10/11 day Caribbean Choices

[DiploTraveler]

I'm looking at the following two cruises. A couple different variables here, so it's a tough one. Both cost the same, but there's a difference in length and room cat. I'm leaning towards the Noordam because it's newer and a Verandah, but the extra day and intimacy of Maasdam is appealing. We've never been to any of the ports, so I'm not sure how to evaluate that part of the comparison.

 

10-DAY SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN SEAFARER

Noordam

Verandah

 

11-DAY SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

Maasdam

Ocean-view

 

Opinions?

[Valley Girl of VA]

I did the Southern Caribbean on the Noordam and really enjoyed it. I haven't been on Maasdam so I can't give you a comparison of the two.

[PathfinderEss]

They are both great ships, Noordam, is newer and carries more passengers. Maasdam is older but carries a small amount of passengers, it is more personable I think. Choices, choices, I think I would do the Maasdam.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done both of those itineraries -- they are very good.

I would choose the Maasdam over the Noordam -- itinerary wise.

[kazu]

Really enjoyed the Maasdam earlier this year. Also like the Noordam.

 

Price being the same (or close) I would choose the Maasdam and it's itinerary.:)

[Harris Jeffer]

I have been on both ....I would choose the Maasdam over any other HAL ship.

[elycelynne]

The Noordam also has an 11-day "Southern Caribbean Wayfarer" itinerary. Did none of those sailing dates work for you?

[DiploTraveler]

The Noordam also has an 11-day "Southern Caribbean Wayfarer" itinerary. Did none of those sailing dates work for you?

 

No, unfortunately not. We're trying to combine the cruise with our trip home (South FL) for the holidays... 2nd-3rd week of Dec.

That would be great option, though... we'd be able to get a verandah instead of ocean-view.

[DiploTraveler]

Thank you for all the comments.

We've been on Veendam and NA. We like the intimacy of the smaller ship, but the larger ones have the verandah rooms at a more affordable rate and we loved our balcony. This is a tough one, but it sounds like the consensus is with Maasdam. We just need to decide if we want to go back to ocean-view on A deck. Maybe I shouldn't have taken the upsell offer last time... Now we are spoiled!

[sharks48]

We did one of the Noordam itineraries one year and loved the ship so much we did the other itinerary the next year! Our favorite ship!!

[nancycoop1]

Has anyone does this cruise on the Zuiderdam?

[iflyrc5]

The Noordam is the same class ship at the Zuiderdam so they would be about the same.

 

We have done this on the Maasdam and doing it on the Noordam in Jan 2013.

 

We do like the Maasdam because of the smaller size.

[JamesEM]

We sailed on the Noordam last year and are booked again on the Noordam this Feb, I no longer go on a ship with out a balcony.

[nancycoop1]

Thank you for all the comments.

We've been on Veendam and NA. We like the intimacy of the smaller ship, but the larger ones have the verandah rooms at a more affordable rate and we loved our balcony. This is a tough one, but it sounds like the consensus is with Maasdam. We just need to decide if we want to go back to ocean-view on A deck. Maybe I shouldn't have taken the upsell offer last time... Now we are spoiled!

 

I think having a balcony is the main factor for us - especially on a Caribbean cruise.

[Randyk47]

Price considerations notwithstanding we'll always go with the smaller ships. That's not to say the larger Vista and Signature ships aren't nice enough, we just prefer the R ad S class. Our last HAL cruise was on the Maasdam and it was fantastic.