Noordam Deckplan Update

I've noticed that HAL's website has again updated its deck plans for the Noordam. Here are two comparison shots between the Noordam on the left and the Oosterdam on the right.

The Ocean Bar

Gone is the starboard side narrow bar area, as found on the Westerdam and Oosterdam ... and is there even a dance floor and music stand in the bar anymore? I don't see where it's going to be located ... unless it's in that round doohicky portside forward. Does anyone else have a guess? Yes ... I know ... we'll all know in just a few days. :D Hey ... see those sofa seats in the port side bay window? One of those is MINE. I'll be sipping a lovely Cosmopolitan there in real SHORT order :D

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The Pinnacle Grill

As we knew, the Windstar Cafe is gone. Now we have a layout for the Pinnacle Bar. Interesting ... is It's actually a Lounge/Bar set up that looks like it's designed to be a waiting area for the Pinnacle, among other things. That's a REAL improvement.

Hmmm - I like this setup of the Ocean Bar better - looks more open and the folks at the bar arent separated from the entertainment anymore

That's what I can't figure out. WHERE is the entertainment? WHERE is the dance floor? Is the dance floor out in the middle, there, on the port side? Is the band located in that blank round doohicky on the portside fortward ... to the right of my seat there in the Ocean Bar?

Hmmm - I like this setup of the Ocean Bar better - looks more open and the folks at the bar arent separated from the entertainment anymore

Looks goood to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Ocean Bar on the first three ships is a bit cramped. This new layout makes much more sense. The curved bar make for better 'discussion'!!!! ;)

And the loss of the Windstar Bar is nothing to cry about. The new Pinnacle Bar will probably turn out to be very popular.

I wonder if there will still be a small bar at the bottom of the Atrium stairs. A great watering hole immediately after boat drill!

I like these changes.

Stephen

I wonder if there will still be a small bar at the bottom of the Atrium stairs. A great watering hole immediately after boat drill!

You mean Atrium Maindeck? That's a good question. There's no difference in the deckplan between the Oosterdam/Westerdam and the Noordam for that deck area. So ... my guess would be "yes."

I've never had much use for that bar. I noted it's a "Martini Bar" on one of the Vistas. :)

That's what I can't figure out. WHERE is the entertainment? WHERE is the dance floor? Is the dance floor out in the middle, there, on the port side? Is the band located in that blank round doohicky on the portside fortward ... to the right of my seat there in the Ocean Bar?

Pretty much!

;)

Are you guys planning to do live daily updates from the ship? :D That would be so helpful to those of us waiting our turn and quite exciting too.

Well ... they usually symbolize the band stand and dance area differently than this. That's why I asked. See the layout for the Oosterdam, on the right, for what I mean.

Are you guys planning to do live daily updates from the ship? That would be so helpful to those of us waiting our turn and quite exciting too.

As I said on a different thread, I'm going to be reporting daily from the Noordam. I'll probably set up a Thread for my daily reports a day or two before boarding and Dedication. :) It's a 10 day cruise. I'm solo aboard. While I'm sure I'll be busy having a great time, it will also be fun filling everybody in on the daily happenings.

Well ... they usually symbolize the band stand and dance area differently than this. That's why I asked. See the layout for the Oosterdam, on the right, for what I mean.

Ya, but I can't see them sequestering the dancers to that little round floor...

...and the band to the other side of the atrium where the letters are!

;)

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to it.

You guys all seem to know every inch of the HAL ships and I've only sailed on the Oosterdam once (just me and my very young daughter). We have sailed on QM2 several times since with the whole family so my memory of HAL is not that great although I loved Oosterdam and recall the stateroom was superior to QM2 even at Queens Grill level. Many other details escape my memory. We are sailing on Noordam in March with eveyone. Is there a cigar bar (for DH and friends DH)? Actually QM2 has so many bars one can find the right one to suit your mood. I've looked at the deck plan for Noordam, but it does not capture the mood, obviously, so I look to you all. What are the options and differences between the choices for evening cocktails/ dancing?

Thanks,

Carol

The Pinnacle Grill plan is not quite accurate. On the Westerdam the partition next to the words Odyssey Restaurant/Pinnacle Grill is much closer to the atrium railing. There was room for the tables for two against the outside bulkhead and two tables for four pushed together into a large square that seated eight of us inside the partition. The tiny Pinnacle Grill bar had two or three stools for those waiting to be seated but I don't recall ever seeing a bartender. And in 29 days on the Westerdam I never saw anyone eating or even sitting at the tables next to the atrium railing. If I were designing the Vista class ships I would put an etched glass panel at the atrium railing to give better privacy to those dining in the Pinnacle Grill. Only British monarchs ate their meals with a large contingent of non-dining, non-serving courtiers observing every mouthful. I prefer dining in a location where I am not a spectacle.

I sure hope the little round doohicky in the Ocean Bar is not a dance floor. IMHO the dance floor on the Westerdam was too small and awkward to dance on. I'd hate to see it made smaller still.

The Pinnacle Grill plan is not quite accurate. On the Westerdam the partition next to the words Odyssey Restaurant/Pinnacle Grill is much closer to the atrium railing. There was room for the tables for two against the outside bulkhead and two tables for four pushed together into a large square that seated eight of us inside the partition. The tiny Pinnacle Grill bar had two or three stools for those waiting to be seated but I don't recall ever seeing a bartender. And in 29 days on the Westerdam I never saw anyone eating or even sitting at the tables next to the atrium railing. If I were designing the Vista class ships I would put an etched glass panel at the atrium railing to give better privacy to those dining in the Pinnacle Grill. Only British monarchs ate their meals with a large contingent of non-dining, non-serving courtiers observing every mouthful. I prefer dining in a location where I am not a spectacle.

The Oosterdam and the Westerdam have some slight differences. You've spotted one of them there in the Pinnacle Grill. The deck plan is the Oosterdam's, and it's correct. The differences incorporated into the Westerdam were not well-reflected in the deck plans. Another difference not well-reflected is the extra staircase going from the lower promenade deck up to the promenade deck just forward of the casino. It's there in the Oosterdam, but not in the Westerdam. The plans for the Noordam show it's supposed to be there, but I've had two ship officers say they doubt it'll be there. It serves no purpose and blocks traffic flow.

As for the eating arrangements, I actually kinda like the layout with the tables right there in the open. It kinda makes for "eating on a balcony," which I think was the idea.

Looking over the Noordam's deck plans, it appears that since the bar is going to be on the port side, that's where the smoking section wil be. On the other Vista ships we used to love to sit in the bay window on port side. Looks like if we want to sail on the Noordam, we will be on sitting in the bay windows on starboard side to avoid the smoke.

Here's a thought---

I expect to be on the Noordam Friday night. I understand there are to be tours of the ship before dinner, and I'm expecting some free time to wander around later. I hope to be able to post about it by Saturday night.

Is there anything in particular that anybody would like me to check out? Now remember, I've never been on a Vista-class ship, so comparisons aren't possible, but if you list out your questions about this ship I'll do my best to get the answers.

I had the privilege of chatting with HM James Deering on Friday night at the Ocean Bar on the O'dam, and he mentioned that they removed the wall from the starboard side of the Ocean Bar on the Noordam, opening it up to the hallway, across from the port side of the bar. We didn't discuss the band stand, however....

Paul

I'm sure they've learned a few things with the other vistas, and have tweaked the Noordam's layout a bit to make it even better. I'm anxious to sail her this summer! C'mon July!

Looking over the Noordam's deck plans, it appears that since the bar is going to be on the port side, that's where the smoking section wil be. On the other Vista ships we used to love to sit in the bay window on port side. Looks like if we want to sail on the Noordam, we will be on sitting in the bay windows on starboard side to avoid the smoke.

If dancing it going to be out in the middle on the port side, too, won't that cause a problem?

I had the privilege of chatting with HM James Deering on Friday night at the Ocean Bar on the O'dam, and he mentioned that they removed the wall from the starboard side of the Ocean Bar on the Noordam, opening it up to the hallway, across from the port side of the bar.

You can see that reflected on the deck plans above. That wall he was talking about is GONE. It's not there on the Noordam. That opened up the starboard side to the Atrium quite a bit more than that walkway does on the Oosterdam and the Westerdam.

I've noticed that each Vista ship has been tweaked a little bit from it's predecessor. The Oosterdam and the Westerdam are not EXACTLY the same inside, and I'm not talking about just cosmetics ... these are structural differences; they are minor, but they are real. It's not enough of a difference to confuse one, but it's real.

Reverend-

Yes, you are correct the differences are confusing. I have the feeling, however, that your second or third cosmopolitan will have a restorative effect (I know that it does, for me!).:p

--->FYI, CC'rs Hal makes the BEST Cosmoplitan on Land OR SEA! They pulverize the lime flesh with a morter and pestil! Yum!

Note to RevNeal, save me a seat on that sofa and the Cosmos are on me!:eek:

Back to design, if we were betting men, I would wager that the round area on the port side, forward, is a band stand, and that the table for five, which appears in this deckplan either dissapears, or, migrates toward the bar, when there are performers.

No doubt, there will also be additional seating on the Starboard side, which is obscured by the room name on the deck plan. Some non smokers were very vocal in their demands to be able to watch the dancing without sitting in the smoking section.

RevNeal

Exactly, how is a Cosmopolitan made; I really don't think I've heard of that drink before.

HAL has several different Cosmo recipies. Here's one of my favorites:

1 oz vodka

1/2 oz triple sec

1/2 oz lime juice

1/2 oz cranberry juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.

Ahhhhhh .... lovely.

Being a good Anglo-Catholic (at least in spirit), I also enjoy a good Gin and Tonic. :)

And, of course, after-dinner Brandy.