Prinsendam questions

[samiii]

:cool:My wife and I just booked a 24 day cruise to South America in Nov. WE are looking for feedback on the ship and recent experiences of former cruisers. We are 3 star Mariners, and have enjoyed HAL ships, but this is a new experience. We would appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks all. Samiii

[sansterre]

I started a thread a few weeks ago which had some great information on it.
If you haven't checked out the deck plan and Virtual tours of the rooms on the HAL site, do so as it helped me. Everything is smaller, but very very nice.
We sail in June - first time on the Princendam so am also interested in all experiences on board the fine ship.

[rafinmd]

One thing I haven't seen answered yet. The safes: card or keypad?

Roy

[kazu]

One thing I haven't seen answered yet. The safes: card or keypad?

Roy


The safes are keypad. I asked the same question on another thread - that's how I know ;)

[IRL_Joanie]

:cool:My wife and I just booked a 24 day cruise to South America in Nov. WE are looking for feedback on the ship and recent experiences of former cruisers. We are 3 star Mariners, and have enjoyed HAL ships, but this is a new experience. We would appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks all. Samiii

All the info I have on the ms Prinsendam is here: http://joanjett2000.topcities.com/HAL/Prinsendam/index.html (http://joanjett2000.topcities.com/HAL/Prinsendam/index.html)

Joanie

[rafinmd]

The safes are keypad. I asked the same question on another thread - that's how I know ;)

Thanks. I probably saw it but wasn't attuned to the issue at the time. I was thinking you were on the ship before me, but it looks like I'll have about a 3-month jump on you.

Roy

[bepsf]

Whatever you do - Don't take a cabin on Deck 8!

[kazu]

Thanks. I probably saw it but wasn't attuned to the issue at the time. I was thinking you were on the ship before me, but it looks like I'll have about a 3-month jump on you.

Roy

looks like Roy - so we'll read your review before mine :) I have a bit of a wait, but really looking forward to the Med & transatlantic. FYI - I did a thread on the Prisendam (is it worth it?) and there were some great replies and recommendations. might be helpful to you. We're newbies too, so I check every thread that has Prisendam in the words like a hawk ;)

[mabert]

Exactly, be careful about that part, they are the 'new addition' and occupants complained about the poor insulation.

That said, the Prinsendam is a delight. My favorite ship.

[COMBOY]

:cool:My wife and I just booked a 24 day cruise to South America in Nov. WE are looking for feedback on the ship and recent experiences of former cruisers. We are 3 star Mariners, and have enjoyed HAL ships, but this is a new experience. We would appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks all. Samiii

You are read Cruisecritic KweenKaren's blog. She's currently on 66-day South American cruise on Prinsendam. Enjoy!

http://southamerica.kweenkaren.com/

[sansterre]

Whatever you do - Don't take a cabin on Deck 8!

Is the problem only with Aft cabins?
I believe we switched cabins and are on 8 forward now.
Please tell me that is OK.

[casamariposa]

I, too, have a question re the Prinsendam as I'll be on the November 2012 24-day cruise also. Is traditional (assigned) dining in what looks like a narrow "arm" along starboard side of the dining room or in the larger stern area that reaches across the ship? Right now I'm confirmed in early seating. However, if I'm confined to the narrow "arm," I might switch to the "As You Wish" dining rather than the "traditional" assigned seating so that I can enjoy the larger dining space. I'd appreciate any input from past Prinsendam passengers. Thanks.

[bepsf]

Is the problem only with Aft cabins?
I believe we switched cabins and are on 8 forward now.
Please tell me that is OK.

Deck 8 forward is the Showlounge.

Perhaps you mean Promenade Deck, 7 or Verandah Deck, 9?
Those are fine as they're original to the ship.

[kazu]

I, too, have a question re the Prinsendam as I'll be on the November 2012 24-day cruise also. Is traditional (assigned) dining in what looks like a narrow "arm" along starboard side of the dining room or in the larger stern area that reaches across the ship? Right now I'm confirmed in early seating. However, if I'm confined to the narrow "arm," I might switch to the "As You Wish" dining rather than the "traditional" assigned seating so that I can enjoy the larger dining space. I'd appreciate any input from past Prinsendam passengers. Thanks.

I'm new, but I have researched and looked at Joanie's site and called HAL.

Traditional dining is in the narrow 'arm' that you refer to and also in the larger area. In the larger area it is in the middle of that area (hope i am making sense).

we have opted for the 'arm' and hope we haven't made a mistake. Hal tells me it is a nice area and we won't be disturbed as the open seating passengers get up and leave. plus the open seating have all the window seats.

If you go to Joanie's site (sticky at the top of the page), she actually has the layouts of all the dining rooms on the ships (awesome).

we're going to give it a shot - it actually is known (according to HAL) for it's intimacy - but I am a newbie - and trusting them.

enjoy your cruise - do let us know how you make out :) So looking forward to ours :D

[pearliemae]

We have had both fixed and open dining on the Prinsendam. We have had fixed in both the starboard narrow dining area, and the larger rear dining room. Open dining tables are along the window area in the rear dining room. When we have fixed, we prefer the narrow starboard side area, but either space is fine. Have had fixed tables pretty much all over the larger room and all have been enjoyable.

Just be aware that most of the 2tops are in sets of three, essentially becoming a group of 6 diners. There are a few isolated 2tops in the starboard room.

When we were last aboard, we dined frequently at one of the most aft window tables, as we really liked the staff that served that area. Even when the seas are a little interesting, the ride was fine.
You will not be disappointed wherever you dine on this ship, you are in for a real treat!

[Hlitner]

We once tried to explain the Prinsendam to some friends (who also like to cruise). We told them its small, old, has lots of maintenance issues, can be creaky and noisy, can have a problem with fuel fumes, has few amenities when compared to its larger cousins, etc etc. After explaining all this stuff we told our friend we absolutely love the ship (we will soon be back aboard for 41 days)! For some strange reason the folks that love the Prinsendam (including me) just keep booking that ship (it has the highest percentage of repeaters in the fleet). Is the Prinsendam for everyone? Nope. Is it for me? Yep. This is a ship for folks that love to cruise (not be on a floating mega-resort), actually get to meet your fellow cruisers, go to interesting places, etc etc. Why else would we book a ship where our last cabin actually had 2 portholes (not windows), had paint and corrosion all around our portholes, had the nightlights over our bed falling off the wall, etc. On the other hand we did have a walk-in closet. Before you start thinking we are nuts, we have cruised on more then 60 different ships (of all sizes) and the Prinsendam (despite its many faults) would be one of our Top 3 favorite ships of all time.

Hank
P.S. And there are the Prinsendam Captains (Capt Albert and Capt Gundersen) who just seem to be perfect for the vessel. We have never been on another ship where so many passengers love the Captains.

[mabert]

What a delightful description. When I was on the Prinsendam last (Nov TA) I met some who had been on the Marco Polo; they were trying out the Elegant Explorer as an alternative.

Meeting people on board. I was on a 14 day Med in Oct 2009; on my 21 day TA I met 4 people who had been on the ship with me the previous year!

70% on the ship were repeats. There were silly rumors the P was going to be retired; that is very silly since it has the highest per capital net revenue generation for HAL ship (per one officer).

If you are lucky Thom the CD has a black and white ball on your cruise.

[casamariposa]

Thank you all for your input. I have sailed on ten different HAL ships, some multiple times, going back to 1976! I can't wait to experience the "elegant" Prinsendam. I will stay with "traditional" seating. I travel solo and love meeting new people, but for dinner, I prefer to have the same tablemates, having the opportunity to get to know each other over days at sea.

Now I'm looking forward to a 30-day on the Rotterdam VI next month. I was on the Rotterdam V. What a ship that was. South America, here I come!

[samiii]

Thanks to all for your help. I am looking forward to our cruise. Listening to others I booked cabin D375.Samiii

[sansterre]

Deck 8 forward is the Showlounge.

Perhaps you mean Promenade Deck, 7 or Verandah Deck, 9?
Those are fine as they're original to the ship.

Yes, DH did change deck# too. I went back to the deck plans and saw the Showlounge. Thanks!

[Juanita462]

Samiii - I think you picked the perfect location - that is where I would
stay when we cruise the prinsendam again.