Torn between two great cruise options: Please advise!!!

[TylerRose]

With all the options out there HAL offers, it is hard to reach a decision. Based upon our timing of "cruise" availability, interests, and options we have narrowed it down to two!

Ms Rotterdam 2005 Norwegian Fjords & North Cape from Dover to Copenhagen.
This cruise departs June 20, 2005 and includes Dover, Cruising North Sea, Vik, Norway; Cruising Aurlandsfjord; Flam, Norway; scenic Sognefjord; Hellesylt, Norway; Scenic Geirangerfjord; Geiranger, Norway; cruising the coast and Arctic circle; Tromso, Norway; Honningsvag, Norway; cruising North Cape; Trindheim, Norway; Bergen, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; cruising Lysefjord & Pulpit rock; Skagen, Denmark; Copenhagen, Denmark
...........OR..............
Ms Prinsendam 2005 Mediterranean, Iberia, & Western Europe Cruise from Amsterdam to Copenhagen
This cruise departs June 30, 2005 and includes Amsterdam, Northsea to Vik, Norway; Aurlandsfjord to Flam, Norway; Sognefjord, Stravanger, Norway; Scenic Lysefjord & Pulpit Rock; Skagen, Denmark; Ystad, Sweden; Cruising the Baltic Sea; 2 days in St. Petersburg/ Moscow; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; scenic Sockholm Archipelago; Visby, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark.

We will add on a few days on either end. We have cruised prior on Prinsendam and consider her our favorite ship. The Rotterdam will be a first time for us. We cruise will cruise with a 12 & 14 year old, as well as one wheelchair, but she is ambulatory for brief distances.
Any and all insights would be most apperciated!

Thanks in advance!:)

[RevNeal]

OUCH!

Choices ... choices.

Flip a coin. :D

[localady]

Ms Prinsendam 2005 Mediterranean, Iberia, & Western Europe Cruise from Amsterdam to Copenhagen
This cruise departs June 30, 2005 and includes Amsterdam, Northsea to Vik, Norway; Aurlandsfjord to Flam, Norway; Sognefjord, Stravanger, Norway; Scenic Lysefjord & Pulpit Rock; Skagen, Denmark; Ystad, Sweden; Cruising the Baltic Sea; 2 days in St. Petersburg/ Moscow; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; scenic Sockholm Archipelago; Visby, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark.

Last time I checked the Prinsendam is no where near the Mediterranean or Iberia on this cruise!:eek:

Based in part on your wonderful review of the Prinsendam, we decided to book the July 26th Baltic cruise. :) Not sure you can go wrong with either cruise, although the one on the Prinsendam is a more "traditional" Baltic Itinerary! Have a great time on whichever cruise you choose!:cool:

[elmorejj]

I was thinking the same thing, not a single Med. or Iberian port listed on the Prinsendam Itinerary you quoted ????......jean :cool:

[dakrewser]

THe itinerary you post is the Prinsindam's "Baltic Summer" cruise, which does sail on June 30. That would be my choice. While the Norwegian fjords are wonderful, there's a lot more to northern Europe!

[Pudgesmom]

I can just hear my teenagers saying, "Oh boy, another fiord. Isn't this one exciting!"

I think the more variety in ports, the more interested the kids are. Plus, they get more country stamps on their passports on the Northern Europe tour.

Just my opinion. You know your kids best.
Beth

[doone]

I vote for the Amsterdam, that's my favorite ship and that itinerary is similar to where I went on the Amsterdam. My best cruise yet, I highly recommend it.

[TylerRose]

I must agree... Silly name for great sounding itinerary: I copy and pasted this from the HAL website
ms Prinsendam 2005 Mediterranean, Iberia & Western Cruise

Thu Jun 30, 2005




12



(http://www.hollandamerica.com/shopping?nbrDest=047000&idItin=00002252&sailDate=20050630&idProd=05PRTC&actionName=goFareFinder&shopSelectedUrl=/fareFinder)Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Copenhagen, Denmark :confused:

[Charliesmom]

I have not been on either ship, but I would go to St. Petersburg (and maybe Moscow), Helsinki and Stockholm.

However, I would check with the cruise line concerning handicapped services in the Hermitage which has a lot of stairs in it. I do not know if they have elevators or not.

If you like art you will see a terrific collection in the Hermitage - probably one of the finest in the world. Also, relations with Russia are pretty good at this point. You never know when they will change and then you'll never get to see St. Petersburg. You will need special visas if you want to take independent tours. People on this board have recommended Red October as a very good tour group. When we went, we hired a Russian Mafia taxidriver which worked out well - but this was in 1997 when things were not very stable there.

Stockholm is absolutely lovely. Since your cruise ends up there, spend a couple of extra days. We went there on a Radisson Cruise. The cruise line put us up in a Radisson (which was under construction at the time-not so great) and we spent another couple of days at the Grand Hotel which was lovely. We also took a ferry to Drottenholm Palace and had lunch on the ferry on the way back. It was one of the most romantic meals I have ever had. In Stockholm there is also a streetcar which has a cafe car attached to it, so you can have hot chocolate or coffee or tea and cakes. Stockholm is built on an arichpelago and much of the transportation is by ferry. It is just gorgeous. They also have a very good subway system. Best yet, just about everybody speaks English.

I haven't yet been to the North Cape. One of these days we'll get there.

That's my two cents.

Roberta

[RuthC]

RevNeal said it best---"ouch", is right. Those are some choices! It seems like you can't go wrong with either one.
I've sailed to most of the ports on both itineraries, and sailed the Rotterdam many, many days. You cannot go wrong.

Based on the fact you're taking teens I'd go with the second choice. I agree with Pudgesmom that this cruise would be of more interest to them. If they're not getting bored you can relax a bit more.
And they'll be too tired at night to get into (much?) trouble.

[LizB1]

Having been to all these ports I would agree with RuthC that probably the Prinsendam itinerary would be the most interesting as far as things to see. The Norwegian Fjords cruise is lovely, but if you have done neither I would do the Baltic first.

Only drawback I see with the Prinsendam for the young folks is the size of the pool, but this itinerary is pretty port intensive so may not be a factor.

Whichever cruise you choose I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Having done a few Baltic cruises, I would vote on the Prinsendam's cruise.

We loved Russia and all those other ports.

If you can find RuthC's report of her cruise and the cold and wet weather they had this past June doing the Forjord's, it might help you decide for certain which cruise to take.

[TylerRose]

Can anyone comment on the seas? My folks want to join us but can't handle open ocean very well. SF to Alaska was quite uncomfortable for them...

Thanks for comments. Please keep sending! We are leaning more towards Prinsendam as she is our favorite ship!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have had rough and calm seas in the Baltic. Once I got thrown out of bed in the middle of the night.

When storms do happen, they can be rough, but they don't last that long in the Baltic.

[Ziggy7]

TylerRose,

Wow sounds like you picked 2 possible winners ! Wish we could join you but we cant get away then but I know which ever you pick you will have a great time this time!
Good Luck on your Choosing :)

[Druke I]

Very tough choice.

I have done similar itineraries to both - and were I to repeat one of them, I think I would opt for going into the Baltic and to St. Petersburg.

Again, a real tough choice. Perhaps do one one year, and the other a couple of years later.

[Tatka]

I have not been on either ship, but I would go to St. Petersburg (and maybe Moscow), Helsinki and Stockholm.
Roberta

Let me politely disagree.:)

Or maybe "maybe" was a key word here?;)

If you have only 2-3 days in St.Pete...Please DO NOT SKIP St.Petersbourg GO TO MOSCOW!

Moscow is a huge and beautifull city...Modern and sparkling. Kind of like NY...but St.Peter is absolutely unique historical city.

I was born and raised in USSR and lived 800KM on south from Moscow...I visited Moscow about 7-8 times 3-5 days each. You generally need 1-2 days to have complete picture of it...

St.Petersburg on the other hand is full of things to discover. I've been there twice 1 month and 1 week and had 2 different tours/museums every day.

[jan7487]

The Prinsendam and June 30---no contest! We've been on both ships, done both itineraries,and will repeat the Baltic next year on the 9/6 Prinsendam. I know you've enjoyed the little Prinsendam in the past and IMHO that itinerary is a real winner.

Incidently, we had smooth seas both times---June and late August.

Janet

[Starr Mtn]

Since you mentioned one person uses a wheelchair, my choice would be the newer ship, the Rotterdam. Newer ships should be more accessible. And the itinerary seems more wheelchair friendly. Also the larger ship probably would have more activities for the younger ones in your group.