Very nervous about the Osterdam!

[midwest 852]

Anyone know what's up with the ship? Our itinerary times were changed for our Alaskan cruise in September 4 months prior to the cruise! Now they are putting her in dry dock in December & canceling Dec. 5 Australia cruise!

 

If HAL knows there's a problem now with the ship would they wait 7 months to fix it? I'm thinking it must be a big problem if they are going to cancel already booked cruise's!

 

Last year we had 30ft seas in AK. If the Osterdam is having problems now I sure would like to know now so I could change my plan's!

 

Anyone on her now with any info I would really appreciate the heads up.

 

:eek: I have a picture in my head of me floating in Tracy's Arm with my life jacket on looking for Jack! LOL

[CruiserBruce]

It is more likely the December cruise was selling poorly and the fact it is 6 months away made a December cancelation a little more feasible.

 

Do you seriously think a cruise line will put 1800 pax and 700 crew in harm's way? Seriously? Yes, the Captain did on the Costa Concordia. But not the cruise line. And in light of the Costa Concordia, don't you think the cruise lines would be doing everything to avoid looking like the Costa Captain?

[garydm]

We were on the ship in January and other than some furniture that needed replacement we saw no problems with the ship. Would sail again on it without concern.

 

Gary

[Jo-Bob]

With all due respect, you are over-reacting. They would not continue to sail if there were any 'safety' related issues with the ship. They are likely taking advantage of a window of time that allows them to get into drydock. These things must be planned months and months (sometimes years) in advance, having little to do with the current condition of the ship.

 

Don't worry, or spend any more time imagining yourself clinging to floating furniture in Tracy Arm;) You will be too amazed by what you are seeing!

[pepsigirl64]

:D We were on the Oosterdam for 15 days in April on a Hawaii trip. I would go back tomorrow if they let me. I agree with CruiserBruce that the Australian cruise might not be selling well, so that would be a good time to dry dock. If it was a major thing, they would not wait until December!!

[SwissMyst]

Anyone know what's up with the ship? Our itinerary times were changed for our Alaskan cruise in September 4 months prior to the cruise! Now they are putting her in dry dock in December & canceling Dec. 5 Australia cruise!

 

If HAL knows there's a problem now with the ship would they wait 7 months to fix it? I'm thinking it must be a big problem if they are going to cancel already booked cruise's!

 

Last year we had 30ft seas in AK. If the Osterdam is having problems now I sure would like to know now so I could change my plan's!

 

Anyone on her now with any info I would really appreciate the heads up.

 

:eek: I have a picture in my head of me floating in Tracy's Arm with my life jacket on looking for Jack! LOL

 

We are on apparently now its last cruise before the Dec 5, 2012 dry dock. We'll let you know how this works out. Surprisingly, they already assigned our cabin number - 7 months ahead of time and even before final payment is due. I guess they learned here we will put up with just about anything in the cabin as a no-biggie. :p

[Viesczy]

I wouldn't sweat being on the O-dam, they're not going to consciously make a choice to endanger all those lives or have problems with a sailing.

 

And if you do end up floating like you said, you make sure that the woman is in the water and the man is not. Why? Typically a woman's body fat is far higher than a man and they're better suited to last longer in cold water because of that fact. You know the saying, women and children first... into the water is the rest of that saying which is ALWAYS cut out! :D;)

 

Derek

[midwest 852]

With all due respect, you are over-reacting. They would not continue to sail if there were any 'safety' related issues with the ship. They are likely taking advantage of a window of time that allows them to get into drydock. These things must be planned months and months (sometimes years) in advance, having little to do with the current condition of the ship.

 

Don't worry, or spend any more time imagining yourself clinging to floating furniture in Tracy Arm;) You will be too amazed by what you are seeing!

 

The thing is that HAL canceled a cruise to fit in this dry dock it was not planned in advance.

 

This will be 7th AK cruise, 4th with HAL. I don't care about scuffed walls, or worn carpets.

 

But would they just cancel a cruise to do minor updates?

[localady]

The thing is that HAL canceled a cruise to fit in this dry dock it was not planned in advance.

 

This will be 7th AK cruise, 4th with HAL. I don't care about scuffed walls, or worn carpets.

 

But would they just cancel a cruise to do minor updates?

 

The fix could be mechanical (Plumbing or A/C) or another adjustment to the "pods". I have cruised on her with only one engine when the original pod went out and everything was fine. Who knows, they may have indications the other pod needs replacing, those have lead time to build.

 

If it was a serious safety issue, Oosterdam would be dealt with sooner. But if you know a mechanical system etc needs repair or replacement, you take the ship into drydock when you have the least bookings at the cheapest fare. (Dec. 5th)

[SwissMyst]

I wouldn't sweat being on the O-dam, they're not going to consciously make a choice to endanger all those lives or have problems with a sailing.

 

And if you do end up floating like you said, you make sure that the woman is in the water and the man is not. Why? Typically a woman's body fat is far higher than a man and they're better suited to last longer in cold water because of that fact. You know the saying, women and children first... into the water is the rest of that saying which is ALWAYS cut out! :D;)

 

Derek

 

I take this as permission to eat extra desserts, just to keep up that extra layer of thermal protection. :p

[sail7seas]

Dry dock dates need to be set out with advance notice. Supplies and materials must be ordered and delivered. Depending upon the work planned, specialist workers need to be scheduled, perhaps some pre-fabbing needs to be done. Availability of dry dock space and workers has to be reserved.

 

They can't just decide a dry dock a week or two in advance.

 

We sail Oosterdam in June and I am not concerned about the condition or safety of the vessel. Yes, there might be some worn carpets or upholstery that needs to be redone but there are a few chairs in my house that are ready for recovering, as well. :D

 

I'll get to them and HAL will get to OSDM's freshening, also.

 

Toilets, air conditioning and engines fall into a whole different category IMO

 

 

[erewhon]

Dry dock dates need to be set out with advance notice. Supplies and materials must be ordered and delivered. Depending upon the work planned, specialist workers need to be scheduled, perhaps some pre-fabbing needs to be done. Availability of dry dock space and workers has to be reserved.

 

They can't just decide a dry dock a week or two in advance.

 

We sail Oosterdam in June and I am not concerned about the condition or safety of the vessel. Yes, there might be some worn carpets or upholstery that needs to be redone but there are a few chairs in my house that are ready for recovering, as well. :D

 

I'll get to them and HAL will get to OSDM's freshening, also.

 

Toilets, air conditioning and engines fall into a whole different category IMO

 

 

 

While you are on board the Oosterdam, if you hear what is to be done at dry dock, would you please let us know after you return home?

[edmusic]

If HAL knows there's a problem now with the ship would they wait 7 months to fix it?

They would try to wait 7 months to fix it because each canceled cruise costs them million$ of dollar$ in revenue not to mention the nightmare of trying to place hundreds of workers on other ships.

[Himself]

It is more likely the December cruise was selling poorly and the fact it is 6 months away made a December cancelation a little more feasible.

 

Do you seriously think a cruise line will put 1800 pax and 700 crew in harm's way? Seriously? Yes, the Captain did on the Costa Concordia. But not the cruise line. And in light of the Costa Concordia, don't you think the cruise lines would be doing everything to avoid looking like the Costa Captain?

 

Bruce:

 

I think you are right on in your reasoning. I don't think HAL would risk the lives of passengers and crew to keep a ship going.

 

While I do not care for the Vista ships and have been on the Oosterdam but once, I have never heard anything but high praise for the ship from those who have sailed on her.

I would not hesitate to take this ship!

[CruiserBruce]

They would try to wait 7 months to fix it because each canceled cruise costs them million$ of dollar$ in revenue not to mention the nightmare of trying to place hundreds of workers on other ships.

 

The workers aren't placed on other ships. Most stay on the ship in drydock, helping do the repair and placement of soft items like furniture, beds, etc.

[Himself]

This could also be a charter. She is NOT scheduled to be in drydock at this time.

[Australian family]

I was told by a supervisor at the HAL Sydney office that they are doing mechanical work on the Oosterdam. If this has been organised so hastily, what is the problem with the ship?

 

A bit like a car, you have to do regular servicing. But obviously the cruise lines are pushing it out as far as they can to keep the ships going, and then all of a sudden something goes wrong and they have to pull it out of service and carry out necessary maintenance.

[CruiserBruce]

 

A bit like a car, you have to do regular servicing. But obviously the cruise lines are pushing it out as far as they can to keep the ships going, and then all of a sudden something goes wrong and they have to pull it out of service and carry out necessary maintenance.

 

I think maritime law requires certain time lines for certain maintenance, particularly some of the things typically done below the waterline, which are done in drydock. For example, it is well known that drydocks have to be done every 25-30 months.

 

I don't know you can say "obviously" the cruise lines have pushing these things out as far as possible.

[SwissMyst]

....... But obviously the cruise lines are pushing it out as far as they can to keep the ships going, and then all of a sudden something goes wrong and they have to pull it out of service and carry out necessary maintenance.

 

It could be they are "pushing this out" until after the completion of the Solar Eclipse cruise since that is a singular event on Nov 14, 2012. That Solar Eclipse Collectors cruise ends Dec 5.

 

We will be on this last cruise before the De5 cancellation and I am not worried HAL would be putting us in any jeopardy. So far there has been nothing in our many experiences with HAL that would make me even for an instant think they would do this. YMMV.

[auusie]

:D We were on the Oosterdam for 15 days in April on a Hawaii trip. I would go back tomorrow if they let me. I agree with CruiserBruce that the Australian cruise might not be selling well, so that would be a good time to dry dock. If it was a major thing, they would not wait until December!!

 

There are no Dry docks in Australia

[Typhoon1]

Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

Go on your cruise and have an enjoyable time.

[kazu]

Dry dock dates need to be set out with advance notice. Supplies and materials must be ordered and delivered. Depending upon the work planned, specialist workers need to be scheduled, perhaps some pre-fabbing needs to be done. Availability of dry dock space and workers has to be reserved.

 

They can't just decide a dry dock a week or two in advance.

 

We sail Oosterdam in June and I am not concerned about the condition or safety of the vessel. Yes, there might be some worn carpets or upholstery that needs to be redone but there are a few chairs in my house that are ready for recovering, as well. :D

 

I'll get to them and HAL will get to OSDM's freshening, also.

 

Toilets, air conditioning and engines fall into a whole different category IMO

 

 

 

Sail and I might not always agree ;) but on this we do - I wouldn't hesitate to go back on this ship again. I really don't feel that HAL would put anyone at risk. I have to say, although I prefer the smaller ships, our experience on this ship was quite good. :)

[sail7seas]

Good to hear, Jacqui. :)

[CookieMonster123]

We sailed on The Oosterdam in August. What a great ship! We loved it and I wouldn't hesitate getting back on. The fact that it's going into dry dock is a bonus.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

There are no Dry docks in Australia

 

Ummm yes there are Dry docks in Australia! There are at lest two / three that I know off that cruise ships use.