Home From the Noordam!

[ASIWISH]

Has anyone started a Home From the Noordam thread, yet?

I didn't see one, but thought it would be nice to re-cap what everyone thought...

We are at Laguardia right now, heading back to Chicago.

[Suesan Jean]

Has anyone started a Home From the Noordam thread, yet?

I didn't see one, but thought it would be nice to re-cap what everyone thought...

We are at Laguardia right now, heading back to Chicago.

Did you have a nice cruise.....???

We sure DID....!!!http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon14.gif :D

The Noordam is a WONDERFULL SHIP, a GREAT CREW and DELICIOUS FOOD....!!!http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon14.gif :D

I have to go start Dinner, but, I will post a "Mini Review" here soon......

I hope you have a safe trip home......

[ASIWISH]

I'll take some time to write a review, as well... but, need to get home first. I leave tomorrow for Scottsdale, AZ for four days of golfing. I would rather be home, but....

Yes, we did have a wonderful cruise... really nothing at all to complain about. Te crew was PERFECT! The ship was wonderful! The ports were terrific! even New York City for four days was enjoyable... loved Spamalot the Musical!

I'll post tomorrow night, after I get done golfing, and can find some time. I'm anxious to see if I gained more weight than jdouglej!!!

Can't wait to sail on the Noordam, and Holland America Line, again!!!!

I enjoyed meeting you Suesan Jean!

[cage keeper]

Has anyone started a Home From the Noordam thread, yet?

I didn't see one, but thought it would be nice to re-cap what everyone thought...

We are at Laguardia right now, heading back to Chicago.

We were waiting for you to start. Hope you have a great flight. It was fun having you and your family for neighbors and seeing you all so much. But I WANT TO GO BACKKKKKKKK!:D

[Momee]

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take me back. But being that I do not fly Florida is a long way to get back on HAL. I want to settle into that Line, because It is now my favorite but it leaving N.Y. they are going to loose business: MINEhttp://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[ASIWISH]

We were waiting for you to start. Hope you have a great flight. It was fun having you and your family for neighbors and seeing you all so much. But I WANT TO GO BACKKKKKKKK!:D
I agree! We had the best neighbors in the Caribbean!!!

I enjoyed our time together, Joanie!

[EastCoast]

My parents both agree that this was a wonderful cruise.
Mom loved the little chairs and table that the bar servers created from the champagne wires and cork-
"Best service Lido Bar Larry and Queens Lounge Sid"

[SakeDad]

I think she's a FABULOUS ship and you can see my "tour" of her here http://sakedad.smugmug.com/gallery/2911393_tPEQr#P-37-20 Of course my Alaska gallery has pics of her throughout, but this is where I went through the ship just taking pictures of her.

[kreemmer]

We too had a wonderful vacation on the 3/19 sailing of the Noordam. We were especially happy that the bad weather only really lasted one day. It was the rockiest I have ever experienced. It was a very relaxing cruise which is just what we wanted. We usually cruise with Princess and there were things I like much better on Princess and things I liked on HAL.

We thought the bar service was great. I have been on 17 cruises and this was the best bar service anywhere. I thought Sid from the Ocean Bar ONLY made us those cute table and chairs from champagne wires!! They were a nice gift and so appreciated, even if others received them too. Our cabin steward and dining room staff were all very friendly and provided excellent service also. This seems to be HAL's trademark and they do live up to their reputation.

We were in cabin 4166 with double wide balcony. There were no lounge chairs there and I asked our cabin steward if we could have two. He told us we would have to ask at the front desk which I did. I got a call that afternoon from Olivia saying it was not possible to get the lounge chairs. The next day I saw a different person at the front desk, Vincent, and asked him for the lounge chairs but...this time I mentioned cruise critic. I said I had seen pictures on CC of this verandah with lounge chairs and was very disappointed! That afternoon the lounge chairs arrived. Cause and effect... I tend to think that "Cruise Critic" were the magic words. Both Olivia and Vincent later called to ask if they had arrived, they both claimed to have been the ones to secure them for us.

We were not very impressed with the food some nights. One night the salmon was very dry and cold and the King Crab was terrible, very small pieces, and not hot enough either. Princess has much better salads, HAL had great soups. Desserts on both lines were good maybe with the ice cream selection going to HAL although their banana foster was inedible. Other nights the food was very good especially the Osso bucco and traditional Dutch food night with a delicious dish Nasi Goreng(?). The lobster and filet mignon were good as was the Prime rib. We did not love AWD but this is all we could get as we only booked this cruise in December. I much prefer Traditional second seating dining at a Table for Two. I made reservations every morning when I awoke. Most days we got our requested waiter and Table for Two. Alan was very helpful in the dining room trying to make sure we were happy.

The Lido buffet was set up poorly and took very long to get anything. We like Princess set up and the fact that they are open 24 hours much better. The Lido was also closed often when we wanted to get some snacks after a day at the beach. We usually ate lunch in the dining room because of this but some days this was not possible when we were in port. We also enjoyed sitting with others during lunch.

Room service for Breakfast was wonderful. Eggs were hot, they even had egg beaters. We got everything we requested and even ordered things not on the breakfast menu- the Sunshine Parfait and salmon, bagel and cream cheese. We had breakfast in the dining room once or twice and it was very good. Room service was slow in the afternoon but the cheese platters were nice with a glass of wine after being on the go all day.

Our cabin did not have enough storage space for us and was a awkward layout with doors blocking the bathroom. There were no drawers by the desk either to keep my make-up etc. in and I hated that we could not use the refrigerator and it was jammed with things to buy. Another difference on Princess.

The aft pool was very nice and never crowded. We had no trouble getting chairs. We liked all the ports. We had been to all except Tortola before and enjoyed our trip to The Baths. We like the pool at Grand Turk and went to Little Divi Beach in St. Maarten by taxi. In St. Thomas we just shopped a bit as the day was overcast and rainy on and off.

Entertainment was OK. We laughed at the comedian Marty Brill and liked the singer Emma Sinclair. We went to the piano bar a few nights. Ian was at his best playing show tunes, in my opinion. Once again though, we didn't like that we had to go to a show at 7 PM if we were eating dinner at 8:15. On Princess we always had the late seating and then went to a show afterwards- 10:30 or so. We really prefer this especially on a relaxing cruise such as this, when we are not in a hurry to get to bed early.

I went to the Meet and Greet and it was nice to meet many people but the bad weather and rocking ship, I am sure kept many way. The Crow's nest was definitely not the place to be in weather such as we had.

We would definitely cruise HAL again there were enough positive things. This summer we are cruising on Celebrity's Constellation . It will be interesting to compare all three- HAL, Princess and Celebrity.

If anyone has any other specific questions, I will be glad to answer them.

Kathy

[Rhea58]

kreemer: was there a round stool under the mirror to sit on?
If so, the top comes off, and the steward transferred all the hootch
into it so I had a empty refrigerator for my wants.
Agree w/you re the Lido. Evenings, adding linens & having to order & wait
didn't cut it for me plus I felt it was poorly managed so ate mostly
in the dining room. And we, too ,had rough seas for the M&G so
few attended the first one due to mal de mer...but all in all,
it was 10 days of bliss for me.

[cage keeper]

I agree! We had the best neighbors in the Caribbean!!!

I enjoyed our time together, Joanie!

We did also. Here's hoping we book the same cruise again someday. I am already looking at a few.:D

Did your sister enjoy the rest of her cruise? Where did she sail out from?

[innlady1]

<snip>
Entertainment was OK. We laughed at the comedian Marty Brill and liked the singer Emma Sinclair. We went to the piano bar a few nights. Ian was at his best playing show tunes, in my opinion. Once again though, we didn't like that we had to go to a show at 7 PM if we were eating dinner at 8:15. On Princess we always had the late seating and then went to a show afterwards- 10:30 or so. We really prefer this especially on a relaxing cruise such as this, when we are not in a hurry to get to bed early.
<snip>
Kathy

When we sailed on the Noordam in early February, the pianist in the Piano Bar was Brad Stevens. Has he left the Noordam?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome home.

[cage keeper]

[/font]

When we sailed on the Noordam in early February, the pianist in the Piano Bar was Brad Stevens. Has he left the Noordam?


It is now Ian. But we never got the pleasure of hearing him.

[ctsally]

Howdy, Rhea! I agree, it was ten days of bliss. I'm still going through "Noordam Withdrawal" and only hope I can get back on her some day.
The staff, the activities, the food...everything was top-notch.

[mamaofami]

I'm still going through Noordam withdrawal and I've been home since 2/16/08.

[ASIWISH]

We did also. Here's hoping we book the same cruise again someday. I am already looking at a few.:D

Did your sister enjoy the rest of her cruise? Where did she sail out from?
They loved it! They were on the RCCL Serenade of the Seas out of San Juan... although, it seemed like they were charged for more things than we were. She was surprised!

She did love our Verandahs, though! She was waving to all ov us as we left St. Maarten! I told her that we became friends and that you were in the verandah above us!

Right now, I'm thinking about the Eurodam on November 8th... surpising Nancy for our 20th Anniversary (September). Morgan was born on our 5th wedding anniversary, and she won't let us leave her!!!

Have a great night!!!;)

[cage keeper]

They loved it! They were on the RCCL Serenade of the Seas out of San Juan... although, it seemed like they were charged for more things than we were. She was surprised!

She did love our Verandahs, though! She was waving to all ov us as we left St. Maarten! I told her that we became friends and that you were in the verandah above us!

Right now, I'm thinking about the Eurodam on November 8th... surpising Nancy for our 20th Anniversary (September). Morgan was born on our 5th wedding anniversary, and she won't let us leave her!!!

Have a great night!!!;)

That sounds wonderful. Lucky Nancy. And Morgan.:D

I'm looking at the Panama Canal for next March out of Fort Lauderdale. That or driving and camping both coasts of Florida. Never been to the Keys or Miami.

[speakertosuits]

I just wanted to thank the hosts for our cabin crawl, Mark&Joni, dhjson, Thomas & Suesan and most of all Chuck & Kerry who graciously arranged for a lavish champagne tea for us famished (not likely!) cabin crawlers. I have posted my review to the cruise critic members review, look under Noordam. I see that several others posted their reviews under the general HAL thread.

By the way, as of 6:15 PM Saturday, the Noordam was still in port. Some folks we met on a Crown Princess cruise are on this crossing and we look forward to their postings.

Cruise well everyone.

[innlady1]

I just wanted to thank the hosts for our cabin crawl, Mark&Joni, dhjson, Thomas & Suesan and most of all Chuck & Kerry who graciously arranged for a lavish champagne tea for us famished (not likely!) cabin crawlers. I have posted my review to the cruise critic members review, look under Noordam. I see that several others posted their reviews under the general HAL thread.

By the way, as of 6:15 PM Saturday, the Noordam was still in port. Some folks we met on a Crown Princess cruise are on this crossing and we look forward to their postings.

Cruise well everyone.


I would love to be on this cruise...and am sorry that we didn't pursue it! We will have to live vicariously with the "Live From..." thread. :rolleyes:

[cage keeper]

I just wanted to thank the hosts for our cabin crawl, Mark&Joni, dhjson, Thomas & Suesan and most of all Chuck & Kerry who graciously arranged for a lavish champagne tea for us famished (not likely!) cabin crawlers. I have posted my review to the cruise critic members review, look under Noordam. I see that several others posted their reviews under the general HAL thread.

By the way, as of 6:15 PM Saturday, the Noordam was still in port. Some folks we met on a Crown Princess cruise are on this crossing and we look forward to their postings.

Cruise well everyone.


I second this. We had a great time. And seeing Chuck and Kerry's penthouse suite was wonderful. We also enjoyed being in the cooking classes with them. Hope we all get to cruise together again someday.

I haven't gotten the chance to do a proper review yet but I will.