Cruise Talk: Oosterdam issues

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Topic: Oosterdam issues

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 07-15-2012 12:59 PM

I see that Barry is sailing to Alaska in a few weeks on Oosterdam. She is having "technical" issues, and arrives in Victoria 2-4 hours late every Saturday. Apparently the first dry dock available for her to enter for repairs is not until her December arrival down under in Australia. Guess she will limp her way across the Pacific as well as up and down the Pacific Northwest coastline. Hope it does not ruin your vacation Barry.
Grant in Victoria

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 07-15-2012 02:30 PM

It is and it isn't a vacation for me. Anytime I can get on a ship is vacation, but I also put a lot of work into these trips. I'll be curious to discover what's going on with the ship.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 07-15-2012 04:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Grant:
Apparently the first dry dock available for her to enter for repairs is not until her December arrival down under in Australia.

I am sure that is not the issue. Most assuredly if they needed a drydock they could get to one but it might require some travel as there are limited drydocks to handle a ship her size and "rush" fees to get her immediate attention if the shipyard has other work.

I assume the executives at HAL-nival decided that she could manage if there is in fact a mechanical problem and that the problem did not warrant the loss of revenue required to pull her from service, reposition her to an available drydock, spend the needed time in drydock and then get her back on to her schedule. If the problem is reducing her speed I am certain HAL would accept shortened port calls and late arrivals over the loss of revenues.

Plus depending on the nature of the problem they could have to fabricate something as a replacement part, motor, pump, etc. and the decision might be that she can also continue to operate as is until such time as the replacement is available.

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 07-15-2012 09:49 PM

The only dry dock in her summer cruising area that can handle her size is the Esquimalt Graving Dock here in Victora. She has been in this facility once already for an emergency pod replacement several years ago. However, thisdry dock is occupied for the rest of Oosterdam's current Alaska sailings.
Her transpacific repositioning voyage also departs from Seattle/Vancouve. Making a trip down to San Francisco to that floating dry dock would cause great problems; with at least 2 of her current 7 day sailing having to be cancelled in order to sail down, receive repairs, and sail back up to Seattle.
Once she arrives in Australia, one of her cruises has been cancelled, much to the shock of those booked on her. This has been done so that the necessary repairs can be made as soon as she arrives. Since drydocking is required, and she is currently running slower than her itineraries require, it fair to assume the issue is pod related again. Not much else would require taking her out of the water as well as slowing her down. Apparently the repositioning voyage had alread been scheduled for slower running, read fuel conservation, so no significant scheduling issues are going to be incurred as she crosses the Pacific.

http://www.seaspan.com/vicship/photo_gallery.php

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 07-15-2012 11:14 PM

Yes. HAL-nival clearly decided to live with the slow speed instead of canceling several trips to get to a drydock. They are more willing to take some grief from the passengers because of shortened port calls/late arrivals than give up the revenues to make the repairs sooner.

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-16-2012 11:45 AM

On what are you basing your assertions, SSTRAVELER?

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 07-16-2012 02:55 PM

Grant is commenting that she is running at a reduced speed and arriving late to Vancouver each week. Maybe it is not impacting all of the individual runs on the cruise but I am assuming it is cropping up at other points during the cruise beside just the Vancouver arrival.

If the runs during the cruise are not being impacted and she can make her ports on time all the more reason for HAL to live with the problem for a while and not drydock her till Australia.

If as Grant says they can not get the Vancouver dry dock the next closest is likely San Francisco assuming it has time. As Grant points out that would take days and means she would miss two cruises.

Hence my contention that HAL-nival decided revenues were more important than repairs at this moment.

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-16-2012 03:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
Yes. HAL-nival clearly decided [..]

Who says that it was HAL's decision? Why should this be about dry-dock availability? The availability of spare parts could indeed be beyond the control of HAL - in that case having a dry-dock ready for her would not change anything either.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-16-2012 05:48 PM

I see nothing in your points that indicate it's revenue based other than your opinion. It may or may not be true, and cannot be assumed as fact, SSTRAVELER.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 07-24-2012 10:56 AM

An update. Oosterdam is continuing to arrive late every week at 19:30, while the Star Princess and Norwegian Pearl are coming in early at 17:00. It would seem that passenger discontent fuelled by easy internet access, has prompted HAL to provide free shuttles into the city. A small savings of $8.00, but it is at least something! Still no official explanation to passengers or shoreside operations but rumours are making the rounds!

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 08-20-2012 10:47 PM

I spoke with the Captain about why Oosterdam is often late into Victoria...she was during our trip last week. Turns out HAL drew the short straw as far as berths in Victoria which is not the best position to berth. Also, Oosterdam consistently encounters fog and slows a bit. There were three passengers that missed the ship last week from Ketchikan, so the ship was a tad late departing....the Captain basically said it was a collection of elements that cause the late arrival into Victoria. Regarding Osterdam's pods or any mechanical issues....Oosterdam is in prime condition...she had no troubles barreling through the sea at about 22 knots from Ketchikan to Victoria. The Captain did say that Oosterdam is going to visit the dry dock in Australia to have some changes in carpets etc for the Australian market, and there will be some modifications to the pods to make them more efficient, and probably an annual change in the bearings. So Oosterdam is doing well mechanically.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 08-21-2012 12:30 AM

Barry: It would appear that right up to the Captain, HAL are trying to hide an issue from the eyes of their passengers!! I can assure you that the berth assigment has nothing to do with the late arrival, as that particular berth is vacated at 23:59 the previous evening by Norweian Jewel. For the last 5 seasons Holland America has used that dock for their vesels departing Seattle on Sundays, on an identical itenerary and the ships arrived between 17:30 and 18:00. The other two vessels arriving that day faced the same "fog" issues and yet arrive from the same port on time. It would seem too, that by providing free shuttles into the city, they are admitting some guilt for the latness.
There is a persistant rumour on the dock, that there are indeed bearing issues which prohibit one pod for running at full sea speed for extended periods of time, thus incurring the delay.
I also wonder how they can pass off the drydocking upon arrival in Australia as a planned routine event, when a near sold out voyage was cancelled with only 6 months notice, and they also actively searched for a possible drydocking here before sailing to Australia. I smell a rat here!!
Grant

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 08-21-2012 04:43 PM

I don't think you're correct Grant....sorry to disagree. Further explanation is that the Oosterdam is ten years old but designed ten years prior to that so about 20 year old technology, that is being slowly updated and upgraded. The pods are going to get sort of updated fin or device that is used to make them operate more efficiently, cause these days fuel costs are a huge issue. As far as the late docking....and the dock location, the dockage is planned and scheduled out a year or more in advance and in this particular port, HAL got the short stick and didn't win the best dock, while in other ports Hal is getting premium spots. I was impressed with how spotless Oosterdam was and I seem to remember she had brighter colors back in 2006 when I cruised the Mexican Riviera...so she's been toned-down a bit. She looked great.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 08-21-2012 05:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
[...] Further explanation is that the Oosterdam is ten years old but designed ten years prior to that so about 20 year old technology, that is being slowly updated and upgraded. [...]

The Vista class design is definitely not 20 years old nor is the design based on '20 year old technology' - this might be a simplified statement but it's simply not true.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 08-21-2012 06:56 PM

For at least the last 5 seasons, HAL has had a vista class on their Sunday departures from Seattle;(Noordam, Westerdam or Zuiderdam) which are identical to Oosterdam. The itinerairies have been identical to this year. They have arrived at the same dock. They have arrived between 17:00-18:00, without exception. The assigned berth has no affect on the arrival time, as the berth is empty and await Oosterdam. I work in the shipping industry and know these statements to be fact. HAL is very evasive when the issue comes up; not just to passengers either! Something is amiss and I guess we shall know sometime the nature of the bug which is delaying Oosterdam every week.
Grant

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 08-22-2012 02:03 PM

It could also have something to do with saving money and fine-tuning fuel efficiency.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 09-18-2012 01:15 AM

Queen Victoria has now developed pod issues, and is returning to home port at reduced speed. Her next 16 days cruise is cancelled so that she may enter a drydock for emergency repairs.

From reports concerning QV's issues we get confirmation of the exact nature of Oosterdam's problems, as they are very similar. Apparently on Oosterdam when one of the pods is running at over 85% of designed power, there is a major leakage of oil. As a result this pod is kept at a maximum of 75% power thus reducing her cruising speed.

Reports of issues were indeed accurate, just difficult to track down!!
Grant

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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