hunterafri Posted September 22, 2004 #1 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Hi, I am getting ready to book a cruise for this summer and was wondering what is the best HAL ship? Itinerary or Ports are not important nor is length of cruise. Just want to get away again. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevNeal Posted September 22, 2004 #2 Share Posted September 22, 2004 I really love the Volendam ... great size and balance of passengers to space. Also love the center-ship stairs and elevators. However, it's also hard to beat the class and style of the Statendam. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digby Posted September 22, 2004 #3 Share Posted September 22, 2004 The brand new Westerdam gets my vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaches from georgia Posted September 22, 2004 #4 Share Posted September 22, 2004 There is no 'best' ship. It's whatever you like- big, small, glitzy, elegant, no kids, lots of kids. What's best to me (Rotterdam so far) you may hate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doone Posted September 22, 2004 #5 Share Posted September 22, 2004 My most favorite ship in HAL's fleet is the Amsterdam, second would be the Volendam, third would be the Rotterdam. I love the size of these ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted September 22, 2004 #6 Share Posted September 22, 2004 I agree with peaches---it depends on what little differences matter most to you. I'm partial to the original S-class ships because they have a real Piano Bar. I love the mid-ship staircase/elevator bank on the Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Haven't sailed the Volendam or Zaandam, but expect I would feel the same way. I like the size of the Prinsendam, but the lack of a piano bar is a definite minus. From everything I've read here I don't want to sail the Vista-class. The size itself, more children, no laundry all serve to keep me off. The best ship? The one I'm on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipity1499 Posted September 22, 2004 #7 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Our favorite so far is the Amsterdam..We were on her in S. American last year & had a wonderful time on this lovely ship...Can't say that we dislike any of the HAL ships...Have only been on the Ryndam-'98, Volendam- '01, Maasdam-03, Amsterdam "03.. Have been on several NCL ships & enjoy HAL ships & service much better! ...Will be on the "Westerdam" Trans-Atlantic in Nov. (our first cruise on a Vista class ship)..Hope we'll enjoy it as well.. We too live in Cape Coral, in the old yacht club section (since 1988) & love it here..Did you sustain any damage from "Charlie", "Frances", or the tornado that hit the other day..Only part of our dock & a few trees were damaged..Had no electric until the Friday after Charlie hit, but consider ourselves very fortunate compared to those in Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte.. Happy Cruising! Betty & John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterafri Posted September 22, 2004 Author #8 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Our favorite so far is the Amsterdam..We were on her in S. American last year & had a wonderful time on this lovely ship...Can't say that we dislike any of the HAL ships...Have only been on the Ryndam-'98, Volendam- '01, Maasdam-03, Amsterdam "03.. Have been on several NCL ships & enjoy HAL ships & service much better! ...Will be on the "Westerdam" Trans-Atlantic in Nov. (our first cruise on a Vista class ship)..Hope we'll enjoy it as well.. We too live in Cape Coral, in the old yacht club section (since 1988) & love it here..Did you sustain any damage from "Charlie", "Frances", or the tornado that hit the other day..Only part of our dock & a few trees were damaged..Had no electric until the Friday after Charlie hit, but consider ourselves very fortunate compared to those in Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte.. Happy Cruising! Betty & John We had $6000 in damage. Lost our dome screening, solar paneling, every tree, roof vent and a number of shingles. Looking forward to our Royal Princess cruise from Bangkok to Cape Town. TA was asking if we wanted to change our TransAtlantic in the Spring and substitute summer so that is why I was asking. Best Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill S Posted September 23, 2004 #9 Share Posted September 23, 2004 afri: yes, hard to say which is best, but our favorite is also the Amsterdam, after 2 cruises on her. The Statendam comes in 2nd for us. But, we are going to try the Oosterdam and Prinsendam next year, both very different from the Amsterdam/Rotterdam and the S-class ships, for example, Statendam, Ryndam, Maasdam, Zaandam, Volendam. There are currently 3 Vista class HAL ships: Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam. The Prinsendam is a one-of-a-kind HAL ship, much smaller than the rest, carrying less than 800 passengers. I'm sure you will get a lot of feedback on your question, with no good or "best" answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garydm Posted September 23, 2004 #10 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Statendam is our favorite. Have also been on Ryndam and Amsterdam. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFD1 Posted September 23, 2004 #11 Share Posted September 23, 2004 The Volendam gets my vote. She runs l0 and 11 day cruises out of Ft. Lauderdale this summer if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bepsf Posted September 23, 2004 #12 Share Posted September 23, 2004 They say that there is nothing better than your first... I really enjoyed Amsterdam last week, but looking forward to going back to the Vista-Class: Oosterdam next year and hopefully the new Noordam in '06. Other than that, I would like to try Prinsendam - its the first cruise ship I'd ever seen when it was here in SF as Royal Viking Sun on its first world cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterafri Posted September 23, 2004 Author #13 Share Posted September 23, 2004 They say that there is nothing better than your first... I really enjoyed Amsterdam last week, but looking forward to going back to the Vista-Class: Oosterdam next year and hopefully the new Noordam in '06. Other than that, I would like to try Prinsendam - its the first cruise ship I'd ever seen when it was here in SF as Royal Viking Sun on its first world cruise. One of my best cruises was the Noordam, last year. I just loved that ship which is why I have signed up for the 30 day cruise on the Royal Princess. What have you heard of the new Noordam? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druke I Posted September 23, 2004 #14 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Duplicate post - sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druke I Posted September 23, 2004 #15 Share Posted September 23, 2004 I'll try again - my previous attempt disappeared while attempting to correct a spelling error. Tough choice - you choose your cruises differently than I do - I choose itinerary first, then ship, line, price, etc. I really liked the old Westerdam, now Costa Europa, I believe. I could only choose between Westerdam, Noordam, and Maasdam, the ones I have been on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 23, 2004 #16 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Best HAL ship?? Any "dam" ship that we are on! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzbums Posted September 23, 2004 #17 Share Posted September 23, 2004 My favorite ship is the Amsterdam. I really prefer this size ship. I just returned from the Oosterdam and liked it very much for a bigger ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted September 23, 2004 #18 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Our favorite is the Ryndam. Liked the Oosterdam but prefer the smaller S class ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpatj Posted September 23, 2004 #19 Share Posted September 23, 2004 To me, any ship I'm on is the best. The weather may not be perfect, the seas might be a little rougher than desired, the itinerary might be altered, but the ship will be wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterafri Posted September 26, 2004 Author #20 Share Posted September 26, 2004 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 27, 2004 #21 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Vic...... 60 Bahama Star 73 Rembrandt 79 Starwind 80 Norway 80 Nordic Prince 84 Iceland 85 Germany 86 Sweden 87 Norway, Holland, Denmark 88 Germany 89 England, France, Italy 90 Brazil, Peru, Argentina 91 Columbia 92 Venezuela 96 Zimbabwe 97 South Africa 97 Peru 98 Argentina 98 Kenya, Tanzania 99 South Africa 00 Zimbabwe, South Africa 03/15/03 Noordam What is this listing of countries supposed to mean? I see a few ships named but mostly countries???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy7 Posted September 27, 2004 #22 Share Posted September 27, 2004 I like the Zuiferdam, of course its the only DAM ship I've cruised on ehehehehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANSalberg Posted September 27, 2004 #23 Share Posted September 27, 2004 The one you are ON - or ABOUT to go on! Anne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esme Posted September 27, 2004 #24 Share Posted September 27, 2004 One of my best cruises was the Noordam, last year. I just loved that ship which is why I have signed up for the 30 day cruise on the Royal Princess. What have you heard of the new Noordam? Thanks New Noordam won't be out until 2006, so no one can tell you anything about it. She will be the last of the Vista class ships.....Zuiderdam/Oosterdam/Westerdam. Our favourite ships - Volendam, Rotterdam and Veendam in that order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterafri Posted September 29, 2004 Author #25 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Vic...... 60 Bahama Star 73 Rembrandt 79 Starwind 80 Norway 80 Nordic Prince 84 Iceland 85 Germany 86 Sweden 87 Norway, Holland, Denmark 88 Germany 89 England, France, Italy 90 Brazil, Peru, Argentina 91 Columbia 92 Venezuela 96 Zimbabwe 97 South Africa 97 Peru 98 Argentina 98 Kenya, Tanzania 99 South Africa 00 Zimbabwe, South Africa 03/15/03 Noordam What is this listing of countries supposed to mean? I see a few ships named but mostly countries???? When I was traveling in Africa, I took a lot of cruises where the names of the ships and the "cruise lines" would not be noticeable by anyone on this board. Does a small boat cruising down the Zambezi mean much to you or anyone else or a boat that goes between Norway, Holland, Denmark and Sweden mean anything to you? I could not remember the names of the ships in the 1960 to 1973 time period so I left them off. I did remember the Bahama Star though because that was my high school trip. Sorry, I couldn't be more specific. Best Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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