Older vs Newer HAL Ships

[mcrcruiser]

On 2/18/2023 at 7:35 AM, Florida_gal_50 said:

I used to be a huge fan of the tamarind but I really adore sel de mer.  Canaletto is so much better than it used to be.  I would put it at a very close second to sel de mer.  Tamarind has eliminated so many of my favourite items and the desserts are meh.  The desserts I liked have all been eliminated too. I know people like the steak in the tamarind but I’ve tried it a few times and could take it or leave it.

We agree ,in December 2022 we dined in all 3 special restaurants on Koningsdam   . Canaletto  was by far the best ,Pinnacle   came in a  far 2nd  &  Tamarind  was not good imo ,did  not care for the entrees or the deserts

[Btimmer]

On 2/18/2023 at 8:31 AM, gizmodog said:

Not much mention on the Westerdam, going on her to Alaska in June with my family. Does anyone have an opinion on this ship in particular?

We spent two months on the Westerdam in the fall of 2022 and really liked the ship. We generally ate most meals in the LIDO but also enjoyed the Canaletto and the Pinnacle Grill once.  The only ate in the MDR 4 times and it was okay except for the hostess, Cecelia, who was the best greeter we have ever experienced there.  She was also our server on the Zuiderdam in the Canaletto in January, 2022 where she and her compatriates spectacularly enhanced the dining experience so much we ate there 4 times. 

[DAF7065]

This posting has been around for some time with no action in awhile.   I hope I can hear some replies from more knowledgeable cruisers.  I really do not have much to compare to as not sailed recently.   

 

We just sailed Oosterdam on 12 day Med.   It was a nice cruise but I thought the ship was a bit tired.   My wife says next time "I want a newer ship".   Not sure if newer ships have less carpeting but thought the carpets were a bit worn and dated for one.

 

Now my question comes with "Refurbishing" and what that means, how can I find out what will or has been improved.    On the Med Cruise I signed up for a 2025 cruise on Zaandam, another older ship.  this cruise is to the Amazon for 27 days.   I did not worry about booking as can easily be cancelled. 

 

 Supposedly to be or has been updated.  Any insight to what that means?   Where can I find out more details?  

 

[crystalspin]

10 minutes ago, DAF7065 said:

Now my question comes with "Refurbishing" and what that means, how can I find out what will or has been improved.    On the Med Cruise I signed up for a 2025 cruise on Zaandam, another older ship.  this cruise is to the Amazon for 27 days.  

 

Supposedly to be or has been updated.  Any insight to what that means?   Where can I find out more details?  

Mostly I see people sharing that info on this board. You may have to start your own topic. Last Drydock: Feb 2022. In April 2022, someone asked about what had been done and was roundly scolded for asking something that they had answered! But none of my searches bring up that person's answers.

Here is a very long thread about the Zaandam's first post-pandemic (and also post-DryDock) sailing that may inform you of the ship's state at that time:

 

 

[threebluestars]

Vista and Signature all the way - mostly because of the promenade deck. I spend a lot of time there, and I can't figure out why they'd shrink it to almost unusable on the Pinnacle ships.

 

I haven't been on an R class yet - thinking of doing a short (under 5 day) cruise to see if I like the size or not.

[crystalspin]

6 hours ago, threebluestars said:

I haven't been on an R class yet - thinking of doing a short (under 5 day) cruise to see if I like the size or not.

You will love the Promenade (located on Lower Promenade deck 3) on the Volendam or Zaandam. On the Volendam, 42 of the deck chairs are reserved and assigned to the Lanai cabins, but photos on Cruise Deck Plans show lounge chairs in the areas fore and aft of those areas. The walkway is broad and the lifeboats and tenders hang enough above it not to impair views.

[Steirisch]

We first sailed on a large ship this year...the Rotterdam.  The amount of time you spend walking to and fro is too much.  We didn't like the big ship.  When we were in Fort Lauderdale on our back to back and had to disembark and embark again, they had us who were on the b2b sitting in the lounge.  We got to talking to other cruisers and one lady mentioned "It's a large ship with a lot of small spaces."  And that hit the nail on the head.  I think we'll go back to the smaller ships.

[*Miss G*]

20 hours ago, DAF7065 said:

This posting has been around for some time with no action in awhile.   I hope I can hear some replies from more knowledgeable cruisers.  I really do not have much to compare to as not sailed recently.   

 

We just sailed Oosterdam on 12 day Med.   It was a nice cruise but I thought the ship was a bit tired.   My wife says next time "I want a newer ship".   Not sure if newer ships have less carpeting but thought the carpets were a bit worn and dated for one.

 

Now my question comes with "Refurbishing" and what that means, how can I find out what will or has been improved.    On the Med Cruise I signed up for a 2025 cruise on Zaandam, another older ship.  this cruise is to the Amazon for 27 days.   I did not worry about booking as can easily be cancelled. 

 

 Supposedly to be or has been updated.  Any insight to what that means?   Where can I find out more details?  

 

 

I totally get what your wife is saying, but If she appreciates uniqueness then I think she’d really learn to love the Zaandam.  Although my preference is for the newer Pinnacle-class ships, the Zaandam has a beautiful old world charm which you’re not going to find on any of the newer ships.  I would not hesitate to spend 27 days aboard her.

[0106]

I would love to sail on the Volendam or Zaandam my DH insists on a balcony and they are pricey on these ships.  I love the Vista class ships. The best thing about the Pinnacle class ships is the dedicated Club Orange dining room.

[crystalspin]

We have sailed on all classes of HAL ships except the Prinsendam. Until last winter, my favorite was the Zuiderdam (Vista class) although we had an upper deck "inside with a window". The cabin wasn't THAT small and the access to the Crows Nest with one floor down to the Lido was optimum.

 

I found the Nieuw Amsterdam very sterile, but my DH liked the ALL NEW aspect of everything. It was the newest ship in the fleet when we did our transAtlantic.

 

Over the past New Years Eve we did a 16-day B2B on the Koningsdam in a Vista Suite (we were spending FCC that were due to expire AND trying to get enough Mariner points to make 4*). The ship was very nice! And being mid-ship, the need to walk fore to aft in one jaunt was reduced.

 

We are booked to sail in same cabin for 35 days, and on the Volendam (OV on the deck with the full promenade) for 24 days. 

 

I think I would sail on any of the current HAL ships for the right price and the right itinerary. But I would favor the Vista or the Pinnacle just based on our experiences.

[REOVA]

On 6/13/2023 at 6:56 PM, threebluestars said:

Vista and Signature all the way - mostly because of the promenade deck. I spend a lot of time there, and I can't figure out why they'd shrink it to almost unusable on the Pinnacle ships.

 

I haven't been on an R class yet - thinking of doing a short (under 5 day) cruise to see if I like the size or not.

R class has the best Promenade 😉 wide and full views all the way down. 

[shipshape sam]

On 6/14/2023 at 9:00 PM, REOVA said:

R class has the best Promenade 😉 wide and full views all the way down. 

Picture looks great.  Does it go all the way around the ship.  We enjoyed walking on Rotterdam.  It was not a straight line.

[REOVA]

4 minutes ago, shipshape sam said:

Picture looks great.  Does it go all the way around the ship.  We enjoyed walking on Rotterdam.  It was not a straight line.

Yes on the older ships it does although the forward section is "enclosed" so you dont see the water. We don't like what they did on Pinnacle ships. 

[StLouisCruisers]

@crystalspin I've seen you answer lots of questions on cabin selection and respect your advice.  For a cruise on the Zuiderdam that we are checking out, we'd like to have an oceanview on deck 1.  However I can see quite a few hazards noise-wise on that class ship.  One that's available is under the casino.  1026.  Others that are available are under Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.  We're also trying to avoid adjoining cabins.  I'm assuming the casino is carpeted but what about noise from slot machines, etc.?  Does anyone know what the noise level is like in cat. D 1026 on Zuiderdam?  This will be our first time on this ship.

[crystalspin]

39 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

@crystalspin I've seen you answer lots of questions on cabin selection and respect your advice.  For a cruise on the Zuiderdam that we are checking out, we'd like to have an oceanview on deck 1.  However I can see quite a few hazards noise-wise on that class ship.  One that's available is under the casino.  1026.  Others that are available are under Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.

Well, I do like to look at cruise ship/cabin photos, and also to solve problems! Thanks for the compliment!

 

From public-area pics on CruiseDeckPlans, I can confirm that the casino is carpeted. I think that you are correct, 1026 is the better choice over being under a music venue, unless you are apt to be up and away from your cabin until 11:30pm most nights!

 

Here is a text only report on inside 1062 on the Noordam, under BBKings (which I think plays in Rolling Stone Lounge on Zuidy): 

https://halfacts.com/1062-noordam/

 

We were once in about the same situation on the Nieuw Amsterdam, where it was called the Queens Lounge. 

 

You might start a new thread "Vista Class Main Deck under Casino -- Noise?"

[OlsSalt]

Having been to clanging casinos in decades past which were calculated to be deafening roars, the onboard casinos are virtually silent in comparison - electronic now; not mechanical. Our local tribal casino, while highly successful for its few authenticated tribal members is almost like a grim morgue.

[StLouisCruisers]

4 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

Well, I do like to look at cruise ship/cabin photos, and also to solve problems! Thanks for the compliment!

 

From public-area pics on CruiseDeckPlans, I can confirm that the casino is carpeted. I think that you are correct, 1026 is the better choice over being under a music venue, unless you are apt to be up and away from your cabin until 11:30pm most nights!

 

Here is a text only report on inside 1062 on the Noordam, under BBKings (which I think plays in Rolling Stone Lounge on Zuidy): 

https://halfacts.com/1062-noordam/

 

We were once in about the same situation on the Nieuw Amsterdam, where it was called the Queens Lounge. 

 

You might start a new thread "Vista Class Main Deck under Casino -- Noise?"

 

 

That is exactly the kind of noise I am trying to avoid by staying underneath the casino!  I can't imagine those poor folks staying up with children due to so much noise!  A few of the oceanviews were shown underneath Gallery Bar which is between the casino and Rolling Stone Lounge but I figure the further away from Rolling Stone Lounge I can get, the better.  

 

I can simply post this same message under it's own topic like you suggested and see if anyone know what kind of noises we would hear from the casino (being underneath it), and how late at night.  Thanks for the suggestion!

 

 

Just now, OlsSalt said:

Having been to clanging casinos in decades past which were calculated to be deafening roars, the onboard casinos are virtually silent in comparison - electronic now; not mechanical. Our local tribal casino, while highly successful for its few authenticated tribal members is almost like a grim morgue.

 

Thank you for your input, too!  I was picturing us in bed listening to clanging bells and whistles until the wee hours.  If the machines are quiet and there are no bands playing above us 1026 could be a great option.

[crystalspin]

6 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

I was picturing us in bed listening to clanging bells and whistles until the wee hours.  If the machines are quiet and there are no bands playing above us 1026 could be a great option.

If you are pretty set on the cruise, you could put a hold on it. I'm guessing you are not thinking of booking with the Have-It-All refundable fare, but there is another "level" of fare that is not shown on the website. It is called the Advantage fare and has none of the bells and whistles of the HIA, but IS refundable, unlike the lowest Standard fare.

[AKJonesy]

1 hour ago, StLouisCruisers said:

@crystalspin I've seen you answer lots of questions on cabin selection and respect your advice.  For a cruise on the Zuiderdam that we are checking out, we'd like to have an oceanview on deck 1.  However I can see quite a few hazards noise-wise on that class ship.  One that's available is under the casino.  1026.  Others that are available are under Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.  We're also trying to avoid adjoining cabins.  I'm assuming the casino is carpeted but what about noise from slot machines, etc.?  Does anyone know what the noise level is like in cat. D 1026 on Zuiderdam?  This will be our first time on this ship.

IMO you have a couple of noise issues there.  One, the World Stage is pretty close.  We were in a similar stateroom close to the World Stage and it was the bass noise we could hear.   The other thing is the Casino.  That I'm not sure of but I personally would not book under the casino.  IMHO.

[RuthC]

StLouisCruisers, if you choose an outside on starboard, more toward mid-ship (starting about halfway down the passageway), you should be in a quiet neighborhood. 

I have been in most of the inside cabins on starboard along the back half of the passageway on all the Vista and Signature ships, and have never heard a thing. 

[StLouisCruisers]

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

StLouisCruisers, if you choose an outside on starboard, more toward mid-ship (starting about halfway down the passageway), you should be in a quiet neighborhood. 

I have been in most of the inside cabins on starboard along the back half of the passageway on all the Vista and Signature ships, and have never heard a thing. 

 

 

There were two cabins on the starboard under a white space across the corridor from Rolling Stone Lounge.  1051 and 1055.  But no knowledge of what's in the white space overhead, or how much you can hear being in close proximity to Rolling Stone Lounge.

 

  

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by StLouisCruisers

[RuthC]

If you take a look at the Rolling Stone Rock Room stage, you will see that it is on port side; the entrance is on starboard. That's about as far from a starboard outside as you are going to get. I have been in the insides, and never heard a thing, while friends on port side heard it all. 

I don't know what is in the white space on deck 2, but I know on one ship or another I was in cabin 1043 (more than once, I believe), and loved it there. 

[St Pete Cruiser]

We had 1001. Excellent room choice and no noise from world Stage. 

[StLouisCruisers]

4 hours ago, St Pete Cruiser said:

We had 1001. Excellent room choice and no noise from world Stage. 

 

Being the first cabin forward next to world stage, that's amazing you heard no noise.  They must have anticipated and soundproofed quite well!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

It is nice being on the old ones and the new ones.