Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam

[richwmn]

The two newest ships for Holland America are traveling together from St. Thomas to Half Moon Cay. This is Koningsdam as seen off the port side of Nieuw Statendam

 

 

[colonialinnkeeper]

Nice.  We are going to be on Koningsdam next month at HMC with NS.  We've never been there with another ship (unbelievable, I know) and have been wondering how it will feel to have that many people on shore.

[richwmn]

31 minutes ago, colonialinnkeeper said:

Nice.  We are going to be on Koningsdam next month at HMC with NS.  We've never been there with another ship (unbelievable, I know) and have been wondering how it will feel to have that many people on shore.

Since the two biggest ships that HAL has will be together there Saturday it should be interesting.

[rkacruiser]

And, I wonder which ship will get the larger tenders.

[richwmn]

I talked to a crew member a few minutes ago and he told me that Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam will stay together for the next few days. Tomorrow at sea, Saturday at HMC, Sunday at Fort Lauderdale, and Monday back at HMC. Should be interesting.

[eroller]

I'm sailing on NS this Sunday.  K-dam will be in Port Everglades as well.  We both will be at HMC on Monday.  Who gets the bigger tenders?  Maybe one ship each who knows?    

[colonialinnkeeper]

Would love to hear a report after both are there together.

[crossingfan]

Ernie

I'm glad you are sailing on NS this weekend.  I am sailing on Kdam the end of April for the second time.  I always enjoy your reviews and look forward to this one

 

[eroller]

26 minutes ago, crossingfan said:

Ernie

I'm glad you are sailing on NS this weekend.  I am sailing on Kdam the end of April for the second time.  I always enjoy your reviews and look forward to this one

 

 

 

Thank you.  I appreciate that.  I’m returning to HAL after almost 10 years, so a review for sure and lots of pics!  

[oceanmom]

We were at HMC during Christmas with the NS and Konigs. both there. They only used the island tenders for both ships and it was a long wait to get off the ship. Hopefully things have changed after trying that once.

[richwmn]

Koningsdam at night in the Caribbean

 

[Cruise Suzy]

16 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

And, I wonder which ship will get the larger tenders.

 

On the K'dam right now. It was announced that NS and K'dam will share the larger island tenders in HMC.

[Cruise Suzy]

@richwmn

 

Thanks for the K'dam photos. When we get home, I'll post (on this thread) some of the NS I've taken  This screen's too small for me to edit/select best ones. Think I got some decent ones of both at St. Thomas and NS departing. Should get more good shots at HMC.

 

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great pictures.

 

That is cool that both ships are sailing together and will be at HMC at the same time.  Will be curious as to how crowded it will be there.

[richwmn]

Koningsdam off Half Moon Cay.

I don't usually go ashore at HMC, and today is no exception. My comments will be based on views from the ship. It is now over two hours since tendering operations started, so anyone who wanted to go ashore has.

 

Looking at the beach area from the observation deck of Nieuw Statendam, the area right around the entry point has quite a few people at it. But going just up the beach it looks empty, even though it is still within the built up area. So it seems as far as the beach area is concerned, there is plenty of space for the 5,300 passengers of the two ships - or at least those who wish to venture ashore.

 

I hope someone will report on services ashore.

 

[Alberta Quilter]

We did go ashore for a couple of hours but we didn't use any shoreside services this time.  We left about an hour after tendering finally started.  We used our 4 Star privileges to skip getting a tender ticket (we got a note in our cabin that we could do so here) and managed to get on a tender that left fairly quickly.  We walked down the beach where it was less crowded and plopped ourselves on loungers. We people watched the entire time.  Apparently they set up 5000 loungers for all to use.  There were plenty of loungers available as more full tenders arrived.  We were in the last section of loungers set up on the beach.  Some people dragged loungers from our section farther down to even less crowded sections.  It was still great, I think, even with the two largest ships in port.  I don't know how crowded the buffet was as we chose to go back on the ship for lunch (and to pack).  

[Alberta Quilter]

I should add that the glass bottomed boat was also used as a tender so there were, I think, four island tenders, in total, two for each ship.  I did not hear any complaints about tendering.

[Cruise Suzy]

Here are 2 photos of Koningsdam (on left) and Nieuw Statendam in St. Thomas plus one of NS departing the island

[Cruise Suzy]

Here is the Nieuw Statendam at HMC. I never went ashore. Our statroom was on the Koningsdam's port side, so to see anything I went to Deck 10 and spent most of the day.

[Cruise Suzy]

Here's the Nieuw Statendam in port yesterday