Have you sailed on Royal Viking Sun before she became Prinsendam?

Having returned from the Prinsendam's Christmas/New Year's cruise, my curiosity prompts this post.

If you did sail on Royal Viking Sun and then the Prinsendam, what decor changes did you note? Comparing the deck plans of the two ships, it is obvious as to the physical changes made when HAL added her to the fleet. But, I wonder about the decor. Did the color of the walls in the public areas, i.e. foyers, and hallways change? Did the atrium area change? What about the art work?

Anything different between the two incarnations of this ship that you recall would be of interest to me.

Thank you for your effort in answering this question!

If you did sail on Royal Viking Sun and then the Prinsendam, what decor changes did you note? Comparing the deck plans of the two ships, it is obvious as to the physical changes made when HAL added her to the fleet. But, I wonder about the decor. Did the color of the walls in the public areas, i.e. foyers, and hallways change? Did the atrium area change? What about the art work?

Thank you for your effort in answering this question!

Hallo.

I haven't been on the Prinsendam, but I have been on the Royal Viking Sun and here sisterships several times....

You find a lot of info about the differensies here by a norwegian captain;

http://www.captainsvoyage-forum.com/forum/windjammer-bar-maritime-interest/royal-viking-skald-royal-viking-line-royal-viking-sea-sky-star-sun-and-queen/276-royal-viking-sun-images-photos-and-stories

You will find a lot of videos fra Royal Viking Sun here;

http://www.galutschek.at/ships/royal_viking_sun/

If you look at those videos you might or might not see if you sees some places onboard you remeber from you last cruise.

Thank you for the links. I will check them out.

Hi!

My husband's first cruise (I was with him but had cruised before) was on the Royal Viking Sun 26 (or 27) years ago. It was a 2-3 week cruise from Sydney to Aukland, one of the first pleasure cruises to most of the ports. WONDERFUL! (We have also cruised on the Prinsendam several times.)

In terms of changes, much of the Sun cruise has turned into a blur. However, a few things I do remember that have changed are:

1. When we sailed on the Sun, all meals were in the Main Dining room, assigned tables which were constant for all three meals. No lido as we know it today.

2. In the mornings on nice weather days they had a table set-up on the back, outside deck with the most WONDERFUL cinnamon buns - never had such good ones at home or cruising since. Also had coffee and tea to go with them.

3. Weather was nice for most of the cruise, and they frequently had social activities/events on the rather large open back deck. I remember that at least one day they had skeet shooting off of the back of the open deck. Watching it, lounging along the railing and seeing the beautiful sky and ocean - I felt like I was part of the 1% for a few minutes. (Remember, this was before we knew of the danger from the lead in the shots for ocean creatures (or humans for that matter.)

Cabins - while I am sure that they have been upgraded, redecorated several times, etc. the layout was the same - and felt very familiar about 20 yrs. later.

Others may well remember more changes, but the dining facilities additions are the only one I remember. I sailed on numerous ships between the Sun/Prinsendam so it all blends in together.

Another thing I remember about my Sun experience was the ship's soccer teams. Royal Viking arranged for friendly soccer matches for the crew in each port and then threw a beer party for them and the host teams at the end. Our DR steward was one of the players.

Nothing to do about changes, but we did have a rather heated Laundry Room event when a man who usually did not do the laundry put his wet clothes into a dryer already in use, mixing the two batches. This did not go over well, but left the man in tears as he felt so badly about not understanding laundry room etiquette.

Wander, thanks for your input.

Certainly no Lido-type dining as Prinsendam now offers. A 1991 deck plan of RVS shows where the Lido Restaurant now is there were two venues called "The Royal Grill" on the port side and the "Garden Cafe" on the starboard side with a serving type line indicated on the deck plan once existed. I found the Prinsendam's Lido Restaurant to be somewhat minorily unequal in what food items were available. The starboard side had the better selection of items. Maybe due to a difference in size? I am not sure. I wonder if The Royal Grill was used like the Pinnacle Grill is today. On Royal Viking Sky, I recall no Lido-type offerings anywhere other than a light breakfast being available in the aft Finlandia Bar. Major buffets were held in the Dining Room.

We had a Signature Suite, #057, and I am of the opinion that other than the soft goods having been updated, the basic layout and decor of the suite and the bath are original RVS. Even the tub's plumbing fixtures seemed to me to be original.

Making the former Stella Polaris Room into the Crow's Nest and the Crow's Nest into a Piano Bar was not well thought out, I don't think. Other than the bar patrons, the rest of us were too removed from the performer.

The aft open deck, aft of the Dining Room, now partly covered by the staterooms erected above it, is a wonderful sheltered area. I can imagine that a creative Cruise Director/Hotel Director could have well used this space before the new staterooms were added.

I loved the fact all pax could be seated in MDR all at once at a single seating. I also recall sitting in Midnight Sun Lounge which was right below the gym and hearing guests doing high impact aerobics jumping on the floor. Could also hear the dollar slot machines clanking when they paid off sitting in this bar.

The ladies washroom off this lounge had a mirror in the ceiling and if you looked up you could see into the stalls - dumb design. Also recall late night buffet which always served real sturgeon caviar at no surcharge. Truly a classy ship and classy cruise line. I refuse to sail on her now as the Prinsendam.

Would not be the same. Truly miss the Sea Eagle and Skald club.

Thank you for your reply.

The only late night buffet that I recall was in an alcove contained within the Stella Polaris Room of Royal Viking Sky. Desserts not consumed from dinner, small sandwiches, raw veggies, cheeses and crackers, and not much more is what I recall. Expecting the "Cadillac of Cruise Lines" in the area of service, my first evening aboard when I went there, I was approached by a Steward asking if I wanted anything to drink. I asked for an Iced Tea. "I only serve drinks from the bar", he said. Well, so much for "Cadillac service", I thought. (He left the ship when we arrived at Copenhagen. I think he was "burned out".)

Yes, the Skald Club's Newsletters were informative and some I still have. I know for certain that at least one of Royal Viking Line's hostesses had served aboard the S. S. Montery of the Pacific Far East Line. (And, I believe she had worked for Matson Line before the acquisition.) They employed quality people.

I understand why one would choose not to sail on the Prinsendam remembering what you do from RVS. A lovely model of RVS, not sure that it is a builder's model though, is in the forward elevator lobby on one of the decks. It is a fine reminder of the heritage of a great cruise line and a fine fleet of vessels.

Interesting trivia.......

Hotel Director retired, Firmin van Walle, was Hotel Director on Royal Viking Sun before he came to HAL. He was F & B for a while and was promoted to Hotel Manager as was the title at the time and we sailed with him as one or the other on Zuiderdam, Maasdam, Volendam and he sailed other ships briefly.

Before his retirement, he went full circle as he was Hotel Manager on Prinsendam as his last several contracts and it was from Prinsendam that he retired. :)

Thank you sail7seas for that addition to our trivia!

I also have sailed with Mr. van Walle, but do not remember on which ship or ships it has been. I do recall that he conducted one of the most informative wine tasting sessions when he was a F & B Manager that I have enjoyed.

Thank you for adding your input!

I wish I could remember more about the RV Sun decor to share, but I only spent one night on board when she first came to Florida, and soon after that, I moved on from working in the cruise industry.

I worked for RVL as the Washington, DC sales representative throughout the 1980s when the line just had the three original ships - Star, Sky, and Sea (my favorite.)

There was quite a bit of grumbling among staff and Skald Club repeaters that the three ships were stretched around 1982 from 500 passenger vessels to more than 700 with a new center portion inserted, and especially that a casino had been added! Horrors! But the (8 or 9) Penthouse Suites added very very popular, since balconies were an unusual concept at the time on ships. People like Cary Grant and Neil Sedaka booked those. There was even a murder in a PH of a wealthy older woman by her much younger male traveling companion.

The old guard passengers were not happy with the casino and higher passenger count. Warren Titus had retired. So by the time the Sun came along, a great deal had changed and the line was nearing the end of its heyday. A lot of longtime employees bailed out or were lured by the new Crystal and Seabourn.

What I do remember as a very enjoyable change on board the Sun was my room for the overnight promo event, which was not a PH but did have a balcony - how luxurious that seemed to me at the time. Still does.

I wish I could remember more about the RV Sun decor to share, but I only spent one night on board when she first came to Florida, and soon after that, I moved on from working in the cruise industry.

 

I worked for RVL as the Washington, DC sales representative throughout the 1980s when the line just had the three original ships - Star, Sky, and Sea (my favorite.)

 

There was quite a bit of grumbling among staff and Skald Club repeaters that the three ships were stretched around 1982 from 500 passenger vessels to more than 700 with a new center portion inserted, and especially that a casino had been added! Horrors! But the (8 or 9) Penthouse Suites added very very popular, since balconies were an unusual concept at the time on ships. People like Cary Grant and Neil Sedaka booked those. There was even a murder in a PH of a wealthy older woman by her much younger male traveling companion.

 

The old guard passengers were not happy with the casino and higher passenger count. Warren Titus had retired. So by the time the Sun came along, a great deal had changed and the line was nearing the end of its heyday. A lot of longtime employees bailed out or were lured by the new Crystal and Seabourn.

 

What I do remember as a very enjoyable change on board the Sun was my room for the overnight promo event, which was not a PH but did have a balcony - how luxurious that seemed to me at the time. Still does.

Thank you for responding!

I sailed on Royal Viking Sky prior to her being stretched. New York to Copenhagen: 250 guests! Copenhagen to Copenhagen on a North Cape Cruise, we were full: 500 guests. Even then, no sense of being too many folks.

My stateroom was an outside on the lowest passenger deck. But, it was perfectly acceptable for my traveling companion and me.

When people ask me which cruise line is the best, I still have to respond that Royal Viking Line remains in my memory as the best. (I have not tried Crystal, Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, etc.)

I was never on the Royal Viking Sun but sailed on the Seabourn Sun before she was moved on to HAL. My recollection of the staterooms are pretty much the same as I found on the Prinsendam. The art work has obviously changed included some great work by Stephen Card. Several changes were made to the deck plan. The current Crows Nest is a piano bar but still a beautiful room. When it was Seabourn there was a harpist who played at tea time with tea time being a big deal and being served in both the main showroom and the Crows Nest. There was a Lido and also an Italian restaurant off the Lido but in a different location than the current Canaletto, obviously since that area didn't exist when she was with Seabourn. The Explorations Lounge took the place of the old Compass Rose room. The compass rose is still there in the floor tiles.

An aunt and uncle sailed on both the Star and Sun years ago. As a kid we took them to the dock and were able to board and sit aboard for awhile before sail away. I thought it was the Sun, but in looking at the dates it had to be the Star in her very early days. I don't remember much of it, except at sail away we stood at the railing on the dock, and aunt and uncle at the railings on the ship, and everyone threw streamers.

An aunt and uncle sailed on both the Star and Sun years ago. As a kid we took them to the dock and were able to board and sit aboard for awhile before sail away. I thought it was the Sun, but in looking at the dates it had to be the Star in her very early days. I don't remember much of it, except at sail away we stood at the railing on the dock, and aunt and uncle at the railings on the ship, and everyone threw streamers.

Yes, the Bon voyage parties with visitors, the "last call for those going ashore, please" and the streamer-throwing are part of my favorite RVL memories, along with the Malassol caviar (kept locked away in the Provision Master's special refrigerated safe) served on formal night. If your waiter knew you liked caviar, he would bring a double serving.

Thank you for responding!

 

I sailed on Royal Viking Sky prior to her being stretched. New York to Copenhagen: 250 guests! Copenhagen to Copenhagen on a North Cape Cruise, we were full: 500 guests. Even then, no sense of being too many folks.

 

My stateroom was an outside on the lowest passenger deck. But, it was perfectly acceptable for my traveling companion and me.

 

When people ask me which cruise line is the best, I still have to respond that Royal Viking Line remains in my memory as the best. (I have not tried Crystal, Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, etc.)

You will recall that those ships were early adapters of modular stateroom construction, so your outside on the lowest deck was pretty much the same as all the other outsides. No balconies at that point when the ships still held only 500 passengers.

You may also remember that rooms were not booked by number. Your room number was not assigned until shortly before departure. The computer system advanced your priority toward the center of the deck as others cancelled, with the theory being that middle was the most stable.

It's funny to look at my old photos and remember the small cabins with little single beds - there were no doubles, queens or King beds in most of the rooms - I think you had to book an A Deluxe or B deluxe to get one, and those weren't plentiful.

Those ships had an absolutely marvelous onboard staff and crew. I'll always think RVL was the best ever, too.

An aside to OP, MSH in the middle of Norge. In your cruise history, I noticed mention of Gripsholm. She was my first cruise experience under her incarnation as Regent Sea. That was near the end of her sailing years. Nevertheless, being my first cruise, it was an experience with lasting memories.

David

You will recall that those ships were early adapters of modular stateroom construction, so your outside on the lowest deck was pretty much the same as all the other outsides. No balconies at that point when the ships still held only 500 passengers.

 

You may also remember that rooms were not booked by number. Your room number was not assigned until shortly before departure. The computer system advanced your priority toward the center of the deck as others cancelled, with the theory being that middle was the most stable.

 

It's funny to look at my old photos and remember the small cabins with little single beds - there were no doubles, queens or King beds in most of the rooms - I think you had to book an A Deluxe or B deluxe to get one, and those weren't plentiful.

 

Those ships had an absolutely marvelous onboard staff and crew. I'll always think RVL was the best ever, too.

Interesting reply; thank you! I did not remember that we were not able to book a specific outside cabin. Our cabin turned out to be almost exactly in the middle on the lowest passenger deck, but that may have been because we booked our two cruises in the Spring of 1979, sailing in June, 1980. The cabins were small, but I recall that for two young men, we had plenty of storage space and did not feel cramped.

Cuisine sticks out in my mind. Our first night's dinner, sailing from New York, I ordered a New York Strip; it was the best steak I have ever had, anywhere! A special buffet was held in the dining room the night that we sailed by the North Cape at Midnight: WOW! Food quality, presentation, and creativity were very high, indeed!

My very first cruise was on Royal Viking Sea before she was stretched. My favorite memories were sitting in what would now be the Crow's Nest as we entered the fjords, especially Geirangerfjord. I had nothing to compare it to at the time, but in my memory it was an excellent ship. We're booked on Prinsendam in summer 2017. It will be interesting to see how much of Royal Viking remains.

We're booked on Prinsendam in summer 2017. It will be interesting to see how much of Royal Viking remains.

I, too, sailed on Royal Viking Sea. It was a lovely ship, with fabulous service. Unfortunately, I wasn't experienced at cruising sufficiently to appreciate all that she was. Too late now. :(

The Prinsendam will be reminiscent of the Sea, when you find cabins sharing the deck with public areas, although the passageways are sectioned off from the public space. There are short corridors leading from the passageway to the cabin door in the older sections of the ship.

You will also see that the materials look like quality. The rich wood grain, highly polished, gives a warmth. You will also see some models of the ship when she was the Sun, which is a nice touch.

But the single seating dinner, the food, and the service levels are not the same as Royal Viking.

But the service is very, very good! I found it consistently better, in every venue, than the other Holland America ships. It's a more personalized service, probably because there are fewer passengers to take care of.

Ha...funny, "Wander" the only thing I remember about the old Viking Sun were the cinnamon buns, too!!! My brother and I would sneak to the aft deck before our parents and grab them...great memories! But that's all I remember from that!

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I sailed the Royal Viking Sky (Now the Boudicca with Fred Olsen Line) with my Grandmother through the Panama Canal back in the mid 80's. I remember the ship decor be understated, yet elegant. While Royal Viking Line was the epitome of Premium Cruising for their time, the original ships would seem rather lackluster today.

The Sun was built to usher in a new era for the line - more opulent, more rooms with balconies, larger cabins/suites, etc. I believe she was supposed to have several sister ships, but due to the financial difficulties of parent company Kloster those never materialized. I looked to see if I could find deck plans from when she was transferred to Cunard as I thought I had them, but can't. I think the first major changes were when the transfer to Seabourn happened.

While I never sailed on the ship as RVS, my parents did in the first years after she launched. She really like it and considering she sailed around 40-50 cruises, that was saying something.

I have sailed the Prinsendam several times and DW/I love it. Too bad we never got to sail with my folks before they passed.

harry