Volendam Information

[kelly3399]

Hi Everyone,

I have booked for an Alaska cruise in July on the Volendam. This is our first cruise on a HAL ship and our first time in Alaska. Can anyone who has sailed on this particular ship let me know what I can expect from her in regards to meals, activities, staterooms and such? We have a BB guarantee cabin and first sitting in the dining room. DH and I are in our mid 60's and spending the kids' inheiritance. Many thanks in advance, Kelly

[startwin]

Hi Everyone,

I have booked for an Alaska cruise in July on the Volendam. This is our first cruise on a HAL ship and our first time in Alaska. Can anyone who has sailed on this particular ship let me know what I can expect from her in regards to meals, activities, staterooms and such? We have a BB guarantee cabin and first sitting in the dining room. DH and I are in our mid 60's and spending the kids' inheiritance. Many thanks in advance, Kelly

 

You've picked my favourites ship, and the best itinerary because of the mid-week departure. I applaud you for spending your kids' inheritance - I'm busy doing that too.:D There are people on this forum who can expertly explain all you need to know - I'm no good at that, but I can assure you that you will enjoy it, LOL.

[RuthC]

If you want to take a 1-week trip to Alaska, out of Vancouver, you have picked the right ship, imo. As a matter of fact, I have booked this ship to take this cruise again in August.

 

The ship is a medium size, so is easy to get around fairly quickly. There is plenty of outdoor deck space, which is a big help in Alaska. The Great Land is vast, and so is the view. The balcony is nice, but cuts down on what can be seen; you will need to get out to a public deck once in a while to get a more expansive view.

 

The ship has a refined, traditional, décor inside. Service is more rushed than it used to be, due to staff cutbacks, but the stewards do still try their best to make it as lovely for you as they can.

 

You are taking one of two HAL ships that offer a shore excursion up Tracy Arm in a catamaran. It is for this single reason that I booked this particular cruise, as I want to take that excursion very much. I have sailed up Tracy Arm in the cruise ship three times, but I know the perspective from the small boat will be different. Consider that excursion. Glacier Bay will give you a perspective from the cruise ship.

[puppycanducruise]

We did the Inside Passage cruise on the Volendam many years ago, it got us hooked on cruising!

We loved the cruise, even though I don't remember all the details after so many years.

I hope you have a wonderful time.

[DrFUN]

Dear Ruth:

 

I've appreciatively followed your wonderful advice for years on Cruise Critic, for which I THANK YOU--and hope you can provide some advice for a Q to which my searches here (and other sites) don't yield any info to help in making a location choice for an "A" (while there still IS a bit of choice) on the 31-day sailing DH Dave and I are about to book from Hong Kong to Vancouver for April 2015 on the Volendam. (We're 4-star Mariners who primarily sail Vista Class or Prinsendam in Signature Suites or Neptune Suites--though we did once sail on the Rotterdam in a BB and once on the Maasdam in an S--but we've never been on the Volendam.)

 

We could get 7137 (first A starboard after the SAs) or 6166 (portside A), and I'm torn about Deck 6 vs. 7 and port vs. starboard.

 

• I like Deck 6 as I prefer the lower deck for what I've read here is usually a bit of a bumpy crossing--AND there are other staterooms above rather than the Lido (though the Lido's not been a problem when above us).
  
• I like Deck 7 as there's only one flight of stairs to the Lido and Spa--AND there's the added balcony covering from the LIdo overhang (though the deck-plan looks as if the covering only starts at the A that's aft of 7137).
  
• I like port-side for this sailing, as the land is on the port side the entire cruise so it's potentially more scenic.
  
• I like the starboard-side on the eastward crossing, as you get more sun and light.
  

We'd be ever so grateful for your valued input. ;-)

 

Appreciatively,

Mary-Lou

[RuthC]

Thanks for the kind words, Mary-Lou. I hope I can live up to your confidence! Oh, and I'm booked on those cruises, so perhaps we will get a chance to meet!

 

I am not familiar with the high-rent district, but I did take a look at the deckplans. One of the things to watch out for on Veranda Deck is what's going on at night below. If you are over the Ocean Bar or the Piano Lounge, there can be sound traveling up. The 6166 cabin is not under an entertainment venue, and appears to be at the very aft of the Casino. Even further back would be under the (nighttime) very quiet meeting rooms and library. Is there anything available just aft of the mid-ship elevators?

The cabins above will give some shelter from the sun/rain. Friends took a similar itinerary this year, and said it was cold. I don't know how much use you will get out of the balcony if our cruise is similar.

 

I believe you meant cabin 7037 on Navigation Deck as the other cabin under consideration, not 7137. :confused: This cabin is pretty well under the Terrace Grill, and the first tables beyond that. I wouldn't expect much noise at night, but during the day there will be some noise from chair movement.

 

I hope I gave you some information to help you make the right decision for you.

See you aboard!

[DrFUN]

Thanks, dear Ruth! You are a true gem. :)

 

And I left you a note on the two Volendam roll-calls, which I just joined and was thrilled to see YOU are onboard for the 31 days, too!

 

We went with 7037 (So sorry about my typo! Glad you caught it.) -- and, of course, I'm still wondering if we'd be happier with 6166 (or further aft, as you suggested). You know how THAT goes. :rolleyes: I'll keep watching to see what's available.

 

Hope you have happy holidays and that 2014 is filled with more great cruises.

 

Mary-Lou

Edited December 12, 2013 by DrFUN

[sail7seas]

Thanks, dear Ruth! You are a true gem. :)

 

And I left you a note on the two Volendam roll-calls, which I just joined and was thrilled to see YOU are onboard for the 31 days, too!

 

We went with 7037 (So sorry about my typo! Glad you caught it.) -- and, of course, I'm still wondering if we'd be happier with 6166 (or further aft, as you suggested). You know how THAT goes. :rolleyes: I'll keep watching to see what's available.

 

Hope you have happy holidays and that 2014 is filled with more great cruises.

 

Mary-Lou

 

 

Mary-Lou,

 

I responded to the e-mail you sent setting out the same as you've written here. :)

 

[DrFUN]

Mary-Lou,

 

I responded to the e-mail you sent setting out the same as you've written here. :)

 

 

Thanks a million, dear Judy! I'm responding right now via email. :)

[Aruba]

You are taking one of two HAL ships that offer a shore excursion up Tracy Arm in a catamaran. It is for this single reason that I booked this particular cruise, as I want to take that excursion very much. I have sailed up Tracy Arm in the cruise ship three times, but I know the perspective from the small boat will be different.

I've done that catamaran excursion in Tracy Arm 3 times Ruth and loved it every time. I think you'll really enjoy it too. You get much closer to Sawyer Glacier than you do on the ship itself. :)

[RuthC]

I've done that catamaran excursion in Tracy Arm 3 times Ruth and loved it every time. I think you'll really enjoy it too. You get much closer to Sawyer Glacier than you do on the ship itself. :)

Thanks for the reassurance that I made the right decision. It's going to be an adventure.

 

I'm taking the 14-day Amsterdam cruise out of Seattle, and figured this was a good opportunity to get this shore excursion in, too. So I'll take this cruise, too, while I'm out west.

[Aruba]

I'm taking the 14-day Amsterdam cruise out of Seattle, and figured this was a good opportunity to get this shore excursion in, too.

You're doing the May 18th Alaska sailing, r/t Seattle, on Amsterdam? I'll be on that too!:)

[RuthC]

You're doing the May 18th Alaska sailing, r/t Seattle, on Amsterdam? I'll be on that too!:)

No, I'm doing it in August.

 

I plan to fly to Seattle, meet up with friends, and drive to Vancouver to board the Volendam. When we return the next Wednesday, we'll drive back down to Seattle and spend a few days touring around there until the Amsterdam sails on Sunday.

 

Additional friends are having an anniversary cruise, and wanted a group of us to come along for the 2 weeks. That should be a large group, if plans hold up!

[Aruba]

Too bad :( I would have liked to see you again. Some other time!