Eurodam or Westerdam?

[lance262]

We are finalizing our cruise to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with our five children (22, 20, 17, 8, 4) in March 2012. We now just need to settle between the Eurodam or Westerdam for our Eastern Caribbean cruise. We have read the reviews but thought it might be good to get feedback from those who have sailed both.

Besides the size, how would people who have sailed both compare the two? Our only experience are two cruises on the Disney Magic.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[RuthC]

I've sailed both ships. I thought that most things were equal, but service was significantly better on the Westerdam when I was aboard.
The E-dam has Tamarind restaurant, though, and that is worth going to at least once.

[sail7seas]

We have sailed both, enjoyed both and I don't think you will make a mistake cruising either of them.

We particularly enjoyed Tamarind which is on only Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam but I'm not sure that is enough for me to choose that ship over the other if all other things are equal.

[lorekauf]

I'd pick the Eurodam. I've been on both ships in the last 7 months and found the Westerdam service to be lacking. YMMV.

[hal lover]

I'd pick the Eurodam. I've been on both ships in the last 7 months and found the Westerdam service to be lacking. YMMV.

I too have been on both ship's. I would pick the MS Westerdam.

[baggal]

Eurodam has cabanas around one side of the main pool thus eliminating some seating near the main pool and making it, IMO very crowded and claustrophobic. Westerdam doesn't. For that reason, I would choose the Westerdam.

[howard6933]

We are finalizing our cruise to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with our five children (22, 20, 17, 8, 4) in March 2012. We now just need to settle between the Eurodam or Westerdam for our Eastern Caribbean cruise. We have read the reviews but thought it might be good to get feedback from those who have sailed both.

Besides the size, how would people who have sailed both compare the two? Our only experience are two cruises on the Disney Magic.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Since you have gotten info on both ships and the consensus is that they are both pretty good, I would make a decision based upon the itinerary, price, etc. etc. Personally, I am booked on Westerdam this december since they stop at Aruba and Curacao which I haven't been to in several years. If the itinerary & price please you, do the Westerdam. However, the Eurodam itinerary is a good one stopping at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay and in my opinion this would be a better one for your children. I was on Eurodam in 2008 and it was of the best cruises I've been. Whichever you choose, I assure you, it will a lot of fun. ;)

[lance262]

Since you have gotten info on both ships and the consensus is that they are both pretty good, I would make a decision based upon the itinerary, price, etc. etc. Personally, I am booked on Westerdam this december since they stop at Aruba and Curacao which I haven't been to in several years. If the itinerary & price please you, do the Westerdam. However, the Eurodam itinerary is a good one stopping at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay and in my opinion this would be a better one for your children. I was on Eurodam in 2008 and it was of the best cruises I've been. Whichever you choose, I assure you, it will a lot of fun. ;)

Thanks for the input. The trips are a day apart and the itineraries are exactly the same for ports that we have not visited (Grand Turk, San Juan, Half Moon Cay). The one exception is that the Eurodam goes to St. Thomas and the Westerdam goes to St. Maarten. We've been to both and liked St Maarten better but not enough to be the deciding factor. In addition, the price is only a few hundred dollars different. That is why I wanted to see if there was a strong opinion one way or the other but that seems to be even as well. Guess we could always flip a coin (although Tamarind might break the tie).

[Typhoon1]

Having sailed both, we much prefer the Eurodam.

[mightycruisequeen]

Eurodam has cabanas around one side of the main pool thus eliminating some seating near the main pool and making it, IMO very crowded and claustrophobic. Westerdam doesn't. For that reason, I would choose the Westerdam.
Bingo! My thoughts, exactly.:cool:

[excruisestaff]

We sailed on the Westerdam both in Alaska and the Southern Caribbean, but are not going on the Eurodam until this December. We found the food and service in MDR on Westerdam lacking both times. Pinnacle was great both times though. I do have to point out that after our return, HAL was wonderful in responding to our issues in the MDR, as it was not just our one family. We also love St. Maarten over St. Thomas, but have been wanting to try the Eurodam for some time now, as we liked the idea of the onboard cabanas. Those who want more quiet time could book a retreat cabana instead of the lido ones, but we opted for the lido ones, since we have teenagers with us and don't mind being "where the action is", as they say. The Eurodam is younger than the Westerdam, if that makes a difference to you. But it really shouldn't, because like everyone says, they are quite similar and you'll enjoy either. Also, the beds on HAL are the most comfortable anywhere! You won't go wrong with either ship choice :)


Maxine

[excruisestaff]

We sailed on the Westerdam both in Alaska and the Southern Caribbean, but are not going on the Eurodam until this December. We found the food and service in MDR on Westerdam lacking both times. Pinnacle was great both times though. I do have to point out that after our return, HAL was wonderful in responding to our issues in the MDR, as it was not just our one family. We also love St. Maarten over St. Thomas, but have been wanting to try the Eurodam for some time now, as we liked the idea of the onboard cabanas. Those who want more quiet time could book a retreat cabana instead of the lido ones, but we opted for the lido ones, since we have teenagers with us and don't mind being "where the action is", as they say. The Eurodam is younger than the Westerdam, if that makes a difference to you. But it really shouldn't, because like everyone says, they are quite similar and you'll enjoy either. Also, the beds on HAL are the most comfortable anywhere! You won't go wrong with either ship choice :)


Maxine

[excruisestaff]

My previous post somehow posted twice, but it 's not letting me delete, so I'm writing this to say I didn't mean for it to go through twice. Don't know why it did that.

Maxine