I'm Booked On New Noordam!!

[thulewx]

Pleasant surprise when I got home from work - my T/A says I'm booked on to the maiden voyage of the Noordam in 2006!! :D But talk about sticker shock!! :eek: Prices are full fare PLUS!! She even managed to get me in to one of the Penthouses - now I have to quickly decide if I want to shell out the BIG bucks for it or go more modest... She says I have until Tuesday to decide...
Time to start planning the CC parties!! :cool:

[FlorenceItaly]

Thanks so much, and congrats to you. Maybe I will see you on board????

Marie

[thulewx]

The date is the same one that's been given out so far - 22 Feb 2006, 10 days from NYC. Of course, this far out, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it changed...

[HeatherInFlorida]

I was able to find the cruise on HAL website, but when you try to access, it times out. Tried 4 times and gave up:) . But it shows the fares as starting at approx. $2000. It doesn't come up yet on any internet websites.

Sad to say, I don't think I'll be booking this anytime soon. But a nice little Christmas present for all you guys wanting to book this asap!!!

[x lindsay x]

I was able to find the cruise on HAL website, but when you try to access, it times out. Tried 4 times and gave up:) .

You're not the only one having that problem.

They have the February 22, March 15, and April 5 departures listed on the website and none of them seem to be able to show pricing at this point, it always times out.

[thulewx]

I got to it in a round-about way...itinerary (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/itinerary.do?selectedItin=2006022206NONN00002536&dest=020000)

pricing (http://www.hollandamerica.com/shopping?nbrDest=020000&idItin=00002536&sailDate=20060222&idProd=06NONN&actionName=goFareFinder&shopSelectedUrl=/fareFinder)
But it hangs up there won't display prices - maybe they're trying to avoid giving people heartattacks - I know I nearly had one when my T/A told me the price of the PH :eek:

[RuthC]

The "itinerary" link isn't working, either.

Too bad; I'd really like to check out both the itinerary and pricing. Guess I still have to wait. :(

[LAFFNVEGAS]

You're not the only one having that problem.

They have the February 22, March 15, and April 5 departures listed on the website and none of them seem to be able to show pricing at this point, it always times out.

I am also getting the same time out error. Since I am not planning to book the first one the the one on March 15th my guess it won't sell out that quickly I will be safe to have my TA wait till after the first of the year.:)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I also forgot, Congrats thulewx on getting booked on the Noordam:D
That makes for a nice Christmas Present for this year and Next Year:cool:

[jhannah]

Good for you, Phil. And great hearing from you again. You've been "AWOL" for a while! ;)

Maiden voyages are special, I'm sure. Looking at the pricing for a PH on a "normal" cruise, I can't even imagine what they'd hold it ransom for in this instance! But, you have time to squirrel away your shekels ... so if you're planning the maiden voyage, why not go full-tilt? (Easy to say when it's someone else's money!!)

Hope it all works out for you.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Since the time-out is happening for all of us all over the country, obviously it's either a glitch at their end or they want to entice us by making it difficult.

Strange part is when I first got to the page with the 3 listings it showed the cruise starting at $1280 or something. The next thing I knew it was +$2000. Who knows what it will be when we can finally access it?

I'm afraid for me on my own without DH it's just a little too rich for my blood. If I'm going to go off on a cruise by myself, I don't think I'll test the waters with this cruise.

But, Thulewx, I'm excited for you! And since you'll be living it up in the PH, I'm afraid I'll just have to live vicariously through your dramatic review upon your return.

[x lindsay x]

The "itinerary" link isn't working, either.

Too bad; I'd really like to check out both the itinerary and pricing. Guess I still have to wait. :(
The pricing page still isn't working, but here's the itinerary Ruth. After all the copying and pasting I did from the HAL website I hope this entry doesn't turn out too messy to read...

2006 ms Noordam Eastern Caribbean
FROM: New York, New York TO: New York, New York
SAILING DATE: February 22, 2006
0 New York, New York (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=NYC&dest=020000) 4:45 pm 1 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=369&dest=020000) 2 At Sea 3 Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=GT2&dest=020000) 7:00 am 2:00 pm 4 Road Town, Tortola (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=RT1&dest=020000) noon 11:59 pm 5 Philipsburg, St. Maarten (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=SXM&dest=020000) 7:00 am 6:00 pm 6 St. Thomas, U.S. V.I. (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=STT&dest=020000) 7:00 am 6:00 pm 7 San Juan, Puerto Rico (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=SJU&dest=020000) 7:00 am 1:00 pm 8 At Sea 9 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=369&dest=020000) 10 New York, New York (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=NYC&dest=020000) 8:00 am

Here's one of the 11 day itineraries...


206 ms Noordam Southern Caribbean
FROM: New York, New York TO: New York, New York
SAILING DATE: March 4, 2006
SHIP: ms Noordam (http://www.hollandamerica.com/fleet/fleetHome.do?ship=no)



0 New York, New York (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=NYC&dest=020000) 4:45 pm 1 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=369&dest=020000) 2 At Sea 3 Road Town, Tortola (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=RT1&dest=020000) 3:00 pm 11:59 pm 4 St. Thomas, U.S. V.I. (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=STT&dest=020000) 7:00 am 5:00 pm 5 Roseau, Dominica (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=DCF&dest=020000) 7:00 am 6:00 pm 6 Bridgetown, Barbados (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=BGI&dest=020000) 7:00 am 5:00 pm 7 Philipsburg, St. Maarten (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=SXM&dest=020000) 11:00 am 7:00 pm 8 San Juan, Puerto Rico (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=SJU&dest=020000) 7:00 am 1:00 pm 9 At Sea 10 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=369&dest=020000) 11 New York, New York (http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port.do?portCode=NYC&dest=020000) 8:00 am

[thulewx]

From the HAL main front page, I chose "Destinations" then "Caribbean" then on the right side pull-down menu, "Feb 2006" which lets the "Choose a ship" pull-down function enable, then Noordam (the only one that shows) then click "view" then click on the view button:

New York, New York depart 4:45 pm
1 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean
2 At Sea
3 Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands 7:00 am 2:00 pm
4 Road Town, Tortola noon 11:59 pm
5 Philipsburg, St. Maarten 7:00 am 6:00 pm
6 St. Thomas, U.S. V.I. 7:00 am 6:00 pm
7 San Juan, Puerto Rico 7:00 am 1:00 pm
8 At Sea
9 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean
10 New York, New York 8:00 am

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yes, Phil, I was able to get that far. But when you try the "price" link, that's when it times out.

[TedC]

MY TA has tried for a firm price since 20 Dec. without success. But as much as I would like to take a maiden voyage, I'll not be party to price gouging!

Ironically, we were on the second voyage of the new Westerdam this past May, and the prices on the Maiden Voyage (25 April) were less, as I recall. They both were RT from Venice.

That may have had something to do with a fire that damaged the Westerdam at the shipyard- causing people to worry the 25 April voyage would be canceled.

This Maiden Voyage, out of NYC in Feb., which millions can reach without flying, may be ripe for price gouging!

Lotsa luck.

[RuthC]

Lindsey and Phil---thank you very much for posting the itinerary. I appreciate your efforts.