*** Live from Statendam *** better late than never

[cands]

We disembark Statendam tomorrow after a 14 day adventure in New Zealand and Australia.

We were late embarking due to a virus scare on the last cruise. This was handled excellently by the port staff in Auckland. We eventually were able to board about 1:30.
The ship was under 'code red' for the first five days. This didn't cause much of a problem.
We had a 'C' cabin midships on Lower Promenade. It was a nice cabin. We were glad of the location when we came to cross the Tasman Sea, between NZ and Australia. We had two days of very big swells with much pitching, but thankfully very little rolling. The dining room was about half full for dinner on each of these days.

About half way though the cruise HAL was offering to stay aboard for the next cruise (14 days) for $699 for an outside cabin - a remarkable offer. I wonder how many people took this up?

Our cabin steward was a quiet man who anticipated our needs - we hardly saw him except to say hello in the hallway - excellent.

The passenger breakdown was quite international, mostly Americans, but a good mixing of Australians, New Zealanders and others as well.

The food in the dining room was excellent, as were our waiters; no complaints there.
The Lido was good also, though not great, in my opinion. I think the Vista ships have the edge there.

We loved the layout of the ship, and enjoyed the fact that it was never crowded even though we were sailing fairly full.

The weather was not overly kind, in fact it was pretty cool most of the time. We were only rained out in one destination though. That was Christchurch. Such a shame, as it is a lovely city.

Anyway, the minutes are ticking away, I just hope this posts first time!!!

Regards,
Steve and Chris (CandS)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad you checked in.

Hope you post more when you get home about your cruise.

[SDHALFAN]

Welcome back Steve and Chris. I'm so glad that you had a great cruise. I love that itinerary and that ship and would go again if it weren't for that awful flight from L.A. to Sydney.

We did the same cruise, about this time of year, on the Prinsendam in 2003 and had some rain also but it didn't dampen our spirits and our day in gorgeous Christchurch was actually sunny.

Valerie:)

[middle-aged mom]

Steve and Chris:

Thanks so much for posting from the ship for us. You provided lots of good tips and info. We're contemplating a cruise "down under" in 2008, and now I know to prepare both for rain in NZ, and the "motion of the ocean" on the Tasman Sea. Good stuff to know. Glad you've enjoyed your cruise.:)

Karin

[cands]

We are now at Sydney Airport waiting for our flight to Melbourne. Lucky for us it is only a 1 hour flight home.

Disembarkation went very well. Although we were travelling independantly after midday, we were called off the ship at 8:45. We were checking in at the airport before 9:30. Judging by the number of bags still in the arrivals hall, I would say the ship would have been empty by 9:30.

I forgot to mention the Pinnacle Grill above. I just have to say that my steak was the best I have had in many years - very impressive. The rest of the meal and the service was okay, if not brilliant. (a little slow for our liking)

Im not sure I 'got' the Chocolate Volcano thing. Was it supposed to be a puddle of chocolate sauce in the bottom of a huge bowl, with a thin crust on top? Nonetheless, it was very tasty.

BTW, Don't be put off by the weather, it was still a fantastic cruise. And remember November is still spring down under. The weather is usually much better from December to March
Cheers,
Steve.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Welcome home Guys.....
http://i17.tinypic.com/4h200op.jpg
Dec 8 . 3pm Sydney.

[temple10]

David Can I ask for the website you were able to pull that picture from please?? Thank you bunches Christine:)

[Chivalrygirl]

Welcome home Guys.....
http://i17.tinypic.com/4h200op.jpg
Dec 8 . 3pm Sydney.

Me too, David thats a really cool picture. Can you get one with the harbour bridge in the picture?

[BumperII]

Methinks I feel another cruise coming on.;)

[PRINSENDAM]

We are now at Sydney Airport waiting for our flight to Melbourne. Lucky for us it is only a 1 hour flight home.

Steve.



Hope you have had a safe flight home although at the time I am typing this I think you might still be a several hours from landing in LA.

As you were sitting at the airport I was down at The Rocks visiting STATENDAM. Actually, Ruth and I went down to take our old friend Peter, STATENDAM's Chief Officer, out for lunch. We took him to Phillip's Foote... just across from the ship. Fun place... you sit outside and cook your own steak on a BBQ. Peter said his was as good as Pinnacle!:p

Anyhow, went back to the ship for a few hours. Lots of the gang from the Pacific crossing in October are of coourse, still on board. I'll be back on board in mid January for another cruise in STATENDAM... shortened version.... just ten days... Wellington to Sydney.

Stephen

[Kiwi Kruzer]

David Can I ask for the website you were able to pull that picture from please?? Thank you bunches Christine:)

You are very welcome .
It is a canon cam on top of the Shang ri La Hotel,at Circular Quay Sydney and you can take control and pan around for great views.

http://www.canon.com.au/misc/webcam_live.html

Here is Paciic Princess which has just berthed,after her first 28 day Circumnavigation Cruise around Australia for the season.

[Chivalrygirl]

We are now at Sydney Airport waiting for our flight to Melbourne. Lucky for us it is only a 1 hour flight home.

Disembarkation went very well. Although we were travelling independantly after midday, we were called off the ship at 8:45. We were checking in at the airport before 9:30. Judging by the number of bags still in the arrivals hall, I would say the ship would have been empty by 9:30.

I forgot to mention the Pinnacle Grill above. I just have to say that my steak was the best I have had in many years - very impressive. The rest of the meal and the service was okay, if not brilliant. (a little slow for our liking)

Im not sure I 'got' the Chocolate Volcano thing. Was it supposed to be a puddle of chocolate sauce in the bottom of a huge bowl, with a thin crust on top? Nonetheless, it was very tasty.

BTW, Don't be put off by the weather, it was still a fantastic cruise. And remember November is still spring down under. The weather is usually much better from December to March
Cheers,
Steve.

Hello Cands

Hope the weather is much better in Melbourne than it is here in Auckland and that you enjoyed your cruise. Actually NZ has another blessed cold front passing over once more!
I think the outside cabins in C category are rather good, I liked watching the walking parade each day and saw some highly amusing things out of our window. You mentioned your cabin steward and wonder if you had the same one as us, he was also a very quiet guy but ever so decent and nice. His name was Agus! Hoping that there is no new outbreak or code red when the ship returns to Auckland, as we missed out on seeing our friend last time, and would dearly love to meet our friend on the 22nd to give our Xmas pressie.
See you are only home for a wee while before you are off again, lucky you.

[Chivalrygirl]

You are very welcome .
It is a canon cam on top of the Shang ri La Hotel,at Circular Quay Sydney and you can take control and pan around for great views.

http://www.canon.com.au/misc/webcam_live.html

Here is Paciic Princess which has just berthed,after her first 28 day Circumnavigation Cruise around Australia for the season.

and that is my best favourite ship in the whole world, how we are going to miss her from down here once she leaves. It would have been extra super to do that circumnavigation around Aussie in her. We did North Queensland early last year, our last cruise on the little beauty, and that is definitely our best cruise to date. She is not tied up at her usual berth in Darling Harbour?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

and that is my best favourite ship in the whole world, She is not tied up at her usual berth in Darling Harbour?

My favourite too.We have done 50 nights on board.Best was Bangkok to Capetown.Just checked the bridge cam and Pacific Sun is at Darling Harbour today,so I guess thats why PP got Circular Quay.It is the best position in Sydney ,with the classic Opera House and Bridge views.
We have also done Princess and HAL.We were on Statendam last year for the Chistmas/New Year Cruise.How do you think the 2 lines compare?

[Chivalrygirl]

My favourite too.We have done 50 nights on board.Best was Bangkok to Capetown.Just checked the bridge cam and Pacific Sun is at Darling Harbour today,so I guess thats why PP got Circular Quay.It is the best position in Sydney ,with the classic Opera House and Bridge views.
We have also done Princess and HAL.We were on Statendam last year for the Chistmas/New Year Cruise.How do you think the 2 lines compare?

I am not sure you can compare apples with apples, we have only been on the princess max of 12 nights, we were on the Statendam for 35 nights, we did b 2 b, seven nights Alaska, that was really wonderful and we enjoyed the time on board and a different crowd, we did however find the ship extremely expensive and I guess that kills anything, however there was a huge resistance that was obvious in the dining room, so few tables with wine. I would however go as far as to say the food on Statendam was better than Princess. I guess for us its the blessed US$ that really spoil everything. However one thing I can tell you they both leave P & O Australia for dead. We had a shocker last July on the Sky and don't think we will ever sail P & O again. Why do they send the old tired vessels down-under for us.
How far North of Auckland are you?
I did think perhaps the Sun was in Darling Harbour today. I have got an amazing picture that I took last year of the Sapphire making the bridge look like a dinky toy, that really does show how big that ship is and now there is even bigger ones. :eek: Just give me my little Princess any day :)

[PRINSENDAM]

I am not sure you can compare apples with apples, we have only been on the princess max of 12 nights, we were on the Statendam for 35 nights, we did b 2 b, seven nights Alaska, that was really wonderful and we enjoyed the time on board and a different crowd, we did however find the ship extremely expensive and I guess that kills anything, however there was a huge resistance that was obvious in the dining room, so few tables with wine. I would however go as far as to say the food on Statendam was better than Princess. I guess for us its the blessed US$ that really spoil everything. However one thing I can tell you they both leave P & O Australia for dead. We had a shocker last July on the Sky and don't think we will ever sail P & O again. Why do they send the old tired vessels down-under for us.
How far North of Auckland are you?
I did think perhaps the Sun was in Darling Harbour today. I have got an amazing picture that I took last year of the Sapphire making the bridge look like a dinky toy, that really does show how big that ship is and now there is even bigger ones. :eek: Just give me my little Princess any day :)


I don't think you quite understand how Princess works their lovely PACIFIC PRINCESS. I have also sailed in the ship. Yes, she is lovely and although I'm sad that she is leaving Australian water I look foward to sailing in her in the Mediterrranean.

Anyhow, what I mean about not quite understanding how Princess works the little PP. When the ship is operating out of Sydney everything on voard is priced in Australian dollars... roughly equivilant to US 78 cents. Say you drink a bottle of wine on board for Aus$35... or a drink in the bar for Aus$5.50 it would seeem to be a much better deal than what is being charged on HAL ships. After all, on HAL that same bottle of wine would be US$35 and the drink US$5.50 PLUS 15%. Well, when the little PP sails back north to US waters at the end of the summer season down under, everything on board gets repriced. That right. The Aus$35 bottle of wine becomes US$35 and the Aus$5.50 drink become US$5.50 PLUS 15%. All of the crew's wages etc were 'topped up' by P&O to cover the lack of tips etc down here. One of the reasons why the ship is not coming back. They loose money down here.

When the PP goes north the automatic gratutity goes back onto the on board account and 15% service charge on everything. No different from HAL.

Just be thankful that wile the ship was down here everyone got a damn good deal. It was good while it lasted!

Stephen

[Chivalrygirl]

Just for the record, When sailing on the Pacific Princess early last year there was a shipboard automatic tip of $AU6.50 Also there was the a gratuity added also but the exact % escapes me right now. I did however read somewhere that the onboard automatic tip would be increased to $AU8.50. Kiwi Kruzer perhaps you might be able to help me out on this one.
.
Pacific Princess is being replaced down-under by:-

PACIFIC DAWN (http://www.pocruises.com.au/html/pacific_dawn.cfm) Built 1991 by Fincantieri Navali of Italy.
69,845 gross tons.
12 Passenger Decks. 795 Cabins. 1,596 Passengers.
696 Crew.
247.2 metres long. 32.2 metre beam. 7.8 metres draft.
In the latter half of 2007 REGAL PRINCESS will be transferred to the fleet of P & O Australia for permanent cruising from Sydney as the PACIFIC DAWN.
Pacific Dawn, arriving in October 2007, will cruise from Sydney to the unspoilt tropical islands of the South Pacific. She will be Australia’s first superliner, boasting spacious decks and an abundance of affordable balcony cabins.

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Valerie

[PRINSENDAM]

Just for the record, When sailing on the Pacific Princess early last year there was a shipboard automatic tip of $AU6.50 Also there was the a gratuity added also but the exact % escapes me right now. I did however read somewhere that the onboard automatic tip would be increased to $AU8.50. Kiwi Kruzer perhaps you might be able to help me out on this one.
.
Pacific Princess is being replaced down-under by:-

PACIFIC DAWN (http://www.pocruises.com.au/html/pacific_dawn.cfm)

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Valerie





Valerie,

The auto tip on the PP is something new since I sailed in the ship.

A$8.80 = US$6.63 WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad the REGAL is coming down but I wish she would remain a Princess ship rather than a P&O Australia ship.

Stephen

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I'm glad the REGAL is coming down but I wish she would remain a Princess ship rather than a P&O Australia ship.

Here Here!!!
But now it is all under the Carnival umbrella.......
How long before we get a HAL cast off ship I wonder?
We have an ex Carnival and an ex Costa ship cruising full time , soon we get an ex Princess Ship.......so why not an ex HAL.
Which one would you like to see here Stephen?
Seems like P&O Australia are calling themselves whatever they like these days,
Carnival Australia,Princess Australia....why not HAL Australia?
They wouldn't dare call themselves Cunard Australia......would they?

[cands]

Hello Cands

Hope the weather is much better in Melbourne than it is here in Auckland and that you enjoyed your cruise. Actually NZ has another blessed cold front passing over once more!
I think the outside cabins in C category are rather good, I liked watching the walking parade each day and saw some highly amusing things out of our window. You mentioned your cabin steward and wonder if you had the same one as us, he was also a very quiet guy but ever so decent and nice. His name was Agus! Hoping that there is no new outbreak or code red when the ship returns to Auckland, as we missed out on seeing our friend last time, and would dearly love to meet our friend on the 22nd to give our Xmas pressie.
See you are only home for a wee while before you are off again, lucky you.

Well, we are now home and have done the mandatory 6 loads of laundry!
We sure are having crazy weather at the moment. Today is 37C with thick smoke haze from the bushfires burning throughout the state. Not sure what the new folk on Statendam will think when they arrive here tomorrow!

It's funny about the C cabins. Some people don't like them because of the perceived lack of privacy with people walking past all the time.
It doesn't bother us at all and it's so convenient to just pop outside whenever the whim strikes - like having a verandah without paying all the extra bucks.
The only time it was busy out there was during the daily 'walk a mile' hour and during the scenic cruising.
We were asleep during the former, and out there with them during the latter:) .

We never got the name of our cabin steward. He was so shy it somehow didn't seem right to bound up to him and exchange names or stare at his nametag.
He was very polite though, and personally thanked us both for the extra tip we gave at the end of the cruise.

Well, after two Holland America cruises we feel very comfortable with the line and will be back for more at some time in the future.
For the moment we have Crystal Symphony to look forward to next March, then a few month rest (to pay for the Crystal cruise:eek: )

Cheers
Steve and Chris

[Chivalrygirl]

Really great that you had a really good cruise and got none of the dissatisfaction that built up on the Pacific crossing.

After I posted to you this morning I was watching Sky News and I didn't realise till then how bad things are in Victoria, its a great worry for everybody, I believe you have some NZ fire fighters in the state helping.
We have still got this really cold wind, if you get out of the wind, quite hot but walking on a ridge about midday today, I could have been back in Alaska. 37 degrees boy that is hot, I got offered a deal for the tennis in January, but no one wants to come with me, too hot! lol

We thought the C cabins were really great for a long cruise, gave more length to the cabin and nice to see other people out and about. LIke you said we were in 335 so we only had to walk a few steps to the outside. I don't think you had our cabin steward, he would have given you his card.

[PRINSENDAM]

Here Here!!!

Which one would you like to see here Stephen?
Seems like P&O Australia are calling themselves whatever they like these days,
Carnival Australia,Princess Australia....why not HAL Australia?
They wouldn't dare call themselves Cunard Australia......would they?



Personally I'd like to ORIANA down here as a full time ship... 10 - 14 day runs in the summer and then longer jaunts further north in the winter.

Keep her under P&O though... as opposed to P&O Australia.

The balance has been right up to now... a few ships under P&O Australia... with the more upmarket PACIFC PRINCESS to balance out.

The crowd that want something a bet more upmarket are not going to be too keen on the SUN, SKY etc.

I don't think any HAL ships would be suitable for P&O Australia.

Stephen

[cands]

Hope you have had a safe flight home although at the time I am typing this I think you might still be a several hours from landing in LA.

As you were sitting at the airport I was down at The Rocks visiting STATENDAM. Actually, Ruth and I went down to take our old friend Peter, STATENDAM's Chief Officer, out for lunch. We took him to Phillip's Foote... just across from the ship. Fun place... you sit outside and cook your own steak on a BBQ. Peter said his was as good as Pinnacle!:p

Anyhow, went back to the ship for a few hours. Lots of the gang from the Pacific crossing in October are of coourse, still on board. I'll be back on board in mid January for another cruise in STATENDAM... shortened version.... just ten days... Wellington to Sydney.

Stephen

Stephen,
Hopefully the weather will be much better for your January cruise.

We always enjoy looking at the artwork on the ships we sail. One nice touch on Holland America is the paintings of the ships that share the name of the present version.
We spent a lot of time going up and down the stairs on this trip. We often stopped to check out the detail of the various Statendam ships. What an amazing group of ships. They all seemed to be very much 'of their time', and very good looking. (the jury's still out on the present incumbent;) )

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing the whole fleet series, in due course:) .

Steve and Chris

[cands]

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[PRINSENDAM]

Stephen,
Hopefully the weather will be much better for your January cruise.

We always enjoy looking at the artwork on the ships we sail. One nice touch on Holland America is the paintings of the ships that share the name of the present version.
We spent a lot of time going up and down the stairs on this trip. We often stopped to check out the detail of the various Statendam ships. What an amazing group of ships. They all seemed to be very much 'of their time', and very good looking. (the jury's still out on the present incumbent;) )

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing the whole fleet series, in due course:) .

Steve and Chris


Steve & Chris,

Many thanks. Not too concerned about weather one way or another. I've done the NZ cruise several times... mostly in excellent weather. A Few days of rain or cold won't matter.

Glad you enjoyed the paintings and yesm you are quite right about the present incumbent, but think what the next one might look like! :eek:

Did you not see my book for sale on board? Holland America Line -The Spotless Fleet? The complete collection are in the book.

Best wishes and hope your next cruise is soon!

Stephen