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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Rembrandt

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Topic: Rembrandt

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 05-29-2000 03:37 PM

A series of circumstances, not the least of which are very attractive rates from nearby Baltimore, permit me to consider a mid-July cruise to the Northeast USA on the Rembrandt.

The vessel, I assume will be operated by Premier (no red paint thank you) for a Washington,DC cruise operator, Didion Cruises.

If anyone could give me the pros and cons of Premier and their operation of this ship, I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to know your views of the professional aspects of operation, ambiance, your views on quality of accomdations as a factor of price, dining facilities and quality of food, and amenities in general. Such information can be found at this site, but not on brochures!

I am prepared to render an "after action report" if I take this cruise.

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-29-2000 05:23 PM

I know nothing about how Premier is running the ship, but was on it as the RotterdamV, many many times. She was docked next to us in St. Thomas in March and the Asst.F&B Manager told me that the Captain was very, very proud of her and proud to be the Captain of such a well-known ship.
Have a great cruise, if you go on her. The Canada/New England cruise is very nice and very different from Carib. Enjoy!

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

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-29-2000 05:45 PM

I can't tell you much. However, I read a report in a magazine recently that said that the Rembrant was in excellent condition and that her interiors were spotless.

Where does she operate now? What type of itineraries are operated?

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 05-29-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 05-29-2000 09:48 PM

Hello everyone, my husband and I were on the lovely lady on Jan. 2, this year. Yes, indeed, they keep that lovely liner spotless.
See my ship review for Jan. 2000.
It's still a wonderful liner to me.
I was just going through "some" of my interior and exterior photos today. How relaxing.........Say Geno-R, are you on a cruise?

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 05-29-2000 10:30 PM

Hi Dambrosi, Unfortunatly it looks like we won't have time for a cruise. We'll probably go to Wildwood, NJ for 3 days. Never been there so I hope it's nice. We will have to wait till Dec. for our next cruise.

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

billee
First Class Passenger
Member # 1133

posted 05-30-2000 10:03 AM

Premier's operation of the Rembrandt is excellent. Good service, great food and the ship is still in magnificent shape. Didon chartered the Rembrandt for the month of July, sailing from Baltimore, MD. Their rates are substantially higher than Premier's & their port taxes are ridiculously high. But Didion is a reputable company and I wouldn't hesitate to sail with them

Posts: 159 | From: Baltimore, MD USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 05-30-2000 10:53 AM

I can confirm what billee said about Didion.
They are reputable and handle things well. I
sailed with them a few times out of Alexan-
dria, VA and all went very well.
It should be exciting to sail out of Balti-
more on Rembrandt....the facility is basic
but fine, plenty of fenced parking, and
wonderful scenery as you pass down the bay
to and by Annapolis.

Happy sailing!!!!

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

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 05-30-2000 11:55 AM

Thank you all for positive responses. Now comes a personal finance and budgetary review before commitment!

Apparently the bad raps came in the early cruise period before Premier got its act together. Some of the negatives refered to "heavy smoking throughout the ship, including the dining salons." True?

Again thanks.

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 05-30-2000 03:52 PM

Cambodge.....

I think some of the early problems with heavy smokers came when Rembrandt was sailing in
Europe and on the early South American trips.
It seems that SA and European cruisers are
much more into smoking than North Americans
are. I say this from experience. Also, I
would imagine that the newer ships have
better systems for removing smoke from the
lounges and dining rooms. I wouldn't think
this will be a major problem sailing from
Baltimore.

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

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 05-30-2000 05:15 PM

We were on a Didion cruise a couple of years ago and while the officers and crew on board the ship will be the same, the passenger mix is likely to be different from the typical Premier crowd.

Didion typically markets these charters to more of a local market so you will be likely be traveling with a lot of passengers from the Northeast U.S. They are also stressing the "classic steamship" angle so I suspect the ship will attract an older than average crowd.

Joe at TravelPage.com

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

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 05-31-2000 04:28 PM

Hi, when we were on the lovely and
beautiful S/S REMBRANDT, in Jan. this year. We did'nt encounter any
smoke from other passengers in the
La Fontaine Dining Room or in the
Lido Buffet either.
Well, Geno-R, good things come to
those who wait for a cruise. Just
think, ours isn't until Nov. 5th, just 5 months from this Monday. Have
a great 3 days in Wildwood, NY!!!!!!

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Joe at PwC
First Class Passenger
Member # 225

posted 06-04-2000 09:03 PM

I just had the wonderful fortune of witnessing her leave New York Harbor this very afternoon from across the Hudson River. I hadn't seen this ship in New York in years, and I had forgotten how magnificent a liner she really is. What a fantastic sight! Even my wife remarked about how nice she looked. I took a wonderful shot of her with the Empire State building in the background, and she fills the entire frame! I had even forgotten about how big she was. Once I get the film developed, rest assured, it will be posted.

Posts: 385 | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 06-07-2000 06:51 PM

I will be sailing her as well in mid July from Baltimore. I chose this cruise specifically to be on that ship. I just could never sail her when she was on world cruises for HAL. Looking forward to the classic ship experience..I sincerely hope that the smoking situation is acceptable since smoke makes me extremely ill. It never occurred to me to worry about it since cruise ships usually have many oudoor venues. Glad to hear about Didion because I was nervous about the charter factor. I will post a review as well when I return. I truly will miss HAL's Explorer lounge but I am going with an open mind.
By the way, the sale prices were surprisingly low.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 06-07-2000 08:35 PM

Justine - the Explorer's Lounge on the Rotterdam V (Rembrandt) was nothing like the EL's on the new ships or even the N ships. Too bad you never got a chance to sail on her before she was sold. She is/was a classic and we did many cruises out of Ft. Lauderdale.
Enjoy and have a wonderful cruise.

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

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-08-2000 12:01 PM

sympatico.....

I sailed on Rotterdam V nearly 40 times and
I fail to remember a lounge called the
Explorer's Lounge. That name came in with
the N ships and continued with all the new
builds. Do you mean perhaps the Smoking
Room on upper-promenade????? When I was on
her last in 12/96 it was still "Smoking
Room".......unless I missed something. I
loved that room......especially on the
crossings back in the 1960's....turning the
reversable sofas outward and watching the
sea.....what a place to read, observe, and
relax......

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

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 06-08-2000 06:11 PM

I have only been on the newer Hal ships and I simply assumed that all HAL ships had EL. I just love the string trios and Quartets, and thought that because of HAL consistency, the Rotterdam had an EL as well. I hear that the smokers lounge is a beautiful room. I certainly will take a peak but I cant spend anytime there. By the way, just a detail. The EL on the Westerdam is nice and private. On the other ships it is disturbed by passing groups of people because of the open hallways. On one cruise, I spend every evening there and the string trio could play any classical request I could come up with. It turned into a real contest and I only managed to stump them once. Fantastic.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 06-08-2000 08:40 PM

NAL - you are right - it was the smoking room and wasn't called Explorer's Lounge, but that is where we went every night for coffees and the men cigar's and to listen to the original Rosario Strings. That is when the boy's father was still playing with the group. Then came Roger (piano) Noli, Jay and ? I just went looking for my tape that they gave me and can't find it. Do you remember Jay playing the violin and jumping all over. He was so funny. I miss those boys - the fellas they have on now are all so quiet. I hear Roger & Jay are big time stars in Manilla. I spent one of my many 60th birthday party celebrations in that room with all the girls gathering together and singing "Happy Birthday" to me. We were on the Hawii cruise. My husband loved the way the girls "did the cigars" - how about you - were you a cigar smoker? He was so disappointed when they stopped it, due to someone's complaint!
If you have cruised with HAL for so long, we must have met you somewhere and maybe you have also met LizB! When is your next cruise with HAL?

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

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-08-2000 10:46 PM

sympatico.....
I have been cruising with HAL since 1954....
during those years it was almost all cross-
ings. Our parents had business in Holland
each year and we had family to visit. The
crossing later became cruises and a combina-
tion of both. I am sure our paths have
crossed on one trip or another. My next
HAL cruise will be one of the fall New
England/Canada trips. We aren't booked yet,
but will be soon.....on the Maasdam....one
of our favorites.

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

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