Changes on the Amsterdam

[luxurysailer]

I know this was recently discussed. At the time I wasn't contemplating a cruise on the Amsterdam, but since I am now considering another cruise on it I wish I had been paying better attention. I would appreciate it very much if someone would summarize any recent changes. I am particularly interested in how the Crow's Nest is being used, especially in the evening.

[Kween Karen]

I just got off the Amsterdam and was on her again last fall for an extensive time. The 2 cruises were very different. I don't spend a lot of time in the Crow's Nest but on the longer cruise they had a live band in the evening which changed to a DJ at midnight (or so). The shorter cruise was filled with younger people and they had karaoke and games in the Crow's Nest with a DJ more of the evening it seemed like.

During the day there were lots of 'game' type activities taking place there....as well as dance classes, etc.

I guess I am not really a Crow's Nest expert......but the Amsterdam in general doesn't seem to have changed a lot. Good!!

[DutchByAssociation]

I know this was recently discussed. At the time I wasn't contemplating a cruise on the Amsterdam, but since I am now considering another cruise on it I wish I had been paying better attention. I would appreciate it very much if someone would summarize any recent changes. I am particularly interested in how the Crow's Nest is being used, especially in the evening.

The only major changes have been the modification of a corner of the Lido to serve as Canaletto at dinner and a reconfiguration of the Casino. It feels a lot more open the new way. (These changes were in Spring 2009 by the way)

Crow's Nest is used how it always is on the S/R Class. Observation by day and night club in the evenings.

[luxurysailer]

Thanks, Kween Karen and Dutch. I wonder if either of you;could give some additional information about the use of the Crow's Nest as a nightclub in the evenings
1) Is there a band playing dance music every evening or is it the HALCATS who don't play on the nights they perform in the theater?

2) On my last cruise with HAL on the Zuiderdam, the Crow's Nest had really been fouled up. In addition to a portion having been converted to the Explorations Cafe and library, there was only piano music early in the evening followed by a DJ playing music which, in general, was inappropriate for the passenger demographics on that cruise. It is my impression that this is what is occurring on all the Vista class ships. Please tell me this isn't occuring nor .planned. for the S & R class ships.
.
.Upon studying the deck plan, I am unable to locate a library. Just aft of the Explorations Cafe is something I.need help in identifying,and just aft of that adjacent to the Queen's room is an apparent internet cafe. Is there no longer a library? If there is a library, where is it?

[luxurysailer]

My previous post needed extensive editing. Don't know what happened to it. Hope the editing took.

[RuthC]

.Upon studying the deck plan, I am unable to locate a library. Just aft of the Explorations Cafe is something I.need help in identifying,and just aft of that adjacent to the Queen's room is an apparent internet cafe. Is there no longer a library? If there is a library, where is it?
The Explorations Cafe is a combination library/Internet center. There's also games, puzzles, soft comfy chairs. It's a long, large, room in an ideal location. It serves as the ship's living room---a great gathering place.

[jtl513]

.Upon studying the deck plan, I am unable to locate a library. Just aft of the Explorations Cafe is something I.need help in identifying,and just aft of that adjacent to the Queen's room is an apparent internet cafe. Is there no longer a library? If there is a library, where is it?All of the space between the words Explorations Cafe (and camera icon) and the Queen's room is part of the library/internet center Explorations Cafe.

[catl331]

Take it from Kween Karen, Myself and jtl, you will love the Amsterdam!!!

[luxurysailer]

Thanks for the responses. Your descriptions of the Explorations Cafe/Internet Cafe area are what I suspected from the deck plans. I still hope to get some more detail on activities in the Crow's Nest during evening hours.

I loved the Amsterdam when on her a few years ago. She was a very beautiful lady at that time. But having had a suboptimal onboard experience on the Zuiderdam two years ago and being aware of so many unpopular changes in the fleet, I want to know whether or not the Amsterdam has been negatively impacted. Being forewarned is much better than being surprised.

Ruth, I am following through on a suggestion that you made to me on my very first thread on this forum. Basically you said don't assume anything from prior cruise experiences, but rather research everything before booking. I thank you for that advice.

[RuthC]

Ruth, I am following through on a suggestion that you made to me on my very first thread on this forum. Basically you said don't assume anything from prior cruise experiences, but rather research everything before booking. I thank you for that advice.
I hope it turns out to be good advice, and not just make work for you.
I'll be on the Amsterdam in a little over two weeks. I'm expecting to find a beautiful ship.

[luxurysailer]

I'll be on the Amsterdam in a little over two weeks. I'm expecting to find a beautiful ship.

This is quite a coincidence, Ruth. You must be going on the Alaskan Adventurer cruise which is the same one we are looking at for next summer. The itinerary/shore excursions appear to be wonderful opportunities for wildlife viewing. I really hope you will give us a critique when you return home; and, if you participate in the wildlife viewing excursions, that you'll report on how productive your excursions were.

I recall from previous threads that you are a piano bar aficionado, and I hope HAL has booked an excellent pianist for your pleasure. It is also my impression that dancing isn't your favorite pastime and that you may well not be spending time in the Crow's Nest during the evenings. However, if you'd be so kind as to review the schedule of evening activities in the Crow's Nest in the daily program, I would greatly appreciate that information.

Bon voyage!

[RuthC]

I recall from previous threads that you are a piano bar aficionado, and I hope HAL has booked an excellent pianist for your pleasure. It is also my impression that dancing isn't your favorite pastime and that you may well not be spending time in the Crow's Nest during the evenings. However, if you'd be so kind as to review the schedule of evening activities in the Crow's Nest in the daily program, I would greatly appreciate that information.
Thank you for the good wishes for the Piano Lounge. I hope there's someone good in there, but it's such a hard room for the musician to "hold"; a real piano bar is a better (imo) atmosphere.

I used to love to dance! But, alas, can't anymore. :( The second reason I don't usually go to the Crow's Nest is that it's too far to walk. And, at least later in the evening, I don't want the disco atmosphere. Tell ya what, though, I'll make a special trip up there just so I can give an evaluation. K?

[Juanita462]

Yes, Ruth!

Please tell us all about the Amsterdam as we are considering the 70 day cruise on her next year.

The one thing that concerns me is the comment about the opening up of the casino - we noticed this on the Zaandam this spring - what happened was that the smoke from the casino permeated a large area including the atrium near the Ocean Bar. We usually love to sit and listen to the music and watch the dancers but could not on this cruise because of the smokiness there. You had to move down to the piano bar before it was comfortable - wonder if that was why the piano bar was packed every night?

We also noticed the missing grand piano and a proliferation of string quartets - not everyone's cup of tea (and I am a classical musician!)

We will look forward with great interest to your comments on the Amsterdam as we know that you tell it like it is.

Have a great cruise!

[RuthC]

I'll make a list:

1.) Piano Lounge entertainment
2.) Crow's Nest entertainment
3.) smoke in Casino/atrium
4.) other music choices

What else?

[Juanita462]

You will be so busy that you won't have time to eat that chocolate!:D

[Kween Karen]

Yes, Ruth!

Please tell us all about the Amsterdam as we are considering the 70 day cruise on her next year.

The one thing that concerns me is the comment about the opening up of the casino - we noticed this on the Zaandam this spring - what happened was that the smoke from the casino permeated a large area including the atrium near the Ocean Bar. We usually love to sit and listen to the music and watch the dancers but could not on this cruise because of the smokiness there. You had to move down to the piano bar before it was comfortable - wonder if that was why the piano bar was packed every night?

We also noticed the missing grand piano and a proliferation of string quartets - not everyone's cup of tea (and I am a classical musician!)

We will look forward with great interest to your comments on the Amsterdam as we know that you tell it like it is.

Have a great cruise!

Hope you make the 70 Grand Asia....I will be on that.
Having just gotten off the Amsterdam I can speak to the smoke question. I did NOT notice smoke permeating the Ocean Bar.....I sat there and totally enjoyed it. I DID notice smoke in the Piano Bar with Diane. I was sitting on the outside of the area.....maybe if I had moved farther into the room it would have been OK. That is the only place I picked up smoke (other than the casino itself of course.)
There was not a "proliferation of string quartets".....there was one which played in the Explorer's Lounge. I didn't sit and listen to them this time. On my last Grand Voyage they were VERY good.....very lively and not your idea of a common string quartet.
I still love the Amsterdam though I am finally abandoning her for my next cruise!

[Juanita462]

Thanks Karen - that is encouraging - sorry, what I meant was that on our last 3 cruises they have had string quartets with a limited repertoire in the Explorer lounge and then only from 9 - 11 p.m.

I guess we were spoiled on the Prinsendam where the trio there could play anything and did - always asking for requests and played from Broadway musicals to high classical. The very best entertainment we have ever had on a cruise ship in the Explorer's lounge.

We didn't sit right in the Ocean Bar - felt that it made more room for the people actually dancing - we usually sit along the rail and that is where the smoke was heavy enough to burn the eyes. A lot of people were not happy about it so it wasn't just us.
The Amsterdam has been our favourite ship and didn't realize that they had made changes on her.

[luxurysailer]

Ruth, it is very nice of you to agree to post a thread responding questions several of us have raised about your upcoming cruise. Please don't forget to include your evaluation of any wildlife observation excursions if you take any.

I may well be away from home when you return and post your comments. If I do not respond early on to this thread, please understand that I am not ignoring it. That would be extremely rude of me after requesting that you do this for us. I will be sure to check for it when I return.

Thanks again.

[RuthC]

Ruth, it is very nice of you to agree to post a thread responding questions several of us have raised about your upcoming cruise. Please don't forget to include your evaluation of any wildlife observation excursions if you take any.
I'm starting to wonder about the wildlife in the Red Dog Saloon. And the Salty Dawg, and the Red Onion.
Oh, you meant the 4-legged kind. And the marine (small "m") kind. ;)

K. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

[Kween Karen]

LOL Ruth! I just visited the Red Onion, the Salty Dog AND the Red Dog saloons. Yes.....it looked like they were full of wildlife! The Red Onion and Red Dog looked like tourist wildlife....but the Salty Dog really looked to be genuine Alaskan wildlilfe!!
I have pictures of each of them in my blog....take a look!
www.alaska.kweenkaren.com (http://www.alaska.kweenkaren.com)

[bob brown]

A few notes....The former Qeens Room, just aft of the library/Explorations Cafe is now a computer lab, with free classes conducted by the Microsoft "Techspert".

The Crow's Nest has now (don't know how long ago it was added), a computer monitor with a real-time replica of the ships electronic gps navigation chart. Much more interesting than the old "ScanGlobe" display shown in the atrium and on cabin monitors.

And the fitness center has been enlarged forward (again I don't know just how long ago), which alters the outside appearance and takes up what was an outside passageway forward of it.

But rest assured, I was aboard for two weeks in May, and the Amsterdam is still the Flagship of the fleet!

[PlanoDebbie]

We just got off the Amsterdam yesterday!

The Crow's Nest was pretty quiet during most of the day. It kind of felt like a library because very few people were up there and most of them were reading books. In the evening they usually have a Trivia competition in there, sometimes followed by karaoke and the HALcats.

The library on the ship is very impressive. I'm not a big reader, but if I were, there would have been plenty of books to check out. Lots of travel books too, so if you wanted to look up info about upcoming ports, you had ready resources in there. I really wanted to try the specialty coffee bar, but figured I'm probably be in there every day!

We didn't spend any time in the casino, just walking through to get to someplace else. I never saw more than 2 people in there smoking on our cruise, so it was not terribly smokey to me.