Ryndam ?

[james j feller]

Has anyone been on the RYNDAM lately ?

We are going on it this APRIL and was wondering about the improvements made to it.

Thank you

JIM

[Mump]

My daughter and I were on the Ryndam for the 2004 Christmas cruise. You will love the improvements in the rooms. New mattresses, new bed linens, new towels, LCD 20" tv's and DVD players! The changes in the common rooms are ok, the coffee bar now offers many different coffees but you pay for them, there are culinary classes, which I loved! There is also a wine tasting (for a fee). Overall you will enjoy it.

L

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Ryndam was the first ship to complete its SOE program. The Java Cafe is gone. The library and card room have been replaced with an Explorations Cafe which includes a coffee bar (you pay) and the a library.

[Cauvet]

I went on the Ryndam for a promotional event a couple of months ago and was very impressed with the changes. You could see through the portholes while boarding how lovely the new bedding is. We sail to Mexico 3/6 and this will be my third Ryndam cruise and am really looking forward to it.

[travellady]

I just booked at Ryndam 3 day May 5 repositioning cruise from San Diego to Vancouver. I didn't know much about the ship when I booked it, the dates worked for us, the other choice was the Diamond Princess and we're taking that next week. Wanted to try a different ship, I've wanted to try HAL, and it's just my husband and I this time. A romantic weekend getaway.

The more I read about the Ryndam, the more excited I'm getting. The CruiseCritic reviews of her aren't that great but we figured heck, it's a long weekend without our son so lets enjoy it no matter what. I only found out later that it's been renovated.

[Sage]

I will be aboard the Ryndam on March 16th, so I will be happy to answer any questions and will try to provide a full report when we return.

[jukeboxy]

My wife and I went on the Ryndam because that is the ship that the poker cruise people had booked. I wanted to do a poker cruise just for the experience.
We had taken three cruises before that last year and they were our first cruise experiences. The two cruises on the Mercury (Celebrity) I think spoiled us for any other line or ship.
The next cruise was RCI and it proved the previous statement. We were very dissapointed because we knew that there was better out there.
So now we get to the Ryndam the subject of your question. As far as rating it by the standards of previous experience I would say it is a very good ship and was just a notch or two below Mercury but far better that the Legand of the Seas.
The had recently performed a $220 million upgrade to the ship and so it was in very good shape. People who had sailed on it before were impressed at most of the changes. I could list some of the differences between the Mercury and Ryndam but that would be nitpicking. It is enough to say that I have booked on my own another cruise on this ship mainly because it was the only one going where I wanted to go and in the time period I want to go there.
No ship is perfect but this is good by most standards. I think the fact that they had drainage problems on a major section of the cabins could be overlooked (since I didn't have a cabin with a toilet that did not work) as something that just happens. They did have an outbreak of Noro a month later when they went through the canal witch could have been a result of the plumbing problem.
As I say I have booked another cruise on the ship so that shows confidence in the line and the ship.

[shipcafe]

Hello,

I was aboard in December of 2004 and the Ryndam looks spectacular.

I have posted a photologue of the Ryndam's enhancements on my web site : www.shipcafe.net under "The Ship Café".

Enjoy!

Steve

http://www.shipcafe.net/shipcafe/ry/rytitle.jpg

[james j feller]

Thank you for your answers.

JUKEBOXY

I LIVE IN las vegas and am going on the RYNDAM in APRIL and was wondering what is the most direct route to SAN DIEGO, which highways?

Thank you


JIM

[Landlubber54]

James:

Basically, take the 15 to the 215, then back on the 15 (they meet up again between Riverside and San Diego) to the 163 to the NORTHBOUND 5. If you go the attached link, you can get info about the directions in San Diego, and area parking.

http://www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_maritime/cruise/parking.asp

[Landlubber54]

Thanks to both of your insights. My wife, 13-year-old daughter and I will be first-time cruisers this summer on the Ryndam. As you both know, it is nearly impossible to find opinions about ships that are not either glowing or damning. Steve, I especially enjoyed the pictures and words at your shipcafe.net site.

Thanks again.

[jhannah]

Has anyone been on the RYNDAM lately ? We are going on it this APRIL and was wondering about the improvements made to it.
You can see a video on the HAL website. Click on this link (http://www.hollandamerica.com/signatureofexcellence/signatureofexcellence.do) then select the video from the menu items on the right.

[Bill HaHa]

Hi, Cauvet...Lorraine and I will be joining you on Mar 6th. Have sailed the Statendam three times. Looking forward to the Ryndam. We will be in Cabin 032 on the Navigation deck. Hope to see you on board.

[Crazy]

Was on the Ryndam over the Holidays. Great ship -- like it because it is smaller. Only thing -- we did the Copper Canyon (all day trip) we were the first to do this tour. Long, Long, Long -- do not recommend it unless they have improved this -- cost was $350.

I like Holland America -- next cruise is Hawaii in December for the holidays:)

[Nanietwo]

What did you not like about the Copper Canyon trip besides the long day?
Did you dock or tender at Topolobampo and get off the ship and just walk around and shop?
Did anyone you talk to do another shore excursion while in Topolobampo?

I appreciate any info you can give me we are doing the Copper Canyon cruise in September.

[Peter D]

Steve...thanks for the excellent pics on your website. Our anticipation of the Ryndam cruise May 8 has been greatly enhanced by your superb efforts. Peter D

[Cauvet]

We are going on the Ryndam 3/6 and have booked the Copper Canyon excusion. Please, Crazy, give us more details on this excursion. We received an email that says the trip will now start at 4 am, so it seems like they are doing a little bit of tweaking of this excursion.

An Bill HaHa, we will be on the Veranda deck, 129. It is starboard--we usually prefer port, but we will see.

[Crazy]

The ship docked at Topolobampo. We got off the ship (at 4 a.m.) and got on the bus ride to where we were to pick up the train. They gave us a snack but I will say I slept for the two hour (if I remember correctly) bus ride. When we got to the train we will given another snack. I was disappointed in the train as I thought it would be like a "bubble" glass top where you would be able to see. My nephew sat next to the window where he could take pictures, although, the window was somewhat dirty and fogged. The Canyon is beautiful and our guide was somewhat disorganized. There was a car that had drinks and snacks but on the most part --most people stayed in their seats and tired to see the Canyon. There were no stops until you reached the top where you had lunch (the lunch was good) and you do enter a climate change so dress accordinly. I came back with a cold. If I had to do it again I will fly to Mexico and take a tour where you stopped at different parts of the Canyon for a night or two. After lunch we got back on the train for the long ride down (remember no stopping) then into the bus, another snack and a police escort back to the ship. At the ship, Holland America had a band waiting for us, hot towels, and dinner. It was 11 p.m. and a very long day. Would I do it again -- no. Hopefully, they have improved. Did I say that most of the toilets on the train were stopped up.

n.b. Holland America is my favorite line and my next cruise will be to Hawaii in December for the Holidays. I may try Radisson -- heard it was a good line.

[cruisinjudy]

Hi Bill HAHA and Cauvet, we are in 208 and will see you on board.

[anniecat]

We were on the Copper Canyon trip 2-19 from the Ryndam. I agree with most of the posting above on the trip. It helps if you are a rail fan though. Be sure to bring small $ US to buy the baskets and trinkets offered by the vendors. When the train stops near the top...they'll come to the train windows. ($3 for a small 6 inch basket, $8-10 for medium and at the hotel Mirador $10-20 for huge) We brought granola bars with us...since I wouldn't eat a ham sandwich left out all day (that was the 'substantial' snack for dinner)
(the toilets were not stopped up on the train...but lots of problems on the Ryndam. Especially Verandah deck starboard aft (we also were in 129). Half the time...but unpredictably so...no flush. It was fixed and worked fine after 2-20 so I hope for the best for you guys. PS...say hi to Tanto if he is your room steward in 129. (sweet, efficient and cute) Also a big hi to to "superman" who remembers names like you wouldn't believe...he's in the DR and the Lido at bkfst and lunch. THEY WORK HARD!!!!

[cruisinjudy]

There was one waiter last year in the lido who really remembered names. Well I guess it was a year and a half ago. Wonder if it is the same one!