Library on Westerdam

[ambrose64]

I am a book worm and was looking forward to spending quality time in the library I have seen on the web site. Please, tell me it's not true that it no longer exists and they have moved it to make more room for "selling" things. Is there someone out there who has been on the Westerdam in the last month and can confirm or deny this vicious rumor.:eek:

[Moriah]

Hi Pat and David!!
You will LOVE what they have done to make the library (IMO) even better. The books are now up on deck 10, in what used to be the starboard half of the Crow's Nest, plus the starboard room just behind the CN. It's now the coffee/internet/library and I found it very lovely. There are ample comfortable couches and chairs and it's a cozy place to choose a book, get a special coffee, and relax while taking in the amazing views from the Crow's nest windows. When the library was on deck 3 it looked out onto the promenade, and while that wasn't bad, I think the new one is better! I'll be curious about what you think when you board the Westerdam. I think you'll enjoy your "quality time" in the library just as much if not more than before, but of course that's just my two cents. I did sort of miss that amazing marble table in the library since it was the site of a late night amazing gift surprise for me on a previous cruise, which is another story... well... table's gone but I still have the gift and the memory!
Yes, that space is now more shopping...
Moriah

[caviargal]

The new library is simply fabulous and I was thrilled that HAL has not gone the way of other lines and made it an afterthought. Lots of books, chess boards, magazines, lounge chairs and a coffee bar right in the middle. Superb!

[Lurker1]

I think you will like the new set-up. There's an internet cafe there as well, and you can always wander into the crow's nest and find a quiet spot (during the daytime, that is).

[cruiseapril]

Wonder where they put that beautiful library table? They took it off the ship?

The Internet/Library area is great, but that little library was nice too. Wish they had kept both.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Exploration's Cafe and Library on Deck 10 - starboard side of the Crow's Nest is very nice.

When we got off the Westerdam last Sunday, that beautiful old table in the Erasmus Library was still there - holding many items that had yet to be placed on the shelves. Don't know if it is going to be removed.

[jimgev]

I'm happy to hear about what they did with the library. I had a similar concern and was puzzled when I didn't see "Library" on any of the deck plans of the new Eurodam. I can see now that it is included in the same way as the reconfiguration of the Westerdam.:)
Jim

[atudorquene]

I am a book worm and was looking forward to spending quality time in the library I have seen on the web site. Please, tell me it's not true that it no longer exists and they have moved it to make more room for "selling" things. Is there someone out there who has been on the Westerdam in the last month and can confirm or deny this vicious rumor.:eek:

cruise it was closed and filled with some Russian goods, and to add insult to injury that shop was only open about two times for short periods the whole cruise. They had some books up near the Internet cafe, but I couldn't figure out how one checked them out. Didn't have time anyway, was exhausted from days of exploration.

[RedmondCruiser]

At the end of the Panama Canal Cruise they were moving the books up to deck 10, to avail more retail space. On deck 10 they already had paper backs to which they will now add the hard backs. The mystery to me is how they are ever going to move the inlayed marble table that was the center piece of the Erasmus Library ? One good thing about the Vista ships is that they have plenty of hideaway areas to read a book.

[Barek]

HAL needs to update their website. Their online "virtual tour" still contain the Erasmus Library as it existed on deck 3. Looks like the eBrochure will need updating too. Can tell if the on-line deck plans still need updating (they're currently not working on the site).

[May4]

Count me among the fans of the Westerdam Explorations Cafe. I checked it out soon after arriving on board. Espresso in hand, I found a book or two and flopped myself down on one of those delightful couches.

I quite contentedly read a chapter or two, got in some people watching, participated in some eavesdropping, and enjoyed the view from the Crows Nest windows.

Very soon, the staterooms were ready. It's an embarkation day plan I intend to repeat.

You'll find a wonderful selection of books to take to your room. A friendly Westerdam crew member will most likely be sitting behind the desk when you arrive.

[O2B@C]

.... They had some books up near the Internet cafe, but I couldn't figure out how one checked them out. ....

"Some books"? When I was on Westerdam in November 2007, all of the ship's extensive and diverse book collection had been moved up to the new library in the Explorations Cafe off the Crow's Nest, except for a small group of travel guides and other travel-related books that were being kept in the old Erasmus Library. I didn't check out any books from the new library, but it wasn't hard to figure out how to do so. There was a crew person staffing the Explorations Cafe, as a combination librarian and internet center tech helper, during most of the daylight hours, at least. The books that had been kept down in the Erasmus Library were available only for reference, and were not supposed to be checked out.

Frankly, I found it confusing for the ship to have two libraries, and I'm not surprised that this situation didn't last. I enjoyed the Crow's Nest / Internet Cafe / Library combination, so I don't mind the old library being gone. I would have hoped, however, that they would find a better use for that beautiful room than to put a shop in it. With a few changes in the furnishings, it would have made a lovely space for private functions and small group activities. Oh well - I guess they figured they could make more money off it as a shop. Bummer - it is such an exquisitely decorated room - and I do hope they find some good way to use that gorgeous table.

[willowoodf]

My question is, what if you want to check your e-mail at night? I oftentimes would check my e-mail on the way to bed, but how can you do that if the Internet Cafe is "in" the Crow's Nest???

Mary

[RuthC]

My question is, what if you want to check your e-mail at night? I oftentimes would check my e-mail on the way to bed, but how can you do that if the Internet Cafe is "in" the Crow's Nest???
On the Vistas the Crow's Nest isn't the nighttime hot spot it is on the S- and R- class ships.

[O2B@C]

My question is, what if you want to check your e-mail at night? I oftentimes would check my e-mail on the way to bed, but how can you do that if the Internet Cafe is "in" the Crow's Nest??? Mary

On Westerdam, at least, the Explorations Cafe, including the internet center, is kind of around the corner from the part of the Crow's Nest where the bar and dance floor are. There's no wall in between the two, but there is a sort of psychological separation, and there is an entrance on the starboard side that takes you directly into the internet center area. So even if there is some nighttime activity going on in the CN, you can still easily make use of the computers at night. You might hear a little music spilling over from the bar, but you wouldn't be right in the middle of any partying activity.