"Signature of Excellence" on vista ships?

The CC news of 10/13/06 states that the Vista class ships, except for the Noordam, have yet to be updated with the "Signature of Excellence" upgrades. We sailed on the Westerdam in 2004 and thought it was built to those specifications....and will be on the Zuiderdam in December. Is this true? Is the Zuiderdam non-conforming in regard to the "Signature of Excellence" standards?

The CC news of 10/13/06 states that the Vista class ships, except for the Noordam, have yet to be updated with the "Signature of Excellence" upgrades. We sailed on the Westerdam in 2004 and thought it was built to those specifications....and will be on the Zuiderdam in December. Is this true? Is the Zuiderdam non-conforming in regard to the "Signature of Excellence" standards?

It's my understanding that the Oosterdam was brought up to SoE on its recent dry-dock visit, but there's still relatively small things to be done on the W'dam and the Z'dam.

We were on the W'dam in Sep 05 and the N'dam this June, and I had to look hard to see the differences!! (I don't think the extra 30 or so cabins that were easy to see on the N are part of the SoE program.)

The Westerdam does not have the new cabins or the flat screen TVs or the Explorations cafe. She still has the windstar cafe.

I noticed, however, the new brochures, even Europe 2007 do not have accurate cabin numbers on the deck plans. The HAL website deck plans are correct as far as I can see, but do not depend on the brochures. An example: our aft corner suite on deck 5 port side is listed as 5190 and it is really 5186. Starboard is 5187 not what the brochure shows. Use the HAL website deck plans.

GN

The Westerdam goes into dry dock while she is in Europe -- April 17 - 30, 2007.

Some more of the SOE will be done then.

It depends on what you're referring to...

Flatscreen TV's/DVD players - done

Better Mattresses/Linens - done

Pinnacle - Originally there

Expanded Loft, add'l staterooms & Exploration's Cafe - still need to be done for the first 3 Vistas.

As KK stated earlier this am, Westerdam will get her's Spring of '07.*Zuiderdam is scheduled to return to Europe for her updates Spring of '08, so Oosterdam will be the last to be updated, likely in '09.

In the next couple of years when the first three Vistas have a increased dry dock they will at additional tonage to each ship. The the stern stairs that people have talked about on the first three Vistas will be removed and it will begin looking like the Noordam that was launched last February. By doing this they will also increase the capacity of these ships. Also they are going to remove the Golf simulators and increase the space for Club Hal. THe are also going to add the Oasis and the Loft for the teenagers on these ships if they have not done it yet. One thing that they didn't do yet but are going to start to do is to change the old TV's on the Vistas with flat panels as they are on the other ships and Noordam

Expanded Loft, add'l staterooms & Exploration's Cafe - still need to be done for the first 3 Vistas.

 

As KK stated earlier this am, Westerdam will get her's Spring of '07.*Zuiderdam is scheduled to return to Europe for her updates Spring of '08, so Oosterdam will be the last to be updated, likely in '09.

I read that the Westerdam still needs the Pinnacle Bar. Is that different than the Pinnacle Restaurant?

If the Explorations Cafe upgrade still hasn't been done yet on the Zuiderdam, does that mean that you can still get free capuccino in the Java Corner?

I've never had free capuccino in the Java Cafe on a Vista - it's always been closed whenever I've sailed and the Windstar Cafe is open but charges.

Here is what the article says. I trust it's ok to repost it since it's from CC>

October 13, 2006

HAL's "Signature of Excellence" Nears Completion

Holland America, which pioneered the 21st century approach to converting middle-aged ships to contemporary ones, has completed the job -- almost -- fleetwide.

Via its Signature of Excellence program (and $225 million), the line put 12 of its long-time ships, including Prinsendam, Ryndam and Statendam, through major refurbishments since 2003, which yielded not only luxurious upgrades in cabins and public areas on the ships, but new restaurants, more appealing destinations, onboard creative activities and higher levels of service to boot.

To date, the most revolutionary and successful features, not only fleetwide but also inspiring industry-wide copycatting, have been the colorful and whimsical Explorations Cafe with its cozy nooks for guests searching the Internet, using the MP3 stations or doing crossword puzzles; the Northwest-influenced Pinnacle Grill restaurant; and the Culinary Explorations program, a three-class workshop led by Pinnacle's head chef, limited to just 12 passengers.

Other lines have followed suit, most notably Celebrity, which embarked on a $55 million program to upgrade its circa 1995 Century. The additions that stand out include Murano -- a sleek 66-seat restaurant with a 1940's era charm -- and upgraded cabins. Even Holland America subsidiary Windstar is sending its ships back into refurb mode (even though they underwent a highly publicized Degrees of Difference program last October).

The irony of Holland America's revolutionary spirit is that most of the line's newest models -- Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam, otherwise known as the Vista class -- haven't yet experienced the improvements the older ships have been treated to. But Noordam, the last in the Vista-class series, was recent enough -- and quite possibly lucky enough -- to have time for the Signature of Excellence design components to be incorporated into the ship when it was built. Within the next few years, the remaining aforementioned Vista-class ships will receive the same makeover.

Here is the press release from HAL.

NEWS RELEASE

October 12, 2006

For Immediate Release

Holland America Line Completes Signature Of Excellence Enhancements

Further Upgrades to Vista-class Ships Increase Capacity

Seattle, October 12, 2006 – When Holland America Line recently added a new Culinary Arts Center to the final ship in the fleet, all structural changes originally envisioned for the company’s $225 million Signature of Excellence initiative were complete. The comprehensive Signature of Excellence upgrades announced nearly three years ago in November 2003 triggered an industry trend of fleet rejuvenations and enhancements to meet the demands of an expanding set of discriminating cruise vacationers.

Signature of Excellence features and amenities are evident in every aspect of the Holland America Line cruise experience, offering guests more luxurious accommodations, more enticing destinations, enhanced dining experiences, more creative activities and even higher levels of service.

“We invested to realize a vision, and that vision was to make our brand experience even more relevant to today’s and tomorrow’s premium traveler,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “I believe we’ve not only delivered on our promise, but exceeded expectations.”

Signature of Excellence by the numbers

All told during the two-year implementation, 12 Holland America ships spent nearly 200 days in drydock receiving enhancements such as the Mariner’s Dream stateroom experience with premium comfort appointments, the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine, Explorations Cafe – powered by The New York Times, exclusive Pinnacle Grill restaurant, refurbished Crow’s Nest observation lounge, expanded youth facilities and enhanced Greenhouse Spa and Salon.

A broad range of employees led by Mike Novak, vice president, marine operations, was involved in every aspect of Signature of Excellence, from conception to the final products. Novak’s team oversaw the work of nearly 2,000 people, including shipyard workers, contractors and ship personnel. They tested and retested hundreds of items to ensure quality, coordinated delivery schedules and oversaw complex installations.

Other statistics on Signature of Excellence include:

* 10 million hours worked in dry dock – the equivalent of 387 years.

* 1.2 million pounds of steel installed on the ships.

* 695,743 luxury items added to staterooms, from sheets to bathrobes to make-up mirrors.

* 49,372 pieces of electronic equipment, from televisions to CD players, DVD players to computers, installed on the 13 ships.

* 27,000 book titles added to Explorations Cafés. At one book a week, it would take more than 500 years to read them all.

* If you stacked all the new Euro-Top plush mattresses end on end, they would reach 18,985 feet high – just 1,300 feet lower than the summit of Alaska’s Mt. McKinley.

* 254 nautical miles of electrical cable installed on the ships – enough to reach from Ft. Lauderdale to just off shore of Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Caribbean island.

* 170 new ways to explore destinations on Medallion/Signature excursions.

* 60 nationalities represented by people working in the shipyards – a virtual United Nations.

More excellence to come

The premium line also is making additional enhancements to the first three Vista-class ships, carrying on the spirit of Signature of Excellence. The fourth Vista-class ship, ms Noordam, was delivered in February with all Signature of Excellence enhancements installed, including an Explorations Café and Pinnacle Bar. These venues, which have been enthusiastically received by guests on Noordam and the rest of the fleet, will be added in the next few years to ms Westerdam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Oosterdam. Those ships also will receive new aft staterooms, increasing their guest capacity to 1,918 — the same as Noordam. All of these changes go beyond the original scope of the Signature of Excellence program. The spirit of excellence also is reflected in the new namesake Signature-class ship, which will be named in the near future and debut in the summer of 2008.

For more information on Holland America Line and the Signature of Excellence initiative, travel agents can call 1-800-544-0443 or visit the travel agent headquarters at http://www.hollandamerica.com.

I read that the Westerdam still needs the Pinnacle Bar. Is that different than the Pinnacle Restaurant?

Yes and No.

The Pinnacle Bar on the first 3 Vistas is in the entrance to the Pinnacle Grill, and the Windstar Cafe is across the atrium.

On Noordam, Pinnacle Grill is larger, Pinnacle Winebar is across the atrium from the Pinnacle Grill, and the Windstar is no longer - specialty coffees & pastries are available in the Exploration's Cafe.

Vista's 1-3 *******************************Noordam

The only thing I see from the signature of excellence program is now you have to pay for a capuccino.

The only thing I see from the signature of excellence program is now you have to pay for a capuccino.

Not in the dining room after dinner...

Not in the dining room after dinner...

Thank goodness! Much appreciation for that bit of info!

Yes and No.

 

The Pinnacle Bar on the first 3 Vistas is in the entrance to the Pinnacle Grill, and the Windstar Cafe is across the atrium.

 

On Noordam, Pinnacle Grill is larger, Pinnacle Winebar is across the atrium from the Pinnacle Grill, and the Windstar is no longer - specialty coffees & pastries are available in the Exploration's Cafe.

 

Vista's 1-3 *******************************Noordam

 

 

 

Thanks for that. So, is there a wine bar on Westerdam? One of the hidden surprises we found on Freedom of the Seas was that its wine bar had an excellent variety of flights of wine. We really enjoyed that and would like to try it on Westerdam, if at all possible.

Not in the dining room after dinner...

Brian, I took advantage of that on several occasions! :)

The "Java Corner" was just a seating area outside the meeting rooms, there was never any way to get coffee there while we were aboard :(

Thanks for that. So, is there a wine bar on Westerdam? One of the hidden surprises we found on Freedom of the Seas was that its wine bar had an excellent variety of flights of wine. We really enjoyed that and would like to try it on Westerdam, if at all possible.

Not yet - won't be added till the April '07 drydock.

Brian, I took advantage of that on several occasions! :)

The "Java Corner" was just a seating area outside the meeting rooms, there was never any way to get coffee there while we were aboard :(

Exactly - have been on the Big O twice and its never been open.

Don't exactly know why HAL bothered w/ this space in the first place on the Vista's - its usually dead down there...

Not yet - won't be added till the April '07 drydock.

Thanks. I was wondering if some other place was doubling as this space.

Appreciate your help.

Lee