Old Noordam

[1cruiselvr]

We did a 10-day Caribbean cruise on this ship in 2003. We were assigned an outside cabin and to our shock discovered the beds were permanently bolted to the floor! We adjusted but I'll never forget walking into the cabin and discovering the beds could not be put together. We still enjoyed our cruise and that ship. It had a lot of charm. Happy Sailing!

[cec5248]

We did a 10-day Mediterrean cruise from Barcelona to Rome in November 2003 on the Noordam and got addicted to cruising! We had so much fun on that cruise, I will never forget it. We had to settle for an interior cabin on Main Deck because we booked late. We originally were booked to sail on the SS Norway [formerly SS France], but the boiler esplosion in May 2003 put it out of commission. We kept hoping it would be repaired in time, but it was not to be. As it turns out, the cruise was so port intensive, we didn't mind being in an interior cabin as we were never there. We still regret never sailing on the Norway, but certainly don't regret sailing on the Noordam.

[Druke I]

We sailed on a Left Coast repositioning cruise, Jun 85, San Francisco to Vancouver BC, and were in Main 344 (outside).

 

I'm not sure if we had exceptionally loud neighbors, or the walls were too thin, but it was the nosiest cabin we have yet encountered.

 

She was a lovely ship, and when we stopped in Seattle on the way North, we were able to have a friend from Seattle join us aboard for lunch.

[gdetanner]

Our second HAL, 8th overall cruise was on the Noordam lll A deck cabin 495 we are preparing for our 16th with HAL and our 26th overall on the Oosterdam 5 October out of Venice for Ft. Lauderdale 28 days (OH JOY!) It won't be long now. Thanks for the memories.

[bishop84]

On 30 November 2004, the ship was acquired by Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines and was immediately placed on a long-term charter to British tour operator Thomson Cruises who renamed her Thomson Celebration.

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I thought it was Nieuw Amsterdam that was purchased by Louis Cruise Lines and Noordam was still owned by Carnival Corp following the "Patriot" period? Both are chartered to the UK company Thompson Cruises with the Nieuw Amsterdam sailing as Thompson Spirit.

 

FYI they will be joined by the old Westerdam (Costa Europa) next year which will be sailing as Thompson Dream. Looks like the old HAL ships are popular with the British!

[Copper10-8]

I thought it was Nieuw Amsterdam that was purchased by Louis Cruise Lines and Noordam was still owned by Carnival Corp following the "Patriot" period? Both are chartered to the UK company Thompson Cruises with the Nieuw Amsterdam sailing as Thompson Spirit...............

 

Well, after some more research, it appears that Thomson Celebration is owned by HAL-Antillen N.V. based in Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, one of many subsidiares of the huge Carnival Corporation, on long-term charter to TUI-Thomson Holidays, UK and managed by Columbia Ship Management, Cyprus. You are right!

As far as Thomson Celebration, ex-Nieuw Amsterdam and ex-Patriot, here ya go:

 

 

 

m/s Nieuw Amsterdam III (1983-present). Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, St. Nazaire, France and delivered to Holland America Line on 1 July, 1983 as the first of two identical sisters which would be known as the "N"-class with HAL. Her younger sister, Noordam followed just under a year later from the same yard. They would be the last new-builds for the, at that time, Dutch-owned Holland-Amerika Lijn.

 

After some difficulties, including a main switchboard that burned out and a twice postponed dedication ceremony in Le Havre, France, she left on her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York City on 10 July 1983. She would operate for them until 2000, cruising in the Caribbean in the winter and cruising to Alaska in the summer season.

 

On August 10, 1999, American Classic voyages, parent company of Delta Queen and American Hawaiian Cruises, announced that it had purchased Nieuw Amstedam from Holland America Line for $114.5 million dollars, to operate an inter-island Hawaii service alongside their ss Independence. After her final Alaska season in 2000, Nieuw Amsterdam sailed, without passengers, to Sydney, Australia where she served as a hotel ship for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Following those games, She sailed to Honolulu, where about 60 crew came aboard from the newly formed United States Lines (under American Classic Voyages).

 

On October 18, 2000 American Classic Voyages officially acquired the ship with the transfer occurring in an usual ceremony at sea, approximately fourteen miles off Portand, Ore. At the same moment her registry was changed to Honolulu, she reverted to the U.S. flag, and was renamed ms Patriot.

 

Patriot proceeded to Cascade General Shipyard in Portland, Ore arriving on 18 October, 2000 where she underwent a multi-million dollar drydocking and refurbishment. The existing casino was replaced with a Destination Learning Center, where passengers would be able to explore the heritage of the Hawaiian Islands; hear "talk story" from the onboard kumu (Hawaiian teacher); learn the Hawaiian language, hula, arts and crafts; and read about the five ports and four islands visited during the seven-night cruise. Other renovations included a new 464 square foot Presidential Suite; an upgraded Conference and Business Center with Internet portals; and modern family activities areas, including Kaleidoscope, a kids' club, and a teen center. Two new bow thrusters were added along with one stern thruster. Her hull was painted blue and a new funnel logo appreared. On November 8, 2000 she was refloated and remained at wet dock in Portland while work progressed.

 

She began operating cruises from Honolulu for United States Lines on 9 December 2000, every Saturday evening to Nawiliwili, Kauai, Kahului, Maui, Hilo, Hawaii, and Kona, Hawaii, before returning to Honolulu. .

On 19 October, 2001, American Classic Voyages, Inc. announced that it had filed for bankruptcy court protection and would cease most sailings. Both ss Independence and ms Patriot stopped sailing on Saturday, 20 October after completing their cruises and were laid up at pier 24 in Honolulu. On 27 January 2002, she was auctioned off at the federal court in Honolulu, purchased by Carnival Corporation/Holland America Line and reverted back to her original HAL name of Nieuw Amsterdam (III). She left Honolulu on 15 March, initially for drydock at Freeport, the Bahamas but then arriving at Charleston, NC on 23 April 2002 for a wetdock.

 

 

She left Charleston for Piraeus, Greece on 7 May 2002 after being sold to Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines. Upon arrival there, she underwent an extensive refit at Piraeus and was initially named Spirit. Louis then chartered her to UK-based Thomson Cruise Line for ten years. She is currently sailing for Thomson under the name Thomson Spirit, mainly in the Mediterranean.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

 

Homeric (1986-present) Built by Jos. L. Meyer GmbH shipyard, Papenburg, (then) West Germany and delivered in 1986 as "Homeric" for Italian-based Home Lines for New York to Bermuda cruising in the summer and Caribbean cruising in the winter months. Homeric was planned during the first half of the 1980s as a replacement for the ageing ss Oceanic in the Home Lines' fleet. The ship was named in honor of the company's earlier ss Homeric, a popular ship for the line that had been destroyed by a fire in 1973.

 

 

She left Emden, West Germany on 12 May 1986 for New York. She then departed on her maiden voyage from New York City to Hamilton, Bermuda on 31 May 1986.

 

In March 1988, Home Lines (Homeric and Atlantic) was purchased by Holland America Line. Following their final season in Bermuda. HAL sold Atlantic to Premier Cruise Line and moved Homeric into a drydock and refit at the Norshipco yard in Norfolk, Va. Homeric was renamed Westerdam II on 2 November 1988 and departed Ft.Lauderdale, FL on her first HAL cruise, an alternating seven-day run to the Eastern, followed by a seven-day run to the Western Caribbean on 16 November 1988.

 

She was the second ship in Holland America Line history to receive the name Westerdam. The first Westerdam sailed for Holland America Line from 1946 to 1965. She was a combination cargo-passenger ship with accommodations for 143 first-class passengers. While being constructed during World War II, Westerdam I was sunk three times: On 27 August 1942, she was bombed and sunk by Allied aircraft while in the shipyard in Rotterdam. The German occupiers raised the ship in September 1944, but she was quickly sunk again, this time by Dutch resistance fighters. After being raised a second time, the resistance again sank her on 17 January 1945. After the Netherlands were liberated in May, 1945, Westerdam I was raised a third time and finally completed. She would go on to be a regular on the transatlantic run, making two eight-day crossings each month between Rotterdam and New York. Her name translates to one of the four directions of the compass in the Dutch language; wester meaning, well, westerly.

 

In the winter of 1989, Westerdam II was sent back to her place of birth, Jos. L. Meyer GmbH, Papenburg, West Germany for lengthening, emerging in 1990 with a new overall length of 243 meters (originally 204 meters) and a new passenger capacity of 1,476 souls (originally 1,132). She was primarily assigned to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl cruising the Caribbean in the winter and to Vancouver, BC for Alaska cruising in the summer months.

 

In 1997, the romantic commedy "Out to Sea" starring Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Rue McClanahan, Dyan Cannon, Gloria DeHaven and Brent Spiner was partially filmed onboard Westerdam II. Compulsive gambler Charlie Gordon (Matthau), hiding out from his various bookies and loan-sharks, cons his brother-in-law Herb Sullivan (Lemmon) into an all expenses-paid luxury cruise in search of rich, lonely ladies to fleece. The catch, which Charlie does not reveal to Herb until the ship has left port, is that they are required to be dance hosts and must sleep in a cramped cabin in the bowels of the ship.

 

Ruled over by tyrannical, control-freak Cruise Director Gil Godwin, "a song and dance man raised on a military base" (Spiner), they do their best, despite Charlie's not actually being able to dance. They each meet a lady of interest. One is the luscious heiress Liz LaBreche (Cannon), whose wealth attracts Charlie every bit as much as the rest of her does. The other is lovely widow Vivian (DeHaven), who is under the impression that Herb is a doctor, not a dancer. By the time Charlie literally drags ship owner Mrs. Carruthers (McClanahan) across the dance floor, the boys aren't sure if they will find true love or need to abandon ship.

 

 

 

In March 2002, After 643 cruises spanning over 13 years with Holland America, she was internally transferred within the Carnival Group to Italy-based Costa Crociere/Costa Cruise Lines. After a drydock in Genoa, Italy, she was christened Costa Europa and in April 2002 commenced cruising for the Italian company. She is still sailing for them as of this time.

 

 

In July 2009, Carnival Corporation announced that Costa Europa will join British tour operator Thomson Cruises, as well as her two former Holland America stablemates Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam, under a 10-year bareboat charter beginning in April 2010. Her new name will be Thomson Dream. Under the agreement, Thomson has an option to purchase the ship after five years.

[cruzn single]

The Noordam was the ship for our first cruise! Lovely ship and started us on our love of cruises.

 

A funny--we flew into Acapulco to catch the Noordam on her second week back to San Francisco. Met our parents on the ship. We had transfers from the airport to the ship. A man was standing in the airport with a sign "Island Princess" and calling out that name. After about 5 minutes, we decided to ask him about the Noordam because there was no one else with any sign. He promptly took his sign and turned it around to read "Noordam" and called out the name! This has always been a funny memory of that wonderful first cruise.

[bobincm]

This is a response to the previous post by Cruz'n Couple. My DW and I were also on the Noordam sailing out of Alcapulco in October, 1985. That was our first cruise. We enjoyed a hurricane off Baja. Were you on that cruise or a different cruise in October?

 

Bob:)

[cruzn single]

Actually, our cruise was in May, 1985. Mother's Day, to be exact. Loved that cruise, and I'll never forget the end of the cruise--sailing back into San Francisco under the Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise!!

[martinimadam]

Thanks for the deck plan and all the pics! What great memories!

 

I cruised her three times, two of them transatlantics and one in the med. She was always my favorite ship. The Crows Nest was so cozy. Great memories of riding out a storm up there, giving the bartender the 3 - 2 - 1 count down to grab the bar bottles as the next giant swell approached!

 

She had the greatest cabin - and E category on the Navigation deck. Tucked into a little area - E064. Quite small, but, big enough for me as a solo cruiser!

 

So, thanks all for asking the question, for answering, and for sharing all of your memories.

[lyndenfa]

What an enjoyable experience this has been for me; thank you to everyone and expecially to Cooper 10-8. I was fortunate to sail her in Alaska in 1988 and am now planning another Alaska cruise with Oceania's Regatta (her first Alaska season begins 2011). So, I got out my scrapbooks and photos and then realized the beautiful Noordam is no more. I read all the travel diaries from your current Alaska trip, Cooper 10-8. Wonderful, this CC!!! Wonderful members and information.

[lyndenfa]

We sailed on a Left Coast repositioning cruise, Jun 85, San Francisco to Vancouver BC, and were in Main 344 (outside).

 

I'm not sure if we had exceptionally loud neighbors, or the walls were too thin, but it was the nosiest cabin we have yet encountered.

 

She was a lovely ship, and when we stopped in Seattle on the way North, we were able to have a friend from Seattle join us aboard for lunch.

 

Hello Druke! i do believe I see you posting on the Oceania's board, right? What a nice coincidence to meet you here. I sailed this lovely ship in 1988.

Lynne

[LindaM]

We were on Noordam in 2000. The fighting in Israel had calmed down a bit, so they started to offer "Holy Land" tours again. We embarked in Istanbul. The hotel HAL put us up in was the Conrad. It has since been in Conde Nast Traveler "best hotel" list many times. (I was impressed that HAL chose such a spectacular hotel!!) We loved the Noordam. She was old, but very elegant!! We got a super great deal on our cabin....unfortunately, because it was located next to the "card check in". Since that cruise, we learned to choose our cabin---a deal isn't worth it if you don't like your cabin location!!

[Live4cruises]

Thanks for all the memories! My mother and I sailed on Noordam in 1985. Four whole days from Juneau to Vancouver! When we were getting ready to leave home, Mother was excited to tell me that instead of the cabin we had agreed on, she had upgraded us to the next-to-highest category. I'm pleased to see that the Celebration hasn't re-numbered the cabins, and stateroom 012 is still there.

 

Every time DH and I board a cruise ship, the first thing we do when we get to our balcony is raise a toast to my mother for giving me cruise fever.

[USN59-79]

We sailed the Noordam for a 10 day cruise in 2004 from England to Scandinavia and got off in Copenhagen. Stayed there a couple of days and then got on the new Westerdam for a 12 day cruise in the Baltic. I was surprised at the differences between the old Noordam and the new Westerdam. Everything about the Noordam was so much better!. The CD kept you laughing while the one on the Westerdam just did her job. The maps we got of the ports were in color on the Noordam and black and white on the Westerdam. Since then we have decided that the mid sized ships like the Amsterdam are preferable for long cruises than the new ones like the Westerdam, Oosterdam, etc. No self service laundry? What are they thinking?

[sail7seas]

Noordam III was our first HAL cruise. We were aboard about 30 minutes when we knew we had found our cruise 'home'.