bloofer

Shandryl, glad your first solo was a success. I love traveling solo. Wouldn't you love to be on the Noordam right now? It was a great cruise. :):)

The only thing I didn't like was the fact that they have removed the lounge chairs from the balconies of the stern wraps! :(:(

We love Halifax every time we go there and appreciate your story about the tree. Very interesting history!

Halifax also has a wonderful Maritime Museum which contains many items from the "Titanic". In fact, many of the victims of that disaster are buried in a cemetery in Halifax. The city is well worth a visit!

No snow in downtown Toronto. At least not yet! COLD, though! :(

I just heard on the news Carnival Magic is headed back to Galveston but did not say either way whether the ship was denied by Cozumel.

Heard on CNN just half an hour ago that Mexico did indeed refuse to allow the ship to dock at Cozumel. It is now heading back to Galveston. The same news is being reported on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting) website.

Makes one wonder - how abundant should caution be?

Here's another article, from the NYT. The point (to me) is that someone could board asymptomatic and then develop the disease as the cruise goes on.

 

I fully agree. That would likely cause panic, whether warranted or not.

Based on that progression I will expect a solo act next February :rolleyes:!

And then there'll be none. :(

Just got back from this Noordam Collector's Cruise. Having sailed HAL 8 times, and given the wealth of info on this board, I will keep the general review very short, and comment on some of the interesting incidents. ...

 

Does the Noordam still have a string quartet/trio?

Cindy, thanks for posting the photo of Noordam's stern. The numbering is very helpful.

Hello cruisers,

Now that we're settled and we bought the FCD's on our cruise which ended on 2/23 visiting Caribbean islands in the east&west itineraries on the Eurodam( Hope you read my rev). It is time to choose different islands for 2015. We're split between the 10 day on Noordam with the ABC islands and the 11 day Noordam visiting ST.kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maartin and Barbados. Has any of you sailed both itineraries ? And which one you prefer ? Which one you think is more fun ?

Your comments and your time discussing this subject would be greatly appreciated. I do know I have come to the right forum asking this type of question. Thank you in advance :)

 

 

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I did both last March as a Collectors cruise. I like the 11-day, as in my opinion the islands are more scenic. As a matter of fact, I just today put down a deposit for the 11-day on the Noordam sailing 9 March 2015. Can't get enough of a good thing! :D

I was in 4180 on the Noordam. Worse cabin I ever had. At one point in the middle of the night it felt like someone lifted the bed and dropped it. We got very little sleep because of all the vibration and noise. Never again. The verandah was like a wind tunnel...

Terri

Re vibration and noise. I wonder how much of this would be due to being on a lower deck (4) and thus closer to the noises generated by the bowels of the ship. Or maybe it was a temporary problem? I did one cruise in 5190 (which is above 4180) and never felt a thing. My last cruise was in 5191 and I definitely felt vibration on and off, though not enough to bother me. As for the verandah being like a wind tunnel, I found that to be the case for the section of balcony on the side of the ship but not for the main section.

Re 7142, the one I am now looking at, has anyone experienced vibration/noise in it?

I sent the pictures of my stay in SB 7142 . You can see them on http://www.halfacts.com. Loved that balcony.

 

Catherine

Thanks for directing me to your photos. Seems to me that the balcony of 7142 is smaller than that of 5191 (mirror image of 5190). Still a great size, though! :)

I'm looking for information on comparative sizes of two stern wraparounds on the Noordam: SC5190 and SB7142. I've been in 5190 and I know it is quite large (maybe the latest of all of these wraps). Is 7142 much smaller? If so, is the difference due to smaller stateroom or smaller balcony?

Really time for US based credit card companies to consider chip enabled cards...

We have them here in Canada.

If you are to miss a port, Samana is the perfect choice ;) In all the ports we have ever visited, it is certainly the least interesting.

I totally agree!

I agree with everything Fouremco has said about Samana. (Hi there, Fouremco; I believe we were on the same cruise.) I found the vendors very annoying. The ABC islands are a "must". If you like snorkeling, Bonaire is great.

Mine is rather obscure. The name "bloofer" comes from the novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker. I taught the novel for many years in a university course on 19th century Gothic Literature.

I think that part of the problem here is the use (misuse?) of the term "cruise critic." Some people see the word "critic" and immediately interpret it in its most familiar connotation as "someone who criticizes or finds fault." But the term "critic" has a broader meaning: "a person who evaluates and makes judgment on both merits and faults" (as in a literary critic or a film critic).

Yes, you can bring your own soda aboard. You don't have to claim it's medicinal :). I'm a Pepsi drinker, and usually pick some up in port(s) as HAL only serves Coke products.

THANKS for reminding me about HAL and Coke. I am a Pepsi Person.

There's another Irish Music group booked on the Noordam Southern Caribbean Jan 24, 2010. This is not listed either on that link. As I am familiar with the music of at least one of the groups performing, I would not label this one a "Tranquility" cruise. :)

I see that that there'll be a fairly large group of Irish music fans (along with several bands) on the Noordam Southern Caribbean, departing Ft Lauderdale Jan 24. See www.irishmusiccruises.com for details. That should be a lively group! :D