Statendam? Ryndam? Neither?

[firsttimer 62]

We're trying to decide on a first cruise to Alaska, and these are the ships at the times we're looking at. But the comments about the problems on the Statendam after its drydock are enough to make me think hard about whether it would be a good idea to book a trip on it! And there have been some negative comments about the Ryndam, too. Would it be better to avoid the Statendam for this summer? I'd hate to be on a ship without working toilets . . .

[garydm]

Statendam used to be our favorite ship. Crew has always been great, but the ship is just wearing out. We have consistently had good luck and nice times on Ryndam.

 

Gary

[alcpa1]

After sailing on the Ryndam prior to its drydock I honestly cannot recommend this ship. We have been on over 25 cruises and on ships large and small. No brief dry dock could possibly eliminate all of the problems we had.

There are plenty of other lines and Alaskan itineraries to choose from and Alaska shouldn't be missed.

[RMLincoln]

We enjoyed Ryndam very much but that was a couple of years ago. April 2008 I believe. Had a fabulous cruise in the Sea of Cortez.

 

I'd choose by itinerary. Our last trip to Alaska was in 2009 on Volendam because they stopped at both Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. We were lucky that we hedged our bets for glacier viewing because Tracy Arm was not passable due to fog that day but when we got to Glacier Bay the next day it was pristine!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Just reading the recent reports -- the Statendam seems to be having the most problems since her dry dock.

[firsttimer 62]

Thanks for the input; it reinforces my doubts about these ships. But since we were interested in them both because of the itinerary, timing, and most of all, the slightly smaller size, I'm not sure where that leaves us. Guess I'll look at some other lines, but being on a ship with well over 2,000 others does seem like being in a huge crowd!

[fann1sh]

Firsttimer 62, I was on Ryndam in Alaska in August, before her drydock. I had heard about all kinds of problems, and was prepared to grin and bear it.

 

I had no problems. None. Supposedly, all of the bathrooms were grungy, but the only flaw in mine was extra sealant around the shower drain. (No mold, no mildew - very, very clean!) My air conditioning was cold, the way I like it. Service was wonderful , etc., etc.

 

I am not discounting the reviews you've read, and am definitely NOT disagreeing with alcpa 1. You see, several years ago I had a very bad cruise on Maasdam, with every mechanical and hygiene problem you could imagine in our cabin. I swore I'd never darken Maasdam's decks again.

 

Yet Maasdam is a beloved favourite of many on this board.

 

Sometimes the problems are clear and affect everyone. Statendam's problems post drydock are well documented. But, I'd bet on all of them being fixed (especially the toilets) very soon.

 

As for Ryndam, I'd cruise her again in an instant, while I imagine alcpa 1 might refuse a free cruise aboard. "Your mileage may vary" certainly applies in this case.

 

I know you won't find a ship with NO negative reviews! Read, consider, then go with what your gut tells you...HAL, or something else.

[echotumi]

i like the the run south bound myself .. from the pics she looks great

[Copper10-8]

These two ships are sisters in the same class, one year apart (Statendam - 1993 + Ryndam - 1994) There are no major differences apart from interior design and the refit & modifications Statendam just went through -'Showroom at Sea', 'Mix' Bar concept, 'Merabella' luxury shop and no more escalators. Ryndam still has the 'regular' show lounge, the Piano & Casino bars and her two escalators.

If you like the 'S' class ships, you will like either ship.

[CowPrincess]

her two escalators

 

Okay, I've never seen the escalators on Ryndam, but have heard them referenced a few times. Where are they?

[Copper10-8]

Okay, I've never seen the escalators on Ryndam, but have heard them referenced a few times. Where are they?

 

 

They run from Main Deck to LP Deck forward (near the bottom floor of the atrium). They are all on their way out though

[Copper10-8]

A pic of 'em on Maasdam

[fann1sh]

Ryndam still has the 'regular' show lounge, the Piano & Casino bars and her two escalators.

 

Copper10-8, I checked this twice, including on HAL's own website before posting....but it looks like Ryndam had the drydock to replace the Piano bar with Mix, remove escalators, etc. a couple months ago. Sorry to contradict you. :o

 

(When some pax had a Q&A with the HotMan in August, he told us special attention would be paid to fixing bathrooms in the dry dock.)

[CowPrincess]

They run from Main Deck to LP Deck forward (near the bottom floor of the atrium). They are all on their way out though

 

I am not certain, but I don't think they are there -- I think there are stairs. I seriously cannot remember seeing them. Will have to check with DH when he gets home, and see if he can remember them.

[Copper10-8]

Copper10-8, I checked this twice, including on HAL's own website before posting....but it looks like Ryndam had the drydock to replace the Piano bar with Mix, remove escalators, etc. a couple months ago. Sorry to contradict you. :o

 

(When some pax had a Q&A with the HotMan in August, he told us special attention would be paid to fixing bathrooms in the dry dock.)

 

You are 100% correct, Fann1sh, and I have my dates/ships all screwed up!:o Ryndam went into dry dock in Freeport, the Bahamas from 9 through 25 FEB of this year for her SOE part 2/Phase I SOE upgrades. While there, she received the Showroom at Sea, Mix, Merabella plus had her escalators removed (No Retreat pool and no Lanai cabins, yet). Sorry about that!

[Copper10-8]

I am not certain, but I don't think they are there -- I think there are stairs. I seriously cannot remember seeing them. Will have to check with DH when he gets home, and see if he can remember them.

 

See my prior post; I'm all screwed up! She no longer has the escalators as of FEB of this year. The four “S” class ships were all designed with them as somewhat of a novelty at sea, so that they could be used by embarking passengers on Main deck to reach their cabins on Lower Promenade deck while getting a glimpse of the ship’s atrium.

[CowPrincess]

See my prior post; I'm all screwed up! She no longer has the escalators as of FEB of this year. The four “S” class ships were all designed with them as somewhat of a novelty at sea, so that they could be used by embarking passengers on Main deck to reach their cabins on Lower Promenade deck while getting a glimpse of the ship’s atrium.

 

From this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1082591&highlight=ryndam+escalator dated Oct/09

 

DutchByAssociation said:

 

Ryndam's are gone from the most recent dry dock, Veendam's have been out since May.

 

Statendam and Maasdam will lose theirs at their next respective dry docks.

 

and bepsf said:

 

DBA is right - No escalators on Ryndam any longer...

...and they weren't missed.

 

.... I presume that means the "recent dry dock" was the one prior to the February 2010 drydock. I did a bit of searching on CC, and found a post from ManBehindTheCurtain that said Ryndam had been drydocked in September 2007.

 

So that's why I've never seen the escalators.... they were gone before we boarded.

[NextOne]

This thread just brought back a funny memory. When we were on the Maasdam, DH was so tickled by the idea of an escalator on a ship that he took several trips up & down, just to say that he had been on it! Even insisted on having his picture taken on it!:rolleyes:

[Lady Chew]

We just got off the Oasis ... the biggest & newest & greatest etc etc etc ship ... it has "down" escalators used for disembarking at ports (as opposed to final debarkation)

 

it's kind of ironic that some of the older ships are being modernized by removing the escalators!

 

We're looking forward to trying HAL

[CowPrincess]

This thread just brought back a funny memory. When we were on the Maasdam, DH was so tickled by the idea of an escalator on a ship that he took several trips up & down, just to say that he had been on it! Even insisted on having his picture taken on it!:rolleyes:

 

Very funny! In one way, one of the reasons I was so certain that there was no escalator on the Ryndam was that I make mental note of them, usually, in order to avoid them. :)

[Copper10-8]

From this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1082591&highlight=ryndam+escalator dated Oct/09

 

DutchByAssociation said:

 

 

 

and bepsf said:

 

 

 

.... I presume that means the "recent dry dock" was the one prior to the February 2010 drydock. I did a bit of searching on CC, and found a post from ManBehindTheCurtain that said Ryndam had been drydocked in September 2007.

 

So that's why I've never seen the escalators.... they were gone before we boarded.

 

 

I stand corrected a second time!:o Ryndam lost her two escalators while in drydock in Esquimalt (Victoria), BC in SEP 07. You are absolutely correct!

[RuthC]

Just not your best day, eh, John?

[prescottbob]

...also removed the mirrored aft escaltors from the Prinsendam on the last retrofit. Perhaps I'm wrong :D.

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

[Copper10-8]

Just not your best day, eh, John?

 

I probably won't sleep good tonight, Ruth You know, dry-docks and escalators on the brain, important stuff:cool:

[mudscraper]

I stand corrected a second time!:o Ryndam lost her two escalators while in drydock in Esquimalt (Victoria), BC in SEP 07. You are absolutely correct!

Whew!!

 

I was getting worried. Iknew I didn`t see any escalators this past Nov. but I can be forgetful at times.

 

 

Rich