Rotterdam new reviews.

[nchank]

Have there been any new reviews for trips AFTER the first cruise following the refitting? I have a May booking with payment due sometime next month.

[RuthC]

IIRC, the Rotterdam started a long (30 days) cruise when the first post-renovation cruise ended. They are about half-way through it.

[iamaqt2]

nchank... if you remember I was booked on the Rotterdam with you, and posted on your Rollcall.

DH and I have changed our sailing on the Rotterdam to the Oosterdam. In small part because of the Rotterdam issues, but mainly due to the fact that our 2 children are now joining us, and Rotterdam doesn't have any balcony cabins for 4.

I hope all these issues resolve themselves before you sail, but if you're worried, you can always come join us on the Oosterdam a day later!!:D

[DutchByAssociation]

nchank... if you remember I was booked on the Rotterdam with you, and posted on your Rollcall.

DH and I have changed our sailing on the Rotterdam to the Oosterdam. In small part because of the Rotterdam issues, but mainly due to the fact that our 2 children are now joining us, and Rotterdam doesn't have any balcony cabins for 4.

I hope all these issues resolve themselves before you sail, but if you're worried, you can always come join us on the Oosterdam a day later!!:D

What are the ages of the kids. There's a way to get around the 3 person capacity if one is under 2 and sleeps in a crib. Otherwise, disregard.

[iamaqt2]

DBA.. thanks for your concern... but our kids are 10 and 13. No getting around the fact they need their own beds. We are dealing with a 13 y/o DD and 10 y/o DS. So unfortunately a balcony cabin was out of the question for the 4 of us on the Rotterdam. Which is why we rescheduled on the Oosterdam.

However, we are not unhappy about the change, so it's all good.

I would ask a couple of quick questions though.

How do the ships handle onboard birthdays for kids? And what is the Jr. Ranger program like for kids on Alaska cruises?

Thanks for any info you might provide!!

[PathfinderEss]

nchank... if you remember I was booked on the Rotterdam with you, and posted on your Rollcall.

DH and I have changed our sailing on the Rotterdam to the Oosterdam. In small part because of the Rotterdam issues, but mainly due to the fact that our 2 children are now joining us, and Rotterdam doesn't have any balcony cabins for 4.

I hope all these issues resolve themselves before you sail, but if you're worried, you can always come join us on the Oosterdam a day later!!:D
Like you iamaqt2, we were also booked for a Rotterdam cruise but in March. We changed our cruise over to the Oosterdam also, because of the issues that have come up after these major retrofits. We were on the Veendam a few months ago and she was still having problems with the retrofit that was done on her some 6 months earlier. We were going to do a 33 day (once in a life time type) cruises on the Rotterdam but after all we had been hearing and what we found on the Veendam thought better of it. You can put up with most any thing for 7 days but for 33 days I think not..........

[onthegogirl]

Received a post card yesterday from friends who are sailing on the Rotterdam. They are seasoned cruisers and are not complainers so they may not be bothered by much. That aside, they said they were having a "wonderful time and enjoying every minute of our cruise". Hope that means the dry dock issues have been resolved.

Carole

[chefchick]

I just booked my first HAL cruise on the Rotterdam for Alaska sailing the end of July. I might be in the minority, but I like the visual changes (especially to the staterooms) I have seen online, but to be fair, this is my first HAL cruise so I have nothing to compare it too.

My question is; how long does it take to iron out difficulties after a dry dock? This can't be the first one. Should I really be worried?

[moviefan2010]

Since there was no time in San Diego to make repairs after the distasterous first post rework cruise that I was on there should still be severe problems on the Rotterdam partcularly on the 6th and 7th decks in the area where major revisions were made. Since the previous ship that underwent revisions still has problems months later I would stay away from all HOL ships undergoing major revisions for at least a year particularly if the dry dock work is done in the Bahamas.

[Ya Ya Cruiser]

moviefan2010

I am interested in your comments about problems on the Rotterdam around the improvements on Decks 6 and 7 - being booked in one of the new aft cabins on Deck 6 could you please enlighten me with any specifics?

Thanks,
YaYa

[Virgil]

Hi all!! I was considering booking an Alaska cruise on the Rotterdam but was wondering what the issues are. Can anyone be more specific. What about the new lanai rooms? Has anyone stayed in one of these? I was wondering if it is more or less expensive than a veranda. I am guessing less since you don't have your own personal space. Thanks for the info. Also one more thing, Are the whales in Alaska by the May cruise? I can ask on the Alaska board but I just thought someone might know.

[RuthC]

Since there was no time in San Diego to make repairs after the I would stay away from all HOL ships undergoing major revisions for at least a year particularly if the dry dock work is done in the Bahamas.
A year? :eek: What on earth could make you think it will take a full year to fix all the problems? That seems an awfully long time.

[Ya Ya Cruiser]

The second Rotterdam cruise ended on February 4th - would love to hear from anyone who was on board how it was; were the problems fixed? Any issues still outstanding? AC, plumbing, leaks etc.? Enquiring minds want to know.......:D.

Thanks,
YaYa

[funcorn]

Virgil--My friend and I are booked on the Rotterdam in Sept. Our first cruise to AK was in May, 2008 (first cruise of the year to AK). We saw plenty of whales, no bears, LOTS of eagles. The weather was about the same as it was in Atlanta at that time (except of course in Glacier Bay:)). Of course it rained, but we certainly expected that. No problems. Where in Georgia are you located?

[Hope to Cruise]

The second Rotterdam cruise ended on February 4th - would love to hear from anyone who was on board how it was; were the problems fixed? Any issues still outstanding? AC, plumbing, leaks etc.? Enquiring minds want to know.......:D.


I want to hear too, will be on the March 8th trip. They should have arrived in San Diego today.

[LordSpain]

They did. We're booked on the 8th as well.

http://live6.truelook.com/face/newface.jsp?func=live&name=/ecodb/1amnorth/camera1&pan=-95.67337&tilt=-9.766607&panfov=12.458864&tiltfov=9.710978&overlay=default&skin=default&useapplet=true&time=1265477412681&width=640&height=480&quality=65&catalogname=catalog&zoom=3.7483354&imagemap.x=44&imagemap.y=26&imagemap.w=569&imagemap.h=422

Bruce

[Hope to Cruise]

I watched the Rotterdam at dock in San Diego yesterday via webcam and waited for her to leave for the SA trip. She left an hour late at 6:00 pm.

Now we need to hear from someone who was on the recent cruise to the South Pacific. Where are you folks?

[Arwen]

I watched the Rotterdam at dock in San Diego yesterday via webcam and waited for her to leave for the SA trip. She left an hour late at 6:00 pm.

Now we need to hear from someone who was on the recent cruise to the South Pacific. Where are you folks?

The Rotterdam arrived in San Diego yesterday to lots and lots of rain...a real downpour and a rude awakening that we were no longer in the South Pacific!

This will be very brief as my husband and I are still trying to "adjust" to real life at home here in Seattle.

The Rotterdam was still having a few problems when we boarded. Air conditioning was problematic in some areas of the ship, including our stateroom. Our cabin was "meat locker" cold and hubby had to buy a lightweight jacket from the gift shop LOL. We reported this problem and it apparently was an issue in several other cabins as well. On day three, the air conditioning was working properly.....for us. Others had issues with no cold air and really warm cabins. That problem took a bit longer to resolve, but I think it is ok now. The climate control in the "Showroom at Sea" was fussy with really cold spots in some seating areas.

Our dinner table mates were awakened by a mini-flood in their stateroom at 3:00 a.m, the second or third day of the cruise. The plumbing in the bathroom (sink?) fitting came apart or some such thing. HAL was right on it and moved the couple to a different cabin and by the next day they were able to move back to their own cabin.

The new aft cabins on the 7th floor had problems with flooding emanating from the "Retreat" Lido area(news via the "grapevine")

We do know for a fact that Siemans had their workman housed on the ship when we sailed out from San Diego.

Our little fridge was not "wired in" under the end table and instead a HAL power strip was plugged in and draped across our verandah door and to the outlet. We reported the problem....which was that the short power strip cord created a trip hazard to get out to our verandah. The staff was overwhelmed the first few days and we had no response and didn't feel like nagging. Luckily, we had brought our own extension cord and then duct taped the cord down.Problem solved for us.

The fluorescent light tube was missing from above the mirror/desk. I reported this several times. Really needed that light as area was so dark. I had to "stay on it" and after three reports, it was finally replaced by the beginning of week 2.

I believe most of the major problems have been worked out now.

This cruise was one the best. We loved the ports of call (except Papeete) and enjoyed everything else on the ship. Our particular problems were minimal and did not affect our overall enjoyment.

We were delayed in tendering on Kona due to sea conditions and the captain cancelled the Rarotonga tendering due to high swells. Instead we did "scenic cruising". Our favorite stops were Bora Bora and Moorea, followed by Fanning Island.

It was a real treat to have two days in Bora Bora. We noticed that for 2011, this cruise has been shortened from 33 days to 30 days. Kona has been dropped as a port of call, Bora Bora is one day only and Moorea has been dropped.

I am so glad we had this particular itinerary as Bora Bora and Moorea were big favorites for us.

I am sure that someone else will post a more detailed review. Hopefully, when I get my senses about me, will do the same.

Lee

[kakalina]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post about your cruise. We are taking the same cruise in 29 days.
I did check all the itineraries for this cruise in 2011 and they both go to Moorea. This is important to us as it is our favorite port.
It does sound like there are still some issues with the refit. I am very thankful we don't have a cabin under the retreat.
Hopefully in another month they will have the last of kinks worked out.

[nchank]

Our guarantee for May 15 is BB on the Veranda deck, 2 below the retreat. But I can not imagine they would still have problems anywhere by May.:D

[Ya Ya Cruiser]

Thank you Lee, for posting - it's comforting to know the kinks are being worked out and there is still a month to go before we board.

We are in a cabin under the retreat, but on deck 6 - just wondering if anyone from the sailing knows if those cabin shared similar problems to Deck 7. Also - was there water in the retreat for the full cruise? or did they empty it to deal with the leak problems. Also, am curious what you didn't like about Papeete?

Thanks again for posting.

YaYa

[Arwen]

Thank you Lee, for posting - it's comforting to know the kinks are being worked out and there is still a month to go before we board.

We are in a cabin under the retreat, but on deck 6 - just wondering if anyone from the sailing knows if those cabin shared similar problems to Deck 7. Also - was there water in the retreat for the full cruise? or did they empty it to deal with the leak problems. Also, am curious what you didn't like about Papeete?

Thanks again for posting.

YaYa

We had cabin 6207 and it was fine. Problems in our cabin and others on our deck had to do with air conditioning, not plumbing. Air conditioning on our floor had been resolved.

My husband was bothered by the "creaking" new ceiling panels in our stateroom. Not much you can do about that, but if you are a light sleeper, the "Mack" brand silicone ear plugs do the trick at night. We never travel without these. Has helped us get a sound sleep when we had a hotel room close to train tracks! Ships make all kinds of strange sounds, but creaking bugs my hubby LOL.

Papeete is a huge port city in Tahiti. The city is clogged with traffic and a bit of smog....enough to make my overly sensitive eyes sting. We got out of the city by booking a 4X4 half day tour. Our guide was very informative and personable and we enjoyed it. The countryside was pretty in some places, but then the roads were seriously potholed (we were warned by HAL) It just isn't as beautiful and breathtaking as the other islands.

Papeete has a very nice visitor's center, but while walking about the area is possible and tourists do it, it just isn't pedestrian friendly or that enjoyable.

The Captain commented at our Mariner's luncheon about receiving "mixed" reviews about Papeete. I don't believe HAL will drop this port because it is the main stop for the ship to pick up supplies, fuel, and perform needed maintenance. For this cruise, we stayed in Papeete until 11:00 p.m. For the 2011 cruise, the ship will be in the port until 5:00 a.m. :)