Explorations cafe powered by the New York times?

I'm new to cruising as i have only been on one. I was on the Crown princess that had the list problem. I am now looking into my next cruise and I am keeping all lines open for my next. I am curious to what the "Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times" is? I work for the NYT and was curious. Also the MS Noordam looks like a gorgeous ship. Actually another question just popped up. Does Holland America have plans to enter into the giant ship building phase going on? Thier ships while gorgeous are on the smaller side for todays standards. Do they have plans for bigger ships? Thanks for the help

I'm new to cruising as i have only been on one. I was on the Crown princess that had the list problem. I am now looking into my next cruise and I am keeping all lines open for my next. I am curious to what the "Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times" is? I work for the NYT and was curious. Also the MS Noordam looks like a gorgeous ship. Actually another question just popped up. Does Holland America have plans to enter into the giant ship building phase going on? Thier ships while gorgeous are on the smaller side for todays standards. Do they have plans for bigger ships? Thanks for the help

Hey there, it's basically the "coffeehouse" of the ship. It's a great place to read the paper, relax and drink coffee. One of my favorite things is that there are tables with some of the best NYT crosswords on them that people can use special pens/pencils to fill out and then erase after they are done. Additionally, since it's sponsored by the NYT, access to the NYT on the computers is free, unlike other sites which you pay per minute for or use minutes from a plan.

Hey there' date=' it's basically the "coffeehouse" of the ship. It's a great place to read the paper, relax and drink coffee. One of my favorite things is that there are tables with some of the best NYT crosswords on them that people can use special pens/pencils to fill out and then erase after they are done. Additionally, since it's sponsored by the NYT, access to the NYT on the computers is free, unlike other sites which you pay per minute for or use minutes from a plan.[/quote']Cool thats sounds like a really cool room and the virtual tour online looks like a beautiful room too. So the NYT is on the computer not a real newspaper right? I mean they can't print daily NYT's on the ship. In any event the room sounds and looks really cool.

Thier ships while gorgeous are on the smaller side for todays standards. Do they have plans for bigger ships? Thanks for the help

I really hope they wont. The smaller number of passengers is what drew me to HAL in the first place. The vista class ships are equivalent in size to the Carnival ship we sailed on, but they carry 800 less passengers which equates to more space per passenger.

They have announced a new signature class ship, with the first to possibly be launched in 2008 but I dont think that they have said anything more about it.

I really hope they wont. The smaller number of passengers is what drew me to HAL in the first place. The vista class ships are equivalent in size to the Carnival ship we sailed on, but they carry 800 less passengers which equates to more space per passenger.

 

They have announced a new signature class ship, with the first to possibly be launched in 2008 but I dont think that they have said anything more about it.

According to a Holland America news release, the new ships will be 86,000 tons and 2,044 passengers.

So the NYT is on the computer not a real newspaper right? I mean they can't print daily NYT's on the ship.

I am not a big HAL fan but I love the Noordam and the Explorations Cafe. I think it's the nicest room of its type at sea.

Well, sort of. They do produce a printed daily news recap that's four pages. The info comes from the NYT and it's delivered to your stateroom almost every day.

I am not a big HAL fan but I love the Noordam and the Explorations Cafe. I think it's the nicest room of its type at sea.

HAL has the largest cabins in all categories and almost all cabins have bathtubs. On the S and R class ships there are whirlpool tubs in veranda cabins and above. On the Vista class (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Noordam) there are full size whirlpool tubs, added separate shower stalls, and double vanity sinks in SZ categories and higher (SY, SS, SA, SB, and SC, and PS).

The passenger to space ratio is just about the highest afloat, giving you that un-crowded feeling, and the amenities are great in all cabins.

Hope you'll join us as HAL cruisers, and Welcome to this board.

GN

HAL has the largest cabins in all categories and almost all cabins have bathtubs. On the S and R class ships there are whirlpool tubs in veranda cabins and above. On the Vista class (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Noordam) there are full size whirlpool tubs, added separate shower stalls, and double vanity sinks in SZ categories and higher (SY, SS, SA, SB, and SC, and PS).

The passenger to space ratio is just about the highest afloat, giving you that un-crowded feeling, and the amenities are great in all cabins.

Hope you'll join us as HAL cruisers, and Welcome to this board.

GN

The Vista class is as big as I want. I hope HAL does not go any bigger. If they do, they can keep those ships in the Caribbean and leave the nicer, smaller ones for us who do not like a mob and are Caribbeaned-out.

It sure looks like a beautiful room.

The only drawback is that it is highly utilized. You get lots of folks who just camp out, which can make it tough to set a seat.

The only drawback is that it is highly utilized. You get lots of folks who just camp out, which can make it tough to set a seat.

The Explorations Cafe is the only place I have met with downright rudeness on HAL - you are right, it is sometimes hard to find a seat. A woman was using the jigsaw puzzle table for her laptop and when my friend politely asked her to move to a table meant for laptops she snapped "no" and wouldn't move - she liked the light there better. There are only 2 tables with a special topping that are meant to be used only for jigsaw puzzles but a lot more places for laptop use. My friend had to wait 2 hours before she could set up and do what she enjoys doing on a cruise.

I have seen people sleeping in those lounge chairs with the foot rests - they look so comfortable but are usually occupied. The thing I miss in the new lounge is the old quizzes - the new ones are all NYTimes and are not as much fun - people often take them to the computers and look up the answers in just a few minutes. Sort of makes for an uneven competition.

We do them for fun as we have enough HAL memorabilia to last a lifetime but some people take them very seriously indeed.