LIVE from the Prinsendam - North Cape/Top of the World

[sansterre]

June 6th - Day 1 Departure from Amsterdam
Arrived at the Prinsendam around 11. Just a few short lines at security and check-in and we were on board. Enjoyed the Mariners;s luncheon with a man from Australia who had sailed from Ft. Lauderdale; he filled us in on some of the details of the transatlantic voyage. They had great weather, only one cloudy ad foggy day while at sea.
3 of our 4 bags had arrived at the room so we unpacked them. At 3:30 we went to the informal gathering before the boat drill and met Lynn, J, and Claudette – our friends on Cruise Critic. After the boat drill we returned to the room along and were relieved to see our missing suitcase. After unpacking it, we notice a card which said “this suitacase was selected to be searched by the FGA”. Apparently everything was taken out and replaced. They didn’t say what they were looking for, but I assume they didn’t find what they were looking for ☺
Dinner was a table for two at 5:30. Sitting next to us was a delightful couple from Mexico. We enjoyed talking with them, as well as our dinner: we both had French Onion soup (no salad as e-coli cause is not determined yet) veal and roast beef.
June 7nd Cruise into Hamburg
Rain in am. Fog all day. Held our cruise critic meeting at 10:00 in Crow’s Nest. Cruise Director, Events Planner Kelly, and Future Cruise Advisor attended and answered our questions. Breakfast rolls and coffee was nicely done by Prinsendam Staff.
Visibility was only about 200 feet as we turned into the river to Hamburg, but improved steadily through the afternoon.
Came in second in a challenging game of Trivia today.
There is a wonderful group of ladies with a variety of knitting, needlepoint, and sewing projects and a 1:00 event for just that called “Sit, Knit, and Needlework.
At 3, we arrived at the welcome house and visibility improved for our voyage down the Elbe River into Hamburg. There was good narration along the river which we could hear fairly well from our cabin balcony, 9th floor forward.
Prinsendam docked at 16:30. We had dinner on board (grilled chicken and excellent beef tenderloin). Around 19:00 the weather improved and we took off with my computer to find free WiFi. The Cruise Center charges 1USD or 1 Euro for one hour. The connection was great, quite fast. Next to the Cruise Center (terminal) is the largest “relocatable” ferris wheel (60 meters in Diameter). It was a nice rider and gave a great view of the harbor. Tonight the city is incredibly quiet. – at least where we are docked.
So far the evening shows have been movies. We assume this is because a new crew of singers and dancers came on board in Amsterdam yesterday and we are in port today. Also new for this cruise is Linda, the Cruise Director, from New Castle , England. We joined some friends for Music Trivia in the Crows Nest tonight – Piano player , Daryl, is excellent.
June 8th – Day 3 A very rainy day in Hamburg.
No rain in the morning so we were hopeful for a sunny day, but that quickly deteriorated around 11:30 as we headed to our Segway tour of Hamburg. We paid 3 or 4 Euro each for a elevator ride to the top of the steeple of St. Nicolas church. Though rainy, the views were great. This church was destroyed in WWII except for the bell tower and steepel. Some windows were saved and also displayed in a museum (also included in entrance fee) in the foundation of the church.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast was for even heavier rains so we asked for directions to the best beer and brat restaurant. All of the above is near the Town Hall. A public bus serves the cruise port and was only 3 Euro for all day. We probably didn't get our money's worth as we returned to the ship early - in time to play trivia (we won!)
Tomorrow - Kiel Canal - hoping for clearer skies :-)

[erewhon]

Thank you for this report.
Looking forward to your next installment.

[DeepWaterMariner]

Thanks for the report. Send some of that rain to Texas.

[kazu]

I am so excited to finally see a Prinsendam review and live at that.

I know how hard that is. thanks - I am really hoping this is the first installment and you will share all your experiences and the info on the ship;)

thank you so much for taking the time fo us:)

[roberts2005]

I agree, nice to hear someone from the Prinsendam

[samnewbie]

Lovely report , Thankyou.

I love reading all the reviews and reports from each ship...just get's me more and more excited for our upcoming cruise :D

I hope your weather improves for the rest of your cruise.

Sam :)

[DFD1]

Thanks for your great report on Hamburg. Keep up the good work!

[LindaM]

Thank you for your report on Hamburg etc. as we will be there on the Prinsendam Aug. 16/17.

I am so disappointed to hear Thom Faulkner is not the cruise director. If you find out if and when he is coming back to Prinsendam, please share that with us!

[hpf]

Thanks for your report sansterre. We always look forward to reports, especially of places we haven't been. Then we may want to book a cruise there.
Congratulations on your win at trivia, would like to have you on my tyeam sometime; but then I doubt you would want me as I can;t think that fast anymore.
Helen

[durangoscots]

Glad to see your review of the cruise and the Princendam. Daryl was on the Maasdam when I was last year... he is a fun entertainer and keep the piano bar swinging.

Susan

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review. Looking forward to the rest of the cruise. Hopefully it will dry out some for you.

Kirk

[rafinmd]

Did you get a feel if the Embarkation luncheon was restricted to some minimum star level?

Thanks

Roy

[tjcox9]

Thank you for your report on Hamburg etc. as we will be there on the Prinsendam Aug. 16/17.

I am so disappointed to hear Thom Faulkner is not the cruise director. If you find out if and when he is coming back to Prinsendam, please share that with us!

We disembarked on 6/6 and Thom was getting off that day. He is taking two months, I think and then goes to the Rotterdam...........unless the plans change. Tina, his wife, is still on for another few weeks, and then she also leaves for a break, but at this time I believe she is returning to the Prinsendam.

Thom and Tina found out about his assignment near the end of the cruise and were trying to "get their arms" around it. He became a grandparent again toward the end of the cruise, so was anxious to get home to see the little one.

[Nancyquilts]

Did you get a feel if the Embarkation luncheon was restricted to some minimum star level?

Thanks

Roy
The African-Mediterranean cruise that started in March was restricted to four star as there were so many of them.

[LindaM]

We disembarked on 6/6 and Thom was getting off that day. He is taking two months, I think and then goes to the Rotterdam...........unless the plans change. Tina, his wife, is still on for another few weeks, and then she also leaves for a break, but at this time I believe she is returning to the Prinsendam.

Thom and Tina found out about his assignment near the end of the cruise and were trying to "get their arms" around it. He became a grandparent again toward the end of the cruise, so was anxious to get home to see the little one.



Thanks for the information. I still have hope that just maybe he will be on our cruise with his wife, Aug. 15. I can't imagine why they would split them up!! They had the perfect situation together!! Unless he was tired of Prinsendam and is hoping his wife will eventually follow him.

[sansterre]

I am on the ship's internet so must be brief. Just wanted to let all of you know that the weather cleared this morning and we enjoyed a fabulous cruise down the Kiel Canal from 7am until around 6pm. We were lucky to get a window table for 5:30 dinner so were able to enjoy the scenic cruise out the fiord/firth.
Copenhagen tomorrow (we are going to visit relatives in Sweden) but hope to get to WiFi Sat. morning.

[Essiesmom]

Prinsendam entering locks at Brunsbeuttel:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Kiel%20Canal/Prins3-1.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Kiel%20Canal/Prins5-1.jpg
Leaving locks at Kiel-Holtenau
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Kiel%20Canal/Prins7-2.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Kiel%20Canal/Prins6-1.jpg

[mamaofami]

Thanks for your live thread. Please tell Ruth C that Carol and Sam say hi.

[erewhon]

Essiesmom,

Thank you for posting the photos of the Prinsendam.

[luvcruisn']

I am so disappointed to hear Thom Faulkner is not the cruise director. If you find out if and when he is coming back to Prinsendam, please share that with us!

I had Linda - it may be the same lady, as she was English - as cruise director on my 26 night Amazon cruise on the Prinsendam in 2009. I had never had Thom as cruise director, so could not compare the two, but I thought she did a very good job. Trivia was always well attended, but cutthroat at times by some of the teams.

[Murrumbeena]

Thanks for the posts.

[tjcox9]

Thanks for the information. I still have hope that just maybe he will be on our cruise with his wife, Aug. 15. I can't imagine why they would split them up!! They had the perfect situation together!! Unless he was tired of Prinsendam and is hoping his wife will eventually follow him.

Linda, this wasn't a choice they made. It was made for them. And I think they were very surprised. I believe he said he be back on the Prinsendam next March.

[LindaM]

I think that decision by HAL stinks!! I guess if it is just temporary, they will survive. Glad to hear at least they will be back together eventually.

[sansterre]

June 8, 9, and 10 below:
June 8 (continued and may be slightly repetitive) The restaurant suggestion was a good one. Husband (from Cincinnati) loves good German food and this was definitely the place for it: Ståndige Vertretung (should be two dots over the a but I can’t seem to do that) –this place is very reasonably priced, good atmosphere, and excellent potato salad, sauerkraut, and brats.
Three of us were able to travel on all the public buses and ferrys all day for 9 Euro. If it had been better weather, that would have been a great bargain. As it was we only took bus #6 from Hafencity Cruise Port to Town Hall and back.
Returning to the ship early , we were able to play trivia (we won) and bingo (didn’t win) and 5:30 dinner (braised short ribs and grouper) and trivia with Daryl (we won).
Showtime singer was superb. However I’ve forgotten her name. I will look that up later as she is not-to–be-missed.
June 9 Kiel Canal
For me, this was the perfect day. The weather cleared in the morning and it was simply glorious. An Om-pah band played at the first lock (7am) then boarded the ship. They played during the German Lunch at the pool…..really made one feel we were truly in Germany. The cruise through the canal was glorious – spectacular scenery! There were many small villages with neat little houses and a few mansions here and there, but mostly farmland with grazing cows and horses and well-kept farmhouses and barns. In the villages people gathered for our arrival, some waving flags, all waving hello. In the countryside, bikers and hikers on the sidewalk paralleling the canal would also wave. Swans and “Canadian (we wondered what they call them there) Geese” were frequent. The canal is busy! Over 100 ships/boats a day pass through – two or three times the Panama Canal number. Some areas are not passable and boats must wait their turn; passing is permitted in some areas but in many cases we had 3 or 4 freighters following us. There was narration for the first couple hours and near the end. Although we could hear it through the PA system, we found it clearer through the TV in the room. It usually takes about 7 hours to go through the canal but we didn’t finish until after 5 so it was 10 glorious hours for us. The Om-pah bad gave a concert in the showroom at 3 and debarked at 5 at the end of the canal.
Formal dinner was a 5:45 for us followed by the Captain’s Cocktail party, Showtime by the Prinsendam cast. I asked Captain Gunderson how much it cost for our ship to go through the Kiel Canal. He didn’t have a figure, but said it isn’t nearly as much as the Panama Canal. I also asked him about the bow which has a noticeable “dent” in it. He said it happened before he got on board. Perhaps some of you frequent readers know how it happened.
July 10 - Copenhagen (Sweden for us)
Prinsendam docked at 7:30 at Østerport. We left about 9am for what we understood was a short walk to the train station. What we thought was a 10 minute walk was more like 30 for us – a slight detour to find the walking bridge and a much slower pace! Nevertheless, we found the station in plenty of time to buy our tickets to Falkenberg Sweden. The train ride took about 3 hours each way. We estimate the traveled about 80 mph but also made about 10 stops along the way. In Falkenberg we had a family reunion with 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th cousins. The 16 of us enjoyed a delicious lunch at a hotel overlooking the sea. It was wonderful to see them again as well as 3 young, delightful children we had not yet met. Our thanks to all my relatives (if they read this) for being gracious hosts and hostesses. Afterwards, we visited one of their businesses – a beautiful recreation vehicle park and walked to the nearby public beach area. At 5:30 we returned to Copenhagen on the Swedish train. The weather was beautiful all day as was the scenery coming and going, especially as the train went across the bridge from Malmo to Copenhagen. The trains were clean, had beverage and snack cart service, and announcements were made in Swedish (I think!) and English. We bought “seat tickets” which cost a few dollars more and assured us of a seat. It probably wasn’t necessary as the train was quite full but there was never a shortage of seats. However, if we had traveled during peak hours, I understand there is standing room only near Malmo.
Returning to the Østerport station, we took a taxi back to the Prinsendam. We then ordered room service – club sandwich , cheese plate, and plate of chocolate chip cookies.
Someone asked about more details on the Prinsendam. It is smaller – only two banks of two elevators. But everything is within a couple minutes walk. There are still some places to see. Yesterday I discovered the spa and gym on the 9th floor aft. Behind that is an pool and an open deck which will probably be a nice place to sit in the sun, out of the wind.
We have only been to the Lido 3 times – two times for breakfast and yesterday we ended up sitting inside for the German lunch. One nice things IMO is a buffet set up on one side with fruits, cheeses, breads, etc. I make that my first plate for breakfast. Not sure how it works for lunch.
I like the Lido here, though it does seem quite crowded. The first breakfast we were able to find a table for two in the aft section which is a few steps down and has great views and is a bit more isolated. The last two times we joined another couple and had enjoyable conversations. Everyone we have eaten with seems to have interesting stories to tell about their travels around the world.
The Prinsendam staff is happy and diligent. I’ve noticed many are just starting this week. We have been able to have the same wait staff for our dinners as “as you wish “ diners.
It is now 11:30 and the sky is not yet dark! I think the sun set around 10 today.
Will try to learn more from Tina/Nina? about their schedule and report when I can.

[samnewbie]

Lovely update.

Delighted your weather has improved.

That must of been so lovely seeing your extended family, especially the younger members you had not met before, your day sounded wonderful.

Well done with the Trivia wins too!

Looking forward to the next update.

Sam :)

[kazu]

thank you so much sansterre - the dent is from the awful storm when a pile of window were blown out of the ship - I think it was the Tillsbury cruise, but I could be wrong (and often am:rolleyes:)

please share - I believe this is your first cruise on her - what do you think? do you like the ship? no lido will ever win me over so that part is no worries

great review and really appreciate you taking the time to share with us;) there are so few reviews of this ship that your words are like gold.

I'm just waiting for them to drop:D

[ironin]

Sansterre:

Thanks for taking time to write your updates. Connecting up with your cousins in Sweden sounds like one of the best "shore excursions" ever! :-)

[Storylady]

thank you so much sansterre - the dent is from the awful storm when a pile of window were blown out of the ship - I think it was the Tillsbury cruise, but I could be wrong (and often am:rolleyes:)




You are correct it happened during the storm between the north of Scotland and the Orkneys last year when the Prinsendam did the late August circle of Great Britain.

[sansterre]

June 11- Day 6 (Saturday)
We slept in this morning. Although the port was bustling with activity our room was amazingly quiet and the draperies worked well in keeping the room dark. We did make it to lunch in the LaFontaine Dining Room ☺ then enjoyed the sail out of Copenhagen, taking us near Elsinor Castle on the way to Oslo. Tonight we are forgoing the violinist and reading up on the port particulars, deciding where to go and what to see in Oslo. We’ve decided to take the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus and, depending on the weather stop off at outside parks (Vigland or inside museums and City Hall.
At 10:15 the sun is setting and we are enjoying our balcony on the port side, though it got a bit chilly as the sun dropped lower in the perfectly clear sky. Our balcony (9th floor forward) is deeper (nearly 10 feet) than we’ve had on other HAL ships. This allows positioning in and out of the sun and also good protection in case of wind and rain. The walk in closet is plenty sufficient for our clothes and we’ve put other extra items in 4 drawers to the left of the desk – one holds dirty clothes bag. There is also a drawer and shelf on each side of the bed for books, etc. Our room stewards, (Yoga and Abdul) emptied the mini bar for us and we purchased a 12 pack of diet coke and coke on board (purchased with a $50 drink card which are available for $25. It was convenient but perhaps not quite as cheap as buying them on shore. We have not had the opportunity yet to do any shopping ….perhaps in Norway we will.
Our dining steward Iwan had to leave the ship to return home to a sick wife. His wonderful assistant will assume head-waiter duties. So far we have been able to dine at a table for two near a window and in the same area of the dining room every night.
This is our first time on the Prinsendam. DH misses the glitz; I like the charm. We both like the size and wish there were more ships this size.

[roberts2005]

Love your reports. We will be on Prinsendam in July. Did the French coast on her last year. What is your cabin number. It world be nice to know where the bigger balconies are

[erewhon]

sansterre,
You have mentioned that your room is on the 9th floor.
Is that the Sports Deck?

[kazu]

sansterre,
You have mentioned that your room is on the 9th floor.
Is that the Sports Deck?

same question here - we I looked at the deck plans I couldn't find a 9th.

please share - we are all trying to figure it out.

what glitz is your dh missing? shows? just wondering (if you have time).

thanks so much for sharing. so few live posts from the Elegant Explorer we really appreciate it:D

[Essiesmom]

Prinsendam arriving Oslo:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Oslo1.jpg

[voorn]

sansterre,
You have mentioned that your room is on the 9th floor.
Is that the Sports Deck?

The Prinsendam deck plans start with Deck 5.
Deck 4: Tender deck & Medical
Deck 5: Dolphin Deck
Deck 6: Main Deck
Deck 7: Lower Promenade Deck
Deck 8: Promenade Deck
Deck 9: Upper Promenade Deck
Deck 10: Verandah Deck
Deck 11: Lido Deck
Deck 12: Sports Deck
Deck 13: Observation Deck

[kazu]

The Prinsendam deck plans start with Deck 5.
Deck 4: Tender deck & Medical
Deck 5: Dolphin Deck
Deck 6: Main Deck
Deck 7: Lower Promenade Deck
Deck 8: Promenade Deck
Deck 9: Upper Promenade Deck
Deck 10: Verandah Deck
Deck 11: Lido Deck
Deck 12: Sports Deck
Deck 13: Observation Deck

Thank you for the explanation - I can't believe they actually have a deck '13'. I guess no one superstitious sails on this ship:) We 'newbies' on her don't know this stuff yet;)

[erewhon]

The Prinsendam deck plans start with Deck 5.
Deck 4: Tender deck & Medical
Deck 5: Dolphin Deck
Deck 6: Main Deck
Deck 7: Lower Promenade Deck
Deck 8: Promenade Deck
Deck 9: Upper Promenade Deck
Deck 10: Verandah Deck
Deck 11: Lido Deck
Deck 12: Sports Deck
Deck 13: Observation Deck

Thank you for this explanation.
Our HAL brochure with the deck plans of each ship,does not show Deck 4.

[voorn]

Thank you for the explanation - I can't believe they actually have a deck '13'. I guess no one superstitious sails on this ship:) We 'newbies' on her don't know this stuff yet;)

Actually the elevators, where deck numbers are posted, only go to the sports deck (12). The observation is up one flight of stairs. 13 was my choice (numerical order;)). If it was posted on the ship it would probably be 14.

[kazu]

Actually the elevators, where deck numbers are posted, only go to the sports deck (12). The observation is up one flight of stairs. 13 was my choice (numerical order;)). If it was posted on the ship it would probably be 14.

I should have guessed :o

[LindaM]

For Kazu....I don't think you got an answer, so this is my interpretation. We were on Prinsendam 2 years ago, and will be on her again in August.

The show lounge is cozy.It is still large enough where there is more than adequate seating. We tried to get there early to be closer to the stage. We were REALLY close. It is more of an intimate experience. The stage is smallish so there is a different vibe than on large cruiseships. There are productions shows with the singing, dancing etc. If I remember correctly, there were at least 4 over the 2 weeks. Most of the shows are on a smaller scale. There were singers, a flautist, comedians, jugglers. Everything was just on a smaller scale. However, I think the entertainers also rotate among the other HAL vessels. They were (for the most part) excellent. We were very satisfied. Enough that we did not miss the shows. I anticipate that Princendam will still have the same quality of shows.

You are going to love the ship. She is small, old, but a wonderful ship . It is an easy and comfortable ship to travel on. The only way you would not be happy is if you only liked the new,large, glitzy ships. She has the highest repeater rate of any of the HAL ships---something like 92%.

[Essiesmom]

Prinsendam today in Skjolden:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/indexphpactiondlattachtopic1573.jpg

[JayS]

sansterre Thanks for your posts. This is on the top of my list for next years cruises.:p


I had Linda - it may be the same lady, as she was English - as cruise director on my 26 night Amazon cruise on the Prinsendam in 2009. I had never had Thom as cruise director, so could not compare the two, but I thought she did a very good job. Trivia was always well attended, but cutthroat at times by some of the teams.

Linda was the CD on our Amazon cruise and my 2009 Eurodam Baltic and TA. She and the Captain did a good job in informing the passengers on the diversions of the ship due to Hurricane Bill.

The two things that standout in my memory about the Prisendam after a week the crew knew my name and I always looked for the third bank of elevators.:D

[kazu]

For Kazu....I don't think you got an answer, so this is my interpretation. We were on Prinsendam 2 years ago, and will be on her again in August.

The show lounge is cozy.It is still large enough where there is more than adequate seating. We tried to get there early to be closer to the stage. We were REALLY close. It is more of an intimate experience. The stage is smallish so there is a different vibe than on large cruiseships. There are productions shows with the singing, dancing etc. If I remember correctly, there were at least 4 over the 2 weeks. Most of the shows are on a smaller scale. There were singers, a flautist, comedians, jugglers. Everything was just on a smaller scale. However, I think the entertainers also rotate among the other HAL vessels. They were (for the most part) excellent. We were very satisfied. Enough that we did not miss the shows. I anticipate that Princendam will still have the same quality of shows.

You are going to love the ship. She is small, old, but a wonderful ship . It is an easy and comfortable ship to travel on. The only way you would not be happy is if you only liked the new,large, glitzy ships. She has the highest repeater rate of any of the HAL ships---something like 92%.

Thank you LindaM very much - how kind of you. We prefer the smaller older ships (although we have sailed on the newer ones too) so I think we will be just fine:D It sounds wonderful.:)

[kazu]

Essiesmom - thank you for the fabulous photos you are posting. they are great:)

[Essiesmom]

The little black and white dot in the upper left, next to the last white building, is Prinsendam coming into Trondheim. Later she docks at the ro-ro dock. EM

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins9.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins10.jpg

[Essiesmom]

More arrival pictures from my friend Frank at Seacruise:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins11.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins12.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins13.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins14.jpg
These actually precede my second picture in the above post. EM

[kazu]

Thanks so much for the fabulous pictures again:)

[sansterre]

To answer a question posed days ago:
We are on Deck 9, forward, Port side. The sports deck is Deck 12, Lido Deck 11. I don’t know the history of Deck 9 but it appears that the balconies may have once been a promenade (noticed that it is described by previous post as upper promenade!); the partitions are some sort of particle board that are obviously an afterthought as there are many wood screws apparent. Perhaps others know the history of deck 9?
I have exported my photos up to Skjolden but have not figured out how to get them from there to cruise critic and facebook. I’ve done it before so I know I can do it and will try to put one at the end of this. Just trying to get some free WiFi and not finding it yet.
My apologies if some of Oslo report is a repeat - I forgot where I left off.
June 12 Oslo
Wonderful weather in Oslo. It seem liked everyone in Oslo was at Vigeland, along with us; Oslo had had rainy weather and also welcomed a warm sunny day. We debarked at 9 and took the Hop-On and Hop-Off bus. There are two bus companies, both utilize red double decker buses. I am not sure if there is a difference in price or the routes they take. Ours cost 25 Euro and went everywhere we wanted to go – plus some. Our buses had taped recordings; the other bus had a real person which may have been preferable as I kept forgetting to unplug myself every time I got up to take a photo or left the bus – Duh! Our first hop off was at Vigeland because we weren’t sure if the good weather would last all day (it did!). Even though we had toured Vigeland a few years ago, we spent 2 enjoyable hours there.
Next we did some shopping at the main cruise port pier. Since it was Sunday, all shops were closed except for the cruise port stores at the main port. Prices in Norway are high but we bought a two hats and DH got a nice scarf as we sense we are in for some colder weather.
Our next stop was the new Opera House, very close to where we were docked. We explored the fantastic structure inside and out. Since we still had a couple hours in Oslo, we went around again – this time with a brief stop at the National Gallery to see Munch’s painting “The Scream”.
June 13, 2010 - at sea
Weather is not as good today, but seas are low which is described as 1.5 to 4 feet. Learned about the next three stops: Sjkolden, Alesund, and Tronheim at a good presentation by Daniel, our on-board travel guide.
Had a dental emergency and visited the medical center to have a crown glued back on.
Got hair done in time for first formal night. Lucy did a good job and I was in and out in less than 45 minutes.
July 14 – a rainy day in Skjolden
The fjord voyage is 60 miles and most interesting; it began at 4:00.
The new dock is lovely and obviously just completed. We took a free shuttle bus into town; it runs back and forth every 15 minutes. The road and walkway was gravely part of the way, the rest recently paved. The shuttle dropped us off at a small grocery store. We noted a cauliflower was 23 NOK (about $4 USD). Fruits and vegetables come from all over the world but we did not see any from USA. We priced Coca-Cola but found it more expensive than the ship. We did buy a couple candy bars with strange sounding names. Be sure to visit their community Center on the shore. It is fantastic – complete with beautiful and very large indoor pool and the largest climbing wall I’ve ever seen. Also in the building is a café, craft store, and library. About 10 children were leaving as we came in and were happy to speak with us. They said (in perfect English) they were just coming from their gym class and posed for photos,
On our return we noticed that WiFi was free. So I took my laptop with me to use before getting our 13:00 tour. Unfortunately most of us had trouble getting on, though the crew seemed to have no problem. I later learned that some passengers used free WiFi at the Community Center.
The 3.5 hour tour was excellent and, while it rained several times, we were able to make the planned stops – a hotel for waffles with strawberries and cream, a waterfall, and several brief stops near glaciers. I have to admire the bus driver who managed to stay on the road that twists and turns innumerable times going up the mountain. The road is barely wide enough for two-way traffic and becomes a real problem for the long buses at the hairpin turns. But all traffic seemed to know where to stop and when to yield to oncoming traffic.
Equally interesting was the sail out of the long fjord – past waterfalls and small villages and old churches. It is difficult to find time to sleep these days!
July 15 – a cloudy day in Alesund
Another lovely town, Alesund is much larger than Skjolden. Alesund is 40,000 people and know for the fishing industry. We took the 11:00 train to the top of the mountain – simply delightful. The trip is narrated in three languages, along with several folk songs about Alesund. Even though it was cloudy, the view from the top was magnificent. This is the look-out which is also accessible by climbing 418 steps. We think we made the right decision for us. The train stays at the top for 10 minutes – just long enough to get a few photos, then descends down the road which was built by the Germans using prisoners of war in WWII. On the way back to the ship, we explored some of the shops downtown and bought a few things in a kitchen store and more chocolate bars in a large grocery store.
We left port at 20:30 to a fireboat send off with lots of horns, fountains of water and a few firecrackers.
June 17 – a cloudless day in Trondheim
Details tomorrow! Hopefully some photos too!
Thanks for posting our arrival at various ports. I'll look at them whenever I find some free WiFi.

[samnewbie]

Another lovely update.

I'm really enjoying reading your posts. This is one of our 'to do' cruises and it is wonderful hearing all about your journey, thankyou.

Sam :)

[kazu]

Sansterre - you don't have to apologize for anything - we're delighted to see another great post. You are a great writer. thanks:D

[emckeeve]

I am wondering if you are noticing any difference in the port vs. starboard side with the scenery and/or docking positions. We are thinking of doing this cruise next year and it's time to decide on a cabin. I would be interested in your comments now and then again after the cruise. Thanks!

[Essiesmom]

Honningsvag today:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins14.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins15.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins16.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins17.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins18.jpg
Murmansk tomorrow, and I can't find any port cams there. EM

[sansterre]

I am wondering if you are noticing any difference in the port vs. starboard side with the scenery and/or docking positions. We are thinking of doing this cruise next year and it's time to decide on a cabin. I would be interested in your comments now and then again after the cruise. Thanks!
Great question....I've been keeping an eye on this. Several people were upset being moved from Starboard to Port. However we are very happy with Port side. But I may be disappointed when we do the scenic cruising of Norway Coast. Today, after leaving port, we are to circle around out by the NorthCape before heading to Murmansk. In that case it makes no difference which side you are on. Today we have the view of the city of Honingsvag. But sometimes it is just as nice to have a view of the harbor and fjord as we did in Alesund....it is all good!
I love seeing the photos of our arrival into ports. It makes my thread so much more interesting - thank you Essiesmom!
I have a great photo of Captain Gunderson waving during docking in Honningsvag. Also a few others to post where the sky is so blue it appears to be enhanced - but they are not! Will try to post them now and if that doesn't work, the computer expert on board told me he would help me. I think I need to find out how to find an URL for my photos.
The trip to NorthCape was terrific. We saw hundreds of reindeer on the way. The Sami Village was better than I expected. I bought postcards there and wrote them on the way to Northcape where I bought stamps and posted them from. Movie also good.
Will report on the last two days - and our first night over the Arctic Circle. So much to say, but time is up on my WiFi in the store in Honningsvag. BTW it is right at the pier and 15 cents per minute (hourly rate) and 10% less if you have your own computer!

[blue-noser]

Excellent write-ups. Thanks. A question if I may. The after cabins on the Promenade Deck, AB's-2** numbers. Have you talked to any people in them and what are their opinons? We are booked into one of the balcony cabins and have concerns about the activity area on above Deck 9.

[sansterre]

Excellent write-ups. Thanks. A question if I may. The after cabins on the Promenade Deck, AB's-2** numbers. Have you talked to any people in them and what are their opinons? We are booked into one of the balcony cabins and have concerns about the activity area on above Deck 9.
I don't know but will keep my ears open. DH and I are glad to have a couple sea-days for some R&R! BTW our room is on deck 9 forward and we can hear the Shows sometimes. Hasn't bothered us at all, but suppose if you wanted complete silence before 11, it might be a problem. We love our cabin and I'm thinking Port side might be favorable. Today we are scenic cruising but have to stay far away from the coastline due to a new ruling by Norwegian Government (according to the Captain).

[sansterre]

This is my third try to post this. So sorry for the delay. I keep loosing connection for some reason so am trying now at 1:00 (it is daylight and I am on our balcony) and about 50 degrees.
July 16 Sunny day in Trondheim
We headed out about 10:00. There is a lot of new building going on the cruise pier but nothing friendly for pedestrians open yet. It was a long walk, past a hotel, skate park, music museum,construction, freight yards, and more construction (about 20 minutes) before crossing the Østre Kanalhavn and reaching the Old Waterfront Street. We followed that street (Kjøpmanngate) south another 12 blocks to the Gamle Bybrua (old walking bridge). From there, one can view the colorful waterfront buildings and, on the other side, there is a bicycle lift which we thought was a great idea to take up high hills. I think it costs the equivalent of 2 USD but several bikes can go up at a time.
Not far from there is the Nidaros Cathedral which is a must see – though it costs about $10 USD. We entered and found a guided tour in English which made the visit more meaningful. DH opted to climb the 172 stairs to the top of the tower for some great photos of the city. It is not recommended for those with knee problems or claustrophobia, which ruled me out – twice! We took Munkegate Street to the Town Square where I tried out a small order of French Fries at McDonalds for about $5 USD. We passed on the full meals, advertised for 99 NOK (about $17) each. There we saw fellow passenger Tony and DW who had just taken the streetcar to Lind and decided to do the same. The streetcar can be boarded just a few blocks west of town square (take Kongensgate Street, west of the Square) and right (north) on St. Olavs Gate Street.
The streetcar ride cost 30 NOK ($5 USD) for both of us round trip (senior rate). It was an enjoyable ride lasting an hour, round-trip to Lind (great hiking spot). If you do not return within an hour, you need to pay the fare again. There are beautiful views and glimpses of several small towns.
Back into town, we headed North back to the ship, stopping at The Fishmarket on the Kanalhavn. From there it was another 20 minute walk past the bus terminal and through the same constuction, freight yards, etc. back to the ship. By the time we got back, we wished we had taken a taxi from The Fishmarket. Except for the long walk from the pier, it was a great day. We later learned that some people took a shuttle bus; we did not see a shuttle, nor did we know about it. It would be well-worth taking a shuttle into town and saving your time and energy to explore the city. We were too tired to go to the entertainment tonight – a pianist.
The North Sea is calm tonight. Nice sunset and the green flash was visible!
July 17 at sea
Weather continues to be perfect and waters are quite calm in the North Sea today. We played lots of games and I met with the Peter to make final arrangements for our CC Summer Solstice Meet and Greet on the 21s. I don’t know where the time goes.
Tonight we had dinner at an officer’s table with the Ship Doctor. We have met the most interesting people on this cruise. DH and I thought we were pretty well-traveled. However, our experiences pale in comparison to most people we have met on board. We have become good friends with people from Canada to Australia and Tasmania. We have enjoyed conversations with people from Germany and Amsterdam. Interestingly, there no children on this cruise.
Entertainment tonight was great. We went to the 10 show – The Celtic Tenors. Even better was the standing-room-only Crows Nest at midnight! Since passing the Arctic Circle today, there are no sunsets or sunrises. We watched as the sun stayed at about 10 degrees in the sky. At 24:00 pianist Daryl played Oh, What a Beautiful Morning. Everyone starting singing and suddenly 3 tenor voices were heard above everyone else. The Celtic Tenors and piano continued with more songs (Granada). Somehow with the sun not setting, no one seemed the least bit tired.
July 18 cloudless day at North Cape
Not a cloud in the sky today! We took the HAL excursion to North Cape. The Sami village was surprisingly nice. 15 minutes was just enough time to purchase a couple of postcards for 8 NOK ($1.50) each – about the best price we have seen in Norway. Stamps to the USA are about $2.50 each.
The cape did not disappoint us and we took in just about everything by 10:45. Back in town before noon and I went to the souvenir shop just a few steps away from our ship to use the WiFi as I reported previously.
At dinner we talked with a couple from California who took the public bus out to North Cape at 11:00 and returned around 2. They had no problems and said there were many empty seats.
The ship left port at 3:30 and did some circling at North Cape from 5 to 6.
Entertainment tonight was a comedian from Scotland. Quite entertaining, but we were very tired and slept well last night even though the sun was up all night.
July 19 – a nice day in Murmask
The cruise into the fjord began around 5:00 and takes several hours. I was on deck for photos but the sky was grey and there wasn’t much to take a photo of until reaching Murmansk at 7:30. We docked at 8:00 and passport checks began. We joined 5 other people for a city tour with guide
Even though Murmansk is quite close to Honningvag, it is two hours ealier. HAL broke with tradition and stayed on Norwegian time which was a little confusing when talking with our guides, but probably the best thing to do since we were only ashore for 5 hours. We were one of the first groups to depart, beginning our tour with our guide, Lina and driver Sergey at 10:45. Weather was overcast and gray until around 1 our time. Sergey spoke a little English; Lina was very good with our language and we headed first to the Oceanarium. I understand the seal show is entertaining, but we were not booked for that and could only view the seal in a dark tank of water- no competition for Sea World here. We then stopped at the large statue, a beautiful chuch with icons, a grocery store (bought chocolate bars!), beautiful department store (the “souvenir selection were made in China), I had a Baskin Robbins ice cream cone – yum!, the history museum (good place to purchase Russian souvenirs), and the Ice-breaker which was a lot of stairs, but very interesting. Lina translated all the details of the ship as provided by a ship officer. The ship was in use from 1959 to 1989 and is not a navy ship. I bought and sent a few postcards while at the Icebreaker. We were back on board at 3:00 (Norwegian time).
The dining room is decorated in Red, White, and Blue today and Russian dishes are on the menu. I had Chicken Kiev and DH had Beef Stroganoff. Both of enjoyed Strawberries Romanoff.
Crows Nest is quite delightful and we find ourselves there later than our usual bedtime only because the sun stays up too! We play music trivia and even win occasionally. It is easy to lose track of time – Daryl is very entertaining on the piano and fellow cruisers are all so interesting . Tonight we talked with 2 delightful couples from Germany who are Cruise Critics too.
DH and I are looking forward to 3 seat days and some scenic cruising. Seas are still low to moderate and skies are clear. It doesn’t get much better than this!

[Cruise4aLiving]

For those of you following 'all the action' as the good old Prinsendam as she make her way back from the Top of the World, you should know that the Cruise Consultant, one lovely Tina Faulkner, went airborne in a crew area with a bit of oil on the floor and came down on her left arm and wrist ... and broke them!!! She will be heading home from Bergen (home of the incredible Captain Gundersen). I "hear" that her hubby will be flying in from San Francisco to collect her :-(

[kazu]

For those of you following 'all the action' as the good old Prinsendam as she make her way back from the Top of the World, you should know that the Cruise Consultant, one lovely Tina Faulkner, went airborne in a crew area with a bit of oil on the floor and came down on her left arm and wrist ... and broke them!!! She will be heading home from Bergen (home of the incredible Captain Gundersen). I "hear" that her hubby will be flying in from San Francisco to collect her :-(

Cruise4aLiving - welcome to cruise critic and to the HAL board.

What a shame for Tina. Hopefully she recovers well with no complications.

[sansterre]

June 20 – at sea
Temperature in the 50’s today. It was pleasant being on our sunny port balcony late morning. We can see the snow topped mountains of Norway off our beam. So far we have not seen any sign of whales but are keeping watch for them. Seas are a bit higher today but still under 4 foot waves.
Evening brought clouds and falling barometer. The La Fontaine Dining Room was decorated in White and Gold and the White and Gold Ball tonight in the showroom.
Entertainment tonight was an amazing Harmonic performance .I enjoyed it more than I expected too. We played music trivia in the Crows Nest until the dance started. I wanted to watch the sun move across the northern horizon, but visibility was not good. Again, we have no sunset or sunrise.
The dance/ball was well attended. Many of the ship staff also attended and danced.
June 21 – at sea
Very cloudy today and the shoreline cannot be seen. Seas are considered rough (7.5 to 12 feet) but they are following sees and barely noticeable – more what I expected to see in the North Sea.
At 10:00 we held our second cruise critic gathering. It was to celebrate Summer Solstice and went very well. The staff was so helpful in providing food and drink and several officers attended including Captain Gunderson who spoke and answered questions for nearly 30 minutes. He talked about his career, family, and hometown (Bergen -suggested walking around the town and taking the funicular). Since I was the organizer of the Meet and Greets, I wrote thank you letters to the Captain, the Beverage Manager Peder, and the Events Manager Kelly.
DH and I went on the kitchen tour. Interestingly, the Prinsendam has the largest Kitchen of all HAL ships.
A smorgasbord was held at lunch time in the small part of the Dining Room (forward from the main dining area). I thought it was a nice change of pace. There was a nice variety of Scandinavian specialties such as : sill/pickled hearing, Swedish meatballs, Danish sausage.
Afternoon was full of games for us – trivia (lost), travel trivia (won). Went to the movie at night.

[Essiesmom]

Prinsendam in Molde:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins23.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins22.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins21.jpg

[Cruise4aLiving]

Cruise4aLiving - welcome to cruise critic and to the HAL board.

What a shame for Tina. Hopefully she recovers well with no complications.

If there are any North Cape/Top o' the World cruisers reading this, take a look on the Pier in Bergen at 7:00am...

[tjcox9]

Cruise4aLiving,

Our very best to Tina! Hope she's all better really soon! She and Thom are truly what help make the Prinsendam "family" so special!

It seems like only yesterday that we disembarked. Oh wait, it almost was! June 6 in Amsterdam.

Teresa and Bob

[sansterre]

July 22 – a lovely day in Molde
This is a beautiful little town of 25,000 people. Our arrival was 90 minutes late because of a problem with the pilot boat and overtime hours. We debarked soon after 9:30 and headed to the public bus stop to catch the 10:00 public bus to the Atlantic Road with fellow Canadian cruisers Gunter and Giselle. The cost was reasonable – 70 NOK ($14) each, round-trip, for seniors. After one hour of scenic riding, we crossed the bridges, and got off at a natural park area. Plenty of time to explore and take pictures before the return bus arrived at 12:00 for the return to Molde at 1:00. The mostly cloudy morning turned into a sunny afternoon and we decided to take the tourist center suggestion of a taxi to the overlook (480 meters high). It cost 300 NOK for 4 of us (about $50). The views were magnificent – mountain peaks all around. They were too numerous to could, but supposedly there are around 80 on a clear day. After 15 minutes of picture taking, we returned to town where the taxi dropped us off at the Outdoor Museum. This is free to walk around in, but there is a charge for events and entertainment. We took a quick peek at some quaint sod- roofed buildings then walked back into the city center to take a quick look at the church and city hall before returning to the Prinsendam.
Played trivia (won), travel trivia (lost), music trivia (won). Entertainment tonight was the Celtic Tenors (again). Showroom was full and they received a standing ovation from all. They announced that they were going to the Fillipino Show tonight then would be up in the Crow’s Nest again afterwards.
I have talked with all three of the Celtic Tenors at various times on board. They are just as entertaining in person as they are on stage. Unfortunately they will be leaving the ship in Bergen tomorrow. This is the first, and possibly only time they will perform on a cruise ship, although they all seem to enjoy it. We were very fortunate to have them entertain us both in the Showroom and in the Crow’s Nest.

[ironin]

Thank you so much for your regular updates, sansterre! Who would've thought the Prinsendam kitchen was so large?!?! As you have yet to mention meeting RuthC, I'm picturing her spending the entire cruise sitting out on the verandah, ordering room service morning, noon and night. :D

Here's hoping the rest of your days aboard ship are as fun-filled as those you've shared with us thus far.

[Essiesmom]

Prinsendam arriving in Bergen

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins24.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins26.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins27.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins28.jpg

[Storylady]

Essiesmom,

Thanks for posting all the port pictures of the Elegent Prinsendam---especially the Bergen photos.

[Essiesmom]

You are welcome. I am a member of another cruise forum where we 'stalk' our cruising members all the time. I haven't found any port cams for Rosyth yet, though. EM

[Essiesmom]

Bye bye, Bergen...

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins29.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins30.jpg

[Mary Ellen]

As you have yet to mention meeting RuthC, I'm picturing her spending the entire cruise sitting out on the verandah, ordering room service morning, noon and night. :D far.Sorry I can't get rid of that last word in the quote using my iPad. Anyway, I'm sure Ruth will speak for herself upon her return, but in the meantime - She is out and about the ship, not limiting herself to what views happen to be on 'her' side of the ship. She is enjoying being able to pop out on the verandah to see if she'll need a sweatshirt that day.

[Essiesmom]

Sorry, but I think this is the best I can do for Rosyth. that black and white dot ahead is Prinsendam, seen from Costa Magica's bridge cam. I think the little boat let a pilot off at Prinsendam and is coming to do the same for Magica.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins31.jpg

[Essiesmom]

One more, this is Prinsendam going under the Forth bridge:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Port%20cams/Prins33.jpg

[sansterre]

July 23 – Beautiful Bergen, even on a cloudy day
We walked to the Hanseatic Museum to sign up for the tour at 11. They give two tours daily in English – 11 and 12. Tours last 90 minutes and are excellent. The museum itself is outstanding and certainly worth a visit even if you don’t take the tour through the museum and various buildings.
At 1:00 we took the funicular from the Center City to Mt. Floyen. Though cloudy, the view was tremendous. There are at least 5 cruise ships in port today. (The World was docked next to us.) We had a coke and a beer, then returned to the city center and walked (about 15 minutes) to the ship.
Tonight our cruise critic friend, Lynn, joined us for dinner in the Pinnacle. It was cold (often cold on deck 7), especially when people are going in and out the doors and on port days when the atrium area is likely to get drafts from the gangway. The manager brought blankets and we had an enjoyable dinner of various steaks – fillet mignon is still my favorite. I also love their French Fries and Chocolate Lava Cake with whipped crème and orange zest.
July 25 – at sea, crossing the North Sea to Firth of Forth
The North Sea is remarkably calm – low to moderate seas and wind has cut back to 15 kph. Distance is 402 nautical miles. We will gain an hour tonight, arriving in Edinburgh at 8 a.m. I “did” laundry again today – filled out a paper listing items to be washed! The service is incredible – always back the next morning but today it was “same day service”!

[sansterre]

Sorry I can't get rid of that last word in the quote using my iPad. Anyway, I'm sure Ruth will speak for herself upon her return, but in the meantime - She is out and about the ship, not limiting herself to what views happen to be on 'her' side of the ship. She is enjoying being able to pop out on the verandah to see if she'll need a sweatshirt that day.
Ironin - I saw Ruth the other night in the Crow's Nest and told her you said 'Hi"....except I couldn't recall your name. She seemed to know who you were though. If I see her tomorrow, I'll be sure to give her your name.

[sansterre]

We saw Tina walk off the ship just before we left Bergen. I wish her well too.

[roberts2005]

I will be joining the Prinsendam on July 11th . I was wondering if HAL will have shuttles into Edinburgh. If not, were there private shuttles available. Thanks,

Robert

[ironin]

Ironin - I saw Ruth the other night in the Crow's Nest and told her you said 'Hi"....except I couldn't recall your name. She seemed to know who you were though. If I see her tomorrow, I'll be sure to give her your name.

Thanks for taking valuable internet time to respond to my silliness, sansterre (and Mary Ellen!). :o I figured you'd met and she was out and about (or at least not far from the piano). Be that as it may, for some reason, I couldn't help developing a mental picture of Ruth swathed in heavy blankets enjoying every single moment possible out on that verandah. ;)

And thanks for the news about Tina, too. Sounded very serious. Glad she was at least able to walk off on her own.

A calm North Sea crossing is good news indeed, especially to those aboard the ship at the time. :D

While I'm at it, a big thumbs up to Essiesmom for taking time to capture and share the various portcam pictures of the Prinsendam!

[erewhon]

sansterre,
Thank you for responding to my query about the deck numbers.
I was interested to read of your dental problem, and that the medical department were able to glue your crown for you. Was there a charge for this service?
Am thoroughly enjoying reading your reports of this cruise.
Thank you.

[Essiesmom]

Back in Amsterdam. I am very sorry, but I think they will make you get off the ship today...
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins35.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins36.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins38.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins40.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins39.jpg

Ship next to her is Connie (Celebrity Constellation).

[Essiesmom]

Don't know if this will work on CC...
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g277/holtcjane/Cruise%20ships/Prins41.gif

Prinsendam turning and parking in Amsterdam. EM

[kazu]

Essiesmom - you have done a fabulous job with all of these pictures. thank you so much for taking the time and posting them for us. Really fabulous.

Sansterre if you are getting off today, save travels. Thanks so much for your wonderful thread:)

[mamaofami]

Essiesmom - you have done a fabulous job with all of these pictures. thank you so much for taking the time and posting them for us. Really fabulous.

Sansterre if you are getting off today, save travels. Thanks so much for your wonderful thread:)

Thank you so much for the great live from posts and for the wonderful pictures. Safe home to all of you.:)

[CairnsGuyCruiser]

Thank you for your fantastic postings and reports on the Prinsendam.

I have just completed 45 days and departed the cruise this morning in Amsterdam

What a great ship and my congratulations to all the crew for making it an extra special cruise. The Hotel Manager (Craig) and his team did a splendid job in the day to day management and the morale amongst the friendly and hard-working crew was excellent which contributed to making this one of the best cruises I have done.

Linda the Cruise Director did a fantastic job in that role.

(This was my second cruise on the Prinsendam)

[sansterre]

sansterre,
Thank you for responding to my query about the deck numbers.
I was interested to read of your dental problem, and that the medical department were able to glue your crown for you. Was there a charge for this service?
Am thoroughly enjoying reading your reports of this cruise.
Thank you.
It was $40 and the crown is still in place and feeling good :)

[sansterre]

Rosyth port was fine. We had frequent shuttles to the train station (less than 10 minutes). The train ride was two stations (about 20 minutes). I'll report on last few days tomorrow. We are still in Amsterdam and I have found free WiFi across the street from our hotel! But now we must check into our hotel.

[mamaofami]

It was $40 and the crown is still in place and feeling good :)

Was this done by a dentist? Wondering if there was one on board.

[erewhon]

It was $40 and the crown is still in place and feeling good :)

Thank you for your reply.

[roberts2005]

Rosyth port was fine. We had frequent shuttles to the train station (less than 10 minutes). The train ride was two stations (about 20 minutes). I'll report on last few days tomorrow. We are still in Amsterdam and I have found free WiFi across the street from our hotel! But now we must check into our hotel.


sansterre. thank you for all youe posts. They have made me look even more forward to my upcoming cruise on the Prinsendam. It is good to know there will be shuttles.

[sansterre]

Was this done by a dentist? Wondering if there was one on board.

No dentist on board. The doctor did it with a temporary cement "kit" which she mixed up appropriately:D
We are home now after two glorious days exploring Amsterdam and nearby areas. Unfortunately both DH and I have colds which slowed us down this week.
I will have our children help me port photos tonight. So sorry I was unable to post photos along with the reports. I do have my photos exported, cropped, and ready to post, etc. But I really am awed by those who can do that day by day!

[sansterre]

sansterre. thank you for all youe posts. They have made me look even more forward to my upcoming cruise on the Prinsendam. It is good to know there will be shuttles.
We too were relieved to know there would be shuttles to the train station as it is several miles from the dock. When you buy the train tickets, be sure to ask for round trip as I think you save a Euro or two. I can't recall the price per person exactly but I think it was around $10 USD - well worth it to see the Castle and Royal mile. (I think that I have not posted on those last three days yet.)

[sansterre]

(I started to make these notes as we enjoyed the candy during the cruise. We never quite know what we are buying but the candy is usually good! )
Hobby Bar – This is a chocolate covered marshmallow- like interior. It isn’t my favorite but it had a slight banana flavor, reminding me of the Bonomo chewy candy I enjoyed as a child. It is made in Trondheim!
Snicker Bar – I think this was made in Sweden but tasted just like what I’m used to – yum!
Bounty Bar – very similar to the Mounds Bar - great for those of us who like coconut and dark chocolate!
Kvikk Lunsj – bought in Tondheim, made in Oslo – just like a Kit-Kat!
Bgoxhobehue - bought in Murmansk, “made in Russia” - comes in a beautiful blue box with individual long and narrow pieces wrapped in silver. Dark chocolate with small pieces of nut…..very, very good!
KpynckoN (backwards N) WOKO?A? – bought in Murmansk, “made in Russia”. This is a dark chocolate with somewhat of a bittersweet taste. Different, but good!
My favorite deserts (it isn't desert unless it's chocolate) on the Prinsendam: Flourless chocolate cake, Chocolate Lava Cake (served in the Pinacle), and the Merlot Chocolate Cake. The first and third are best with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream IMO. The Lava Cake is served with whipped cream with orange zest. The chocolate brownie (on the "available daily" dinner menu) was not as tasty as some I’ve had on other HAL ships, but still good. I would prefer it without the "frosting".

[sansterre]

June 26 – Edinburgh (docked at Rosyth)
We were pleased to learn that shuttles would be operating all day and evening to and from the railroad station and the train ticket was somewhat reasonable (about 30 pounds for both of us round trip). Make sure you purchase roundtrip tickets as it is slightly cheaper. Temperatures were in the 60’s, maybe even 70 today.
There was a bagpipe player greeting cruisers as they walked off the ship. The shuttle buses ran continuously and we didn’t have to wait at all for them coming or going. The train trip was interesting and the second stop was the main station, within walking distance of the Castle. We had planned to take the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus from the rail station but it was Armed Forces Day and a parade was going on near the Castle and the buses could not go there in the morning. A driver of one bus pointed to the castle and suggested me walk
Although they were good all day, we headed there first. It was not an easy walk – all uphill. We took a breather to watch the parade and another break near the castle at a mill store where we bought a tie and scarf. Prices on things here are reasonable - a noticeable difference from Norway.
It was after 11 by the time we entered the castle with our tickets, purchased in advance on the website. There didn’t seem to be any long lines and we quickly joined an English-speaking tour beginning at the clock just inside the entrance. The tour lasted about an hour (interrupted by two fly-overs celebrating armed forces day). We looked around on our own until 1:00 when the daily cannon went off. As we left the castle area, long lines were at the ticket booth so I suggest getting your ticket on line.
Between the castle and the Royal MIle they are constructing a stadium to seat 8,500 people.
We took the Royal Mile back to the railroad station. There was much to look at: sailors, more bagpipes, a wedding at Giles Church, and lots of shops. Make sure to take a look into some of the Closes – little alleys that go behind the buildings on the Royal Mile. One we entered (Ladies Close) was home to poets and especially interesting. As usual, we spent our remaining pounds on candy bars.
We returned to the Prinsendam around 3, played trivia, had dinner, and enjoyed the special show – Scottish band, singers, and dancers. DH and I thought it was the best entertainment of the cruise.
June 27 – at sea
This is a sad day as we come to a close of a wonderful cruise. It is pleasant on our balcony with air temperatures of 60. Water temperature is 54. Winds have lessened.
There was a special luncheon with Scottish food today but we had a late breakfast so opted to skip lunch and do some packing instead. We always eat at the Pinnacle on the last night and did so again this cruise, followed by the Crow’s Nest and Daryl’s final “Name that Tune” and exchange of email addresses etc. with some of our new friends.
June 28 and 29 – Amsterdam
Both of us have colds now so we toned down our list of things to do in Amsterdam. On Monday we got the unlimited canal cruise boat pass and took the green line, the red line, the orange line. I think the only one we missed was the blue line. It was a beautiful day and I never could set my camera down as there were so many beautiful buildings and sights. We also spent an hour or two at the Rijksmuseum which was quite pricey but nice. It is a very warm today – in the 80’s. Across from our hotel is L’Amour Tapas where DH and I found free Wifi and had drinks. We had a nice dinner at Santini’s, a small Italian restaurant near our Marriott hotel.
Tuesday we took Key Tour’s Country Tour, visiting the wooden shoe “factory”, cheese “factory”, and windmills (one makes peanut oil), then the lovely cities of Edam, Volendam, and Marken Island. DH and I enjoyed dinner at a small restaurant which is old, yet attached to the contemporary Marriott Hotel – an interesting architectural mix.
This completes the “live” posting of the cruise. Now I must figure out how to add a few photos. Thank you to Essiesmom for the incredible photos of the Prinsendam, especially the turning and docking in Amsterdam.

[ironin]

This completes the “live” posting of the cruise. Now I must figure out how to add a few photos. Thank you to Essiesmom for the incredible photos of the Prinsendam, especially the turning and docking in Amsterdam.

Thank you so much for taking so much time during your trip to write your "live" posts, sansterre! It has been a pleasure following your adventures. Sorry to hear about your colds. At least they came on at the end and not earlier. Hope you get over them soon! Looking forward to seeing your photos. (Based on my own experience uploading photos while aboard ship, maybe you should count yourself lucky you weren't able to do it after all. ;))

[travelinjones]

Thrilled to read this review, as we are looking forward to being back on our favorite ship July 11th to sail around the UK!

[janmcn]

Sansterre has done a great job of putting up this wonderful description of what was a fantastic trip on the Prinsendam. The internet was so poor in many places that I found I didn't bother to put any blog up about this, so thankfully someone did...and did a great job!

We got on in Florida, so had the whole 45-day cruise which was just fantastic. Thom was one of the best CDs, but is going to be on a different ship...not sure if/when he'll return to the Pdam. Tina was indeed so wonderful with helping everyone with future cruises...plus just being a lovely person, so her dreadful injury was a great setback. We all are sending our best wishes to the Faulkners....they are MUCH MISSED when not around!

Our cabin (outside, Main Deck, 375) was very nice and well looked after by Mathew and Ricky. We ended up eating in the Lido for most meals since we liked the more sunny/open feeling of it (and we were able to run in and out taking photos easily!)...and the staff there were terrific.

As a bit of info for those who are used to the larger dam ships...the "sandwich guy" located in the Lido pool area, is often able to make various sandwiches...not just the ones they show. The egg salad and tuna salad were some of my favorites.

I'll post my photos on my "smugmug" account soon.
This was an awesome trip with mostly good weather...the Kiel Canal was one of my favorites...it's better than the Panama Canal in my opinion! Much nicer scenery...it kept most of us hopping all day!

[onthegogirl]

I was excited before but now I'm bubbling over waiting to board the wonderful Prinsendam in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the wonderful pictures and blog Sansterre. I enjoyed traveling along with you.

Watching the P maneuver at Amsterdam was like watching a smart car get into a parking space. It's really amazing what the thrusters can do with a competent Officer at the helm.

[sansterre]

At last, I think I've found the way. If these work I'll post more tomorrow. The second photo is not labeled, but I believe it is the East end of the Kiel Canal.199611

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[Essiesmom]

I enjoyed collecting the pictures...But I can't take credit for all of them. Some cams are streaming and I can't right click and 'save picture as', so others who can manage the Print Screen option did those for me. I also have to thank Manuela, from another forum, for the gif of Prinsendam parking in Amsterdam. You do realize that if you want to add any of them to your album, you need only right click and save on your computer. EM

[sansterre]

Thanks, I didn't know you could do that - will try.
I'm sorry the description didn't appear with my photos. Plus they got rearranged!
Hmmmm
The top on is the fishmarket in Trondholm.
Then Captain Gunderson in the bridge wing.
Then east end of the Kiel Canal.
Next is Vigland in Oslo
Final one is midway in the Kiel Canal.
I will try to do better as I post more photos tonight.

[sansterre]

Thrilled to read this review, as we are looking forward to being back on our favorite ship July 11th to sail around the UK!
Wish we could join you. DH and I are ready to resume cruising already! I'll post some Edinburgh photos - I have so many I don't know what to post, but will start with a few of those.

[sansterre]

Sansterre has done a great job of putting up this wonderful description of what was a fantastic trip on the Prinsendam. The internet was so poor in many places that I found I didn't bother to put any blog up about this, so thankfully someone did...and did a great job!

We got on in Florida, so had the whole 45-day cruise which was just fantastic. Thom was one of the best CDs, but is going to be on a different ship...not sure if/when he'll return to the Pdam. Tina was indeed so wonderful with helping everyone with future cruises...plus just being a lovely person, so her dreadful injury was a great setback. We all are sending our best wishes to the Faulkners....they are MUCH MISSED when not around!

Our cabin (outside, Main Deck, 375) was very nice and well looked after by Mathew and Ricky. We ended up eating in the Lido for most meals since we liked the more sunny/open feeling of it (and we were able to run in and out taking photos easily!)...and the staff there were terrific.

As a bit of info for those who are used to the larger dam ships...the "sandwich guy" located in the Lido pool area, is often able to make various sandwiches...not just the ones they show. The egg salad and tuna salad were some of my favorites.

I'll post my photos on my "smugmug" account soon.
This was an awesome trip with mostly good weather...the Kiel Canal was one of my favorites...it's better than the Panama Canal in my opinion! Much nicer scenery...it kept most of us hopping all day!
Thanks Jan and Chris.
We agree - the Kiel Canal is wonderful. Maybe it was that the sun finally shone on us....or maybe it was just so relaxing and interesting. DH and I agree that the Kiel Canal was one of the highlights of a great cruise. What is your "smugmug" account? I'd like to see your photos.

[sansterre]

I was excited before but now I'm bubbling over waiting to board the wonderful Prinsendam in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the wonderful pictures and blog Sansterre. I enjoyed traveling along with you.

Watching the P maneuver at Amsterdam was like watching a smart car get into a parking space. It's really amazing what the thrusters can do with a competent Officer at the helm.
Are you circling the UK or doing Norway? Hope some of my posts are helpful. Now to find Edinburgh photos.

[rafinmd]

I will be on the Prinsendam beginning July 25. Coming home August 15 on QM2, I'll be disembarking early August 13 in Rosyth. I would like to use the shuttle to Rosyth train station and continue from there to Southapmpton. Do you pay cash for the shuttle or is it charged to the onboard account? Do you see any problem with using the shuttle for early disembarking?

Also, was the Walk for the Cure on the final sea day between Rosyth and Amsterdam?. Finally, how was the music level on the Walk?

Thanks

Roy

[onthegogirl]

Are you circling the UK or doing Norway? Hope some of my posts are helpful. Now to find Edinburgh photos.

Cruise is the Arctic Explorer, Scottish Islands, Iceland, Norway, Scotland, Amsterdam.

Your posts were great and really elevated my excitement factor. Plotting and planning is almost done. Looks good on paper and hoping I'll have the energy for everything.

Happy sailing,

Carole

[sansterre]

There was no charge for the shuttle to the railroad. We were in no hurry to be the first ones off but watched some early departures from our balcony and it seemed smooth, complete with a bagpiper! I suppose there may have been a slight crowd early one though. Here are some photos!199758

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