looking for Nieuw Amsterdam information

My husband and I are close to booking a Mediterranean cruise for next summer on the Nieuw Amsterdam. The other cruise we are considering is a Costa one, on one of the old Carnival ships (husband thinks this would be okay...I'm leaning towards HAL).

I would love any information anyone could give me about the Nieuw Amsterdam. I really need to convince DH this is the better choice. Prices are a little lower on Costa, itineraries are similar. Also, has anyone sailed both HAL and Costa, and what did you think of Costa compared to HAL??

Thanks in advance!

Kat

I think you will have a very difficult time having anyone in this forum recommend Costa over HAL ;)

We have done one Nieuw Amsterdam cruise from Venice to Barcelona in 2013 and enjoyed it so much we are doing it again in 2015 but from Barcelona to Venice.

Whichever line you choose, the itinerary is wonderful.

We're considering the 12 day Mediterranean Empires, round trip Venice. That has quite a few of the Greek Islands, which is what we are most interested in. Taxmantoo, what did you like best about the Nieuw Amsterdam? Or was the itinerary that made the cruise so great? These cruises are port intensive, so how much do you really get to enjoy the ship? Thanks!

Med cruises are very port intensive, the ship is a little less important. But I have to reinforce very few here will recommend Costa over HAL.

Have you been reading on the Costa board? If so, you will get the feel, an Italian oriented line, will offer.

N. Amsterdam is a great ship. There are lots of threads here on N. Amsterdam, and what HAL offers. N. Amsterdam represents HAL very well.

We have sailed several times on the Nieuw Amsterdam and think she is a great ship.

Even though Med cruises are very port intensive and you won't be spending much time in your cabin -- you will find HAL's cabins larger than Costa.

HAL crew are very friendly.

My husband and I are close to booking a Mediterranean cruise for next summer on the Nieuw Amsterdam. The other cruise we are considering is a Costa one, on one of the old Carnival ships (husband thinks this would be okay...I'm leaning towards HAL).

 

I would love any information anyone could give me about the Nieuw Amsterdam. I really need to convince DH this is the better choice. Prices are a little lower on Costa, itineraries are similar. Also, has anyone sailed both HAL and Costa, and what did you think of Costa compared to HAL??

 

Thanks in advance!

Kat

This is your Guide to the Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam.

There may be no comparison with Costa.

Our cruises are never more port intensive than we want them to be.

On a 12 days Med cruise we would probably have 3-4 port highlights. The rest of the cruise - enjoying the summer in the Mediterranean on the most comfortable resort ship.

[YOUTUBE]ySv_pvyW6tc[/YOUTUBE]

This is your Guide to the Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam.

 

There may be no comparison with Costa.

 

Our cruises are never more port intensive than we want them to be.

On a 12 days Med cruise we would probably have 3-4 port highlights. The rest of the cruise - enjoying the summer in the Mediterranean on the most comfortable resort ship.

 

 

 

[YOUTUBE]ySv_pvyW6tc[/YOUTUBE]

Thanks!! Excellent information, exactly what I'm looking for! And as far as Costa, I have been looking at the Costa boards, and read a lot of reviews on their ships. I'm not really impressed, and I think we would like HAL much better. My DH likes the itinerary on the Costa ship a little more, so he is leaning towards that one. I like the HAL itinerary just fine, and I think we would enjoy the ship experience more.

Thanks, everyone! Hopefully, I will soon be able to add Nieuw Amsterdam to my list of sailings!

The one advantage of Costa is apparently they sail much closer to the coast line.

The one advantage of Costa is apparently they sail much closer to the coast line.

LOL!! Yeah, I think I can do without that!

The one advantage of Costa is apparently they sail much closer to the coast line.

Not any more.

Compare times in port between Costa and HAL. People who sail Costa often do not do it for the ports, but for the ship. they offer fewer excursions, often none in English, and because their guests are not interested in the ports, their time in port is often shorter. EM

Compare times in port between Costa and HAL. People who sail Costa often do not do it for the ports, but for the ship. they offer fewer excursions, often none in English, and because their guests are not interested in the ports, their time in port is often shorter. EM

I noticed that, and pointed it out to DH. That may be the deciding factor! Thanks!

I definitely want more time in the ports.

And I want English speaking tour guides.

My husband and I are close to booking a Mediterranean cruise for next summer on the Nieuw Amsterdam. The other cruise we are considering is a Costa one, on one of the old Carnival ships (husband thinks this would be okay...I'm leaning towards HAL).

 

I would love any information anyone could give me about the Nieuw Amsterdam. I really need to convince DH this is the better choice. Prices are a little lower on Costa, itineraries are similar. Also, has anyone sailed both HAL and Costa, and what did you think of Costa compared to HAL??

 

Thanks in advance!

Kat

It will be tough getting someone to recommend Costa over Hal.

We did a Med cruise last year (2013) on the NA and had a veranda room with a gigantic veranda. Couldn't believe our luck it was cabin 4053. Cabins 4054, 4129, and 4132 all have the same size veranda. It had two lounge chairs, two club chairs and a small table. I sat out their a lot on our cruise and it was very comfortable even when we were moving. Loved the NA and would do another cruise on her.:)

This will be our 3rd cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam! Did 24 day Med cruise last summer Barcelona to Venice. Inaugural 2010, and next our cruise this March. Need I say more? Everyone has agreed including me, no comparison with Costa!

3STAR MARINER becoming 4 next cruise

Sailing Nieuw Amsterdam B2B western/eastern Caribbiean Cruise 3/15/2015

We did a 24-night collector's cruise (12-night "Mediterranean Empires" & 12-night "Mediterranean Romance") this July onboard Nieuw Amsterdam. We preferred the first segment, because of many new places for us in Greece and Turkey. We thought it strange to just sail past Dubrovnik/Kotor both ways, so we added the second cruise segment for those ports. However didn't like the other industrial ports on the second segment.

The cruise was fantastic, both the ports and the ship. What we especially liked on the ship: great consistent food and service quality in MDR and a beautiful more modern decor than other HAL ships (compared to Zuiderdam). Haven't (and won't!) try Costa though.

You can read my cruise photo review and/or watch my

We did the Mediterranean Empire on the Nieuw Amsterdam in August, our first time on a HAL ship. Previously we had sailed Royal Caribbean. The one thing that I particularly like on the Nieuw Amsterdam was the feeling of space. It never felt crowded. Also, we did Anytime Dining and never had to wait for a table (apart from the last night), although I do have to say that service was slow in the evenings. I loved the cinema, big relaxing armchairs with small tables for your drinks and popcorn. The Tamarind restaurant was excellent and well worth the additional fee. The all inclusive laundry service was fantastic value albeit one of my small white items came back a lovely shade of baby blue. The ship has a really nice feel about it. The downsides were slow service in the main dining room, the casino was always empty so not much atmosphere there, and although not a problem for a cruise with many port stops, we felt that they could have laid on a few more activities.

Great information...thanks!! Keep it coming, although I'm convinced HAL is the way to go for us, DH still needs convincing. And thanks for the info on the veranda staterooms, certainly something to keep in mind!

Kat

There is no comparisson: Costa has a lot of Italian passengers and therefore all communication is done in Italia versus HAL which communicates in English and the clientele is more mixed: US/CAN/UK/German/Dutch and many other nationalities.

We have done two cruises on the NA and next week we leave for a 3rd (!) one on the same ship, all within one year. Fantastic crew/staff, beautiful ship, excellent choice of dining between Lido, Manhatten Dining Room, Pinaccle and Tamarind, gym & spa wonderfull, lots of (outside) space all around the ship. Please inform your DH that he will not be dissappointed.

We did a 24-night collector's cruise (12-night "Mediterranean Empires" & 12-night "Mediterranean Romance") this July onboard Nieuw Amsterdam. We preferred the first segment, because of many new places for us in Greece and Turkey. We thought it strange to just sail past Dubrovnik/Kotor both ways, so we added the second cruise segment for those ports. However didn't like the other industrial ports on the second segment.

 

The cruise was fantastic, both the ports and the ship. What we especially liked on the ship: great consistent food and service quality in MDR and a beautiful more modern decor than other HAL ships (compared to Zuiderdam). Haven't (and won't!) try Costa though.

 

You can read my cruise photo review and/or watch my

.

Wow!! Beautiful ports, beautiful ship. Thank you for posting the link to your review...we really enjoyed it, and I think it convinced my husband that Nieuw Amsterdam it is!!:D

Kat - I am hoping you have convinced your husband and really hoping that you are looking at the July 3rd NA Med Tapestry, Barcelona to Venice. I am beginning to feel like we will be all alone on this trip. :) Our group of three includes myself, my Mom and step - daughter. It is the first time to Europe for all of us. I have cruised with HAL previously.

Good Luck!

Nanci

On many nights we had dinner or heavy snacks on the deck featuring food from the port we just visited.

As you already know, this is port intensive. You will be tired at night (and we're a younger family!).

I would do this cruise again in a heartbeat.

Highlight for us was Kotor-- sailing on the private yacht Monte B. Lots of people on cruise critic have recommended it.

Kat - I am hoping you have convinced your husband and really hoping that you are looking at the July 3rd NA Med Tapestry, Barcelona to Venice. I am beginning to feel like we will be all alone on this trip. :) Our group of three includes myself, my Mom and step - daughter. It is the first time to Europe for all of us. I have cruised with HAL previously.

 

Good Luck!

Nanci

We're looking at July 15, I believe. The one on the 3rd doesn't work for DH's work schedule....we know he has a commitment to be in Monaco sometime in early July, but dates aren't confirmed yet. We do know we want to do one that has several Greek ports. As soon he knows when exactly he has to be in Monaco, we will book, and if the dates work for the HAL cruise, then that's the one we will choose. So thanks to all of you, we have convinced DH that HAL is the way to go!! I for one will be very excited to try a different cruise line!

Kat

Wow!! Beautiful ports, beautiful ship. Thank you for posting the link to your review...we really enjoyed it, and I think it convinced my husband that Nieuw Amsterdam it is!!:D

Glad to help you!