Jump to content

Btimmer's Blog of the Nieuw Statendam Inaugural Voyage


Btimmer
 Share

Recommended Posts

On ‎12‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 5:57 AM, Btimmer said:

I just learned from my fried egg cook that there are 2800 guests on board.  The Lido is certainly busier and the are lots of small children.  Today is a sea day and a spa day for me.  M&G at 11am and a Mariners Reception in the BBKing at 11:30.  There is no 9am coffee chat :-(.

There were actually only 2100+ (on the TA) according to the Hotel Manager Don Hebets. This was done deliberately to allow flexibility in the event of a problem with a new ship. Fortunately, it didn't happen!

Many thanks for the video of our cabin.

I noted later that this post referred to the 4 day extension....

Edited by Tennessee Titan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Tennessee Titan said:

There were actually only 2100+ (on the TA) according to the Hotel Manager Don Hebets. This was done deliberately to allow flexibility in the event of a problem with a new ship. Fortunately, it didn't happen!

Many thanks for the video of our cabin.

I noted later that this post referred to the 4 day extension....

Yes, 2100 on the TA and 2800 on the 4 day.  My thread encompasses both segments.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, LINGBER said:

We board on Sunday. I imagine the number of passengers will be even higher. Does the ship feel crowded with 2800? Do you feel a big difference from the TA?

We can definitely feel the difference.  The Lido is crowded, the casino is totally full, the music venues are full, and the vibe is like a Caribbean cruise (party time).  TA cruisers tend to be more serious and an older crowd.  This crowd is 20 years younger with lots of children.  But we are loving sailing on the new ship.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We can definitely feel the difference.  The Lido is crowded, the casino is totally full, the music venues are full, and the vibe is like a Caribbean cruise (party time).  TA cruisers tend to be more serious and an older crowd.  This crowd is 20 years younger with lots of children.  But we are loving sailing on the new ship.

 

shorter cruises are definitely a different vibe than longer ones.

 

Should make for an interesting contrast for you 😉 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Celebrity Edge parked nose to nose with us today.  Also in port was the Harmony of the Seas, Nieuw Amsterdam, and a Princess ship.  Also attached is a picture of our room configured as twin beds.

 

Disembarkation was smooth, and our Uber whisked us to the FLL airport.  Now we have 9 hours of flying home to Seattle via LAX.

B2C4DB0E-3483-46DA-875D-7D6411216140.jpeg

2C416CE3-C067-4DCA-BFD3-59848DFF2CA2.jpeg

33F8328C-06DB-414C-932C-6764D2AB99F5.jpeg

6661A0C3-B6FD-4720-B9EC-BA67EC1D5747.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/6/2018 at 3:30 PM, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

Let's do some numbers with a book loss of $2.5 million per year across the fleet of 15 ships.

Let's use an average price per hardcover book of $50. (high IMO but I will use it).

Dividing $2.5 million by $50. yields 50,000 books in all HAL ship's libraries

Dividing the 50,000 books by the 15 ships gives about 3300 books per ship

 

I don't think even one of the HAL ships has 3300 books in its library.

 

I find a loss of $2.5 million in books to be unbelievable and probably impossible.

 

100% correct!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 12/6/2018 at 3:30 PM, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

The Celebrity Edge parked nose to nose with us today.  Also in port was the Harmony of the Seas, Nieuw Amsterdam, and a Princess ship.  Also attached is a picture of our room configured as twin beds.

 

Disembarkation was smooth, and our Uber whisked us to the FLL airport.  Now we have 9 hours of flying home to Seattle via LAX.

 

Next time we may try using Uber to FLL from port. How much us the fare? Do you mind sharing this info? Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/20/2018 at 1:35 PM, Btimmer said:

Within a matter of a few minutes ago, we crossed paths with the Prinsendam and the Koningsdam.  SUPER Cool!!  Close encounters of the HAL kind.

A0736FF1-C606-4905-ABF7-053236F7782F.jpeg

44A0B5D8-B10E-414D-AC6A-F9F062CFD515.jpeg

 

 

Wow wish they had arranged a fleet photo op 😞

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎12‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 3:13 PM, Btimmer said:

The NS is extremely stable. It was slightly rocky last night and during the attempted repositioning at HMC. During our slow sail to Nassau there's very little motion.

 

Here's one of my favorite cruising views.  The Captain couldn't answer why was one prop wash more pronounced than the other.

77C0EB4C-96A6-4169-BDB5-6E58DFFA3B7A.jpeg

I was amazed at how the NS handled the rough seas.  It was really smooth and we felt little to nothing even though you could look outside and see how big the waves were.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We thoroughly enjoyed the 4 day cruise and the ship.  Of course all staff were marvellous and very accommodating - except for the guest services desk.  Our cabin steward made a mistake and charged us for a couple of cans of sofa we didn’t consume (he was very apologetic when he informed us of the error).  The front desk experience was almost embarrassing. The person helping us was not very discreet about trying to find someone to help fix a “mini-bar DISPUTE”. (Caps because she was speaking that loudly!).  After standing in line for 15 minutes, and then waiting for her to fix the less than $5 error, I just threw up my hands and walked away! I did have a few other questions for her which she was able to answer, otherwise I would not have even bothered to go to the desk. 

 

That experience just just left a bad taste in my mouth, and unfortunately it was the last interaction I had with anyone on the ship.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/20/2018 at 4:35 PM, Btimmer said:

Within a matter of a few minutes ago, we crossed paths with the Prinsendam and the Koningsdam.  SUPER Cool!!  Close encounters of the HAL kind.

A0736FF1-C606-4905-ABF7-053236F7782F.jpeg

44A0B5D8-B10E-414D-AC6A-F9F062CFD515.jpeg

 

Thanks for posting this, Tim!  I never saw the Prinsendam, but I did catch the Koningsdam for a really short time!  The blowing of the ship's horns in salute was amazing!  I wish we had been told it was going to happen so we could have been on deck or at least on balcony to witness it in person.  :classic_sad:  That is one of those Once in a Lifetime occasions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks too, Tim, for your Blog and the wonderful commentary and photos you shared with all of us.  It was an honor to meet you in person, also.  

 

I wish you and Angela a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Voyage-Filled New Year!

~Barbara~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, trixiee said:

 

My apologies to Btimmer for high jacking his thread. 🤭

No problem.  I totally concur with your comments, and I included lots of detail in my response to the survey.  Fortunately, John at the front desk became an ally and helped me navigate through the numerous overcharges.  Something is dreadfully wrong with their accounting system (I'm a retired CPA and quite familiar with computers and systems).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...