Best of both worlds?

[sammygoose]

We are seriously considering- well 90% sure in booking the Prinsendam for the 2014 Bourgundian Explorer.

I'm excited and nervous........

Our previous 3 cruises have been:

2012- Mediterranean Romance Nieuw Amsterdam

2013- Eastern Caribbean Eurodam

2013- Fjords,Highlands and Ireland Eurodam

 

part of our excitement is Mont St. Michel- it's on the bucket list and if you look at the cruise lines going there it's really just the P and more $$$$$ lines

 

The times work really well for us.

 

Also the fact that it will be a new ship works well for us too- our alternate cruises are the Med Empires- the NA and the Baltic Adventure- the Eurodam

I love both of those ships but the lure of a new ship...one so beloved as the Prinsendam is intriguing.

I know the PDam is older and smaller but can anyone offer an opinion as to what she offers that is unique?

We are going from the largest to the smallest HAL ship and I'm curious. I've loved the NADam and the Edam but aside from the unique itinerary am I going to be dissapointed?

Thanks.....

 

Edit- mobility issues are not an issue as far as size of ship goes.

[kazu]

We are seriously considering- well 90% sure in booking the Prinsendam for the 2014 Bourgundian Explorer.

I'm excited and nervous........

Our previous 3 cruises have been:

2012- Mediterranean Romance Nieuw Amsterdam

2013- Eastern Caribbean Eurodam

2013- Fjords,Highlands and Ireland Eurodam

 

part of our excitement is Mont St. Michel- it's on the bucket list and if you look at the cruise lines going there it's really just the P and more $$$$$ lines

 

The times work really well for us.

 

Also the fact that it will be a new ship works well for us too- our alternate cruises are the Med Empires- the NA and the Baltic Adventure- the Eurodam

I love both of those ships but the lure of a new ship...one so beloved as the Prinsendam is intriguing.

I know the PDam is older and smaller but can anyone offer an opinion as to what she offers that is unique?

We are going from the largest to the smallest HAL ship and I'm curious. I've loved the NADam and the Edam but aside from the unique itinerary am I going to be dissapointed?

Thanks.....

 

I looked hard at that itinerary and finally decided on the one right after. It's a good one:D

 

Mont St. Michel is fantastic and truly a sight to see. We did it on the P'dam this past spring.

 

Ahhh - you are concerned as you are going from one extreme to the other (and justifiably so).

 

In my honest opinion the Prinsendam offers more service wise than any other HAL ship. She has little touches and more crew per passenger. It's a small ship so the crew know you well and take care of you accordingly.

 

I find the food better, the service better and there is just something about the ship that is hard to describe. Cabins on this ship are not like the other HAL ships. They are not all 'cookie cutter' cabins. Many will have walk in closets (some larger than others) and some will not. You really need to look at the deck plans.

 

The ship is full of history - and a proud one. She has the most beautiful Crow's Nest in the fleet (my opinion of course). Her Lido deck is not covered and I actually like it that way.

 

The Lido is done nicely and with the covering of the aft portion it is very spacious and less crowded than many ships.

 

The Canaletto on this ship was the best I have experienced and the PG is the best in the fleet IMO.

 

The entertainment offered can be really different - and usually talented.

 

Now, seriously, this ship is not for everyone. This is a ship. There is no Tamarind or Silk Den, not a lot of big shops and no HAL cats! If you like those amenities, this might not be the ship for you - but if you like the other things and probably one of the nicest HAL libraries (check out the Oak Room), then I encourage you to try her.

 

Prinsendam has a lot of fans and I confess I am one. But there are others that don't care for her. I don't think this is a 'neutral' ship. you either love her or you don't.

 

Hopefully others will chime in and help but I would far rather be on the Prinsendam than the Nieuw Amsterdam (and yes, I have been on her) any day of the week. There is no comparison to service or itineraries.

[sammygoose]

Thank you Kazu. Your responses have always seemed to me to be balanced and neutral. Going from the largest ship to the smallest and most unique was an opinion I was looking for.

 

<quote>Now, seriously, this ship is not for everyone. This is a ship. There is no Tamarind or Silk Den, not a lot of big shops and no HAL cats! If you like those amenities, this might not be the ship for you - but if you like the other things and probably one of the nicest HAL libraries (check out the Oak Room), then I encourage you to try her.

 

I can live without the Silk Den and Tamarind- loved it but can live without it. Hal cats MEH..... don't care, don't notice them.

I work hard and want to vacation quiet which I expect the PDam will give me but what are those exxxxxxxtras that the PDam gives that the big ships do not?

I find the the PDam to be a witches brew.......your old, your retired, you've done all the big hitter ports. what''s in it for me??

Don't get me wrong I Looooove the seasoned traveller and it's not a deterrent

But what's the Pdam's jam?

[pearliemae]

Ambiance

[ScriptOhio]

We are seriously considering- well 90% sure in booking the Prinsendam for the 2014 Bourgundian Explorer.

 

part of our excitement is Mont St. Michel- it's on the bucket list and if you look at the cruise lines going there it's really just the P and more $$$$$ lines.

 

Just sayin': If you don't do the Prinsedam, there could be other cruise options to see Mont St. Michel.

 

a. I stopped at St. Malo in 2011 (Maasdam Voyage of the Vikings); HAL could have it on another Voyage of the Vikings itinerary sometime in the future. There were tours to Mont St. Michel; but I didn't go as I had been there the previous year (see below).

 

b. You can get there from Le Harve too. I did visit Mont St. Michel in 2010 off the Star Princess on a stop in Le Havre. We had already done Paris and Normandy on prior cruises so when someone on Cruise Critic wanted others for their private van tour we jumped on it. As I recall the complete tour was 8 hours, 8 people, and 88 Euros per person (+ 7.5 Euros pp admission to the abbey), etc. The ship was in port for 12 hours so getting there and back on time was no problem. It was a very nice tour.

[jtl513]

sammy, do you have time to do a cruise on the Maasdam or Ryndam first? I thought the Pdam is very much like those two ships except even shorter walks, fewer people, and half the number of elevators. (And the two aft elevators are very small.) DW liked our walk-in closet but I thought it gave us even less hanger-bar space than the S-class ships. She also thought the food was a little better on the Pdam, but to me it was pretty much the same. The Pdam Canaletto is much nicer IMO than Edam or NAdam.

[sammygoose]

I think that doing the PDam is a bit of a factor just based on the reputation of the ship and like Kazu said going from one extreme to another is part of the surprise. I have been completely satisfied with the EDam and the NA but am thinking the opportunity to try the PDam is almost too good too pass up. I'm going to do the Med Empires and the Baltic Adventure but maybe this cruise is a good one to break up the Edam/NA carousel.

I'm just a little apprehensive going from the newest to the oldest ship in the fleet. Mobility is not an issue and I don't find the signature ships that large or overwhelming( but I'd rather not go bigger) so things like elevators aren't a factor. I'm thinking Faulty towers shabby sort of thing- I don't want that much familiarity to get a unique itinerary.

The average passenger age is also not an issue- I'm going to relax not hook up. Besides I appreciate what a seasoned traveler has to offer and the peace they bring.

I guess bottom line I'm a bit apprehensive about the shabby on an older ship- there I said it.

If the Prinsendam can give me a a nice, mechanical breakdown free,quiet, interesting cruise, with a nice atmosphere then I'll be happy. I know life's not perfect but 14 days hanging with some old couch would be tough.

I'm good with small, well kept and well taken care of.

BTW there are only 2 sea days out of 14 ... I never thought I'd say it but only 2 SEA DAYS? Cripes, I'll need a vacation when I get home. You PDamer's roll hard!!!!!!

[kazu]

I think that doing the PDam is a bit of a factor just based on the reputation of the ship and like Kazu said going from one extreme to another is part of the surprise. I have been completely satisfied with the EDam and the NA but am thinking the opportunity to try the PDam is almost too good too pass up. I'm going to do the Med Empires and the Baltic Adventure but maybe this cruise is a good one to break up the Edam/NA carousel.

I'm just a little apprehensive going from the newest to the oldest ship in the fleet. Mobility is not an issue and I don't find the signature ships that large or overwhelming( but I'd rather not go bigger) so things like elevators aren't a factor. I'm thinking Faulty towers shabby sort of thing- I don't want that much familiarity to get a unique itinerary.

The average passenger age is also not an issue- I'm going to relax not hook up. Besides I appreciate what a seasoned traveler has to offer and the peace they bring.

I guess bottom line I'm a bit apprehensive about the shabby on an older ship- there I said it.

If the Prinsendam can give me a a nice, mechanical breakdown free,quiet, interesting cruise, with a nice atmosphere then I'll be happy. I know life's not perfect but 14 days hanging with some old couch would be tough.

I'm good with small, well kept and well taken care of.

BTW there are only 2 sea days out of 14 ... I never thought I'd say it but only 2 SEA DAYS? Cripes, I'll need a vacation when I get home. You PDamer's roll hard!!!!!!

 

I will say that the first time we were going to go on the prinsendam, I was very concerned about her condition and her age. I warned my DH about it.

 

I found her in good condition. Yes, she's older and her age will show in a couple of places, but I have honestly never seen the cleaning and polishing that I did on this ship. I even saw the Captain inspecting in the Crow's Nest and an Officer pointing out a spot no one would ever see to be cleaned to a crew member.

 

I heard no one complain about AC/plumbing, etc on either cruise and we had no issues whatsoever. We had a large roll call on our last cruise and when we polled people (a good number of them were first timers) they had grown attached to the ship. Several who were first timers typically sailed Azamara and Oceania so I asked them to rate the P'dam and was surprised when they said that the P'dam was above Azamara and just slightly below Oceania.

 

We had some fantastic bbq's on the Lido deck and buffets - things like crab legs, personally prepared to order stir fries with huge options (calamari among them) and if weather was not as nice in the MDR for lunch.

 

While the entertainment may be smaller it is very good or at least has been on our cruises. We don't always go but we heard rave reviews when we didn't.

 

The Adagio duo was very talented - the best we have ever heard.

 

those have been our experiences on her - I don't know if this helps or not.

[KirkNC]

I think Kazu has done an excellent job in highlighting the P'dam. We went on her for our first time in Sept. And by about the third day of the cruise she was our new favorite ship. Some of the reasons why are hard to quantify as she does have a unique feel. We found a more experienced group of cruisers on board with lots of sea time under their belts. This made for great conversations through out the cruise. I am convinced that the crew is the best of HAL's, a lot have been on there for a long time. The layout is unique, it has the best Lido with the best short order breakfast cooks I have ever seen. The setup for Canaletto is unique as it is on the stern of the ship. The size makes it easy to get around and both the crew and passengers become friendly quickly as there are so few of both. The Pinnacle was outstanding. She is an older ship so if a little rust boths you, that may be a problem. I would sail on her again in a New York minute.

 

We also went to Mont St Michel, we did it on a private tour with five others, it was great and also included Dinan. Let me know if you want any details.

[Windsailer]

I sailed on the Prinsendam in August and the Eurodam last week. I found the food to be much better on the Prinsendam, both in quality and temperature. I had many luke warm meals on the Eurodam. While I loved the Tamarind (food was hot, tasted wonderful, service was great) I won't sail the Eurodam again. I'd sail on the Prinsedam again for sure.

[SFO Peter]

The piano bar in the Prinsendam Crows Nest was fantastic. It was like a gathering of super friendly people. Lots of fun. No big lines anyplace. Thoroughly enjoyed the cruise. There were some moderate vibrations in our Cabin 454 which was midship and the vibrations were more significant to the rear of the ship. Good food in the dining room. Different experience than Jacqui's (we were on the same cruise) in the Canaletto but food can be subjective at different times.

 

Peter

[sammygoose]

Thank you! I really appreciate all your responses, that pretty much finishes any doubts I had. I'm not a corner dust looker or a rust alarmist so your answers were just what I was looking for.

Much appreciated so if I can get everyone onboard then we'll be good to go.

 

@ KirkNC- I'll contact you for more MStM info as we get closer- thanks for the offer. :)

[kazu]

Thank you! I really appreciate all your responses, that pretty much finishes any doubts I had. I'm not a corner dust looker or a rust alarmist so your answers were just what I was looking for.

Much appreciated so if I can get everyone onboard then we'll be good to go.

 

@ KirkNC- I'll contact you for more MStM info as we get closer- thanks for the offer. :)

 

feel free to contact me as well as we did private there - I suspect that Kirk and I used the same companies ;)

[moviefan2010]

I have sailed on the Prinsendam three times including twice this year. The first time I was midship on the main deck and on an old ship like this one the engine noise and vibrations were hard to deal with. Avoid main and dolphin unless you are at the bow. Also avoid the very rear cabins on all decks. The last two cruises I was on upper promenade midship which was truly great. The first of this year's cruises, I was worried that the ship wasn't being maintained since I saw many rust spots and saw only one painting crew. The second cruise I saw painting crews many days and the ship looked in much better shape. Additional maintenance was probably done this month during the dock stay to install the new stabilizer.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[highland cruiser]

We are seriously considering- well 90% sure in booking the Prinsendam for the 2014 Bourgundian Explorer.

I'm excited and nervous........

Our previous 3 cruises have been:

2012- Mediterranean Romance Nieuw Amsterdam

2013- Eastern Caribbean Eurodam

2013- Fjords,Highlands and Ireland Eurodam

 

part of our excitement is Mont St. Michel- it's on the bucket list and if you look at the cruise lines going there it's really just the P and more $$$$$ lines

 

The times work really well for us.

 

Also the fact that it will be a new ship works well for us too- our alternate cruises are the Med Empires- the NA and the Baltic Adventure- the Eurodam

I love both of those ships but the lure of a new ship...one so beloved as the Prinsendam is intriguing.

I know the PDam is older and smaller but can anyone offer an opinion as to what she offers that is unique?

We are going from the largest to the smallest HAL ship and I'm curious. I've loved the NADam and the Edam but aside from the unique itinerary am I going to be dissapointed?

Thanks.....

 

Edit- mobility issues are not an issue as far as size of ship goes.

 

Thanks for asking this question and thank you to all who have posted.

We are booked on the Sept. 7 Bourgundian Prinsendam cruise. We have been on every class of HAL ships except this one. So we are very excited to try it out and the itinerary sold us on it.

Would also be interested in any private tour ideas. We have joined the roll call and it is just getting going so I am sure that ideas will flow soon.

Thanks again.

Mary

[rafinmd]

Mary, I think you've made an excellent decision. My line of choice is Crystal but the Prinsendam is my favorite non-Crystal ship hands down. I tend to favor smaller, but I prefer the Elegant Explorer to either the smaller luxury Silversea or the premium Wind Surf. I didn't really want to respond to sammygoose because I haven't yet sailed Vista/Signature ships, but I think it will be quite a different experience, and I think it will be a positive difference for both of you.

 

I think you will have a wonderful experience.

 

Roy

[kazu]

Thanks for asking this question and thank you to all who have posted.

We are booked on the Sept. 7 Bourgundian Prinsendam cruise. We have been on every class of HAL ships except this one. So we are very excited to try it out and the itinerary sold us on it.

Would also be interested in any private tour ideas. We have joined the roll call and it is just getting going so I am sure that ideas will flow soon.

Thanks again.

Mary

 

Mary,

 

the ports board will be of help. I remembering looking at this cruise and I had hit a couple of the ports. If you want, please feel free to post your ports here or if you prefer feel free to email me off board and I can try to help. (my email is in my signature - just click 'email me').

 

I think you have made a fine choice - but I am prejudiced and it is my favourite ship of the line.

 

It's a great itinerary - I was so tempted on this one - but instead, we will get on when you get off;)

[highland cruiser]

Mary,

 

the ports board will be of help. I remembering looking at this cruise and I had hit a couple of the ports. If you want, please feel free to post your ports here or if you prefer feel free to email me off board and I can try to help. (my email is in my signature - just click 'email me').

 

I think you have made a fine choice - but I am prejudiced and it is my favourite ship of the line.

 

It's a great itinerary - I was so tempted on this one - but instead, we will get on when you get off;)

 

 

Thank you so much for the reply.

I am so excited about going back to Europe and to sail on the Prinsemdam.

I have a suspicion we will discover a "new" favorite ship.

I have just started looking at the ports for this cruise but I am still getting organized for our Feb. cruise to New Zealand on the Oosterdam. Almost have that one figured out!! :D

I will certainly be in touch either on this post or by email. I have no problem posting my questions on CC. I figure it may also help someone else!!

 

We will try to leave it in great shape for your cruise. We actually looked at continuing on the next leg of this trip but with my husband's parents are still needing some elder care and about 3 weeks is our limit to be gone.

 

We are actually thinking of taking the train from Barcelona to Madrid at the end of the cruise and spending a few days there before flying home. We have been to Amsterdam several times so will arrive early but not as early as we would if we hadn't been there before.

 

Thanks so much again.

Mary

[madera1]

I am another Sept 7th passenger who will also be sailing on the Prisendam for the first time. I want to invite the OP to join our roll call. Not a lot has taken place yet but some of us are interested in private excursions to Normandy beaches and St. Malo so you will be joining at a perfect time to join in the search for the best excursions. Also thanks to everyone for their descriptions of what to expect on this size of a ship. Looking forward to a change.

[NoWhiners]

Sounds like you have already decided, but we just got back from our first P cruise and loved it!! I wish they had the same cabin layout (and the terrific walk-in closet) on all their ships. Honestly, after all I heard before we went, I was afraid DH would hate it but he thought it was great. Really, the only thing we didn't like was that our cabin (365) had a plastic cover over the window well, so we couldn't stick our noses right up at the window!!:) But that was the worst thing (and no big deal). We both really enjoyed Capt Tim Roberts--the best we have had on all our HAL cruises, and he had a lot to deal with on our cruise

 

We liked her so much, we are now looking at sailing on her again, but out of US ports. Much more limited but that flight to Europe...

 

good luck and enjoy your cruise

ML

[kazu]

I am another Sept 7th passenger who will also be sailing on the Prisendam for the first time. I want to invite the OP to join our roll call. Not a lot has taken place yet but some of us are interested in private excursions to Normandy beaches and St. Malo so you will be joining at a perfect time to join in the search for the best excursions. Also thanks to everyone for their descriptions of what to expect on this size of a ship. Looking forward to a change.

 

In case this helps -- we used Eva Ruttger for the Normandy Beaches. (Welcome to Normandy) She was fantastic! We have used a lot of private tours and she is one of the very top ones. for St. Malo, we used the taxi which worked out very well. Our tenders were delayed and they were still there waiting for us :)

[madera1]

Thanks Kazu for the suggestion. I will follow up. My DH and I are both history fans and have read a lot about WWII. Both of our dads were in the war and my dad was a paratrooper, landed in Europe was shot and was a POW but he rarely speaks about his experiences.

[serendipity1499]

I looked hard at that itinerary and finally decided on the one right after. It's a good one:D

 

Mont St. Michel is fantastic and truly a sight to see. We did it on the P'dam this past spring.

 

Ahhh - you are concerned as you are going from one extreme to the other (and justifiably so).

 

In my honest opinion the Prinsendam offers more service wise than any other HAL ship. She has little touches and more crew per passenger. It's a small ship so the crew know you well and take care of you accordingly.

 

I find the food better, the service better and there is just something about the ship that is hard to describe. Cabins on this ship are not like the other HAL ships. They are not all 'cookie cutter' cabins. Many will have walk in closets (some larger than others) and some will not. You really need to look at the deck plans.

 

The ship is full of history - and a proud one. She has the most beautiful Crow's Nest in the fleet (my opinion of course). Her Lido deck is not covered and I actually like it that way.

 

The Lido is done nicely and with the covering of the aft portion it is very spacious and less crowded than many ships.

 

The Canaletto on this ship was the best I have experienced and the PG is the best in the fleet IMO.

 

The entertainment offered can be really different - and usually talented.

 

Now, seriously, this ship is not for everyone. This is a ship. There is no Tamarind or Silk Den, not a lot of big shops and no HAL cats! If you like those amenities, this might not be the ship for you - but if you like the other things and probably one of the nicest HAL libraries (check out the Oak Room), then I encourage you to try her.

 

Prinsendam has a lot of fans and I confess I am one. But there are others that don't care for her. I don't think this is a 'neutral' ship. you either love her or you don't.

 

Hopefully others will chime in and help but I would far rather be on the Prinsendam than the Nieuw Amsterdam (and yes, I have been on her) any day of the week. There is no comparison to service or itineraries.

 

Like Kazu & the other posters the Prinsendam is also our favorite ship..I agree with all the points she made..IMO the food & the service was the best of any HAL ship we've been on.. We cruised on her for 68 days around South America into Antarctica & the Amazon this past January..

First of all I love the walk in closets..We shipped 4 large bags to the port, carried one 26 inch suitcase with us & took two 21 inch carry on's..We were in a midship cabin on Main deck close to the elevators..I took so many clothes that DH thought I had emptied out all my closets..We had to pack for both warm & cold climes..All my clothes & 9 pairs of shoes went into that closet easily..

Kirk mentioned that the Lido Buffet is the best of all the HAL ships & I agree..

Also the crew knows their Psgrs & watches out for them..For instance my DH has a memory problem.. We were eating lunch in the Lido & he went over to the other side of the buffet to get something & got lost..One of our Stewards found him, took his tray & escorted him back to our table..I didn't even know he was lost but the Steward said he looked lost..You don't know how much I appreciated that...

 

Due to the cold weather we spent many days in the beautiful & comfortable library!

My Friend reminded me last week that we had indeed sailed on the NA & the Noordam..Sure enough I had forgotten about the NA..Enjoyed the Noordam, but the NA was too big for our taste..

Agree with other the Prinsendam has those little touches which can't be defined & she sails into areas that many other ships can't get into..

Agree with Pearliemae, it 's the ambiance!

Hope you will enjoy this little ship as much as we all do!

Betty

[kazu]

Thanks Kazu for the suggestion. I will follow up. My DH and I are both history fans and have read a lot about WWII. Both of our dads were in the war and my dad was a paratrooper, landed in Europe was shot and was a POW but he rarely speaks about his experiences.

 

If you are history buffs you will be enthralled. My father too was in WWII, my uncle a POW and my Aunt in WWII. Eva kept us absolutely spellbound the entire trip. If you have any questions or if I can help in any other way, please feel free to email me off board (my email is in my signature). Just put cruise critic/Prinsendam in the title line;)