Ryndam comments please

[pattigay]

I am thinking of a Mexican Riviera cruise on Ryndam in fall. Would like to hear comments on this ship. The size appeals to me - (sailed on Oosterdam to Alaska in May) and have not sailed on other HAL ships since the old Nieuw Amsterdam years ago. Would be in S suite - is there a Neptune Lounge on Ryndam? Thanks for any information.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi Pattigay, We are booked on the Ryndam for the Sea of Cortez on November 13 and just bumped to a S Suite. We were also on the Oosterdam in May. I believe it was May 15th. We have only been on the Zuiderdam and the Oosterdam both Vista Class and we are looking forward to our first S Class ship and our first Suite.

[yarlenna]

It has been years since our Ryndam cruise. No Neptune lounge. S suite still WONDERFUL! Much lower density than newer ships. Very comfortable and she rode well, even in a hurricane! Your balcony will be amazing.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

It is my understanding that they have taken away some of the Inside cabins on the Navigation Deck and put in a Neptune Lounge.
This should come up with the diagram of the Navigation deck for Ryndam showing the Neptune Lounge.
http://www.myovscruise.com/cruises/cruiseco/hollandamerica/ryndam/deckplan7.jsp?cobrand=10999&pid=0&langrecno=1&sessionid=1527676A05410AF667712658B994BE10.tomcat&javascript=&jsessionid=1527676A05410AF667712658B994BE10.tomcat&shiprecno=49&cruiselinerecno=3&shipname=Ryndam&cruiselinename=Holland%20America%20Line

[trinidad]

We were on the Ryndam in March to the Sea of Cortez. The ship was beautiful and immaculate and the service great. We do not like mega ships so the size was perfect. It was Spring Break and there were lots of kids but it was no problem. They kept to the Lido Pool and, for the most part, were well behaved.
There is a Neptune Lounge. I highly recommend the ship.

[Sage]

Trinidad,

Thank you for the nice words about he Ryndam. It makes me all the more anxious to go on our cruise next March. How did you like the ports? Any excursions that should not be missed?

[trinidad]

As far as excursions, your ports will be different - other than Cabo. In Cabo, it was very busy with 3 ships in port. The dock traffic was worse than the 405 freeway. We took a glass bottom boat tour out to the arches which was great. We did not opt to get off at Lovers Beach because the surf makes it difficult and sometimes dangerous jumping (literally) off and on the boat. There were so many boats that the water was very murky so seeing fish was difficult. The water was also COLD so we did not snorkle as we has planned.
The town of Cabo is very busy and full of touristy shops. We got a taxi and went to Da Giorgio restaurant outside of town. It is an absolutely beautiful place, up on a hill overlooking the bay. The bus tour of Cabo also stopped there but only for about 15 minutes. We lingered there for a long time, had a wonderful shrimp cocktail and calamari. It has Italian food.
I know several people enjoyed the Pirate Ship tour. If you have kids, they would love it. Be sure to take the one that actually sails, not just sits in the bay
Have a great time

[DaveOKC]

We are on the Ryndam Dec.4 for the Sea of Cortez and are in a suite. There is a Neptune Lounge now.
We have been on the Ryndam twice before and really like the ship! The Suite experience is also great and hard to give up once you have done it.
Be sure to do the Pinnacle Grill - food is fantasic!
DaveOKC

[tankerjo2]

Agree with everyone...have done the Sea of Cortez cruise on the Ryndam and booked on the Dec 11 Mexico Riviera cruise. Love the size of the ship, great crew and staff and hoping HAL follows up on their survey that they took a few months ago about a possible New Zealand cruise on the Ryndam.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Ryndam

We have been on the Ryndam quite a few times.

The Neptune Lounge and Pinnacle Grill were added in 2002 when she was dry docked in Seattle along with the Statendam.

We have done the Mexican/Sea of Cortez cruise on her - loved it.

The Neptune Lounge on her is wonderful. We were able to enjoy it when we did back-to-back cruises in Alaska in 2003.

Compared with the Oosterdam - the suites are larger as well as larger verandahs.

The dressing room area on the Ryndam is different than on the Oosterdam - larger. You don't have to walk through the dressing room to get to the bathroom. The bathroom door opens inward - not out into the dressing area. Also the entrance into the dressing room is from the bedroom side - not the hallway. On the Ryndam there isn't a separate shower stall from the tub.

:)

[Himself]

I rate the RYNDAM as the nicest of the "S" Class ships. She has a beautiful fountain in the atrium, she is very clean and rides very well. Truely, the Ryndam is well described when the captian refers to the Ryndam as "beautiful and elegant." Go to the Mexican Rivera and enjoy the amenities of the Ryndam!
Himself

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Himself, I am so glad that you think she is the nicest. It seems you so seldom hear much about her. Maybe because she stays on the West Coast. We are looking forward to sailing her in just 122 days.

[CINCY40]

Does anyone know if the new mattresses have been installed in the S Suites on this ship? We are thinking of taking their final 2004 Alaska Cruise. We had the new mattress on the Zuiderdam in May and it was wonderful!

Nancy

[Bill S]

Cincy 40: yes, the new mattresses have been installed. We were on the Rydam in April in a Cat A mini-suite up on the NAV deck and the new mattressess were being put in place in the Cat S and PH cabins during the cruise, but alas, not in the Cat A--our cabin steward told us that our cabin would get the new mattresses during the cruise that followed ours. :mad:


The Ryndam was the first ship onwhich we ever sailed and we have sailed on her twice after that. She is a fine ship and we would never hesitate to sail on her again. Be assured, there is a Neptune Lounge and a Pinnacle Grill. :rolleyes: