Prinsendam vs other HAL ships

[kruzkeen]

I would be interested to read any comparisons between the Prinsendam and the S, R or V class ships from CC regulars who have cruised on both recently. I know that the Prinsendam got off to bad reviews in 2002 after the change over.

Were there any facilities or features on the regular ships that were missed on the Prinsendam? I have sailed 10 times on HAL on S, V and R class ships as well as Vista and am considering the Prinsendam next summer in Europe. The other choices are the Rotterdam or the Westerdam.

I have two sets of friends who chose the Prinsendam for its Asian itineraries. They loved the ports of call, but were a lukewarm about the ship. For the most part they said the ship was ‘fine’ or ‘OK’.

The positives were the smaller passenger load and the traditional overall feel of being a ship as opposed to being a floating hotel.

The negatives were that:
1. The lido deck did not have a retractable roof. On cloudy, cool or windy days at sea the pool was not an option and there was not many places to sit on the open decks.

2. The lower promenade deck was narrow and there were few lounges to sit and get out of the sun on hot days.

3. The dining room was congested and did not have the spacious feeling that the two level dining rooms have on the other ships.

I have read reviews of the Prinsendam that mention leaking pipes and blocked up toilets. I know that this can happen on any ship.

Have sailed years ago on the Celebrity Zenith and the old Pacific Princess (Love Boat), so am not unfamiliar with smaller ships. I am not sure after the great S class ships that I would not miss some of their up to date features.

Maybe on a ports of call intensive cruise the above drawbacks would not be a factor.

[petermccue]

We sailed on the Prinsendam a year ago on a Canada/New England itinerary, and have just returned from the Zuiderdam on a 16 day Caribbean cruise (B2Bs that got a freebie two days courtesy of Hurricane Jeanne).

All in all, I liked the Prinsendam just a hair better than the Z.

I'm not a big pool person, so the lack of a retractable roof wasn't a biggie for me. It was nice to use the pool on the Z, but I didn't really enjoy the 'swim with a horde of folks' feel, so I didn't use it much.

Yeah, the promenade was a bit narrower than the one on the Z. It was however, usable and functional. Nice loungers ...

I didn't find any lack of lounges inside, myself. And since it was stormy, we were using them.

(shrugs) The dining room was about the same ... from what I saw. We were seated in the 'main' section of the dining room on the P, and it was spacious enough. At least as comfy as the lower dining room on the Z. Low ceilings on both. I actually thought the tables were spaced better on the P, and since my mother uses a wheelchair ... we notice that. It was easier to get her around in the P than the Z.

Really the only things you'd notice were the lack of a dedicated theater (which, I might add, the Vista ships also lack)... since the movies on the P are shown in a smaller room .. which has a screen, but sometimes is used for other things.

Also, the shops are not nearly as large as on the Vista ships.

I didn't notice backed up toilets, etc. on either ship.

Spa on the P isn't as nice as on the Z. It's more cramped. A lot less exercise equipment.

We liked the P so much, we've got our TA set to book us on the World Cruise.

I just liked the more intimate feel. It was SOOO much easier to get to know folks on the P than on the Z. And the staff was ... easier to get to know too. It's not that the Z's staff wasn't friendly, it's just that it was easier to get lost in the crowd there.

V

[localady]

We liked the P so much, we've got our TA set to book us on the World Cruise.

I just liked the more intimate feel. It was SOOO much easier to get to know folks on the P than on the Z. And the staff was ... easier to get to know too. It's not that the Z's staff wasn't friendly, it's just that it was easier to get lost in the crowd there.

V
Wow, that sounds like an awesome adventure! We are taking the Prinsendam on a Baltic Itinerary next summer and I am very excited about the fact that being a smaller ship we can traverse the Kiel Canal. Can hardly wait!:cool:

[TylerRose]

Thr Prinsendam would be my first choice. Less people on board, and truely a lovely ship. Yes, different from all the others... but thats a big plus!

Her biggest drawback : PRICE. We are debating the very same cruise... but suite prices are very high and as a family on her, we must have them.

For those traveling as a family, here were the biggest differences.
Only the suites allowed the third person in cabin.
No dedicated Club Hal area as of last summer... Kids loved that, they had the run of the ship... all 17 of them! This summer the Zuiderdam had 400 loose on our voyage and I heard 800 the week before. We cruise the same time yearly, so the ship and destination does make a difference.

We made more friends on the Prinsendam than any other ship because the Crows nest is a fantastic viewing lounge and people in Alaska were either in there sharing appetizers, and playing group games and listening to music, or up top sharing views and Hot Chocolate.
My kids swam daily in Alaska without the roof... (Too cold for me to consider!)... On Zuiderdam they waded from one side of the pool slowly to the other side daily... too crowded to actually hang out.

Shopping.... They use the hallways, and their is more than enough to stare at.

HAL is my favorite line, and P-dam my favorite ship!

[fran2]

I am just home from a 2 week cruise on the Prinsendam in Western Europe. One nice feature not yet mentioned is that there are never crowds. Waiting to get off on the tenders, waiting for your tour to be announced, waiting for the dining room to open, and especially in the Lido--there is never a crowd. It is easy to find a table in the Lido or out on deck for breakfast or lunch. Also, it is easy to learn your way around.

We loved this ship and would go back in a heartbeat.

[Cruiseoften]

Also, the shops are not nearly as large as on the Vista ships.

Were Prinsendam's shops more interestingly stocked than on other ships?

What's been available on any of HAL ships lately has been mostly over-priced junk that's been around for several seasons.

[RuthC]

Also, the shops are not nearly as large as on the Vista ships.This is not a bad thing!

[petermccue]

Less kitsch on the P, but also a bit less of necessities. No socks or underwear. Only one choice of shorts (we didn't pack .. and then needed)... etc.

Not much jewelry, but that wasn't much loss to me.

So, yeah, while I'd say 50% of what wasn't there wasn't missed, there were some things that I would have liked to have had a choice of.

V

[Acrusa]

We sailed the Prinsendam twice.The first time was in the Baltic, Russia ,Germany the Kiel Canal.The best ship HAL has to offer.The 2nd time we took the Prinsendam was in Asia,Bangkok to Sigapore.The ship is truly a small yacht type expierience.We tried to book next March India to Cape Town but the ship is sold out.So we are going on the Silver Wind Instead.We where on The Amsterdam this past March ,Chile to Buenis Aires.The difference between the 2 are great.First the Prinsendam was a little more intamite and the staff a little bit more elegant in the way they served.For instance we noticed in the lido for lunch,when you got your food tray full,there was always some one to show you to a table and carry your tray.There where hardly any lines to form for the tours.The cabins not as large as the other HAL ships but they where fine.If it was up to me I would choose the Prinsendan above the rest.

[Cruiseoften]

Less kitsch on the P, but also a bit less of necessities. No socks or underwear. Only one choice of shorts (we didn't pack .. and then needed)... etc.

Not much jewelry, but that wasn't much loss to me.

So, yeah, while I'd say 50% of what wasn't there wasn't missed, there were some things that I would have liked to have had a choice of.

V

Thanks petermccue - Never had need of socks or underwear :) so that's OK - jewelry no hardship there - and the kitsch I can also do without.

Guess gender dictates what you think of as necessities on a cruise - forgot my mascara and was advised that I'd have to have a full 'make-up' (cost about $65.00) in the Salon - mascara not sold on board - I survived without!

[jhannah]

We got home last night from 13 days on board the Prinsendam. She's a fine ship, IMO. Yes, the shops are small and limited in their offerings. But who really goes on a cruise to shop the ship? I mean, come on ... the ports are full of more interesting stuff.

The Prinsendam does have a dedicated Wajang Theater.

We did not find the dining room crowded. Very pleasant. Adequate service, but not outstanding. Stewards simply have too many tables to tend (again, IMO.) Food was wonderful in both taste and presentation.

One big draw for us was the lack of feeling like you were in a mob of people. Port disembarkation, even tendering, were quick and easy. It only took a few minutes to get from the dining room (aft) to the Queen's Lounge (forward.) They did stage the Captain's Black and White Ball in the Explorer's Lounge ... and that was horribly crowded.

We're looking forward to going back next year to circle the British Isles. Booked it on board.

[localady]

We're looking forward to going back next year to circle the British Isles. Booked it on board.Sounds like a wonderful cruise, it's a great time of year to be in the British Isles and you will leave from Amsterdam as we are on the July 26 Prinsendam Baltic cruise!:D

A quick question, were you at a larger table on the Prinsendam? We found it took longer when sitting at the larger tables vs. when we had table for 2 on our last cruise.

Can't wait to hear all about you other thoughts of the cruise and the ship as you have time and the inclination.:)

[jhannah]

It was a wonderful cruise, localady. We were at a table for 8. Table 160 in the front (toward portside) of the main dining room. (There's a smaller, narrow dining area just forward.) Our service was reasonably good ... but frankly not great. Water/tea glasses remained unreplenished for long periods on most nights. One night, no replenishment at all. Took the servers until week 2 to remember to bring iced tea without prompting. Some nights, service clicked right along. One evening we were 45 minutes into the meal time before we got our entrees. No biggie ... just not what I've experienced before with HAL. The dining room stewards simply had too many tables to cover, IMO.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

A quick question, were you at a larger table on the Prinsendam? We found it took longer when sitting at the larger tables vs. when we had table for 2 on our last cruise.
localady, we came to the same conclusion after our last cruise. Yes, I do agree they have too many tables to attend to but I think when you get a table for 6 or 8 they have been taught to serve the course to everyone at the table at the same time. So if someone at your table order 2 appetizers a salad and a soup, then another only orders a salad it takes forever to get the main entree. We prefer the table for 6 near the aft window so we have just come to expect a little slower service. We have found when we pay a little bit more attention to our server and acknowledge him frequently we get a little bit better service (sometimes better than others at our table:o )

[kruzkeen]

Thanks to all for your balanced comments on the Prinsendam. I hope to do one it's port intensive cruises next summer.

[shipcafe]

Just in case you may not have seen them :

http://www.shipcafe.net/shipcafe/pr/prdm04.htm

Steve

[localady]

localady, we came to the same conclusion after our last cruise. Yes, I do agree they have too many tables to attend to but I think when you get a table for 6 or 8 they have been taught to serve the course to everyone at the table at the same time. So if someone at your table order 2 appetizers a salad and a soup, then another only orders a salad it takes forever to get the main entree. We prefer the table for 6 near the aft window so we have just come to expect a little slower service. We have found when we pay a little bit more attention to our server and acknowledge him frequently we get a little bit better service (sometimes better than others at our table:o )
Lisa-
That makes sense to me. It seemed also that they would grab the orders first at a smaller table, especially when some would arrive late at a larger table. :cool:

Steve-
I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful pics of the Prinsendam. Your pictures are what "nailed it" for us to try her and we are so looking forward to the cruise. I noticed that your pictures showed the back of the lanai cabins (A196 &A197) as having windows facing the back deck, we are hoping those windows are private as we reserved one !!
Your pics on all the ship make me feel like I've been there before when I get on a new HAL ship, thanks again!!!:) :cool:

[Acrusa]

My wife and i have been on 15 cruises in all,and have only been in the late seating.We find that late seating passangers tend to linger longer at dinner.The rush to serve never bothered us.We look foward to leasurly dining or just being at sedinner after a day AT SEA.

[jan7487]

To LocalLady

I believe the glass you see in Steve's Prinsendam pictures are the lanai enclosures for SS198 and SS199, not back windows for either 196 or 197. The two category SS have smoked glassed enclosed "porches".

Janet

[localady]

Janet-

Thanks for the clarification! I have seen pictures that make it look like there are windows so I am really not sure. The cabin location is exciting, I just hope it affords privacy!:cool: