? about Noordam's Exercise Facility

[kymbakitty]

I am sure this will sound like a silly question to those that exercise is not a part of their life, but the exercise facility is an integral part of any vacation for me, be it running on a beach or deck or whatever else may be offered.

We are looking at a 16 Med. cruise on the Noordam and I saw what appeared to be an awesome exercise facility on their website. But then I looked closer and I saw what appeared to be THREE ellipticals! This actually speaks volumes about the over all size of the facility if this is the case.

Does anyone know if that was just a portion of the exercise facility? Does anyone know if the exercise facility is much bigger than portrayed on the website? We got off the Grand Princess in March on a 14 nighter and it was the SMALLEST exercise facility I've ever seen on 11 cruises (11 ships) and they had 5 ellipticals! (Awful set up over all....everything is squeezed in and on top of each other--more like, oh cr*p, we forgot to add a gym, here--let's put it in this corner!).

Anyway, any information would be most helpful. There are going to be 7 sea days at the tail end of this cruise and this just happens to be important to me.

Thanks!!!!

Dawn

[CruiserBruce]

I believe the facility has about 6-8 treadmills and 3 or 4 elipiticals, along with a 3-4 bikes and 1 or 2 rowing machines. It also has a selection of weight machines.

From my experience on cruise ships (13 cruises), this is a good sized, pretty well equiped gym. It is not an afterthought. Is it everything everyone wants? The answer is no. But the cruiselines try to offer a wide variety of activities throughout the ship, and space is always at a premium. This is the biggest gym I have seen at sea. I haven't been on the biggest ships, but have been on 3 larger than Noordam (on RCCL and Princess), and their gyms were smaller.

[Mary Ellen]

Grand Princess, 5 ellipticals, 2,590 passengers

Noordam, 3 or 4 ellipiticals, 1,918 passengers

The Noordam has a better ratio. Feel better now?

[kymbakitty]

Grand Princess, 5 ellipticals, 2,590 passengers

Noordam, 3 or 4 ellipiticals, 1,918 passengers

The Noordam has a better ratio. Feel better now?


Thank you Mary Ellen, but I know how many passengers were on the Grand and I know how many passengers can be on the Noordam. I have been on 11 ships and I can figure out these types of ratios.

My original question was whether the picture on the website was ACCURATE and do they have 3 elipticals, as is pictured.

And I don't feel better because your response has nothing to do with my question, but I thank you for taking the time to point out the ratios.

As I said, the gym on the Grand Princess was built as if it were an "after thought," which is sad for such a beautiful ship. Fortunately, this ship was built much later so it appears more details were given to the layout.

But thank you for confirming that the PICTURE on the website is a true depiction of that portion of the exercise facility.

Dawn

[Mary Ellen]

But thank you for confirming that the PICTURE on the website is a true depiction of that portion of the exercise facilityI did that??? I'm sorry that wasn't my intention. I do apologize. But, no, the Noordam's gym, like those of the rest of the HAL fleet, is not built as if it were an "after thought".

[Scrapchick]

I've been on the Noordam and Oosterdam and I'm also a gym goer. I'm a spinner, but in the absence of decent spin classes at sea I spend a lot of time on the ellipticals. There aren't very many, but strangely enough, the gym is never that over-run and I never had a problem getting on one. We were on the Golden Princess at Christmas and that had about 9 (approx...) ellipticals and they were constantly full with people waiting. Granted, that was a holiday cruise....

So don't be too put off by the number of ellipticals... They might be used less than you think... The Noordam/Oosterdam gyms are not a bad size at all and have a lovely location. I didn't care for some of the brands they had, but the range of equipment was not bad at all. Ship gyms could always be bigger! The gym also had some stair steppers, but I really disliked the clunkiness of them.

[kymbakitty]

I did that??? I'm sorry that wasn't my intention. I do apologize. But, no, the Noordam's gym, like those of the rest of the HAL fleet, is not built as if it were an "after thought".

I really meant all the posts that I rec'd confirmed the picture (by virtue of stating that there were 3 to 4 ellipticals and that is exactly what is pictured). Say if there were 8 ellipticals--then the picture would NOT have been a true depiction of the exercise facility.

:)

[mickey001]

I've cruised the Noordam a couple of time and use the gym often. The picture on HAL's website is accurate, but I believe there are a few additional eliptical machines on the other side of the treadmills as well

[Mary Ellen]

I really meant all the posts that I rec'd confirmed the picture (by virtue of stating that there were 3 to 4 ellipticals and that is exactly what is pictured). Say if there were 8 ellipticals--then the picture would NOT have been a true depiction of the exercise facility.I just used CruiserBruce's number. I have not counted the exact number of ellipticals on the Noordam (nor any other ship). There have always been plenty without a wait when I've been in the gyms. There is more area in the gym than what is shown in the picture.

[RuthC]

What matters more? How many machines there are? Or is there one machine for you to use when you want to use it?

The fact of the matter is that the Noordam has a large, fairly well-equiped gym for a ship. The gym is not so crowded that there is a constant waiting line for any of the equipment. Yes, there may be times of day that are busier than others, but that's also true at gyms on land.

You should have no trouble getting in the workout you desire.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It's been a while since we were on the Noordam.

The picture size is fairly accurate.

At one time there were 6 elipticals and 8 treadmills. DH doesn't use the rowing machine so can't comment on that.