Sail7Seas-Veendam???

[Cruising Illini]

Noted you mentioned signing up for Veendam in 05and wondered if it is the 14 day/Jan. from Tampa. We have 8 on it and glad to hear good reports. I'm the ony CC contributor from the group but all have many HAL trips. As I remember you take "S" so if you do for this will see you in the Neptune. Cruising Illini AND Georgia Bulldog.

[sail7seas]

Hi....sorry. We booked the 12 day Tampa to Tampa on Veendam. We haven't been on that ship for some years now but we have great memories of a number of terrific cruises on her. She was the fourth in the series of Statendam class and like her sisters is a great ship IMO

We have our usual "S" but not in our usual location. We are always port side mid-ship but they were all booked. We were very lucky to get an "S" at all and are very happy about it.

[Sage]

Sail7Seas,

I'm sorry that you won't be on the November 26, 2005 cruise, I would have so enjoyed meeting you. Perhaps our paths will cross on another cruise one day.

[sail7seas]

Sage.....I hope we meet someday very soon. I know I'd enjoy it. At first we considered the November cruise but wanted to go to HMC and St. Thomas and the itinerary we looked at for 14 days did not include them.

(also.....We have some crew friends on Veendam who will be on vacation but will be back when we come....unless the planning changes.. We REALLY want to see them.)

I know you'll have a great time and I'll be eager to hear about it.

[wishful]

Have you booked the 14 day Holland America Veendam on Jan 15 leaving from Tampa and going to the ABC Islands? I have been trying to book this cruise and informed this cruise is closed and totally booked.

[rodree]

We tried to book this one a while back ,with the same answer:ALL FILLED UP.
We are now on the waiting list in case there are any cancellations.

Meanwhile, we booked the Jan.3 so we have something from Tampa.
Can cancell this if the other comes through.

[sail7seas]

We are booked on the January 3 twelve day cruise. I think that cruise is also very booked and the "S" are fully sold. I think these 12-14 day cruises on Veendam are wonderful itineraries on a great ship. Obviously, there has been a great response to them as they are getting very hard to book.


IMO the only thing that could make them better would be if they sailed from FLL. I'm not thrilled about going out of Tampa but that's what it is and we really want to see our friends so........

[OCruisers]

wishful & rodree .... Happily we are booked on this one BUT sad because several of our friends have, like you all, tried to book and found it to be FULL. One couple is on a waiting list. Hopefully, something will open up later!

sail7seas .... Always repect your opinions so we were very glad to know you enjoyed Veendam on past sailings (even if they were a few years ago). Which of the two pool areas did most people seem to like better? Any other comments would be appreciated as well.

Happy Sailing! OCruisers

[sail7seas]

OCruisers....Veendam is beautiful. She's a terrific ship like her sisters.


We cruised her originally during her Inaugural summer in the Caribbean. We did b-to-b's on her and had such a fabulous time we returned that fall and then again in January. And then again and again........Then Rotterdam was introduced and Zaandam etc and, of course, there is always "My Massdam" that keeps calling us back.

Simply not enough time to be on all the ships all the time so we are happy to return to a ship that provided us with such wonderful times.

We know some crew aboard and there are no finer IMO.....we think so very highly of them and are eager to spend time aboard with them.

I hope you have a wonderful time on her ....as good as we plan to have. :)

[wishful]

I am curious. When did you book this cruise and did it cost you anything to be put on the waiting list. I was given a price of $500 a piece to be put on the list.:confused:

[sail7seas]

ocruiser........I'm sorry I forgot to answer your question re: pools. We prefer aft pool. Families with children most usually want to be at Lido pool. If it is windy or cool, the retractable roof on Lido pool can be opened partially, fully, whatever will give the best comfort level. The aft pool is completely open to the wind (rain) and sun. :)




wishful......... It is not unusual for them to charge a full deposit amount to be placed on a waitlist for a cruise. I suppose the thinking is that if you are willing to put down real money, you are "real" interested in getting a cabin for that sailing. You would, of course, go way to the top of the list only behind someone who had put down a cash deposit for wait list before you did.

We have, in the past, put down sizeable deposits like that for a few cruises and space did clear and we did get to go on those cruises in the category cabin we wanted.

IF they will tell you how many are ahead of you on the list, you can judge how good your odds are. If only a few people, the odds would be excellent there will be some that do no make final payment.

[OCruisers]

sail7seas .... Thanks! It's been a while since we've been on a ship with an aft pool so we are really looking forward to it!

wishful .... Our friends did say in their email to us that they had "put down a deposit" for the waiting list. They are "cruise friends" (met on cruise and have sailed with them three times since) who live in Canada so I don't know the exact amount of their deposit. Their TA feels they have a very good chance of getting on if they are not too picky about their cabin. As "s7s" says ... some folks will cancel when it is time for the final payment.

Happy Sailing! OCruisers