Cruise Talk: Just returned from the Rembrandt.

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Just returned from the Rembrandt.

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Topic: Just returned from the Rembrandt.

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 07-19-2000 05:35 PM

What a beautiful ship. I just flew back today. You may have heard of the demise of the cruise to Nassau. I wont go into details here, I will have another thread to talk about it. I was well insured so I left the ship in Nassau. I cant wait to sail her again. She is the most beautiful ship I have ever been on. Believe it or not I went through two storms. Stayed on deck of course, and she cuts through waves like a knife in butter. She didn't even rattle and people in the dining room had no idea there was a huge storm outside. Boy is she smooth. I will answer all your questions and probably I'll write a review somewhere. I can only summarise it like this. It's like giving a Strativarius to a teenager who is struggling with violin lessons.

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

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-19-2000 06:11 PM

Justine - glad you are back (no AC strike) and had a great time. Isn't she a lovely ship?
What happened that you had to get off in Nassau? We have heard nothing. Will look forward to your review - on Travel Page, maybe. KBozman and daughter Papillon were to board the ship in Boston, the day you were supposed to get off. Wonder what happened to their cruise?
On one HAL cruise we were in the dining room and didn't even know that it was rough, until a dessert cart went sailing down the aisle.
That is because the DR is low and in the middle, not like the new ships where the DR is at the stern and up high. Can be very rough up there sometimes

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

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 07-19-2000 06:38 PM

Justine,

If you'd like to submit a review just click on this link and complete the form http://www.travelpage.com/yourfav/yf_cruise_form.htm . I will make sure it is posted to the site promptly.

Joe at TravelPage.com

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

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 07-19-2000 06:59 PM

The air conditioning broke down. By the third full day, most people had to sleep on deck. What I dont understand is: people new the AC was acting up, some rooms worked, others not. As things got worse it was sure to break down completely, people were still drinking, partying, and not watching their water intake. Spending all their energy complaining about the heat. When it broke down entirely and the captain acknowledged it people were already terribly dehidrated. it became chaotic in a few hours and the whole place looked like we would have needed the Red Cross to step in. One Young girl spent six hours walking around bringing trays of water to people on deck. She was a passenger too. People complained to her because the water was too warm. All faucets had no cold water. I spent the entire last night, from 3:00a.m. to dawn, walking on decks to help people out. By then, the crew had not slept in 4 nights. I'll spare you the details here, but I saw human nature tested. By the time we were to leave Nassau, repairs still were delayed. I had not slept for 36 hours and since I have heart disease I could no longer tolerate the smoke level. The air was stagnant in all interior rooms and the temperature in my cabin had reached 97. I called my insurance and I was on my way to Miami in 2 hours. Today, the heat exhaustion is catching up. I'll be fine and believe me I'll sail her again.

Joe, I'll write a review soon. Thanks for deleting my double messages. That seems to happen when I use the Mac. not the PC. Perhaps it's because I back click without thinking after I post?

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

papillon
First Class Passenger
Member # 1406

posted 07-19-2000 07:59 PM

Hi Justine!

I was very upset about what I have just found out today!! We decided not to go on the Rembrandt because not of the air but because they are leaving BALTIMORE and not Boston at 11:00 or 12:00 p.m.!!!! Kbozman thought it was not a good deal for only one day! My dad talked to one of there agents and they said they are going to fix the air
and wich is making the ship sail late! It's a good thing Kbozman called because they didn't tell us and luckely my dad saw a post on something sort of like yours! Then my dad HAD to ask if the air was working! But they didn't lie abou it.

We are very upset that we can't go but maybe
it wasn't mean't to be?

Posts: 20 | From: dover,pa,usa | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 07-19-2000 08:24 PM

Hope you can get her again some other time. She is certainly worth it. The air was apparently fixed as I was leaving. The captain made an announcement that he would only sail out of Nassau if it was sure to be fixed. He told passengers that it would take a few hours to catch up on the demand. Believe me they really worked at it in spite of what people think. I didn't snoop behind the scenes but because I grew up in a family hospitality business, I was rooting for them.
It may appear as if they didn't know what they were doing but I saw how much effort was going on there. From the client's point of view, it looks awful but trust me, they worked beyond the call of duty.

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

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-19-2000 09:24 PM

Justine - that ship has had trouble with the AC for at least the last 6 years, in fact I can remember back in '84 we were in Alaska, it was the last formal night, I had not been feeling well all day, so went to bed and my husband had to get out of the room because he thought he was going to be ill. We even had a fan going in the room. You could never get the cabins as cool as you wanted - it's old and there really is nothing they can do about it.
It must have been awful for you, especially with a heart condition, to try and sleep in that hot cabin or even wander around outside in the heat. Bet you are glad to be back home to MUCH cooler weather. At least you saw what a beautiful ship she is.

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

Darrell
First Class Passenger
Member # 113

posted 07-20-2000 02:13 PM

I really hate to hear this about the SS Rembrandt. I was on her the sailing to NE/Canada just before you Justine. When we boarded the ship, our room was a little stuffy, most public rooms were very cool. As the cruise progressed over 8 days, it was like a refridgerator in our cabin. We had to adjust the cabin thermostat so we didn't freeze. This was also the case in most public rooms. However, a couple of times it did seem that even with the thermostat in our cabin set at 60 degrees, it was not cooling enough, but only in about 3 brief times during the 8days.

Justine I agree, to see this ship in 85% original condition is just amazing. I know there are a number of true ocean liners out there, and this board does have a love for the QE II, which has been redecorated a dozen times. However, none of them are trapped in time like the old SS Rotterdam V. And in such incredible condition. The crew really love this ship, never a speck of dust or rust.

Justine I am jealous you went trough a couple of storms on her. When we departed Halifax N.S. at Midnight, we were completely enshrouded in Fog. We quickly began to pitch & roll, but only slightly, as we worked up to speed. Many of us stayed up until 2:00am, running around the ship to get the maximum motion. The best part was going up to the Sky Deck where you could see the expansion joints open and retract. Just incredible! You could stick your hand in the railing and it would open and partially close on you. I was very envious to find that some cabins, especially Sun Deck, have the joint running right through them. They said you could see the rubber seal stretch and pucker.

Justine, did you get to take the Rembrandt Art & History tour with Tara? Lots of fun Rotterdam V facts. I was very fortunate and had the chance to hear 3 lectures by Ted Scull, who was onboard. The first lecture about the SS Rotterdam V, the second about Ocean Liners Past, and the final lecture on Liners to Modern Cruises. His knowlege and experiences on Liners is incredible.

Anyway, I would love to write a review of my SS Rembrandt experience soon. I took 4 rolls of film, just of the ship itself. However, taking a week off has bombarded me with work upon return. If any of you get a chance to sail this Grand Dame of the Seas, do it. I know Premier is in rough seas right now, take one of the bargains they are offering, just be sure to insure yourself of cruise line financial default. It will be worth it. Also, let Premier Cruises know you reinforce that they should not strip her of her original interiors and convert her into a Big Red Boat. It would ruin this beautiful vintage Ocean Liner.

happy days@sea

Posts: 78 | From: Washington, DC, USA | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 07-21-2000 07:52 AM

I just got an email from someone I met on the cruise who said that all passengers were offered a free cruise of their choice to be taken in the next year for compensation. I thinks that's more than fair. You can bet I'll chose the Rembrandt again.

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

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 07-25-2000 11:17 AM

Our cruise to the Northeast on Rembrandt was excellent. Does anybody know:

(a) Whether the balance of the Didion charter was carried out without incident? and (b)Whether the balance of the summer program of cruises to Montreal is still on?

The Premier website is significantly non-informative on such matters, particularly re: rates and vacancies on their Fall program for Rembrandt.

IN short: Wassup?

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

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