shipcafe

We'll be waving to all our wonderful Cruise Critic friends as we sail away on the zuiederdam today!!

Bon Voyage! I'll be on the sailing after yours on 11/7 !

I'll be on Zuiderdam November 7 sailing. Can't wait to be part of the same sail away.

Anyone else on this sailing?

Even though we've seen these photos one by one over the past two years, it's amazing to see them all together at once. It also just makes you gasp in awe how this hull was righted and towed away . . . Wow.

Royal Caribbean's Song of Norway in March of 1987 sailing from Miami to the Western Caribbean. I knew from the minute I stepped on board.

Shipcafe,

I just now read on another thread someone who sailed June 7 cruise said Westerdam's Neptune Lounge is back to the same self-service, side-board displayed treats as all the other HAL ships. :)

 

I gave that poster a rousing Hip, Hip Hooray!!! It was so odd they had not refitted that sideboard to be like all the others in the fleet.

So there are or are not sneeze guards now?

Thanks for posting, Ship Cafe. Your photos are always wonderful. :)

I agree the carpets look wonderful.

 

Did you notice if they installed a sneeze guard on the sideboard in Neptune Lounge?

We've been waiting for them to restore the service in Westerdam's Neptune to be the same as on the other 14 HAL ships. ;)

 

Grrr I was even in the Neptune Lounge today and didn't look. I'll be back on board over the course of the Summer, though.

Thanks for posting!

 

Lovely carpets! Wow!

 

We've sailed 35 days on the Westerdam and I can't place some of these photos.

 

Anyone figure them out??

My apologies. I should have labeled them, I suppose. These were taken in the Explorations Café, Pinnacle Bar, the Atrium, and the Explorer's Lounge. Not in that order.

Hi Everyone,

Here are some photos I took today aboard Westerdam of just some of the new fittings she received this past April. The ship looks outstanding!

Statendam has a special place in my heart - along in many others I know. She is perfect for Alaska. I say go for her while she is still in the fleet and enjoy her classic intimacy.

Thanks for the great review. I am on the Volendam next Wendsday. Can you please tell me who the Cruise Director is?

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Armen Petrossian

Both ships hold a very special place in my heart.

Hi Everyone,

I am a US Citizen but a German speaker and was trying to book the AIDAPrima today for Summer of 2016. There is no drop down list item to select 'United States' in the booking process. Do I just select Germany?

Has anyone else booked AIDA online and how did you get around this?

Thanks!

Absolutely love all of the updated carpeting. Can't wait to check her out myself.

The neighbors were, well.... frisky and boisterous. All night. It sounded like a remake of The Exorcist. I called the desk at 3:30am and told them if I heard "Oh God" screamed one more time I was going to start yelling "The power of Christ compels you".

Now that's funny! Hope you managed to get some rest, though.

I saw it on NBC yesterday during the 4pm hour PST. I also find it to have been very well done.

Interesting as on every other NCL ship with bowling, you pay $5 for a game and you have to wear their bowling shoes with your own socks. If you don't bring socks, they sold you a pair also for $5.

This is also a smaller version of an actual bowling size lane. It is smaller than those on the Pearl, Gem, etc.

So you don't have to wear the shoes that NCL provides for you with the $5 cost of the game?

There were no shoes. You do pay for the game with your key card, though.

Do you recall if there were any height or weight requirements for the ropes courses or waterslides? We have two 10 year olds who are anxious to do it all!

They'll be good to go for both!

The kids are the ones that had NO FEAR whatsoever walking out on the plank, etc.

It's the adults that were scared out of their minds!

I'm glad you had a great time!

 

How many bowling lanes do they have and were there a lot of people waiting to use them. Also, do you have to bring your own bowling shoes?

 

Did you have to make reservations for the shows, or could you just show up?

 

Thank you in advance.

Two bowling lanes and they're not full size like on the Pearl, etc. In fact, the balls are not full size either. They fit in your hand. No special shoes required.

It is recommended to book the shows ahead of time but I heard that there was space open on the later shows on most night. There is a Box Office at which you can make or change reservations.

As I understand, most of the opening staff for The Getaway will open The Escape. The Escape will sail from Southampton on the 30th of October 2015 for Miami arriving on the 8th of November. Want to come? Bookings for the Escape open this Tuesday, March 25th. I will be booking.

 

Mandy

Thank you for the heads up. We are definitely planning to book.

Looking forward to Getaway in June. Sorry to hear about Reflection. We sailed her last March and was one of the best cruises we've taken. The original Crew must have rotated off...

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Forums mobile app

Getaway's crew is absolutely incredible. I've found on RCI and Celebrity that if you pass stateroom attendants, etc. that "aren't yours", you're lucky to get a glance.

No matter who it was on Getaway of all rankings, they all say hello, ask how you are doing, and SMILE.

The crew really does make a ship what she really is.

We'll be on the ship the week before you! So excited!

 

Happy to see you enjoyed the cruise so much you're doing it again! :D

 

What were some of the highlights for you? Things you can't wait to do again when you cruise her? :) Thanks!

Well we didn't do Illusionarium (which I heard is wonderful) or Ocean Blue. We had the Ultimate Dining Package so we did all of the restaurants and one night in the main dining room (Tropicana). We did La Cucina twice because it's THAT good. Ask to dine outdoors.

I did the ropes course three times as did I also do the free fall slide. Both got my anxiety up at first but are so much fun.

Getaway just has so much going on all the time. It was a sheer delight just to walk around her all day' date=' take in the sun, and watch everyone having so much fun.

My group and I loved meeting each night for drinks outdoors at Sugar Cane or the Sunset Bar.

Bowling in O'Sheehan's was so much fun as well.

So I guess I just simply can't wait to be back aboard her.

I have hundreds of photos that I will be publishing on my site http://www.shipcafe.net

Stay tune!

[/color']

Great news! We're on our very first cruise in May and choice Getaway!

:D:D:D:D

You'll be blown away. (not overboard)

Just to update. I'm back home now. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

We enjoyed it so much we re booked for the same ship and itinerary, March 7, 2015.