Maasdam vs. Noordam - Australia/NZ Feb 2020 cruise

[akke29]

After extensive research, I've narrowed down a time and destination for a 2020 family vacation cruise with my two 70 something Parents.  It's been a dream of my Mom's to visit NZ and want to maximize the experience, without running them ragged.  I've been several times to NZ and am in love, so I know both my Parents will enjoy as well.  Since they've been to Australia once before and loved it, I'll focus my decision making on NZ.   We've cruised before and of course, are hooked.  We most recently cruised on Oosterdam last summer on a Med cruise.  Having been on the Oosterdam, I know what to expect on the Noordam.  The two cruises I've narrowed down to are a 14 night Maasdam or a 15 night Noordam.  My priority has been the itinerary, then price, then ship amenities.  

 

Comparing the two cruises, they're nearly identical with the Maasdam calling at Stewart Island/Halfmoon bay and Napier.  The Noordam doesn't see Stewart Island or Napier, but calls at Gisborne.  For this, the Maasdam gets my vote.  However, the Maasdam is about a $1,000 more expensive.  To get a cabin that will fit the 3 of us somewhat comfortably, I need to book a "suite" which is simply a verandah room on the Maasdam (BC).  On the Noordam, it would likely be a VC cabin, or for $800 more, a verandah suite (SY).  I'm not concerned about the Maasdam age, as I've read many great reviews here, but I'm a little concerned about the EXC format and it being boring.  While we want to learn and be immersive, one can only listen to so many lectures.  After exploring during the day, we enjoyed the pool, gym or thermal pool, then after dinner, we like to go to the show, listen to music or find some sort of evening activity.  

 

The question I suppose... is it worth the premium to sail on the Maasdam for 1 less night but the addition of two ports in particular?  The other wild card is a far cheaper pricing on the Soltice, but the itinerary is somewhat less appealing.  

 

Any thoughts?  Ideas?  Something I may haven't considered? 

[ontheweb]

44 minutes ago, akke29 said:

After extensive research, I've narrowed down a time and destination for a 2020 family vacation cruise with my two 70 something Parents.  It's been a dream of my Mom's to visit NZ and want to maximize the experience, without running them ragged.  I've been several times to NZ and am in love, so I know both my Parents will enjoy as well.  Since they've been to Australia once before and loved it, I'll focus my decision making on NZ.   We've cruised before and of course, are hooked.  We most recently cruised on Oosterdam last summer on a Med cruise.  Having been on the Oosterdam, I know what to expect on the Noordam.  The two cruises I've narrowed down to are a 14 night Maasdam or a 15 night Noordam.  My priority has been the itinerary, then price, then ship amenities.  

 

Comparing the two cruises, they're nearly identical with the Maasdam calling at Stewart Island/Halfmoon bay and Napier.  The Noordam doesn't see Stewart Island or Napier, but calls at Gisborne.  For this, the Maasdam gets my vote.  However, the Maasdam is about a $1,000 more expensive.  To get a cabin that will fit the 3 of us somewhat comfortably, I need to book a "suite" which is simply a verandah room on the Maasdam (BC).  On the Noordam, it would likely be a VC cabin, or for $800 more, a verandah suite (SY).  I'm not concerned about the Maasdam age, as I've read many great reviews here, but I'm a little concerned about the EXC format and it being boring.  While we want to learn and be immersive, one can only listen to so many lectures.  After exploring during the day, we enjoyed the pool, gym or thermal pool, then after dinner, we like to go to the show, listen to music or find some sort of evening activity.  

 

The question I suppose... is it worth the premium to sail on the Maasdam for 1 less night but the addition of two ports in particular?  The other wild card is a far cheaper pricing on the Soltice, but the itinerary is somewhat less appealing.  

 

Any thoughts?  Ideas?  Something I may haven't considered? 

Those are actually the only 2 HAL ships we have sailed on. We were on the Maasdam last summer, Boston to Montreal, and the Noordam several summers ago for an Eastern Mediterranean cruise. I know it is hard to compare two such dissimilar cruises, but we like the Noordam much better. DW in particular seemed to dislike the Maasdam, mostly for the lack of dancing, In general there was much more to do on the larger Noordam. The one advantage the smaller Maasdam had was a laundry room, something that HAL seems to have eliminated on their larger ships.

 

I don't know if this is at all helpful to you, but other things being somewhat equal we would pick the Noordam. 

[oaktreerb]

We just got back from NZ on another (smaller ship) cruiseline.  My issue with the cruiseline was a lack of enrichment provided.  As a regular HAL cruiser I look forward to the enrichment lectures and general knowledge of the explorations staff.  This was our first and probably only trip to New Zealand (also 70 something).  I did like the smaller ship but we still had to tender in several ports and we had to be bussed to town out of several working ports.  Our cruise was 16 day port intensive.  Maasdam is a small ship with considerably fewer passengers compared to the Noordam.  I would choose the Maasdam.

 

We did not care for Gisbourne.  It did not seem tourist friendly and crossing the streets became quite an adventure (lots of traffic).  We loved Napier and the art deco buildings.  They have wonderful and welcoming waterfront.  The people were so nice and it didn’t seem crowded at all.  Take an art deco tour with the Art Deco Trust group.  They have a shop or you can sign up at the visitor’s center.  Stewart Island is a nice litttle community with a nice waterfront.  Again, very welcoming and uncrowded.    I would choose the Maasdam.

 

The vista suite cabins on the Maasdam are slightly larger than the veranda cabins on the Noordam.  The signature suites on the Noordam have considerably more space.

 

 

[Jolokia]

We were on the Maasdam last January 2018 from Auckland to Sydney. It was an excellent cruise and the Maasdam is a great ship, one of my favorite. It is a smaller ship with fewer of the suite type cabins. The smaller ships appeal to my wife and myself. We selected the Maasdam over the Noordam because it was smaller and we were happy with that choice. With New Zealand being so far, it is a trip that most people only make one time in their life, spend the extra for your parents. 

Stewart Island is a nice relaxing little port, only a few excursions and at the peak of summer it was cool. I am already trying to talk my wife into the long airline flights to go back there.

[Ken the cruiser]

We are in our mid 60s and I would also throw Princess into the mix and see how the price for one of their mini-suites compares to the 2 HAL ships and the veranda on the X Solstice. For us it comes down to itineraries and then how much of a variety of fun things there are to do on sea days.

 

If you want to have a variety of events to choose from on sea days, then X or Princess who be at the top of our list. The Maasdam, with their new In-depth EXC program probably has the more unique itinerary, but there will also be a lot of lectures like you noted in the evening and on sea days. With regards to the Noordam, I would choose it if you wanted a more relaxing cruise on sea days as HAL isn't as upbeat as either X or Princess and really doesn't offer a lot of variety with their sea day offerings. But as far as cabins go, the Princess mini-suite would definitely be the best fit for 3 adults IMHO.

Edited March 3, 2019 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

37 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We are in our mid 60s and I would also throw Princess into the mix and see how the price for one of their mini-suites compares to the 2 HAL ships and the veranda on the X Solstice. For us it comes down to itineraries and then how much of a variety of fun things there are to do on sea days.

 

If you want to have a variety of events to choose from on sea days, then X or Princess who be at the top of our list. The Maasdam, with their new In-depth EXC program probably has the more unique itinerary, but there will also be a lot of lectures like you noted in the evening and on sea days. With regards to the Noordam, I would choose it if you wanted a more relaxing cruise on sea days as HAL isn't as upbeat as either X or Princess and really doesn't offer a lot of variety with their sea day offerings. But as far as cabins go, the Princess mini-suite would definitely be the best fit for 3 adults IMHO.

One more thing. On the Solstice, look at the family veranda stateroom which I believe has a separate bedroom on some of the X ships.

[JMAUST]

2 hours ago, akke29 said:

After extensive research, I've narrowed down a time and destination for a 2020 family vacation cruise with my two 70 something Parents.  It's been a dream of my Mom's to visit NZ and want to maximize the experience, without running them ragged.  I've been several times to NZ and am in love, so I know both my Parents will enjoy as well.  Since they've been to Australia once before and loved it, I'll focus my decision making on NZ.   We've cruised before and of course, are hooked.  We most recently cruised on Oosterdam last summer on a Med cruise.  Having been on the Oosterdam, I know what to expect on the Noordam.  The two cruises I've narrowed down to are a 14 night Maasdam or a 15 night Noordam.  My priority has been the itinerary, then price, then ship amenities.  

 

Comparing the two cruises, they're nearly identical with the Maasdam calling at Stewart Island/Halfmoon bay and Napier.  The Noordam doesn't see Stewart Island or Napier, but calls at Gisborne.  For this, the Maasdam gets my vote.  However, the Maasdam is about a $1,000 more expensive.  To get a cabin that will fit the 3 of us somewhat comfortably, I need to book a "suite" which is simply a verandah room on the Maasdam (BC).  On the Noordam, it would likely be a VC cabin, or for $800 more, a verandah suite (SY).  I'm not concerned about the Maasdam age, as I've read many great reviews here, but I'm a little concerned about the EXC format and it being boring.  While we want to learn and be immersive, one can only listen to so many lectures.  After exploring during the day, we enjoyed the pool, gym or thermal pool, then after dinner, we like to go to the show, listen to music or find some sort of evening activity.  

 

The question I suppose... is it worth the premium to sail on the Maasdam for 1 less night but the addition of two ports in particular?  The other wild card is a far cheaper pricing on the Soltice, but the itinerary is somewhat less appealing.  

 

Any thoughts?  Ideas?  Something I may haven't considered? 

 

 

[JMAUST]

Just now, JMAUST said:

Have not cruised on the Noordam but on ships of the same class. Must say the Maasdam is an older but smaller ship and we prefer cruising on her rather than the larger ships.

Having cruised NZ several time I feel Napier is a port not to be missed with all of the Art Deco buildings. We really enjoyed Stewart Island as it is so isolated and the whole town got involved the day we tendered ashore.

Whichever you choose you will enjoy NZ. That's hard for an Aussie to say.

 

[dillpickle48]

Have sailed on both ships more than once but my choice would be the Maasdam. While there will be no singers and dancers there will still be music.  Bands will play in the Ocean Bar and Crows Nest, Piano bar in Mix Bar and the Adigio, but no BBKing.

 

Local performers will be in the showroom as well as cultural performances and expert lectures.

 

We prefer the smaller ships even if they are a bit older.

[OlsSalt]

If lectures and seminars would be boring and you want standard onboard entertainment, best to stick with the Noordam and also enjoy the larger SY cabin. Nice ship from all reports - I think it still has the full library in the lower deck location. (???) Plus the Noodam has the larger  surcharge Thernal Spa option.

 

Maasdam is for those who can't get enough lectures and specific enrichment opportunities onboard and don't care about the more traditional cruise ship offerings. The program is a traveling classroom. With a whole range of activities - travel stories, expert seminars, after port panel discussions as well as a full spectrum of very excellent sit and listen lectures in either the main theater or the movie theater.

 

Small entertainment options at night - a single artist that would change. Casino was virtually empty on our entire EXC cruise ,  So there is a very different feel about this cruise - happy for many but not what others were looking for who did not yet understand what the EXC InDepth was all about.

 

You don't have to do any of these things at all,  and if there are not a lot of at-sea days on this itinerary you may not even notice the  EXC InDepth programs are going on. Mainly, there will be no big production shows in the evenings and perhaps a very dull casino..

 

Maasdam is a lovely traditional ship - one of our favorites, but does not have the level of comforts you will find on the Noordam.

Edited March 4, 2019 by OlsSalt

[Moriah]

I love both ships and have done numerous cruises on each.  I would choose the Noordam.  Maasdam is lovely for a one week trip, but I think I'd feel a bit bored on her for 2 weeks. Noordam is a newer ship, it's one of the Vistas, as you know - just like Oosterdam - and has a nicer spa area and is just in general a wonderful ship. (Since you used the spa on Oosterdam you will be very, very disappointed in the spa on  Maasdam. No comparison. The thermal pool alone on Noordam could be the deciding factor for you) As has been mentioned, Maasdam now has an educational program - you know yourselves and whether this is important to you.  For the ship itself, I would sail Noordam, and for the informational program - Maasdam.  Enjoy your cruise!!! 

Edited March 4, 2019 by Moriah

[TTFromSommersTown]

I have only sailed on the R Class Ships and have no interest in anything bigger. Over Christmas and New Year 2017/2018 I sailed on the Zaandam from Santiago to Buenos Aires via Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, this was an EXC InDepth Cruise.

 

The lectures were brilliant, but I only attended a few, those that really interested me most. They brought a group on board from one of the research stations and they described what living in Antarctica was like. They answered a lot of questions and every one there seemed to enjoy this talk immensely.

 

There were some people that went to most of the lectures others that did not go to any, this is YOUR CHOICE. None of us were forced to go to the theatre and there is still a lot to do on board.

 

I am telling you this as I will be going on the Maasdam over Christmas and New Year on a 34 Day EXC InDepth Cruise and I know that I will love it. I would take the Maasdam over the Noordam any day.
 

[aa7yy]

Because the Noordam is a Vista class ship it has more Verandas so they are cheaper. The Maasdam has fewer Verandas so they have more value and cost more. On the Maasdam it is a Vista Suite so double nights towards Mariner points, on the Noordam it is "only" a veranda. That should cover the difference in price.

[akke29]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice so far.  Though there are such compelling arguments either way, it still leaves me wondering what to do.  It boils down to how bad do we want to go to Napier and Stewart Island and if it's worth the extra money.  As for the Maasdam vs. Noordam entertainment, we're not ones to be bored often, but do like variety in choosing those entertainment options.  

 

[OlsSalt]

Our own rule is we travel for the ports first - the rest is secondary. 

[RuthC]

48 minutes ago, akke29 said:

Though there are such compelling arguments either way, it still leaves me wondering what to do.  It boils down to how bad do we want to go to Napier and Stewart Island and if it's worth the extra money. 

Are you likely to pass that way again? If not, then don't pass up the opportunity to go there now.
Life's too short to have regrets.

[akke29]

I made a final decision and went with Maasdam.  In the end, it was all about the itinerary and after a chance glance on the HAL website, was actually about $500 cheaper than my travel agents quote, so... it was a no brainer.  Thanks again!  Looking forward to this cruise!  But first... a trans-atlantic in April and Canada/New England in October. 😃

[RuthC]

5 minutes ago, akke29 said:

I made a final decision and went with Maasdam.  In the end, it was all about the itinerary and after a chance glance on the HAL website, was actually about $500 cheaper than my travel agents quote, so... it was a no brainer.  Thanks again!  Looking forward to this cruise!  But first... a trans-atlantic in April and Canada/New England in October. 😃

Wishing you a marvelous time.

[Ken the cruiser]

17 minutes ago, akke29 said:

I made a final decision and went with Maasdam.  In the end, it was all about the itinerary and after a chance glance on the HAL website, was actually about $500 cheaper than my travel agents quote, so... it was a no brainer.  Thanks again!  Looking forward to this cruise!  But first... a trans-atlantic in April and Canada/New England in October. 😃

Good choice as the Maasdam definitely has some very unique itineraries. If you want a nice semi-aft-facing vista suite, check out 205 or 220 on the veranda deck, if either one is still available.

Edited March 5, 2019 by Ken the cruiser

[akke29]

Kenthecruiser - I selected BC044 as our cabin, on the Navigation deck.  Any thoughts on that one? 205 is available, however.

Edited March 5, 2019 by akke29

[Ken the cruiser]

12 minutes ago, akke29 said:

Kenthecruiser - I selected BC044 as our cabin, on the Navigation deck.  Any thoughts on that one? 205 is available, however.

It looks like BC044 is right under the Lido buffet. Don't know for sure, but it might be a little noisy in the early morning. Ideally we like to have cabins above and below us. Maybe someone else has some first-hand thoughts on that set of cabins.

[akke29]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

It looks like BC044 is right under the Lido buffet. Don't know for sure, but it might be a little noisy in the early morning. Ideally we like to have cabins above and below us. Maybe someone else has some first-hand thoughts on that set of cabins.

 

I usually like that as well.  What do you like about those aft cabins like 205?  

[Ken the cruiser]

7 minutes ago, akke29 said:

 

I usually like that as well.  What do you like about those aft cabins like 205?  

Here is a link to a few balcony pictures of 205. This should explain why. Hint: think of having a 270 degree view from your balcony.

 

//halfacts.com/s-class/205-maasdam/