Brand New to HAL...Help Me w/Ship?

[RealDeal]

Hi, all...Experienced Princess & X cruiser here brand new to HAL. Trying to decide b/w the E. Carib on the Eurodam & the W. Carib on the Niew Amsterdam (for next February). Can anyone help me out w/pros & cons?

[hulamoon]

As far as I know, the ships will have the same layout. You may want to consider the ports more than the ship. The first reviews of the NA should be out in a couple of months.

I spent 18 days on the Eurodam and thought it was a very good ship.

[Copper10-8]

Hi, all...Experienced Princess & X cruiser here brand new to HAL. Trying to decide b/w the E. Carib on the Eurodam & the W. Carib on the Niew Amsterdam (for next February). Can anyone help me out w/pros & cons?

Those two ships are just about identical (sisters in the Signature class). Nieuw Amsterdam will be dedicated on 04 JUL 10 in Venice, Italy by which time her older sibling, Eurodam, will be two years old. The signature class is basically an enlarged version of HAL's Vista class (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam & Noordam), What sets the Signature's apart from the Vista's is an extra deck, a third alternative restaurant ('Tamarind'; highly recommended!), a bar called 'Silk Den' right in front of it, and two Retreat areas (one on Observation Deck and one on Lido Deck, port side) with cabanas. If I were you, I'd decide first what I wanted to see more, the eastern or western Carib, then pick either a ship in her inaugural season or a similar ship that's two years older! Tough decisions!;)

[RealDeal]

Thanks very much! Wasn't sure if they were the same class of ship.

[fann1sh]

Are you looking for a balcony cabin? If so, IMO the best value are the category VD cabins on upper promenade deck. Most of HAL balconies are 9 feet wide and 6 feet deep. These are 7.5 feet deep. I would avoid the VC cabins on verandah deck which are only 4.5 feet deep; and the VH and VF cabins which have solid steel walls instead of plexiglass (on ship diagram, designated with a black diamond shape) forward on upper promenade.

For inside cabins, I recommend the category J cabins on Main Deck. Much larger than usual.

[jtl513]

I think it's fun to try the newest ship ... except not on an Inaugural ... and from reports on hollandamericablog.com there are some improvements (IMO) on the Niuew Amsterdam over the Eurodam. One is that there will be just 5 Lido cabanas on the starboard side rather than 8 on the port side. From artists drawing I think they have improved the decor in several instances.

I'll do a comparison between the N.A. and Eurodam after our Sep/Oct cruise.

[Copper10-8]

Thanks very much! Wasn't sure if they were the same class of ship.

YW

http://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/thumbs/rw/672493_800/Ship+Photo+Eurodam.jpg (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/"http://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/photos/rw/672493/Ship+Photo+Eurodam.jpg")
Eurodam (the window'ed area underneath the three communication antenna's, the three "golf balls," mid-ships is the Silk Den bar; the starboard side window behind it is "Tamarind")

http://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/thumbs/rw/1113004_800/Ship+Photo+NIEUW+AMSTERDAM.jpg (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/"http://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/photos/rw/1113004/Ship+Photo+NIEUW+AMSTERDAM.jpg")

Nieuw Amsterdam IV

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have to agree with a couple of comments here -- check the schedules and see which ports you like the best according to what your interests are.

We loved the Eurodam and are looking forward to sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam.

[RealDeal]

Are you looking for a balcony cabin? If so, IMO the best value are the category VD cabins on upper promenade deck. Most of HAL balconies are 9 feet wide and 6 feet deep. These are 7.5 feet deep. I would avoid the VC cabins on verandah deck which are only 4.5 feet deep; and the VH and VF cabins which have solid steel walls instead of plexiglass (on ship diagram, designated with a black diamond shape) forward on upper promenade.

For inside cabins, I recommend the category J cabins on Main Deck. Much larger than usual.


Yes, looking for a balcony cabin. I tend to try to seek out the QUIETEST cabins possible! Usually on Princess I pick a corner aft balcony. Any further advice on cabin would be greatly appreciated!!! (So, I actually tend to avoid mid-ship cabins b/c I prefer areas with minimal foot traffic!) How are the balcony sizes on the aft-facing balconies?

[RealDeal]

Oh...One more thing...If I'm looking for a "larger" balcony partially covered, partially not...any recommendations?