Just back from 11 day Noordam cruise

[inai]

Hi to all (Vic too)

Came back on 11/4 from the 10 day Noordam.

DH and I were seated at a table for six (We requested 8-10). Our tablemates were two older couples that traveled together. They were very enjoyable dining partners. They always arrived at the dining room when it opened. On the first two nights, DH and I arrived about 20 minutes after them. We felt a little awkward about arriving late, so we adjusted our schedule to be more in sync with theirs for the rest of the cruise. But, only because we wanted to. No problem. We all enjoyed the dining experience.

 

Also, DH surprised me with a spa treatment. The special $79 or maybe $89 for one hour treatment; foot message, neck and shoulder message and facial. It was very nice. But, wait until the special is announced.

 

We had a superb time on the Noordam.

[Love Cruises]

Who was the cruise director? Any names of the assistant cruise staff?

Also, what entertainers were on board?

 

Thanks!

[AlohaPride]

OOO :eek: I have some questions!! And once I look through my DOCS tonight I'll have even more ;) :rolleyes:

 

(1) Did you try the hydro-therapy pool area? DH and I are consitering it. Would you suggest it?

 

(2) Do you have any pictures of anything?

 

(3) Which shore excursions did you take?

 

(4) My mother says my docs say upper level dining but no time - what does this mean?

 

(5) Would you happen to know what sort of white wines were sold at dinner?

 

I'll have pleanty more questions soon...THANKS for your willingness to help! :D

[RuthC]

OOO :eek: I have some questions!! And once I look through my DOCS tonight I'll have even more ;) :rolleyes:

What! Your docs are in? Yippee!!! :D I'm so happy for you I'll do a little jig of my own.

(The cat is very confused by my joy.)

[JeriNP]

Hi PreemieMD,

 

OncRN here(!), wondering if you're able to post one of the sea day dailies from your recent Noordam cruise...just for a peek. We're on a 10 day itinerary in a few weeks. Also, did you spend any time in the Explorations Cafe'? Hydro pool and thermal suites?

[MISStheboat]

The cruise director was Drew Murdock

The captain was Hans Mateboer

Hydrotherapy pool was wonderful - $240 per couple for the entire cruise

I am a big fan of the heated ceramic tile chairs - two separate areas of the spa you can go to with the pass you purchase. One room has the tile chairs, aromatherapy steam rooms and aromatherapy showers - the other has the hydrotherapy pool and lounge chairs.

As far as white wines - We drank Riesling several nights and a Pinot Grigio one night

The Explorations cafe / library was the nicest I have seen at sea - internet connection a bit slow, but you are in the middle of the ocean....... Coffe bar there is scrumptious!!

Entertainment on board was excellent - one night we saw Hanna Starosta - a concert violinist - great show. Production shows were terrific - good magician, fairly good comedian and a Celine Dion tribute show that was great also.

[elizj13]

Were the thermal suite and hydrotherapy pool in one package or seperate? If seperate would you suggest one over the other?

Thanks

[preemiemd]

Love Cruises,

 

The cruise director is a young Canadian named Drew Murdock (?sp). Sorry I didn’t catch any other names.

The entertainers we had in additon to the cast of the production shows were Jim and Ann Curry (John Denver tribute), 2 comedy acts, a magic act and a lady named Tracey Shields who did an amazing Celine Dion show/impersonation. Of course the Indonesian crew show was also fun.

 

Alohapride,

 

1) Did you try the hydro-therapy pool area? DH and I are consitering it. Would you suggest it? We toured the area our first day and it looked nice but we prefer swimming outside so we opted not to use it; check the thread by snorkelbear I think there may be some comments there

 

(2) Do you have any pictures of anything? Mostly of us

 

(3) Which shore excursions did you take? We highly recommend the Baths in Virgin Gorda/Tortola, tubing in Dominica, the Golden Eagle Champagne Catamaran sail in St Martin. Also great views from the tram ride in St Thomas.

 

(4) My mother says my docs say upper level dining but no time - what does this mean? I believe both the upper and lower dining rooms have an early (5:30-6pm) and main (8-9pm) seating. I suggest double checking your documents because ours confirmed both time and dining room when they arrived.

 

(5) Would you happen to know what sort of white wines were sold at dinner? The wine list had a nice variety of both reds and whites. Some of the whites I remember besides various champagnes/sparklers are:

rieslings, pinot grigio/gris, sauvignon blancs, gavi, chardonnays.

 

 

Jerirn,

 

Sorry our scanner is down right now but I can tell you about specific activities if that would help. See above re hydro pool etc. The explorations café was lovely with a nice selection of reading material. We checked it out but found it very crowded esp on the cooler weather sea days. There is also a nice selection of reading materials, seating and coffees in the Neptune lounge and it makes a nice alternative to the Explorations Café if you have splurged on a suite.

[MISStheboat]

The pass for the Hydrotherapy Pool includes the thermal suites. So it is $240 per couple to use everything for the entire cruise. That includes changing rooms, robes and slippers each time you go.

 

Our dining was for the upper level at the 8 pm slot. You could arrive any time between 8 and 9. We had requested a table for two and did not get it the first night - we politely asked the Maitre 'D if he could switch us as we were celebrating our 10th anniversary and really wanted to be alone ..... By the next morning - we had been reassigned to a lovely table for two on the upper level. Other people came to him ranting, raving and being rude about it - we did not find that type of behavior necessary.

 

Another note - the casino is small but elegant and it is so nice that it is smoke-free. There are a variety of slot machines - from 1 cent to $5 I believe. Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, 3-card poker, Let it ride, etc. Even though it was small - it did not feel crowded. The adjacent sports bar permits smoking.

[AlohaPride]

Yes, Ruth, I got my docs late last night (as I didn't get home till around 8:30 p). I'm just now getting around to looking through them! :D

 

Thank you, MISStheboat and Preemiemd, for your answers!

 

MD, I'm sure a lot of us would LOVE to see your pictures ;)

 

(1) Did either of you use the gym?

 

(2) What are the hours for the gym and hydrotherapy area?

 

(3) My docs say Main Upper Dining. I am guessing this means the 8 pm upper level. Good!

[AAAAmerican]

~^~DocUDancing Now~^~

 

 

Congratulations on your DocuDance Partners Arrival .. now the real packing and desire rolls on ^W^W^W^^W^wwwwahoooo!

 

:cool:

^!^!^!^!^

 

Yes, Ruth, I got my docs late last night (as I didn't get home till around 8:30 p). I'm just now getting around to looking through them! :D

 

Thank you, MISStheboat and Preemiemd, for your answers!

 

MD, I'm sure a lot of us would LOVE to see your pictures

 

 

My docs say Main Upper Dining. I am guessing this means the 8 pm upper level. Good!

[AlohaPride]

~^~DocUDancing Now~^~

 

 

Congratulations on your DocuDance Partners Arrival .. now the real packing and desire rolls on ^W^W^W^^W^wwwwahoooo!

 

:cool:

^!^!^!^!^

LOL your excentricities humor me.

[jtl513]

My docs say Main Upper Dining. I am guessing this means the 8 pm upper level.

 

Where in your docs do you find this? In that little booklet with vouchers etc? Last I heard we're still waitlisted, even though we got our docs a couple of weeks ago. :confused: :confused:

[AlohaPride]

Where in your docs do you find this? In that little booklet with vouchers etc? Last I heard we're still waitlisted, even though we got our docs a couple of weeks ago. :confused: :confused:

 

I think we booked this cruise a bit before you, so we've been confirmed since we booked.

 

It says "Confirmed Dining: Main Upper" at the top of our Cruise Tickets and Contracts.

 

I did notice that a few weeks after we booked there was a wait list for our dining time. I've also read that if you are 40 and lower on the wait list you will get your desired time. :o