Veendam cancelled to Bermuda

[davetecsgirl]

The veendam has not been renewed to take its weekly trips to Bermuda. Anyone else disappointed in this.

 

I dont understand why they would pull out completely

[cruz chic]

I hate to tell you but this is quite old news. I LOVE Bermuda so I'm disappointed too.

[jtl513]

I dont understand why they would pull out completely

There's been a lot of speculation on this forum on the possible contributing reasons, but the bottom line is that they weren't making enough money on the run and think they can do better with the ship elsewhere.

[sail7seas]

Spring, Summer and Fall, 2013, Veendam will sail Canada/New England cruises (Boston to Montreal to Boston) with a 35 day interruption in July/August to do the Voyage of the Vikiings Cruise, Boston to Amsterdam to Boston.

 

No HAL ships will do a regular Bermuda cruise.

 

[JLC@SD]

There's been a lot of speculation on this forum on the possible contributing reasons, but the bottom line is that they weren't making enough money on the run and think they can do better with the ship elsewhere.

 

Agree. This is usually the reason ships are sent elsewhere ......they can make more money on other itineraries.

 

Mexico is the same situation .......cruise lines left because bookings and cruise line incomes were dropping. HAL and Princess sent ships to Hawaii instead of Mexico.

[sassy~one]

Could this ship be going to Norfolk? I so miss HAL sailing from VA. Thanks so much for info.

[PathfinderEss]

I don't know about Norfolk but come 2014 its coming to the West Coast to do Mexico and Hawaii. I have no idea what brainy act came up with sending that ship to warn climate with one pool. Makes no sense.

[jtl513]

Could this ship be going to Norfolk? I so miss HAL sailing from VA. Thanks so much for info.

Not before Apr 2014, which is as far as it has been scheduled.

[sail7seas]

Maasdam had a hard time completing the itinerary from/to Norfolk on time each cruise. It isn't likely HAL will attempt it again IMO especially with a sister ship.

 

[lvz2cruz]

I'm wondering (HOPING) HAL will stay out of Bermuda next year in hopes of negotiating a better deal on dock costs and being able to have casino and shops/bars open in port if they return in 2014 or so.

I liked Veendam but a sister ship with an aft pool would be good too.

 

I want to dock in Hamilton, not the Dockyard.

[Tika]

I'm wondering (HOPING) HAL will stay out of Bermuda next year in hopes of negotiating a better deal on dock costs and being able to have casino and shops/bars open in port if they return in 2014 or so.

I liked Veendam but a sister ship with an aft pool would be good too.

 

I want to dock in Hamilton, not the Dockyard.

 

WE were on the last Veendam cruise to Bermuda this past August. It was soooo very sad when we left Hamilton Harbor. There was "nothing special" for the Veendams farewell as we pulled away from the dock on Front Street. As we moved out of the harbor we did see folks along the way waving the ship a farewell from their private homes as she passed through the channel but that was it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Understandibly economics played a roll in HA's decision as the ship has to shut down the Casino plus most passengers are off on the island to the beaches, dining etc. etc. from what I remember there were three nights we were in port. We had a private driver our first day in port , a born and raised Bermudian who told us that there was an upcoming election or something to that effect where a decision to allow the ships to keep open their casinos while in port was on the agenda, which would possibly balance the bottom line for the cruise lines especially for the Veendam, due to her size, from what I understand is the only ship still able to dock in Hamilton Harbor. Front Street was jumping while we were in port and there were two other ships at the dockyard. The trek from the dockyard into Hamilton and the unpredicatable Ferry schedule is an issue plus there is a 35-40 minute taxi ride at $$ per person back and forth to the dockyard which to me is not inviting. I shared a Taxi ride back to Hamilton after our wonderful Dolphing Quest experience because the 5:00-5:30 pm Ferry was canceled..please don't quote me on the correct time but it was canceled and the next Ferry was an hour later. I hope the Bermuda Goverment re-evaluates this whole issue and rethinks bringing back the truely special ambiance of having Holland America's Veendam back in their harbor. It is just not the same being docked at the dockyard as beautiful as everything is about Bermuda being on a cruise ship docked in the Heart of Bermuda will forever be a cherished memory. Just my sincere thoughts!

[c-legs]

Spring, Summer and Fall, 2013, Veendam will sail Canada/New England cruises (Boston to Montreal to Boston) with a 35 day interruption in July/August to do the Voyage of the Vikiings Cruise, Boston to Amsterdam to Boston.

 

 

 

 

The itineraries that Maasdam has sailed for years....

Cheers

[c-legs]

come 2014 its coming to the West Coast to do Mexico and Hawaii. I have no idea what brainy act came up with sending that ship to warn climate with one pool. Makes no sense.

Right !!...but then....there are some exemples of ''strange '' thinking in this industry.....and Veendam haas been ''the victim'' of a few of those, hasn't she ?

Cheers

[Salacia]

The veendam has not been renewed to take its weekly trips to Bermuda. Anyone else disappointed in this.

 

I dont understand why they would pull out completely

 

Hi davetecgirl. You live in Bermuda, so certainly, it can come as no surprise that ms Veedam has no planned voyages to Bermuda.:confused:

 

Bermuda is a wonderful island. The people of Bermuda will decide its future. But right now, considering the robberies, gang violence, traffic accidents, combined with inflated prices, growing indifference to tourists, - I'll say again that is up to the people of Bermuda to decide their future, and it has little or nothing to do with the Veendam.She has her own problems to solve.

 

Best wishes,

S.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I don't know about Norfolk but come 2014 its coming to the West Coast to do Mexico and Hawaii. I have no idea what brainy act came up with sending that ship to warn climate with one pool. Makes no sense.

 

So true!!

But a lot of things that HAL has done over the last few years have not made any sense.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The veendam has not been renewed to take its weekly trips to Bermuda. Anyone else disappointed in this.

 

I dont understand why they would pull out completely

 

It is all about money.

Veendam was losing too much money by having the Casino closed. That is just part of the problem.

[hypercafe]

Oceania has some trips that will call on Hamilton and St George. I really do not think the casino had all that much to do with it. There is too much competition out of NY to Bermuda. People here like the small ship and Hamilton. I think the average person who wants to go to Bermuda wants a new ship with all the stuff and doesn't know anything about the dockyard!

[jtl513]

I'm wondering (HOPING) HAL will stay out of Bermuda next year in hopes of negotiating a better deal on dock costs and being able to have casino and shops/bars open in port if they return in 2014 or so.

I doubt very much if it would be 2014.

 

Hi davetecgirl. You live in Bermuda, so certainly, it can come as no surprise that ms Veedam has no planned voyages to Bermuda.:confused:

:confused: Her location says Barrie Ontario

 

Bermuda is a wonderful island. The people of Bermuda will decide its future. But right now, considering the robberies, gang violence, traffic accidents, combined with inflated prices, growing indifference to tourists, - I'll say again that is up to the people of Bermuda to decide their future, and it has little or nothing to do with the Veendam.She has her own problems to solve.

:confused: None of that seems to be bothering the cruise ships that go to the Dockyards.

[sail7seas]

The itineraries that Maasdam has sailed for years....

Cheers

 

 

That's correct. Maasdam will do the Boston to Montreal to Boston itineraries the whole season.

 

I suspect they scheduled Voyage of the Viking on Veendam in order to fill Veendam. That is a popular, unique itinerary and people who would otherwise not sail Veendam will agree to in order to do that itinerary.

 

Maasdam did that cruise so well for years. Hopefully Veendam will keep up that wonderful standard.

 

[Rotterdam]

I and my family have done the NYC - Bermuda run since the 1960's...its easy convenient & Bermuda is one of the worlds most special gems....we sailed on all different lines & sizes of ships....HAL was the last w/ the dockage in Hamilton for the 3 nites. Bermuda deserves a better ship than Veendam.

 

I sailed on Veendam 2 years ago & the ship was terrible....hopefully in the next seasons someone like Azamara or Oceania will take over the itinerary and reinstate the day in St. George with their smaller ships.

 

I know about the Dockyard facilities - I would rather fly & hotel in Bermuda than take one of those monster ships and be out of town.

[peaches from georgia]

I and my family have done the NYC - Bermuda run since the 1960's...its easy convenient & Bermuda is one of the worlds most special gems....we sailed on all different lines & sizes of ships....HAL was the last w/ the dockage in Hamilton for the 3 nites. Bermuda deserves a better ship than Veendam.

 

I sailed on Veendam 2 years ago & the ship was terrible....hopefully in the next seasons someone like Azamara or Oceania will take over the itinerary and reinstate the day in St. George with their smaller ships.

 

I know about the Dockyard facilities - I would rather fly & hotel in Bermuda than take one of those monster ships and be out of town.

Great post. Heartily agree with all you said. ;)

[3rdGenCunarder]

Oceania has some trips that will call on Hamilton and St George. I really do not think the casino had all that much to do with it. There is too much competition out of NY to Bermuda. People here like the small ship and Hamilton. I think the average person who wants to go to Bermuda wants a new ship with all the stuff and doesn't know anything about the dockyard!

 

I think you're right. And aren't the larger ships a little cheaper?

 

I have no desire to sail to Bermuda on a 3000+ passenger ship that docks out at the Dockyard (and docks right next to another 3000-pax ship!). I'm glad I went to Bermuda on Veendam. Don't know when I'll get the chance to go back.

[kazu]

I think you're right. And aren't the larger ships a little cheaper?

 

I have no desire to sail to Bermuda on a 3000+ passenger ship that docks out at the Dockyard (and docks right next to another 3000-pax ship!). I'm glad I went to Bermuda on Veendam. Don't know when I'll get the chance to go back.

 

Kathy- you could always hop on the Prinsendam in May next year - she's stopping there before going across the Atlantic - but it's only a one day stop;)

[pms4104]

I don't know about Norfolk but come 2014 its coming to the West Coast to do Mexico and Hawaii. I have no idea what brainy act came up with sending that ship to warn climate with one pool. Makes no sense.

Actually, the Veendam will be doing Hawaii starting in Fall 2013 not 2014. As to who brainstormed sending the Veendam to warmer climes ... likely, the same creative mind that came up with the poolette (Retreat 1.0) and the tub menagerie (Retreat 2.0);)

[3rdGenCunarder]

Kathy- you could always hop on the Prinsendam in May next year - she's stopping there before going across the Atlantic - but it's only a one day stop;)

 

Tempting, but no (I do my TAs on QM2). The Prinsendam cruise I want to do is the one that goes to several ports in Iceland, but I couldn't find it on the 2013 schedule.

 

And with my luck, we'd miss Bermuda. That happened on my one and only Princess cruise. We had a 1-day stop in Bermuda, which is why I booked that trip (it was before HAL returned to Bermuda). It was too windy, so we headed down to the Bahamas early.