There were 2 false alarms while we were on board so we were waken up very abrubt this morning.

So if you go for a stay aboard take your dinner at the Lido but not at the club room.

Most of the ship was closed last night so the only place to go was the Ocean bar.

[ 02-20-2010: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

Lido

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Originally posted by Aad:
We have very mixed emotions.

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I had the same feeling about the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I think a ship loses it's 'soul' when it becomes a hotel - mind you that is no excuse for poor/expensive food!

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

think a ship loses it's 'soul' when it becomes a hotel

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I have stayed on the QM1 3 times and still feel a thousand different feelings onboard. There is enough of the original to get the point. Rotterdam will do the same. I buy none of the BS that a ship loses her soul as a static attraction.

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
I think much of a liner's "personality" is indeed lost somewhat because no longer can you experience the ship doing what it was built to do, be at sea. There is a certain "energy" from the ship as it is at sea, with the crew, the passengers and the movement of the ship....when all that is NOT happening, the ship is eternally at rest and that "energy" can no longer be experienced. It still is wonderful to be able to go aboard and see, feel, touch what once was as opposed to relying on photos or the history books.

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Exactly.

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quote:

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
I think much of a liner's "personality" is indeed lost somewhat because no longer can you experience the ship doing what it was built to do, be at sea. There is a certain "energy" from the ship as it is at sea, with the crew, the passengers and the movement of the ship....when all that is NOT happening, the ship is eternally at rest and that "energy" can no longer be experienced. It still is wonderful to be able to go aboard and see, feel, touch what once was as opposed to relying on photos or the history books.

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Insufficient reason to not stay on the grand dame or Mary 1.
Still can enjoy oneself and one linerlister noted QM1 like a port day on a cruise.

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Insufficient reason to not stay on the grand dame

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I would absolutely advise to visit ss Rotterdam. She is wonderfully renovated for the most part. The main problem I think is there are 3 captains on the ship. The Rotterdam, Cruise Hotel and On board on shore. Each of the compagnies has their own priority. I expect a lot of problems for people who just want to visit the ship to see a lot of things.

Cruise Hotel has a lot of excuses like "we are only open for a short while" but low action. They made me pay a bill which I should not have had to pay. They agree they made a mistake and they have to pay me back but now 1 week later I still do not have my money back. When I call them they promise to call back but they do not.

What makes me sad is that the ship is runnend by people who never have sailes one centimeter and they distroy the wonderfull memory of a wonderfull ship just to make a $

[ 02-26-2010: Message edited by: Aad ]

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
A lot of the pictures I've seen of the refurbished ship looks like an IKEA....why would the new owners do this?

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Do you have see the Ikea site. Because this remark is actually ridiculous. Compared with the QM the Rotterdam is wonderfully restored with an unbelievable eye to detail. Some era's received new furniture such as the Dinning rooms, theater. But non of the furniture looks like Ikea. If you look at some of the furniture used on QM those are right from the party furniture rental. Some of the Dinning Room chairs you cane spot them on home video's shot on wedding party's.

And if they look like Ikea I would say not bad, Ikea is renowned fore there design and lot of furniture designed by Ikea have found there way to design musea around the world.

The overall state of the Rotterdam interiors is 95% original not bad. Compared with the state of the QM (exterior and interior) there is no comparison possible they are miles apart. I'm fully aware of the giant age differences between them. But that would be no case if the QM was taken care of in the way the Rotterdam was.

The video I shot on board January 31.

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Originally posted by Aad:

They agree they made a mistake and they have to pay me back but now 1 week later I still do not have my money back. When I call them they promise to call back but they do not.

What makes me sad is that the ship is runnend by people who never have sailes one centimeter and they distroy the wonderfull memory of a wonderfull ship just to make a $

[ 02-26-2010: Message edited by: Aad ]

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:

My point exactly, the static ship's personality is tainted by a staff that has no idea what being at sea is like, the ship is run like a building rather than a ship, and so the ship and it's personality suffer.

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Before we open a discussion over the service on board she's just 2 weeks open. And to work on the Rotterdam is actually not so different then working in a hotel land based. She's not sailing anymore and cannot be compared with a actually ship in service. By then if I read the problems major new cruise ships have on there maiden voyages and maiden season. Not to forget the debacle with the service on NCL America fleet.

I would say give them a fair chance fore solving the problems........

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I would say give them a fair chance fore solving the problems........

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Ben,

Normally I would agree with you 200%. But you do not want to know what I went through this week with cruise hotel. They keep promesing to call back and they do not. They keep promising to give me back my 75 Euro but they do not.

They still did not solve the problems with the tv's. And I can name you a lot of extra problems which should not (have) happen(ed).

Already I see bad reviews comming on a few sites and that is what is a shame. There is no better impression than a first impression I think.

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Originally posted by Aad:

Already I see bad reviews comming on a few sites and that is what is a shame. There is no better impression than a first impression I think.

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Originally posted by Aad:
Today we had, together with a group of members of Ocean Liner Society .

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This was/is a private visit of some people who just happen to be members of the OLS. This was NOT an official OLS visit as has been confirmed by several people.

The official OLS visit will be organised later this year.

Willem

[ 02-28-2010: Message edited by: Willem ]

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Originally posted by Aad:
I have the first 40 pictures [/IMG]

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I enjoyed the pictures, but I would like to see more of the interior. Perhaps you haven't posted those yet?

The one interior area you have posted, does look like the Cafe at my local Ikea. It would be nice to see the interiors of the restored original lounges and bars.

Thanks.

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Originally posted by Maasdam:

Compared with the state of the QM (exterior and interior) there is no comparison possible they are miles apart. I'm fully aware of the giant age differences between them. But that would be no case if the QM was taken care of in the way the Rotterdam was.

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I think it's a little unfair to make references to QM. She has been a static ship attraction for almost 40 years now, open to the public. ROTTERDAM V has been open to the public for a month. Lets talk in 40 years and hope ROTTERDAM V is still a viable attraction and still as original as she is today. A lot can happen in 40 years.

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I enjoyed the pictures, but I would like to see more of the interior. Perhaps you haven't posted those yet?

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Ernie,