Prinsendam

Any one sailed on this ship lately? Thinking of booking holiday cruise 12/ 18 - 1/3/2018:cool:

We did the holiday cruise on the Prinsendam last year. We thoroughly enjoyed it! Any specific questions I might be able to help answer?

Any one sailed on this ship lately? Thinking of booking holiday cruise 12/ 18 - 1/3/2018:cool:

We have sailed on her three times for just 80+ days ;) and will be on her again next spring (I usually do a live thread in case that helps).

We love the ship. She's not necessarily for everyone, though.

Any particular questions? Just ask, happy to help.

Just remember, we're prejudiced ;)

We were on her for 14 days last August. Lovely ship. Ask away.

We have been on her several times.

Nice ship.

We did the holiday cruise on the Prinsendam last year. We thoroughly enjoyed it! Any specific questions I might be able to help answer?

We booked a balcony for the first time on the upper prom deck #146 . the price was right and the ports look great. Did u visit the same ports? I read such bad reviews about this ship I cent believe HALL wouldn't keep up their standards. I am a little leery of the size. Were the waters calmish?

We booked a balcony for the first time on the upper prom deck #146 . the price was right and the ports look great. Did u visit the same ports? I read such bad reviews about this ship I cent believe HALL wouldn't keep up their standards. I am a little leery of the size. Were the waters calmish?

She was designed to be sleek and cut the waters with ease. Agree with kazoo, she is not a ship for everyone and has a lot of quirks but she is a wonderful classic and has the best itineraries and the most unique cruising experience for HAL.

We did a long Med and Black Sea cruise a few years ago in one of the very top suites which came at a very last minute upsell offer - thanks to kazu who pushed me at the 11th hour to book a Neptune suite right next to the Crows Nest - not a single problem with that location at all, in fact just the opposite. It was grand, grand, grand. So grand we barely visited the rest of the ship.

Since yours will be a Holiday cruise 2018, it will be even more special. They decorate the ships and everything is just a bit more festive for everyone.

I echo everything that has already been said.... I am 4* but had never been on the Prinsendam until Oct/Nov 2016. I loved it so much that we switched our annual holiday cruise (Dec 2016) to the Prinsendam so I am probably a little biased. We were also on Deck 9 - loved the location.

We were on a similar itinerary last year. My understanding is that they switch yearly between two mostly similar holiday itineraries. (Told to us by a couple that had done the last three years so they were smitten with the Prinsendam as well!). We absolutely loved Bequia. We didn't dock there but took an excursion.

I personally wouldn't put a lot of stock into the negative comments. It may be a one and done experience or you might also fall in love with her. Either way, I think you will have a great holiday cruise. Christmas and NYE on board - how bad could it be??? :)

It is on our short list for this year's holiday cruise so we may see you!

Holiday, 2015, my traveling companion and I sailed on the Prinsendam for the Christmas/New Year's cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Cruise Staff provided plenty of holiday activities; they simply did a great job. Music was excellent and the decorations were lovely. It was a Holland America Line experience at its best in all aspects.

The ship does have its quirks as others have said. But, that is part of the charm of the vessel, I think. She is an excellent sea boat as well.

A suggestion to add to your holiday enjoyment: order from Ship Services a small lighted and decorated Christmas Tree for your stateroom. I'm so glad that I did. And, the Tree can be taken with you at the end of the cruise. It is part of my home's Christmas decor and provides pleasant thoughts every time I look at it.

Quirks? Can anyone Elaborate? I have booked for next year, but would like to be prepared for what I'mean in for. Thanks!

Quirks? Can anyone Elaborate? I have booked for next year, but would like to be prepared for what I'mean in for. Thanks!

My memories about the quirks are from a few years ago: A slow, small, clunky elevator to reach our cabin on the top deck - four passenger max? But only if you had already been introduced. Single time main dining. Weird access to the very nice aft deck pool up and down stairs, around the corner and through the spa.... or something.

A cramped Lido buffet arrangement, but I understand this has been improved. An unexpected dark, large covered deck space in front of the main dining room. Steps required going down to the glassed-in Winter Garden seating from the buffet. (Also changed?)

The very grand named Neptune Suites were all by themselves on the top deck and required going outside as one way to get to the rest of the ship, if you did not want the slow, clunky elevator as the other way. The Neptune Lounge is one deck away, and has its own open balcony but not particularly well-laid out. Mirrors inside the bad tub/shower enclosure in the Neptune suites.

The quirky good stuff - it very nice small size, the formality of its public rooms. The small, hidden spiral stair case from the bar down to the dining room annex. The dining room annex --does that go under weird or good? Or both. Walk-in closets. An architectural spiral staircase somewhere in the ship, that seemed to evoke infinity when looking down or up.

The flexibility of the captain to add extras to the stated itinerary, like a cruise around Santorini inner bay, or the flexibility to find a new port close by that could respond to weather closures at the official one, or arrive in the early evening in one port that give an extra day instead of the scheduled stop the next morning.

The wonderful, small, intimate Pinnacle restaurant with windows - esp nice for breakfast when having a Neptune Suite..

Quirks? Can anyone Elaborate? I have booked for next year, but would like to be prepared for what I'mean in for. Thanks!

You are in for a good cruise ;)

Quirks - the ship is different. It's not a HAL ship. It's not laid out like other HAL ships (which for me, is part of it's charm).

The Explorations coffee spot is next to the casino (or was last time I was on).

The Lido's pool area is not covered but the Sports Deck walking area has a hang over so you can sit under covering if need be.

It's an older ship so if a window breaks, it can't always be fixed right away as it has to be specially ordered. So, for example a window was held together by special tape until it could be replaced.

The ship is not glossy nor shiny. She is quiet, elegant, rosewood in the Pinnacle Grill, woodwork in the Suites and the gorgeous Oak Room off the library. (The ship really has two libraries - the bigger one and the Oak Room).

There is no mid ship elevator - just elevators at each end, but again, it's not a big ship.

She's an older ship and while you might see some signs of her age here and there, she wears it well, like a proud lady - or a bottle of wine that ages well ;)

Hope this helps and others can help more.

Edited to say - saw OlsSalt's post and the Lido area on this ship is the least crowded of any HAL ship. With the addition of the Wintergarden/Garden Room (you will find the Canaletto there) all enclosed, a lot of space was added and, in fact this is our favourite spot to go in the Lido.

the ship offers Fixed and open dining like the others. Open and fixed are intermingled in the aft dining room. The mid ship/more forward dining room is usually for fixed dining. The latter dining room is quieter and nice but people do walk through. The dining room is on one level unlike the other HAL ships.

Quirks in my estimation while others may disagree:

Walking from the Ocean Bar towards the Showroom at Sea, the deck is not perfectly level for whatever reason. There is a slight difference in elevation. Not bothersome, but I noticed it.

On one side of the ship, I think Port Side, one can get out onto the Lower Promenade Deck without encountering a step or two. Not so on the aft Starboard side of that Deck. (I remember this well because this was area was part of our Emergency Exit preferred pathway.) I may be wrong, but I think the Starboard Forward exit to the Lower Promenade Deck had a step or two as well.

The aft elevators are very small and cozy.

Using a tender to leave the ship? One transfers directly through the hull door into the tender. There is no outside stairway and platform that leads to the tender. There are a few steps leading to that area of disembarkation into the tender as well.

Upper Promenade Deck Aft: To get to the Seaview Pool: Leaving the aft stairwell/elevator foyer, there is either a short stairway or a small lift-type elevator to get one to the proper level to access the Seaview Poll and Fitness Center.

Lots of deck chairs on the aft Lower Promenade Deck, but the overhang from the added staterooms on the deck above provide for a less than satisfactory view of the bottom of that deck, in my opinion.

The MDR Annex on the Lower Promenade Deck, between, the MDR and the Ocean Bar, was an area that was part of the original Royal Viking Sun deck plan. When I first saw that, I did not like the idea. "Second Class citizens, I thought", for those assigned to those tables. My traveling companion and I were assigned to a table in that area and we loved it! There is some traffic through the dining room, but there is an exclusive feel to it, we could hear music from the Ocean Bar, and I would request that area on any future Prinsendam sailing.

None of these differences would prevent me from sailing on the Prinsendam again.

OlsSalt's post reminded me: We had a Signature Suite and there was a mirror on the wall along the side of the bathtub. One could watch one taking a shower!

But, we also had a mini-bathroom with a lavatory and commode adjacent to the main bathroom. Both could be totally enclosed, separate from each other. I could have mine and my traveling companion could have hers. (I am glad she did allow me to use "her" shower.)

About the "quirks" : OK, now I'm REALLY excited about our upcoming trip on this classy "old lady"! Having sailed on all the other classes of the ships, I basically know where things are and how to get around, etc. I hadn't considered that I'd be getting lost, roaming, exploring and discovering new things. Dopey me! Another reason to be looking forward to this trip. thanks!

About the "quirks" : OK, now I'm REALLY excited about our upcoming trip on this classy "old lady"! Having sailed on all the other classes of the ships, I basically know where things are and how to get around, etc. I hadn't considered that I'd be getting lost, roaming, exploring and discovering new things. Dopey me! Another reason to be looking forward to this trip. thanks!

Love that you are excited :) she is different. I doubt you will get lost, but you might get misled - LOL.

Definitely look at your deck plan or the plans by the elevator. It's not the same layout . It's better :) :) JMO though and, remember, I'm prejudiced from just 3 on her. Hoping it is the same next year.

The crew really rock on this ship, at least they have on all of our cruises and the crew ratio is higher (much) than the other HAL ships. Have fun:)

Thanks to everyone for their input on this thread. I am FINALLY getting to sail on the Prinsendam later this month and will surely enjoy 28 days on board. I am looking forward to experiencing all the unique "quirks" mentioned on this thread.

Brad

We are on for 124 days next year, it is a fine ship.

Just as an additional thought to my earlier posts: I was fortunate to sail on 2 cruises aboard the Royal Viking Sky in 1980. Since Prinsendam was "born" as a Royal Viking Line vessel, I thought I would experience something along what I remembered from Royal Viking Sky. Yes, there were some RVL "touches" that I recalled. But, in Prinsendam's own good way, she is "different" from my Royal Viking Sky cruises.

As I said in an earlier post, I would book a cruise on her again if the opportunity/itinerary presents itself.

Thanks for the"quirky" info. I've a long wait until sailing, but look forward to any and all information. Doing the ancient cities and holy land 14 day. Some new ports and some old friends. Would welcome any input from those in the know.

Look for the skid marks on the gangway!! They're from when they had to drag me off on 6/3. Great ship and staff!!

Look for the skid marks on the gangway!! They're from when they had to drag me off on 6/3. Great ship and staff!!

Ha! Ha! On our last cruise on her there were a bunch of us that were on for two segments and some of us had private transfers booked out of Tilbury.

while I was waiting for our vans to arrive I asked "who is happy to get off?" Everyone in the group said they could have stayed on easily for the next segment and the next and the next.... No one was ready to leave in the little group I polled including me ;)

Thanks Marcia, that was definitely the best laugh of my day!

Any one sailed on this ship lately? Thinking of booking holiday cruise 12/ 18 - 1/3/2018:cool:

What were the cabins like. We booked a vista suite

We were on Prinsendam last October/November (3 segments). For the TA, we moved to a vista suite (verandah) - it was one of the "new" ones (added more recently). It was fine, but the walls were a bit thin. We had worried because it was a connecting room and we thought we might hear our neighbours through the connecting door, but it was actually the neighbours on the other side we heard - they had their TV on from the time they got up until they went to bed, and then they would talk over it!:eek: We had no noise problems in our OV on the Lower Promenade deck. We've also been in a Signature Suite on Prinsendam, and that was very comfortable.

The one complaint we heard about the ship were the elevators (only 2 forward and 2 aft). We had someone on the roll call who was late for tours, and she said it was because there was always such a wait for an elevator, and no one would let her on with her walker! We try to use the stairs, but we did notice that there were waits for the elevators.