Thoughts on the Prinsendam

Happily, I can!

 

Service on the Prinsendam has consistently been better, much faster, and more personal than on the other HAL ships. It is so much closer to what HAL used to be in the long ago. Front Desk personnel remembered what you had asked about, without you refreshing their memory. They had dealt with whatever it was, and all was taken care of in one visit.

Shore Excursion people, likewise. They remembered previous conversations, and what specific concerns the passenger has to make an excursion easier.

 

What I truly love is that after ordering that pre-dinner cocktail on the first night, by the second night the steward didn't even have to come over to take an order! Just a quick nod & smile, and off they went to get my drink. Correctly. :D

By the morning of the first full day, every steward knew my name.

I would be sitting on my porch, and the cabin steward would be in, do his thing, then come to the door to say goodbye. Fast, efficient service.

 

My food was at least as good as on other ships, and frequently better. That was the first ship where I had Yorkshire pudding served with my prime rib. It was many cruises later before I ever saw it served on another ship, and it usually isn't served on other ships even now.

 

I may have to cut back on the amount of cruises I take, but that just reallocates my funds to the Prinsendam. A real "up side"! :)

Our experience was the same as RuthC. We actually "lured" friends from Ontario on our last P'dam cruise and I was a tad worried. Warned them she's small, old, etc. What ship did they just return from? What ship are they sailing on in 2018? The P'dam. :) When I let them know about the itinerary I found, their immediate response was "our favourite ship". I know they agree too.

Happily, I can!

 

Service on the Prinsendam has consistently been better, much faster, and more personal than on the other HAL ships. It is so much closer to what HAL used to be in the long ago. Front Desk personnel remembered what you had asked about, without you refreshing their memory. They had dealt with whatever it was, and all was taken care of in one visit.

Shore Excursion people, likewise. They remembered previous conversations, and what specific concerns the passenger has to make an excursion easier.

 

What I truly love is that after ordering that pre-dinner cocktail on the first night, by the second night the steward didn't even have to come over to take an order! Just a quick nod & smile, and off they went to get my drink. Correctly. :D

By the morning of the first full day, every steward knew my name.

I would be sitting on my porch, and the cabin steward would be in, do his thing, then come to the door to say goodbye. Fast, efficient service.

 

My food was at least as good as on other ships, and frequently better. That was the first ship where I had Yorkshire pudding served with my prime rib. It was many cruises later before I ever saw it served on another ship, and it usually isn't served on other ships even now.

 

I may have to cut back on the amount of cruises I take, but that just reallocates my funds to the Prinsendam. A real "up side"! :)

I, too, couldn't agree more. It does not take the crew long to get to know you and your preferences. They make you feel welcome and like you are important to them.

Ruth, you said it better than I can.

You guys have made me rethink my comments. I will have to check out the possible cruises in more detail. I just skimmed them without checking them out in detail.

Thanks

DON

Can't wait to go aboard on November the 2. Our first time on the Prinsendam. Our 7 Hal cruise. We love Hal !! All the Hal ships we have been on has a great, quiet ,comfortable atmosphere!!

My 2 cents worth. Just back from 14 days on her from Amsterdam to Barcelona. So excited to be able to say I have sailed on her twice now and while on board we booked her again for 2019. She is elegant and takes us back to our earlier days of cruising. Glad to have her in the fleet for now. Sure there are cut backs of service but what is the hurry to eat your main meal in 28 minutes and get to the casino? Usually is sailing at sea when this is going on anyways. Stop and smell the air folks.

Ruth C and Kazu - Thanks to you both for all your responses here on this board -- I hope to one day sail with each of you!!!! I am super excited to sail on the Prinsendam in July (Spitsbergen and Arctic) -- I know it is more $$$ but life is short and I can't wait to meet the crew and experience what MANY HAL fans have enjoyed through the years!!!!! Happy Sailing to all.

Poster Rotterdam is probably talking about PRDM's 68-Day Grand South America & Antarctica voyage which departs PEV/FLL on 03 JAN 18. You're correct of course; that's not the Grand World voyage which will once again be on AMDM and which will make her Filipino crew very happy since it will call at Manila, P.I. :)

There is increasing interest in the Phils among European travelers. It may not be a reason why people book the voyage but those on the cruise may like the chance to visit an up-and-coming destination.

Agree with Jacqui.

Our voyage on the Prinsendam included a transit of the Kiel Canal. No other HAL ship will fit through the canal. It was a big thrill to be able to do that.

Remember Sapper, the Prinsendam is just a small old ship,....Love her!!!

I must say I've really enjoyed this thread. We had a 7 day cruise and airfare booked on Princess to head to both Scotland and Ireland. This our 3rd try,and it looked like it was really going to happen.Our trip was scheduledfor middle June.We had 2 days in Edinburgh,and had booked the tattoo,and all was great,or so we thought.In March I had an upside down EKG,so my doctor sent me to hubbys Cardiologist.I've always had good health,except for aches and pains or colds,nothing major. Second EKG was abnormal,so I went through lots of tests,with the the result being catheterization,and possible stents the end of May. The day of I was prepped,sent in to surgery,and put under. Somewhere a voice told me I was being life flighted for a triple bypass. Thankfully,all was a success. A few days after coming home,I had to cancel the trip for the 3rd time. What's the old saying "the third time is a charm"? It certainly was!! We decided the Tatoo wasn't a good idea.Hub was concerned about how I would be in a year. So I started looking around.The Princess trip was also on a small ship,and we liked that idea.I ended up here on Holland America.I saw the ad for the added perks if As far as I'm concerned this was meant to be,except for what I went through!!you sailed any one of the itineraries on Prinsendam.I was sold! The itinerary was 2 weeks and there were now 4 days in Scotland! BTW hubs male line goes back 5 generations there,and there are also some lines in Ireland. I also have an online friend in Pembrokeshire,and she's 15 minutes from Milford Haven. I can't wait for the end of June.

Kazoo,I really enjoy your posts.You're honest and helpful and I love that.Is it June yet?! Sorry for the long rambling post! Hello everyone!:D

I must say I've really enjoyed this thread. We had a 7 day cruise and airfare booked on Princess to head to both Scotland and Ireland. This our 3rd try,and it looked like it was really going to happen.Our trip was scheduledfor middle June.We had 2 days in Edinburgh,and had booked the tattoo,and all was great,or so we thought.In March I had an upside down EKG,so my doctor sent me to hubbys Cardiologist.I've always had good health,except for aches and pains or colds,nothing major. Second EKG was abnormal,so I went through lots of tests,with the the result being catheterization,and possible stents the end of May. The day of I was prepped,sent in to surgery,and put under. Somewhere a voice told me I was being life flighted for a triple bypass. Thankfully,all was a success. A few days after coming home,I had to cancel the trip for the 3rd time. What's the old saying "the third time is a charm"? It certainly was!! We decided the Tatoo wasn't a good idea.Hub was concerned about how I would be in a year. So I started looking around.The Princess trip was also on a small ship,and we liked that idea.I ended up here on Holland America.I saw the ad for the added perks if As far as I'm concerned this was meant to be,except for what I went through!!you sailed any one of the itineraries on Prinsendam.I was sold! The itinerary was 2 weeks and there were now 4 days in Scotland! BTW hubs male line goes back 5 generations there,and there are also some lines in Ireland. I also have an online friend in Pembrokeshire,and she's 15 minutes from Milford Haven. I can't wait for the end of June.

 

Kazoo,I really enjoy your posts.You're honest and helpful and I love that.Is it June yet?! Sorry for the long rambling post! Hello everyone!:D

I must say I've really enjoyed this thread. We had a 7 day cruise and airfare booked on Princess to head to both Scotland and Ireland. This our 3rd try,and it looked like it was really going to happen.Our trip was scheduledfor middle June.We had 2 days in Edinburgh,and had booked the tattoo,and all was great,or so we thought.In March I had an upside down EKG,so my doctor sent me to hubbys Cardiologist.I've always had good health,except for aches and pains or colds,nothing major. Second EKG was abnormal,so I went through lots of tests,with the the result being catheterization,and possible stents the end of May. The day of I was prepped,sent in to surgery,and put under. Somewhere a voice told me I was being life flighted for a triple bypass. Thankfully,all was a success. A few days after coming home,I had to cancel the trip for the 3rd time. What's the old saying "the third time is a charm"? It certainly was!! We decided the Tatoo wasn't a good idea.Hub was concerned about how I would be in a year. So I started looking around.The Princess trip was also on a small ship,and we liked that idea.I ended up here on Holland America.I saw the ad for the added perks if As far as I'm concerned this was meant to be,except for what I went through!!you sailed any one of the itineraries on Prinsendam.I was sold! The itinerary was 2 weeks and there were now 4 days in Scotland! BTW hubs male line goes back 5 generations there,and there are also some lines in Ireland. I also have an online friend in Pembrokeshire,and she's 15 minutes from Milford Haven. I can't wait for the end of June.

 

Kazoo,I really enjoy your posts.You're honest and helpful and I love that.Is it June yet?! Sorry for the long rambling post! Hello everyone!:D

thank you for the kind words.

It sounds like you are getting on shortly after we get off.

We'll do our best to keep her in good shape for you :)

We go in May. Looking forward to this trip will get us through the winter. :)

Prinsendam's officers may be looking with rose colored glasses, but I hope they're right. I hope she's at least around for a 2019 Grand South America. That's very high on my priority list.

 

Roy

Are you talking about the late 2019 sailing right after her T/A from Rome - with over a week up and down the Amazon -something no Heffalump of the Seas could manage?

We were on a Baltic cruise on the P-dam last summer, and another thing about the small ship is some flexibility with ports. We were scheduled to arrive in Ronne, on Bornholm Island, but the weather / waves were going to make docking iffy, so we were able to be diverted to a smaller port on the other side of the island, Svaneke. Since hubby and I were only planning on walking around in either spot, it was a LOVELY change for us, and for the people with excursions,it worked because it was a small island. If you're in a moose of a ship, you really need bigger ports.

Service was WONDERFUL, food perhaps a bit better than we've had before on HAL, but it was - believe it or not - a bit small for us. We'd do it again with the right itinerary, but to my surprise, I prefer larger HAL ships for the bigger variety of public spaces (while still being aware of being on an actual ship on the sea). We were even OK with the Vista class (3 x as many passengers as P-dam). Our "public spaces" issue is about finding someplace to sit and read/ write / cross-stitch with comfortable chairs, enough light, and a good view of the outside (when it's too windy or cold to be on the deck).