugural cruise from Venice on April 25th, the new ship offers three 12-day "Aegean Odyssey" voyages roundtrip from Venice to the Greek islands of Santorini, Rhodes, Samos, and Katakolon as well as Piraeus (with tours to Athens), Dubrovnik, Malta and the Turkish port of Kusadasi."
So seems all is on time.
Suppose there will be a few teething problems on any Maiden, but you did say it was an offer you can't refuse

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 03-10-2004 03:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Eric:
I have an offer I cannot refuse for maiden voyage april 25th, but seem to remember there was a fire in dockyard, so will it make the 25th?? lots of space on that cruise so our USA friends are holding back but later cruises are selling fairly well
Also i have heard it said that "let someone else iron out the systems & not book a maiden voyage cruise", think they had a few probs on Oosterdam maiden voyage & if this is late to the starting gate they may not have enough time to train crew!
Eric

According to a HAL announcement this week, her innagural is still on schedule for April 25th.

In general I would recommend staying away from a maiden voyage because there will be problems - with a new crew and vessel there always are.

The exception is if you can get a price that is substantially lower than you would pay to sail on a comparable vessel that's been in service for a while. In that case, if you don't pay a lot, and have realistic expectations it could be fun.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

RobHolland
First Class Passenger
Member # 3779

posted 03-11-2004 08:27 AM

Willem van der Leek had a link to several images of that fire but it seems it's not working anymore. Willem, could you pass me the link again? Thanks in advance.

Posts: 762 | From: ms Rotterdam | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 03-11-2004 12:54 PM

We have taken the plunge & booked it, looking on the roll call page of another site & the fact it was so easy for us to get a good cabin at what is a relatively late stage.....perhaps we are the only ones on it?
looking forward to it now as I was getting rather crosseyed looking at teletext with no holiday booked, did my cold a world of good today to get something booked!!
Be interesting to compare HAL with Celebrity Millenium that we did in Med last year, some of the recent cruisers on HAL's other vista class ships seem less than enchanted so will also be interested to see who they fill the ship with especially as USA citizens will be less tempted to fly to Europe after todays terrible news from Madrid.
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Willem
First Class Passenger
Member # 3005

posted 03-11-2004 01:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by RobHolland:
Willem van der Leek had a link to several images of that fire but it seems it's not working anymore. Willem, could you pass me the link again? Thanks in advance.

That is correct that the link is no longer working. I moved my site to my own domain.
The direct link is as follows:

http://www.vdleek.nl/Hal/Westerdam/Westerdam.html

Regards,

Willem van der Leek

Posts: 1469 | From: In the namesake city of Cape Hoorn. | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 03-11-2004 04:33 PM

Thankyou Willem for that link, most interesting, by look of one photo there was damage albeit minor to 4 decks not the 3 as stated. As it was 6 months before our sailing date I trust they are right that it will be on time.
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

RobHolland
First Class Passenger
Member # 3779

posted 03-12-2004 04:35 AM

Thank you Willem for the given link.
Eric, are you going to sail on her Maiden? My uncle and aunt are considering that cruise as well. Where did you book? Are there any competitive cruise travel companies in the UK?

Posts: 762 | From: ms Rotterdam | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

BTF
First Class Passenger
Member # 2024

posted 03-12-2004 11:04 AM

I am a bit surprised that Holland America has not yet given any news releases, details or hoopla over the naming ceremony for the Westerdam. I understand that it is tentatively scheduled for April 25th in Venice in just over one month's time.

Usually by now, the publicity machine is out in full force.

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

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 03-12-2004 11:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by BTF:
I am a bit surprised that Holland America has not yet given any news releases, details or hoopla over the naming ceremony for the Westerdam. I understand that it is tentatively scheduled for April 25th in Venice in just over one month's time.
Usually by now, the publicity machine is out in full force.

BTF, Did you read Following News released by Princess?

quote:
News
2/17/2004
WIFE OF MITSUBISHI PRESIDENT WILL PERFORM NAMING HONORS OF DIAMOND PRINCESS IN NAGASAKI CEREMONY ON FEBRUARY 26

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 03-12-2004 02:21 PM

Yes Rob we are booked on maiden voyage, have sent you an email on your lirica hotmail address with rest of details.
eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 03-12-2004 04:34 PM

Have a good one Eric. Look forward to all the photos. I haven't actually noticed any really good deals on this trip, just 'normal' fairish rates, but I haven't searched as I couldn't even contemplate going, wrong timing.
Jewell of the Seas has a balcony for 7nights as a real bargain in May, can't make that either

Pam.. not going to have many sea legs this year

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

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