Westerdam Dry Dock Next Spring?

[SabreSailor]

I notice that there are apparently no cruises scheduled for the Westerdam between April 16 and May 10, 2007. Does anyone have any idea if this means dry dock, and if so, what you hear is to be accomplished?

Also, would you have any concern about booking a cruise immediately after a dry dock?

[GPoll189]

Good afternoon, I noticed your post and thought I might give light to your qestion. It seems that the Westerdam has a month off from cruising and might be enough time for HAL to make the changes that they want to, change her to her sister the Noordam and add the 35 rooms that the Noordam has over her other sisters. People have said that she needs to go back to her builders in Europe but if you ever watched the special the Travel Channel had on Souverign you can noticed that they can add rooms to a ship here in the USA and also build on to the ship. All of the Vista sister will have the changes made to them in the next couple of years. So if this is a dry dock then I believe that it would be enough time to start making the changes to the sisters. Only time will tell.

24 cruise on HAL in 26 years on Earth

25 cruise on Noordam on December 16, 2006

[bepsf]

Yes, Westerdam is scheduled for her drydock in April '07 - and Yes, she'll receive the complete Noordam-esque SOE makeovers.

Since Oosterdam's drydock is in Seattle/Vancouver this fall - does that mean that she'll have to wait a couple years to get her full makeover too?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Westerdam is in dry dock in Europe from April 17 - 30, 2007.

At the present time she will not be in dry dock for a month.

On April 30, 2007 she will begin 10 day Eastern and Western Mediterranean itineraries.

[patwell]

As I'm new to HAL, and considering a cruise on Westerdam in Nov 2007, I'm curious just what you mean about "Noordam-esque SOE makeovers". Not being familiar with the Noordam I'm wondering how this will alter the ship. Is this something I could pick up from the deck plans as I have the brochure? Thank you for any input you can offer. Cheers, Penny

[Eliz]

I'm new to HAL also, and am considering the Westerdam. It looks like a beautiful ship. I've seen the "SOE" term mentioned several times on other posts...what does it stand for? What Noordam changes would be made to the Westerdam? Thanks for your help.

Elizabeth

[bruceh4]

I'm new to HAL also, and am considering the Westerdam. It looks like a beautiful ship. I've seen the "SOE" term mentioned several times on other posts...what does it stand for? What Noordam changes would be made to the Westerdam? Thanks for your help.

ElizabethThe term SOE stands for Signature of Excellance. It was a program announced by HAL a couple of years ago to upgrade the present fleet. You can read about the program by going to the following website:
http://www.hollandamerica.com/pdfs/media/factsheets/FastFacts_SOE.pdf

As for making changes to the vista class ships to be like the Noordam, the Noordam when launched earlier this year has 35 more cabins then the other vista class ships i.e. Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, and Westerdam. So there is some speculation that those 3 ships will eventually have the 35 cabins added to them. As for the question about booking a cruise immediately following dry docking, go for it. In fact it will be the best shape the ship will be in since it was built. I sailed on the Amsterdam last fall on the first cruise after drydock and she was beautiful and smelled new again:D

[bepsf]

As for making changes to the vista class ships to be like the Noordam, the Noordam when launched earlier this year has 35 more cabins then the other vista class ships i.e. Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, and Westerdam. So there is some speculation that those 3 ships will eventually have the 35 cabins added to them...

Not that alone (which would extend the tail-end of Lido Deck aft about 20+ feet) but also replacing the enclosed Internet Room and adjacent (& unused) Java Cafe with an opened up Exploration's Cafe, replacing the Windstar Cafe w/ the Pinnacle Wine Bar, replacing the Odyssey/Pinnacle Bar w/ more seating in Pinnacle Grill and replacing the Golf Simulator on Deck 11 with the Loft for Club HAL, rearranging the Ocean Bar so that the bar and entertainment are both on the portside of the Atrium - and of course all TV's in all staterooms would be LG LCD TV's w/ DVD players (no more VCR tapes)

I think that's all the changes - but to get a better idea, have a look at the deckplans for Noordam on the HAL site and compare them to the older Zuiderdam/Oosterdam/Westerdam deckplans.