Need Some Honest Advice

[hensghan]

We are considering coming back to HAL for a December 2011 Caribbean cruise on either the Noordam or Maasdam but have not sailed on either of those two HAL vessels before. Since the itineraries and prices are fairly compatible, which ship might any of you recommend over the other? Have either of them been recently refurbished or perhaps be scheduled for refurbishment soon? Anyone have any recent experiences with either ship? I have checked the CC member reviews of both ships but they run pretty much all over the place, with some reviewers absolutely loving and others totally detesting the exact same cruises, so I know I will be getting subjective responses from you. Still, those responses will carry somewhat more weight in that they will be coming from regular HAL cruisers. Thank you.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

My personal opinion is while they are both very much HAL they have some distinctive differences and it depends on what types ships/cruise you like and what you like to do on board.

Both are great and the Maasdam is just getting ready to go into Dry Dock so she will be like new but have you cruise on other cruise lines? Do you like small ships or larger ships? Do you like intimate quiet ships or ships that offer quite a few more activites and options? If you like smaller ships that might be a bit more quieter as for evening activities then the Maasdam would be an excellent choice but if you like larger ships with a few more venue options then the Noordam would be you best bet. I personally prefer the larger HAL ships only because if I feel like doing something more the options are there for me, the larger ships to me do not equal crowds. HAL's space ratio per passenger on the larger ships is actually quite good making it never feel crowded.

[CruiserBruce]

Glad you specified you wanted honest advice. I was ready to baffle you with all sorts of B.S. It is, after all, April Fools Day!:D

I would go on the Noordam in heartbeat.

[Loreto]

Lisa always gives excellent advice! :) We sailed the Maasdam Eastern Caribbean in January. This was our 2nd time on the Maasdam. We had an A Verandah and enjoyed it very much. We like the smaller HAL vessels. The ship was looking a little tired, but still fabulous and will be perfect after dry dock. There will be more passengers if they add more staterooms.

We were on the Noordam in the Mediterranean in June 2009. The Vista class ships are wonderful and elegant, but carry more passengers. Public spaces are somewhat different, but the staterooms were identical. The crew will be great no matter which you choose.

We prefer the Maasdam!

Have a great cruise whichever you choose.
Karen

[kazu]

I would choose the Maasdam, but we too, like smaller ships. I think you are fine with either one - just depends upon how many activities you want and if you prefer smaller to larger. either way you should have a great cruise :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

both ships are different

we have found that the noordam is more elegant

[doublebzz]

Sailed on both. If itineraries are the same, then I would decide based on price as we enjoyed both ships equally. If you are booking a verandah, it seems to me the Noordam would be much less costly simply because its has so many more balconies. Also, you didn't mention when in December you are cruising. If its pre-holiday, probably not that many children aboard; if over the XMAS period a lot of children but probably more on Noordam.

[mamaofami]

The Noordam is my favorite ship with the Maasdam now running a close second. Sailed the Maasdam last January and planning to do it again next year. While I haven't been on the Noordam in a few years, she doesn't have those lanai cabins taking up the free deck space so it's always easy to get a deck chair. I never felt the Noordam was crowded. Either ship will be a good choice.

[JJPacer]

If the # of passengers you share the ship with matters to you, the Maasdam is smaller. I was very impressed with the venues and entertainment options. I didn't feel like I was on a smaller ship as far as that went. It had evertything we wanted, and it will have been in drydock by the time you sail on her. We loved the Noordam too. You can't go wrong with either. Decide which price, itinerary, and cabin location you like best and go with it. You will have a great cruise!

[sail7seas]

You are choosing between our two favorite ships. We sailed Maasdam in December (our most recent of 30 cruises on Maasdam) and we just returned this week from cruise on Noordam.

They are both beautiful ships with great crews but are different experience and feel IMO
Noordam, of course, is larger. We love Maasdam size, her cabins are a little larger, her art is so beautiful and to our personal taste. She is on her last cruise right now before her upcoming dry dock and will have new soft goods and bathroom work in cabins, remodeling of cabins on Promenade Deck made into Lanai cabins (sliding doors added), Piano and Casino Bar will be made into new MIX which others are saying works well on other ships that have it and show room is being redone (unfortunately IMO as I love the way the showroom is now.)

Noordam is a very beautiful ship and many think the best of the four Vista ships. HAL really got it right with her. If there were some mistakes on her sisters that came before Noordam, they were corrected on Noordam and she's fabulous.

Noordam had a dry dock last summer in Germany and is in excellent condition. She (like all HAL ships) is well maintained and constantly cleaned, shined and polished.

You won't go wrong with either ship IMO

[VermeulT]

The only think I'll add is the Vista class ships (Noordam) have more cabin categories - especially balconies.

[puli]

If cabin selection matters you might want to do a comparison. The Maasdam does not have the superior suite category(SS,SY, and SZ).So if staying in a stateroom that is not as expensive as a Deluxe Suite, but still rather spacious, with dual sinks, whirlpool tub, separate shower and a larger balcony is important to you then you may want to try the Noordam.

However if a veranda or ocean view cabin is your preference then I believe those are larger on the Maasdam.

[FLACRUISER99]

We are considering coming back to HAL for a December 2011 Caribbean cruise on either the Noordam or Maasdam but have not sailed on either of those two HAL vessels before. Since the itineraries and prices are fairly compatible, which ship might any of you recommend over the other? Have either of them been recently refurbished or perhaps be scheduled for refurbishment soon? Anyone have any recent experiences with either ship? I have checked the CC member reviews of both ships but they run pretty much all over the place, with some reviewers absolutely loving and others totally detesting the exact same cruises, so I know I will be getting subjective responses from you. Still, those responses will carry somewhat more weight in that they will be coming from regular HAL cruisers. Thank you.
I don't know what a "regular HAL cruiser" is but I prefer newer ships over older no matter what line. That being said my next cruise is on the Rotterdam!