Bentleg

19 hours ago, dutchie50 said:

We too are playing the waiting game although I don't really have the illusion that our trip will go ahead since we live in Europe.

So we are not only waiting to see if the cruise suspension for our cruise on April 18th out of San Diego will be lifted, but also to see if we can fly there. I don't really have much hope but are waiting to hear from HAL what they plan to do before we cancel the flights. Also just heard today that Canada - where our cruise will end - is not allowing cruise ships to dock until July 1st. 

No chance.   Too many doubtful areas which can/will change for the worse.     You might as well cancel now.

On 1/3/2020 at 5:01 AM, GreenValleyDogWalker said:

What a  great thread !

I thought I read somewhere that there is a "list" of which of the ships - in certain suites - have a shower/tub combination - and which have a completely separate shower 

Does anyone know ?

Is it just based on which class - how old - or ?

Thank You !! 

 

Signature suites and Neptune suites on Vista class ships (Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam) all have shower/tub and a separate shower (disabled suites excepted which have a roll in shower only).    Maasdam has the same in Neptune suites.   I have to add that the separate shower is not spacious - those having ample bodies may prefer to use the shower over the bath.

I realise this is a RCCL thread. When we travelled on Celebrity Solstice, we were in a suite, the family was not, the butler said we could take the family into the suite lounge as long as they were quiet and well behaved. We did not take it up, but it was a good attitude. We had a combined priority checkin and family was able to join us for preferred show seating.

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Noordam's dry-dock is scheduled for 29 Sep 19 (completion of her last 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage voyage Vancouver to Vancouver) and 13 Oct 19 (the start of her 26-day South Pacific crossing, also from Vancouver, BC which concludes in Sydney, NSW on 09 Nov 19). Her dry-dock will be at the Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd. in Esquimalt (Victoria), BC. Are you saying you see passages in between that time period?

Post 207 here https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/showthread.php?t=2535010&page=11 says -

There is no gap as we will also be sailing on the Noordam from Sept. 30 (Vancouver) - Nov. 8. Auckland, New Zealand. We stop in ports in Hawaii, Fiji, New Calendonia, Sydney, Melbourne before doing the north and south island of New Zealand.

On further examination they may have their wires crossed - and be in the 2018 crossing that sails Sept 30 (in a few days).

Looks like Noordam drydock for Sept/Oct 2019 is not got to happen as they are selling passages for that period.

Not entirely relevant here, but when you are paying by the minute, and using Outlook, go into webmail first and delete the spam and stuff you do not want, down load the rest to outlook, then log off. Do your emails and replies off line, including SEND. When finished off line logon, the emails will be sent, then log off. If you download all your junk and compose stuff online, you will chew up internet minutes needlessly.

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Have been on celebrity solstice and the noordam in March this year although it was a great cruise the noordam certainly needs a refurbish. It doesn’t come close to celebrity

 

 

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I agree. They are different ships however. Solstice is a different and more modern design. Noordam needs an update to the decor but what is there is well maintained and in good condition. Solstice also caters for a slightly younger passenger with more boom boom music.

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Great update! Were there any happy hours offered? Thank you!

Happy hour is usually between 4 and 5 in the Crows Nest and in another bar (Ocean Bar?). If you order two of a drink, the second is a $1.

So much speculation and BS in this thread. HAL Vista class shops fit under the SH bridge at low tide. I have done it once on Oosterdam and twice on Noordam, the second time today (which was done at 0400 because of the tide). HAL only takes ships under the bridge when there is a large ship, that cannot fit under the bridge, at the OPT.

The proposal to go fast to reduce ship height has no application here as there is a sharp left hand turn immediately after the bridge, both for the former Barangaroo and for the current White Bay terminals.

It is most unwise to put anything breakable in your checked luggage. I would not appreciate soda or wine leaking into my luggage.

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Whether or not you get a second bottle of bubbles on the second leg of a back to back may well be decided on whether it it is two cruises you have booked or just one. Agree it won't hurt to ask, the concierge is very helpful.

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We are on Noordam right now, the decor is dated and needs a change but the ship and furnishings are well maintained. Not brand new in some cases but in good condition. I do not consider it tired which to me means things are wearing out. The decor is dated. I was also on Noordam last October - see earlier post. Signature suite this time.

Digging a bit deeper on the 'net it seems Cyclone Hola was heading towards NZ and the captain obviously did not want to risk it.

How they spent the two days they lost getting to Napier remains, scenic cruising, or less likely, a longer stay in some ports.

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We are booked on Noordam out of Sydney on 15 March. Just checked ships position. It sailed from Napier last night and is coming back to Sydney through Cook Strait, bypassing Tauranga and Auckland. It was supposed to be in Auckland yesterday but it was actually in Napier two days late.

Nz weather radar shows adverse weather around Auckland.

What is the story? Weather? Or some other issue?

I wondered if Bonnie would ever come on this thread after all the vituperation and conspiracy theories. Now it is clear that she is in a no-win situation here and this treatment can only damage the excellent relationship we have had with Azamara through her.

She has stated her position. I doubt she will say anything more.

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Then it is not a GUARANTEE. Call what it is, waitlist. I for one am disgusted at the way Azamara treated this passenger. I have never sailed on one of their ships, and now I probably will never consider them for a future cruise.

 

 

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They had paid the money and received boarding info without cabin number. You don't pay for waitlist. It was a guarantee.

They may have made it good but the damage has been done. No Azmara for me.

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You can order anything that is on the MDR menu from room service, even if it is not on the room service menu. I order oatmeal for breakfast every morning by just adding it to the order card we leave on the door each evening.

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After much debate decided on Ms Noordam vs. Celebrity to Australia/New Zealand for March 2019. Any input into shore excursions outside the cruise line? We might be a group of six and we do not always book through the cruise line. Would appreciate any vendors that you utilized once in port.

Have look at the past roll calls for Noordam when it was in NZ. Heaps of information there. Join the roll call for your cruise and ask your private tour question there, you will get a better response there.

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Some more differences I thought of -

Neptune suite on Noordam, exec lounge on same floor with honour (pay) bar, coffee machine in suite and free laundry. Personal concierge in lounge

Celebrity suite on Solstice, exec lounge on another floor with free drinks, no coffee machine in suite and you pay for laundry. Personal concierge in lounge on another floor. Celebrity suite has a butler who will bring you almost anything.

Like others the differences overall we feel are minor, the ships are in the same value class, and we choose based on itinerary.

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As far as White Bay vs Circular Quay goes -

Solstice always docks at CQ because of its size. Great for transit passengers but difficult for joiners and leavers with private transport as parking is non-existent. Excellent for those joining trains or public transport.

Noordam docks at CQ when it is not taken by a big ship, otherwise White Bay. Transit passengers at White Bay have to take a ferry to get to the CBD. White Bay is excellent for leavers and joiners with private pickup or drop off as there is heaps of parking. Public transport, apart from the ferry to CBD, is non-existent.

We salied on Noordam last October and Solstice last December.

Noordam and Solstice are in the same class, but are quite different ships.

There is no walkaround under cover deck on Solstice - its walkaround is on the top deck and in open sun.

The are heaps of lounges around the pools in shady areas on Solstice, more than on Noordam.

The buffet on Solstice is huge with a great selection, more choices than in the dining room. A minus is they do not serve you, the tongs get passed from one person to the next. Noordam you are served at food stations in the buffet - the buffet menu duplicates the dining room.

The dining room menu of Noordam is better with more choices and in our opinion better quality. There is nothing wrong with Solstice food quality, it's just there is not the same number of choices.

Bottled wine is very expensive on Solstice, but if you get a drinks package as part of your deal it neutralises this concern.

Premium restaurants are expensive on Solstice ($50 pp) but there are several on Solstice and only two on Noordam.

There are quality lectures on Noordam, better than Solstice.

Music in lounges is more discrete on Noordam. Its always loud on Solstice. Probably because HAL target a slightly older client.

Solstice overall is modern and bright and airy. Noordam is more "old school'. Both ships are well maintained.

China changes the visa requirements from time to time without notice. Get a visa and you will be fine. Without it - you might be ok today but not ok next week.

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I keep it on my iPhone as a PDF; but don’t believe it can be attached as a PDF on CC. It should be easy enough for you to just grab a screen capture as a PDF.

Please post your PDF somewhere (Google, Yahoo, Skydrive etc) and then post a link to that site here and everyone will be happy.

(bolding by me)

 

 

 

I really don't want to hijack this thread but it really would be interesting to have a drydock/refurbishment for Noordam confirmed for 2018. When we booked a cruise for November 2018 we were assured by the cruise consultant on board Prinsendam that a drydock would take place in May 2018 - so we booked despite rather high prices. On the other hand I noticed no free time slot in 2018 - after sailing NZ, Australia and the South Pacific Noordam is due to sail the Alaskan waters. There seem to be 2 weeks "free" time in 2019 though. So who can give exact information about the correct dates and when will that be? HAL obviously doesn't give that information - there's nothing on the website, even if the deckplans for Noordam show plans before and after May 2018.

Cruise mapper.com confirms there is no drydock gap in 2018, so I'd say it won't happen then. As I posted earlier the ship was in great shape last month.

In my opinion the best persons to ask would be an onboard cruise consultant, or the Noordam captain or engineer at the Q&A session.

I was assuming that I would need to use the certificate to get my OBC for the sailing I purchased. Does that sound right? I was also counting on being able to buy another certificate for my next cruise. [emoji6] It sounds like a great plan to me! [emoji1303]

 

 

 

 

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I agree you will only get the OBC at the time of using the deposit. I like your plan.

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