Noordam 2/27/08

[jrgiorda]

Hello,

My fiance (the male half, age 49) and myself (the female half, age 43) will be cruising on the Noordam on Feb 27th to the Eastern Caribbean. It would be great to "talk" with others who are going to be on board for this cruise...I am hoping to find someone who might be interested in a dive buddy to scuba with in Grand Turk and Tortola. I'm a certified scuba diver but the finance doesn't dive.

Also, I would be interested in any information about the ship, what it might be like sailing from NY in February (!!!-should I be concerned about how rough it will be?), and whether or not there is a buffet available at dinnertime (the fiance will be VERY disappointed if there isn't)? This is our first cruise on Holland America, we have cruised with NCL (2) and I have cruised with Royal Caribbean (1), what differences can we look forward to?

:)

[sab490]

Hello,

My fiance (the male half, age 49) and myself (the female half, age 43) will be cruising on the Noordam on Feb 27th to the Eastern Caribbean. It would be great to "talk" with others who are going to be on board for this cruise...I am hoping to find someone who might be interested in a dive buddy to scuba with in Grand Turk and Tortola. I'm a certified scuba diver but the finance doesn't dive.

Also, I would be interested in any information about the ship, what it might be like sailing from NY in February (!!!-should I be concerned about how rough it will be?), and whether or not there is a buffet available at dinnertime (the fiance will be VERY disappointed if there isn't)? This is our first cruise on Holland America, we have cruised with NCL (2) and I have cruised with Royal Caribbean (1), what differences can we look forward to?

:)

We sailed in December and the weather was not too bad, but there have been cruises that have been very rough.

Yes, the Lido buffet is open for dinner with some of the same menu items as the main dining room and from what I hear some additional ones..

We have never been on NCL, but have been on RCCL 7 times. You will find much better service, better food, and much better beds on Noordam. You wil also find less late night activities. It is a calmer, more refined experience, but the ship is beautiful and the extraordinary service makes it very special (IMHO).

Go to the Roll Call section and see if there is one for your cruise. If not, start one. You will meet others there who will be on your cruise.

[mamaofami]

We sailed on the Noordam last February and will be going again this February. The seas were a bit rough the first and last day, but nothing bad. However, there were some cruises in January that did have very rough seas. Be prepared with some sea sick meds and you'll be fine.

As has been already said, the Lido buffet is open at night, but the main dining room is very elegant and you shouldn't miss having dinner there.

The Noordam is a wonderful ship. The food was very good, the service wonderful, the ship beautiful, and you should have a wonderful time.

[jrgiorda]

Thanks to both Carol and Steve for your responses. I promise not to miss the dining room but the Fiance has a buffet disease. You can usually find him at the buffet after dinner in the dining room!

I did post a message on the Roll Call board. I didn't see one already posted there for our sail date. Hope it generates some responses.

I am really looking forward to this cruise, my sister is a travel agent and she promised that if I booked a cruise with Holland America I wouldn't be sorry (even thought she was a little short on details about the Noordam specifically).

Thanks again.

PS to Carol: too bad we aren't booked on the same cruise, it would have been a pleasure to meet you.

[Gonzo70]

The buffet is also open for breakfast and lunch and there is a late night buffet (I think at either 11pm or 11:30pm). Dinners in the dining room is for most people a higlight of the trip, so I would definitely recommend utilizing the buffets for breakfast/lunch/late night but trying the main dining room for dinner for at least the first couple of nights. If his appetite is real big, one can order multiple entrees at no cost in the main dining room.

Enjoy the cruise; it is a very nice ship!

[meidda]

Hi,
My sister and I will be on that same cruise. I am 54 and she is 47. Her boyfriend who is the same age will also be with us. I don't scuba but will be doing my usual snorkel-stand-snorkel routine.
This will be our first HAl cruise. I have only been on one cruise to date and that was the Crown Princess and loved it. They have one under their belt as well. It was one of the very old NCL ships before it was put out to pasture or to sea, or whatever you do with aging ships. Actually I think she told me that the engine blew up on route to its final resting place. Meidda

[mamaofami]

Thanks to both Carol and Steve for your responses. I promise not to miss the dining room but the Fiance has a buffet disease. You can usually find him at the buffet after dinner in the dining room!

I did post a message on the Roll Call board. I didn't see one already posted there for our sail date. Hope it generates some responses.

I am really looking forward to this cruise, my sister is a travel agent and she promised that if I booked a cruise with Holland America I wouldn't be sorry (even thought she was a little short on details about the Noordam specifically).

Thanks again.

PS to Carol: too bad we aren't booked on the same cruise, it would have been a pleasure to meet you.


Thanks, I would have liked to meet you too, but I'm sure you'll meet lots of great people.

I visit your neck of the woods often. Have stayed at the Hampton Maid many many times. The Lobster Inn on 27 is my very favorite restaurant for lobster and steamers. The last few years we've gone to Montauk, but the motel we've stayed at for over 25 years, Panoramic is going condo, much to our regret.

I'll take good care of the Noordam for you.

[innlady1]

Hello,

My fiance (the male half, age 49) and myself (the female half, age 43) will be cruising on the Noordam on Feb 27th to the Eastern Caribbean. It would be great to "talk" with others who are going to be on board for this cruise...I am hoping to find someone who might be interested in a dive buddy to scuba with in Grand Turk and Tortola. I'm a certified scuba diver but the finance doesn't dive.

Also, I would be interested in any information about the ship, what it might be like sailing from NY in February (!!!-should I be concerned about how rough it will be?), and whether or not there is a buffet available at dinnertime (the fiance will be VERY disappointed if there isn't)? This is our first cruise on Holland America, we have cruised with NCL (2) and I have cruised with Royal Caribbean (1), what differences can we look forward to?

:)

I was on the same cruise as Carol (and may well be again this year...we just haven't booked anything yet!).

As she said, it was a little rough the first and last days, but nothing unmanageable. Bring ginger capsules, Dramamine or Bonine, etc. and you should be all set. Some had the seasickness bracelets, too.

However, there were very rough seas on one of the other Noordam cruises, so it's better to be safe than sorry and well prepared with the meds!

I've only cruised on Princess and HAL so can't answer your questions there.

The Lido is fine for dinner, but the dining room is a "not to miss" at least some of the evenings.

The 1st night, we ate dinner at the Lido and it was lovely. We had early seating and were so enthralled by sailing by the skyline and Lady Liberty that we would have been too late for the dining room...and we were tired, as well, so ate and called it a night!

As it gets closer to the time, your roll call will become active. Some are more active than others, it seems.

Enjoy your cruise!

[mamaofami]

Sheila. I hope you decide to book in February. Being excited to meet you after all the correspondence we had done on the roll call, I went looking for you in the dining room the first night. but, no one knew what table you were at. I guess that's because you were in the Lido.:)

[grandsix]

Hello,

My fiance (the male half, age 49) and myself (the female half, age 43) will be cruising on the Noordam on Feb 27th to the Eastern Caribbean. It would be great to "talk" with others who are going to be on board for this cruise...I am hoping to find someone who might be interested in a dive buddy to scuba with in Grand Turk and Tortola. I'm a certified scuba diver but the finance doesn't dive.

Also, I would be interested in any information about the ship, what it might be like sailing from NY in February (!!!-should I be concerned about how rough it will be?), and whether or not there is a buffet available at dinnertime (the fiance will be VERY disappointed if there isn't)? This is our first cruise on Holland America, we have cruised with NCL (2) and I have cruised with Royal Caribbean (1), what differences can we look forward to?

:)
Go to "Roll Calls" (you will find it under Boards). If you register there you probably find others who are going on the February 27th cruise.

[cdkempton]

JRGIORDA You say your sister was a little short on the Noordam details. You should go to the Holland America web site and click on fleet and Noordam. The web site has wonderful pictures of all the public areas, state rooms, as well as the deck plans. Check it out for more information and great pix.
Bon Voyage!