Tell me about the Crow's Nest

[Sundiego]

I'm getting excited about our upcoming Zaandam cruise (not our first cruise, but our first on HAL). I've read posts where all you wonderful HAL veterans mention the Crow's Nest, always favorably. What's so special about it?

[Krazy Kruizers]

It is high up on the forward part of the ship.

It is great place for relaxing and reading during the day while at sea and watching the ocean.

In the evenings many go there for cocktails before dinner.

Port days - also great to see what is happening at the pier.

At night, on the Zaandam, late in the evening that will become the disco area - larger dance floor.

[mikefang]

It's a generally good place. DW and myself prefer it for pre-dinner cocktail and live music. Usually less to much less crowded than the Ocean Bar for pre dinner dancing. Different sound than Ocean Bar but I think most find it enjoyable and lots of dance room if you are so inclined.
On our last cruise, December 50 to Hawaii, we usually bypassed the crowded Ocean Bar to a much more enjoyable (for us) Crow's Nest.
Mike

[Scottish Cruiser]

We were n the Zaandam to Alaska in 2004 and enjoyed the Crow's Nest on sea days when it was cool outside. Great wrap around view forward, comfortable chairs, usually not too busy. Last year on the Rotterdam in the Med we were slightly disappointed as the deck below extended forward further forward than on the Zaandam (I think it had the gym in it), blocking most of the open front deck. Still a good palce to relax. We do not dance - I have 2 left feet! - so we were not up there much after dinner.

[Robin7]

It is high up on the forward part of the ship.

It is great place for relaxing and reading during the day while at sea and watching the ocean.



We like to go to the Crow's Nest during the day. We love to play cards there while enjoying the beautiful view. (We usually travel with family members who are game-aholics.) We're not much for dancing, and we don't drink alcohol so we've never frequented it except during the day.

On the Zuiderdam in 2004, we realized the Crow's Nest is forward on Deck 10. We'd just taken our then-19-year-old son to a Star Trek convention so we laughed and laughed when we realized the Crow's Nest is "10 Forward"!!! (Only Trekkies will understand that. Sorry.)

Robin

[seadrifter]

We like to go to the Crow's Nest during the day. We love to play cards there while enjoying the beautiful view. (We usually travel with family members who are game-aholics.) We're not much for dancing, and we don't drink alcohol so we've never frequented it except during the day.

On the Zuiderdam in 2004, we realized the Crow's Nest is forward on Deck 10. We'd just taken our then-19-year-old son to a Star Trek convention so we laughed and laughed when we realized the Crow's Nest is "10 Forward"!!! (Only Trekkies will understand that. Sorry.)

Robin

Robin - Our two sons are grown and out of the house but we have been Trekkies since they were young. I always think of the Crow's Nest as 10 Forward (still very nostalgic about "The Next Generation"). You brought back wonderful memories.:)

When we were on the Westerdam and the Oosterdam, the Crow's Nest was used for Bingo many afternoons. We aren't Bingo players and sometimes wished we could have a late afternoon drink without that activity going on.

Virginia

[Sundiego]

We like to go to the Crow's Nest during the day. We love to play cards there while enjoying the beautiful view. (We usually travel with family members who are game-aholics.)

Robin!! That describes us! So there are tables that seat 4, and we wouldn't be "table hogging" if we sat there and played cards for an hour (or 2 or 3) during the day?

Course, having cocktails there in the evening describes us, too :)

Waaaahh... I wanna leave now. I am so excited.

[bepsf]

Robin - Our two sons are grown and out of the house but we have been Trekkies since they were young. I always think of the Crow's Nest as 10 Forward (still very nostalgic about "The Next Generation"). You brought back wonderful memories.:)

When we were on the Westerdam and the Oosterdam, the Crow's Nest was used for Bingo many afternoons. We aren't Bingo players and sometimes wished we could have a late afternoon drink without that activity going on.

Virginia

They also use the Crow's Nest for Trivia and the Black and White Officer's Ball as well as CruiseCritic get-togethers. ;) As an Observation Lounge, it's the best place have a cocktail & hang out and watch as you pull into port, look at glaciers, see whales... I have fond memories of sitting at the bar w/ friends, drinking our Hot Chocolate /w Grand Marnier and laughing up a storm...

I used to love Next Generation - I could sure use one of Whoopee's cocktails in Ten-Forward!
:D

[tjcox9]

I find the Crow's Nest to be the most relaxing spot on the ship for pre-dinner cocktails. Also, it's great for just sitting and reading during the day, great for watching sunsets/sunrises. Also, when in cooler scenic climates, it's great for just plain old scenic viewing.

For scenic viewing, you may have to get there early to get a front row seat. It's worth it if you're cruising the Chilean Fjords or other such areas.

It's my favorite all-around spot on any HAL ship on which I've been.

Looking forward to checking out the Crow's Nest on the Noordam on 5/1 and 5/11 Med cruises. Counting the days........

[kakalina]

Everything they said and more

bepsf: Wouldn't it be Guinan making the cocktails???

[bruce-r]

On the Zuiderdam in 2004, we realized the Crow's Nest is forward on Deck 10. We'd just taken our then-19-year-old son to a Star Trek convention so we laughed and laughed when we realized the Crow's Nest is "10 Forward"!!! (Only Trekkies will understand that. Sorry.)
No need to be sorry.

Wouldn't it be great if Guinan was there making the cocktails??? I'd even settle for Data and something "green". Only real trekkies will get this one. ;)

[Himself]

It is a nice place to go for a drink and you have a beautiful view during the daylight hours. You can just read a book or look out at the empty sea. At Coctail hour is a lot quieter than the bars down stairs.

[kryos]

I'm getting excited about our upcoming Zaandam cruise (not our first cruise, but our first on HAL). I've read posts where all you wonderful HAL veterans mention the Crow's Nest, always favorably. What's so special about it?
Very nice comfy padded leather chairs up there ... very nice for relaxing and looking out the large panoramic windows at the ocean. Great place to visit on a sea day ... just to relax and watch the ocean ... or maybe curl up with a good book. They have a bar up there too ... which is mainly staffed in the evening.

At least on the Amsterdam, there is also a huge TV up there ... on the wall ... must be about 80-inches wide. They had it muted, but were playing a continuous video ... of extreme sports mostly. I just loved watching that ... and laughing because I knew a bunch of the folks in the skydiving clips. :)

At night, the Crow's Nest turns into a lounge/disco. A combo will play up there, and there's a large floor for dancing. After a certain time at night, a DJ will take over, and I think the place is normally hopping probably until about 2:00 a.m. I don't normally visit the Crow's Nest at night ... just not my normal scene ... but have on occasion found myself up there. Pretty fun place, though I prefer the daytime ambience.

Another great place you're gonna wanna visit on your HAL cruise is the Explorations Cafe. I experienced that for the first time on my Amsterdam cruise this past January. Wonderful place! Sort of like a combination library and internet center, it's a really neat place to easily kill the better part of an afternoon. You can buy specialty coffee-type drinks there and enjoy them while you surf the net or read. They also have these music listening stations ... sort of like mini-computers where you program your own play list from an extensive selection of music they have in them, and then sit back in the comfortable chair, pop on the headphones, and get lost in the music.

I absolutely fell in love with that place and it clearly became my favorite daytime hang out on those many sea days I had on that particular itinerary. Make sure to visit that place. You'll probably love it even more than the Crow's Nest.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Robin7]

So there are tables that seat 4, and we wouldn't be "table hogging" if we sat there and played cards for an hour (or 2 or 3) during the day?

You have to know we're not picky about our playing surfaces. We've played cards in some VERY strange places. There aren't actually 'tables.' They're more like small cocktail tables at coffee table height. They worked for us, though. And we've spent hours there, and no one ever kicked us out. We watched some fun activities, too. Line dancing, bingo, a talk by the CD on life on a ship....

Robin

[Copper10-8]

It's all been said! Great place to hang out in the day (view, informal talks and dance classes) and night time. After the late show, it becomes the location where the cruise staff organizes such events as Country & Western night (line-dancing), Seventies Disco (John Travolta:eek: ), and sixties sock hop(twist & hoola hoop contest). There's a 4-5 person band that plays Eastern European:D dance music 'till about 11-11:30 afterwhich the DJ takes over. Also a great place to celebrate New Year's Eve:)

[dakrewser]

These people are all lying. The Crow's Nest is an awful place. Way up top and way forward. People with any susceptibility to quesyness should stay away. And the floor to ceiling glass windows make it unbearably hot. And there's a old, stuffy crowd that hangs out there in there zimmers and walkers.

And if we keep telling people about it, I'll never be able to find a seat! :rolleyes:

[Sundiego]

These people are all lying. The Crow's Nest is an awful place. LOL dakrewser :D

Thanks everybody for these colorful descriptions. Now I reeealllly can't wait !!