We were on the new Noordam tonight

[herb]

Do you consider NYC to Boston a short cab ride? :confused:

 

OOPS! I keep thinking that Noordams home port is NYC.Forgot that it's in Boston for the VIP.

 

It's a dam good thing HAL didn't invite me to that dinner!!! We would've been at the pier staring at an empty dock:D

[herb]

It wasn't extended to everyone... If they invited all the Mariners in the area on board, they would have to be doing this every night for days and days ;) !

 

It sounds like they are giving quite a welcome to the Mariners that do get invited. Pity I didn't, then ;) ...

 

Ahhh,that explains it. I was also thinking that there really are a lot of past cruisers.

 

I guess those with the most voyages on HAL were those who were selected for this event.

[Navy_Chief]

Yep I guess if I lived in Boston, I would have been there too. Although, it's only a 2 hour hop for me, I got the watch at work today so that's that. :) Guess I have to wait until my booking in December :( Anyone getting pictures of the ship??

[sail7seas]

Herb....Am I mistaken but have you yet to take your first HAL cruise? If that is the case, that probably would explain why you were not invited. You are not a Mariner.

 

A Mariner is someone who has completed as least one HAL cruise.

 

I am sure once you board an HAL ship, you will see why so many of us return time and again.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and we'll look forward to hearing about it!!!

 

[RuthC]

It sounds like they are giving quite a welcome to the Mariners that do get invited. Pity I didn't, then ;) ...

Doug. Dear me. Had I but known I could have brought you as my guest.

I wouldn't have cared if it looked scandalous. :eek:

[sail7seas]

Yep I guess if I lived in Boston, I would have been there too. Although, it's only a 2 hour hop for me, I got the watch at work today so that's that. :) Guess I have to wait until my booking in December :( Anyone getting pictures of the ship??

 

Congratulations on the gold watch, Navy Chief. I am sure it was well earned. Now you have more time to enjoy more cruises!!!! :)

 

Lots of happy, healthy years in your retirement.

[LizB1]

We also had a wonderful time aboard the Noordam last evening and agree with RuthC and Sail about her being a beautiful ship. This was our first experience on a Vista ship however and feel it will take some getting used to the larger size. The meal was great and it was wonderful to see so many people we have sailed with in the past.

 

We also went back to the ship early this morning and stayed until after our Lido lunch. There were TA's aboard as well as guests, media, and others who were invited. Had a better chance to see all the public rooms and cabins today than last night when the ship was very crowded with Mariners.

 

Our biggest thrill was to visit with Mark Zeller, son of former HM Dick Zeller, who is now the F&B Mgr. and also Wawan, Maitre d', whom we have known since 1972. We have known Mark since he was 7-years old and sailed with him and his Mom and Dad at that time on many Christmas cruises.

 

We do look forward to our cruise on the new Noordam on April 5th!

[sail7seas]

Liz....It was Wonderful seeing you. What a pleasure.

 

We agree it was a treat to see Wawan....He has been the 'take out Maitre d'' for all of the ships for as long as we remember.

 

That man surely has the fountain of youth. Each time we see him, he looks fantastic. Can anyone beat that broad smile of his??

 

[jhannah]

From your description, I can't imagine it being any nicer or more enjoyable.

[herb]

Herb....Am I mistaken but have you yet to take your first HAL cruise? If that is the case, that probably would explain why you were not invited. You are not a Mariner.

 

A Mariner is someone who has completed as least one HAL cruise.

 

I am sure once you board an HAL ship, you will see why so many of us return time and again.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and we'll look forward to hearing about it!!!

 

 

Hi sail7seas.... You're right, we've never sailed on HAL, but looking forward to our first :)

 

I had been interested in all the comments made by those who were previewing the ship in Boston. I was under the assumption that all those attending were TA's. That's when I was told that on one particular day it was Mariners ( past passengers). That's when Host Doug said that not ALL Mariners were invited, since there are just too many.

 

My question is "what is the criteria for inviting Mariners to preview a new HAL ship.... # of times they've sailed, a random drawing ..... ????

[sail7seas]

As I wrote above.....Dinner last night was for Mariners.

 

It is Travel Agents that went today.

 

I do not know what 'cut off point' there might be ....how many days in order to receive an invitation. All I do know is that we had a great time. :)

 

There are literally millions of Mariners throughout the country/world.

 

 

[RuthC]

My question is "what is the criteria for inviting Mariners to preview a new HAL ship.... # of times they've sailed, a random drawing ..... ????

I believe they used the exact same criteria as the upgrade fairy. ;)

OK. OK. I suspect it was based on number of days sailed. Location would have to have been a consideration, too. With Boston it probably took fewer days than NYC simply due to the population of Mariners in the area.

I also suspect that as people declined the invitation there was a second mailing to allow as many as possible to enjoy the festivities.

[herb]

OK. OK. I suspect it was based on number of days sailed.

 

That's what I expected, and that's only fair. Glad you enjoyed it...

[ocngypz]

I just got back from the TA day.. and a long one it was at that. We boarded at 815am and chose to debark at 945pm.

 

The ship is beautiful. I saw a number of items such as a Chinese inlaid chest I would have loved to take home with me!

 

I thought the red marble used in the penthouse suite was garish.

 

The theater sightlines are still a mess, though... grrrrr.

 

Lunch today for agents and their guests was the usual embarkation buffet on the Lido Deck. Food was excellent.. and the bread pudding as wonderful ever. There was plenty of King Crab and jumbo shrimp added to the buffet as an added treat.

 

Dinner was the formal night menu. I had the pineapple with fruit, rack of lamb, caesar salad and the souffle for dessert.

 

I attended the demostration in the new Culinary Center. It was great fun and if all guest chefs are as entertaining as our's was, HAL cruisers will really enjoy the sessions.

 

It was a brutually cold day and night today in Boston. But until sunset, the dome still kept us warm poolside.

 

You will love this ship. I wasn't very keen on Zuiderdam.. but Noordam is a beauty.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Doug. Dear me. Had I but known I could have brought you as my guest.

Good thing you didn't say that before the dinner or else I might have taken you up on it ;) !

 

Of course, next time one of these events comes along, I'm certain to be invited. No doubt HAL realised the terrible omission they made in not inviting me to the inaugural festivities on Wednesday, and have already put down as a guest of honor for the festivities surrounding the first Signature-class ship ;) !

 

(Hmm, maybe they'll fly me out to Venice to see the new ship as compensation for forgetting to invite me aboard NOORDAM? I love Venice :) ...)

 

I wouldn't have cared if it looked scandalous. :eek:

Nonsense! I could be your nephew ;) .

[Charliesmom]

Localady -

 

The aft balconies have a four foot or four and a half foot overhang that gives you both shade and sun (if you want it). I loved the feel of the balcony. It was large (although not as large as the Westerdam) and very private.

 

LaffnVegas -

 

We looked at 5191 which is in the same location as 5187 on the Oosterdam and Westerdam. The colors of the bathroom and the stateroom are exactly as on the Westerdam and the room layout is exactly the same. The balcony is somewhat smaller, but in my opinion, a lot nicer than the Westerdam because there is much more privacy and much more shade. There is still the very long side balcony in addition to the aft section of the balcony. I think the balcony could probably hold 20 people comfortably if you were to have a party.

 

The Neptune Lounge looked the same. The Penthouse suite was not to my taste. The only thing I liked about it was the fact that someone could be sleeping in the bedroom and someone could be reading in the sitting area without disturbing the sleeper. It had a large Jacuzzi in the bathroom and a hot tub (unfilled) on the balcony. I think that 5191 had as big a balcony as the penthouse suite.

 

I think we were on the second level of invites - since we got invited only a week before the event. The lady we sat with at dinner had been on a 97-day around the world cruise as well as a 30 day cruise that went to Hawaii. We did meet a gentleman who said that they had only been on one7-day cruise on HAL. It WAS like the upgrade fairy - the luck of the draw.

 

Roberta

[rockinjo]

She sounds absolutely stunning, Sail. I love the pictures I've seen, and your description seems to reinforce the fact that they've really done this ship up right. Sadly, I'll have to wait until July to board her.

 

I have to wait until June 10th. . we are in VF5059 and 5055. . . any info on those cabins would be greatly appreciated! Would you have a suggestion for a hotel in Rome for one nite at the end of our trip that is

(1) located walking distance to interesting places, and (2) doesn't cost an arm and a leg????:)

[rockinjo]

Would love info on how you are getting to and from the ship other than using HAL's services. I have prices from Bob's Limousines and Limos In Rome. . .they are much less than HAl, especially since we booked our own flights. We get in at 9am. . is it worth having the driver stop in Ostia. . can someone suggest a place for lunch on the way to the port?????:)

[jhannah]

Is the Noordam now underway to NYC? I couldn't locate her funnels this morning on the Sea Tow Boston webcam.

[sail7seas]

Doug......If given the opportunity, shall I pass along your sentiments??? :) I wish I, like Ruth, had thought to ask you to accompany us. My 'bad'.

 

We'll do the nex best thing and that is give full descriptions and, I'll shall have someone do some photo scanning for me so I can post some pictures.

 

I would have enjoyed meeting you and am sorry to not see you in New York.

 

[WatchHill]

We were lucky to be invited to both Friday and Saturday's events. FYI - the invitation process was "outsourced" and as a result, many Mariners with significant sailings on HAL were excluded, and those with minimal were invited. I received an invitation via email with eleven cruises on HAL, while friends with 36 received nothing. Since we both have the same TA, he took care of things with HAL, thus the two days.

 

First, HAL should be praised for inviting the cruising public, ppax, onto the new ship. This is not a common practice. I heard quite a few TA's comment that it was wonderful of HAL to do this for their clients.

 

Yes, the ship is beautiful. One thing I noticed and heard frequent comment, was the seating. There is an increase in the use of leather on chairs, and hardly any fabric. The solid brass seats at the bar by the indoor pool were not very comfy.

 

We managed to tour a sample of cabins in various price ranges. I loved those with two sinks, a shower and separate whirlpool. The HC cabins, including an interior, had ample space and no raised floor into the bathroom as did all of the other cabins.

 

Public rooms, especially the Pinnacle Bar, were very tasteful. The glass staircase was a challenge, but at least it was tinted aqua and not clear glass as the one Costa Atlantica. The Sports Bar, adjacent to the casino, was packed on Saturday, and being a designated smoking area, seems to confine a heavy smell of smoke. Better venting is needed as you got a strong odor walking by. DH, a smoker, liked the smokers room adjacent to the restaurant. Even he thought the smell of smoke was heavy and lingering.

 

The combination library and media center was fantastic and relaxing. The coffee bar adjacent to the room was quite popular. Nice children's play and teen areas with video games. Penthouse and adjacent delux verandah rooms on the Rotterdam deck, have exclusive access to Neptune's lounge to relax and enjoy snacks.

 

Since we were with my TA, I attended the training presentations on Saturday and collected my "passport points" to earn a HAL jacket. The food demonstration area was interesting. I purchased the cook book after the culinary arts show.

 

The buffet lunch in the Lido was excellent. HAL has the nicest Lido area of any cruise line. Salad bar, pastry stations, yes the king crab and huge shrimp were very popular, pasta prep area, pizza, along with the hot foods and deli bar. Plenty of "beverages".....need more Tylenol to counter the cosmo & wine headache. Wait staff came through the lounges with hot fried shrimp, meatballs, and mini quiche. In the evening, we had dinner in the main dining room. DH had a lobster souffle, pea soup, and salmon. I had a crab and lobster appetizer, garden salad, and rack of lamb. Presentation was excellent. For dessert, DH ordered grand marnier souffle and I had a strawberry and cheese cake combination that was by far one of the most beautifully presented desserts I have ever seen in over 80, plus cruises.

 

Since we saw the show on Friday, we skipped it on Saturday. Yes, it didn't seem to have a theme. It was very windy and they needed to use the bow thrusters to keep the ship stable. This may have influenced some of the dance performances. Since we checked our coats prior to boarding, it was too cold and windy to venture outside and walk the exterior promenade or pool area.

 

Darcy

[tomc]

I figured I wasn't invited since I'm already booked on the Ndam and don't have to be "sold" on taking a cruise. But, as you say, the outsourced Upgrade Fairy is even more capricious than the regular Upgrade Fairy. Besides, at approx 6+ hours r/t, it's a bit more of a bus trip than I'd rather do for the amount of time I'd be onboard.

[herb]

many Mariners with significant sailings on HAL were excluded, and those with minimal were invited. I received an invitation via email with eleven cruises on HAL, while friends with 36 received nothing. Darcy

 

boy, do we have a lot of catching up to do! :D

[negc]

We were onboard the Noordam from early yesterday morning until after the evening's entertainment. I thought that HAL handled everything exquisitely beginning with having cups of hot chocolate available as soon as you arrived at the terminal. We had our coats checked, received our ID cards and program of events and were onboard within minutes. Food and service could not have been better, although the Lido at lunchtime was a bit of a zoo as everyone seemed to arrive at the same time and it was hard to find where the lines began. Dinner was handled much more smoothly and the food was wonderful. I had the pineapple with fruit appetizer, Oxtail consomme, rack of lamb, and the grand marnier souffle.

Chef Michael Schlow's culinary demonstration was great and he is a real showman. Listening to his theories about cooking and running a restaurant, it is easy to understand why Radius, Via Matta, and Great Bay are so popular and successful.

We enjoyed the show, which I thought had a Las Vegas theme, and had good seats, but I did notice a lot of poles that probably presented some folks in the audience with sightline problems. The four singers in the Queens Lounge, which is what the culinary arts center becomes in the evening, were great doing "Broadway comes to Queens".

The staterooms that we saw were very nice, although my wife agreed with a previous poster about the red marble in the Penthouse suite being rather garish. One of the handicapped accessible rooms (outside)puzzled me in that I could see how you could get a wheel chair into the room, but once there it did not look possible to maneuver it around the room because of the size and placement of the furniture. An insided handicapped accessible room, however, didn't have that problem and was very spacious and accommodating. The presentations were quite well handled althought their quality really varied depending on the presenter. The Alaska presentation was very well done but the following presentation seemed to be given by someone reading the presentation word for word, without any style.

After we got our gifts, we both had enough for HAL mice, we found out that they were giving out jackets to folks regardless of how many stamps they received. Oh well, live and learn.:rolleyes:

The cloth hand towels in the men's room were, I thought, a nice touch and an example of the quality that HAL represents.

All in all, I was very impressed with the ship, staff, food and service and would be very inclined to book a future cruise on this HAL ship. I haven't downloaded my photos as yet but when I do, I will try to post a few of the better ones.

[sail7seas]

boy, do we have a lot of catching up to do! :D

 

 

What fun you will have doing all the 'catching up'. ;)