Considering the Nieuw Amsterdam

[msteries]

Considering a February cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam.  It has been a few years since I sailed HAL.  I love the smaller, older ships, but don’t see a recent drydock.  If you sailed her recently, would you comment on her condition?  Also, is the thalassotherapy pool open these days?   Covid changes to the spa?  Thanks for any information!

[Wakepatrol]

We sailed on her March 12 spring  break. We only had 900 passengers. The ship is in great shape delicious food and a great crew. Thalassotherapy pool was great as usual

[IPB4IGO]

We are on the last day of a 7-day Alaska cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam, the third HAL ship we have been on this year. Compared to the other two, it is in noticably better shape. Nothing looks old or worn. It is more open, with lighter decor, than the other two. The staff is as charming and competent as ever. 

We enjoyed the Tamarind restaurant, which the previous two ships did not have, as well as the Pinnacle Grill and the Cannaletto. Lunch at the Pinnacle Grill is a bargain at $15 (plus the 8% gratuity). 

 

We are fortunate in that the ship has only 938 passengers on this cruise, putting it at about 40% capacity. This morning the captain said that it will sail with about 1,500 passengers when it sails from Vancouver tomorrow.

[rocksteady27]

Another fan here - we sailed December 2021 and it was also reduced capacity. Great staff and ship looks nice - we had a SS and mom was in an inside but both rooms were very nice.

[crystalspin]

Last Drydock: Dec 2017

 

But I suspect it's still in great shape bc it was essentially parked (anchored?) for almost two years in there!

 

We're booked on her through the Panama Canal in October!

[zgscl]

We were on her last year on the 4th or so cruise post restart. Ship was in great shape. Absolutely would not hesitate to book! 

[KAKcruiser]

I thought it was a requirement to have a drydock every 3 years or so.  How is it possible that it didn't happen?  Is there a drydock scheduled?

[seagarsmoker]

We were on the NA last November and the ship looks better than the first time we were on it. We have two more cruises booked on it (11/2022 & 3/2023) as we enjoyed the ship and staff so much. 🙂 

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, seagarsmoker said:

We were on the NA last November and the ship looks better than the first time we were on it. We have two more cruises booked on it (11/2022 & 3/2023) as we enjoyed the ship and staff so much. 🙂 

We were on her in Dec and it was in great condition - looked like new IMO.  She only was in service about a year before Covid hit is the reason I think.

[KAKcruiser]

Are you thinking of the Nieuw Statendam rather than the Nieuw Amsterdam?

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, KAKcruiser said:

Are you thinking of the Nieuw Statendam rather than the Nieuw Amsterdam?

YES - I stand corrected!

 

[KAKcruiser]

It's so confusing.  At least the Nieuw Amsterdam makes since because that was the original name of New York.  But, Nieuw Statendam?

[AFNavigator]

17 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

I thought it was a requirement to have a drydock every 3 years or so.  How is it possible that it didn't happen?  Is there a drydock scheduled?

That timing is a bit puzzling.  The NA's sister ship, the Eurodam, went through drydock in March 2021, a few months prior to its restart, and was just announced as planned to get another drydock in the Feb/March 2023 timeframe.

[KAKcruiser]

I know.  That's why I don't understand why the Nieuw Amsterdam has been ignored for so long.

[AFNavigator]

4 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

I know.  That's why I don't understand why the Nieuw Amsterdam has been ignored for so long.

HAL did cancel one or two of the NA's cruises in Feb 2020 for an azipod repair at the Grand Bahamas shipyard.  Perhaps they did more during that out of cycle stop than just the azipod repair?