Why Is The Prinsendam more expensive?

[jgw321]

Prinsendam as well as the other ships on HAL,can you tell me if the higher price is worth it,and why?

 

We have cruised on Ocean Princess and Marco Polo as well as Zaandam and Prinsendam. We belong to the group who prefer the smaller ships as they are more friendly (not so vast that you never meet people again). Others prefer the bigger ships because there is more to do (rock climbing, para-gliding, you name it) and bigger names doing the entertainment. It is a question of choice. As others have pointed out costs tend be higher if shared by fewer people but price is also governed by what the market will bear. When a ship is popular and sells well there is no need to discount the price.

 

If you are interested in a particular cruise run a spread sheet on the prices and compare each month. As the cruise gets nearer they often reduce the price to sell out the spare cabins. There are quite a few tricks to play in this game and these boards is (are?) the place to find out about them.

 

Unless you are a big ship person I'd recommend you try the Prinsendam, most seem to love it. We are so glad to be back abord it in June.

 

I have a page at http://sturnidae.com/cruisers.htm which compares the small ships I have been on with links to other reviews. You can also read my blog on our Prinsendam trip at http://sturnidae.com/TOTWA/0.htm although to be honest it is more about the cruise than the ship.

 

A later blog is better, http://sturnidae.com/TOTW3/5.htm and on the next sea day gives my views on the Ocean Princess, what I like, what I don't like. So based on the knowledge that we like the Prinsendam more than the Ocean Princess it might give you an idea.

[LindaM]

We have cruised on Ocean Princess and Marco Polo as well as Zaandam and Prinsendam. We belong to the group who prefer the smaller ships as they are more friendly (not so vast that you never meet people again). Others prefer the bigger ships because there is more to do (rock climbing, para-gliding, you name it) and bigger names doing the entertainment. It is a question of choice. As others have pointed out costs tend be higher if shared by fewer people but price is also governed by what the market will bear. When a ship is popular and sells well there is no need to discount the price.

 

If you are interested in a particular cruise run a spread sheet on the prices and compare each month. As the cruise gets nearer they often reduce the price to sell out the spare cabins. There are quite a few tricks to play in this game and these boards is (are?) the place to find out about them.

 

Unless you are a big ship person I'd recommend you try the Prinsendam, most seem to love it. We are so glad to be back abord it in June.

 

I have a page at http://sturnidae.com/cruisers.htm which compares the small ships I have been on with links to other reviews. You can also read my blog on our Prinsendam trip at http://sturnidae.com/TOTWA/0.htm although to be honest it is more about the cruise than the ship.

 

A later blog is better, http://sturnidae.com/TOTW3/5.htm and on the next sea day gives my views on the Ocean Princess, what I like, what I don't like. So based on the knowledge that we like the Prinsendam more than the Ocean Princess it might give you an idea.

 

We sailed Ocean Princess in Sept, thinking she would be similar to Prinsendam. Not at all!! We have no desire to go back. Things that stand out were the plastic furniture on the back deck and the very unattractive staircases with layers of paint. The showlounge was not graduated, which made it difficult to see the stage! The food was excellent, however; the downfall not being able to get a hot room service breakfast.

[cruisetrail]

I have noticed that the prices for The Prinsendam cruises are much higher than on the other ships.I contacted Holland America and was told it is because The Prinsendam was bought from Silverseas,it is a smaller ship catering to "upscale"clientele,and offers "different" itineraries.:confused:

If anyone has travelled on Prinsendam as well as the other ships on HAL,can you tell me if the higher price is worth it,and why?

We had our first HAL cruise on The Noordam last summer and enjoyed it very much,but now are looking at a fall cruise on the Prinsendam.The itinerary is neither exotic, nor long,nor "different".

(And I'm not sure if we willingly fit into the "upscale" category....:p)

Thanks.

 

Higher operating cost of a smaller/older ship, higher price to maintain "premium" status.

We don't cruise for itineraries so we have no plans for the Prinsendam.

The Prinsendam is a nice ship but for us it's too small.

We prefer Signature class ships - still classy, romantic and with way better amenities = more comfortable.

[cruisetrail]

We sailed Ocean Princess in Sept, thinking she would be similar to Prinsendam. Not at all!!

 

Ocean Princess and Prinsendam cannot be similar - completely different design.

[jtl513]

oops - kazu already answered the question :p

[iancal]

The other side to that question is why are some HAL cruises priced so low?

 

We have seen 7 day HAL cruise prices as low as $499..... on the Eurodam and a few other HAL ships.

[RuthC]

Why Is The Prinsendam more expensive?

 

Because it's worth it. ;)

[kazu]

Why Is The Prinsendam more expensive?

 

Because it's worth it. ;)

 

Now that's the best answer of all:)

[rafinmd]

Why Is The Prinsendam more expensive?

 

Because it's worth it. ;)

 

Now that's the best answer of all:)

 

That makes 3 of us.

 

Roy

[Sir PMP]

"it is a smaller ship catering to "upscale"clientele"

 

It's the oldest ship with the oldest passengers...

[kazu]

"it is a smaller ship catering to "upscale"clientele"

 

It's the oldest ship with the oldest passengers...

 

Respectfully, I would disagree - all the passengers on this ship aren't old. (well, I guess it depends upon what you call old).

 

I did find many interesting people on our cruise last year and am sure we will meet more wonderful people this year.

 

I guess you are as old as you feel and think.

 

I'll turn 60 on the Elegant Explorer - is that old?

 

If it is, then yes they are old. If it isn't, I can assure you I won't be the youngest person on the ship in May;):D

[SwissMyst]

...........

 

I'll turn 60 on the Elegant Explorer - is that old?

 

If it is, then yes they are old. If it isn't, I can assure you I won't be the youngest person on the ship in May;):D

 

I will turn another decade more on the Elegant Explorer myself this September-- that for me is now statistically old..

 

I too look forward to meeting a very interesting group of seasoned passengers on this ship. And that means they will never be "old". Just made more interesting with each passing year.

 

Normally we ask for tables for two, but this time I am debating asking for open seating just so we can meet as many of this interesting group of fellow Prinsendam passengers as possible. Problem is being able to hear conversations in busy dining rooms across large tables - sigh, you mean I don't get to have it all at this next decade busting birthday?

[LindaM]

"it is a smaller ship catering to "upscale"clientele"

 

It's the oldest ship with the oldest passengers...

 

I think it depends on the itinerary. When we did the 14 day Alaska on Amsterdam, we were among the youngest onboard, at age 58. I would guess the average age to be 75 on that trip. One had to make sure to get a front seat on the bus( for shore excursions) as it would take forever for the elderly to get off. Don't bash me....I know that will be me someday!

 

The clientele on Prinsendam was most definitely younger. Prinsendam attracts a very well traveled group of all ages. People need to be pretty active to handle her unusual itineraries. The clientele wasn't necessarily upscale, but people who are educated and seriously value the travel experience.

[kazu]

I think it depends on the itinerary. When we did the 14 day Alaska on Amsterdam, we were among the youngest onboard, at age 58. I would guess the average age to be 75 on that trip. One had to make sure to get a front seat on the bus( for shore excursions) as it would take forever for the elderly to get off. Don't bash me....I know that will be me someday!

 

.[The clientele on Prinsendam was most definitely younger. Prinsendam attracts a very well traveled group of all ages. People need to be pretty active to handle her unusual itineraries. The clientele wasn't necessarily upscale, but people who are educated and seriously value the travel experience/QUOTE]

 

The bolding is mine - boy did you put that well Linda. That was my experience in 2011 (can't say last year anymore) and I suspect it will be this year as well. I know the majority of my private tours are determined to make the climb to the abbey at Mont Saint Michel. The Baltic portion is very heavy and everyone is ready to do it full tilt:D

[SwissMyst]

I think it depends on the itinerary. When we did the 14 day Alaska on Amsterdam, we were among the youngest onboard, at age 58. I would guess the average age to be 75 on that trip. One had to make sure to get a front seat on the bus( for shore excursions) as it would take forever for the elderly to get off. Don't bash me....I know that will be me someday!

 

.[The clientele on Prinsendam was most definitely younger. Prinsendam attracts a very well traveled group of all ages. People need to be pretty active to handle her unusual itineraries. The clientele wasn't necessarily upscale, but people who are educated and seriously value the travel experience/QUOTE]

 

The bolding is mine - boy did you put that well Linda. That was my experience in 2011 (can't say last year anymore) and I suspect it will be this year as well. I know the majority of my private tours are determined to make the climb to the abbey at Mont Saint Michel. The Baltic portion is very heavy and everyone is ready to do it full tilt:D

 

Looking at our itinerary Barcelona to Athens via the Black Sea - it is very port intensive with few at sea days. We know from past experience this makes intense physical demands by itinerary alone, so one does need to be fit to take full advantage of all the places we will visit -- including the chance to hike part of the Cinque Terre route from La Spezia.

[wander]

Part of the answer can be summed up by "economies of scale". The smaller the ship the more it generally costs to operate it per person. "Supply and demand" also applies as others have stated.

 

I Love the Prinsendam - worth the extra cost for me when the itinerary fits.

[jtl513]

(well, I guess it depends upon what you call old).

To me, old is always 10 years more than whatever I am! :cool:

[sapper1]

To me, old is always 10 years more than whatever I am! :cool:

 

Ain't it the truth!:D

[sofietucker]

Love, love, love the P-dam!

Why:Our OV stateroom was huge & comfy--even compared to our usual veranda cabins. Tons of light from the large window. Went to a lot of smaller ports the larger ships can't get in to. Most of our dinner companions at a table for 8 had been doing chunks of the world cruise & all had interesting stories (as well as being interesting themselves). Small enough that most tables got to dine with an officer now & again. People in general just seemed...nicer. We didn't observe any of the imperious/demanding/rude behavior that we've witnessed on every single other cruise (whether on HAL, Princess, Royal or Celebrity). The music was GREAT! The most well-stocked library of any ship we've seen. And agree with the comments about pax being fit and doing vigorous excursions (regardless of age--our tablemates ranged from 30s to 80s).

 

Other points, good or bad depending on your point of view: we didn't see a single child; one frequent poster in our roll call kept explaining that she chose the P-dam because she didn't like children. Because it's smaller, unlike the mega-ships you actually run into the same shipmates from time to time. Not so anonymous. And in rough seas, you feel it more--whee! (or Boo!)

[kazu]

Another thing that makes the Prinsendam special - all of the beds in most categories are King Size beds - (I think just a few interiors are the exception):)

 

Personally, I have found the ride in rough seas smoother on the prinsendam than the larger ships - go figure:)

[rafinmd]

Another thing that makes the Prinsendam special - all of the beds in most categories are King Size beds - (I think just a few interiors are the exception):)

 

Personally, I have found the ride in rough seas smoother on the prinsendam than the larger ships - go figure:)

 

Hull design can be a big factor. Recently QM2's Captain talked about the differences between cruise ships and ocean liners. One of the things he mentioned was that ocean liners widened more gradually as you went from the bow to midship, leaving less buoyancy for the bow to react violently as a wave approaches. RuthC talks about "cutting through the waves". I wonder if the Elegant Explorer is designed this way and could account for some of the ship's handling of rough seas.

 

Roy

[kazu]

Hull design can be a big factor. Recently QM2's Captain talked about the differences between cruise ships and ocean liners. One of the things he mentioned was that ocean liners widened more gradually as you went from the bow to midship, leaving less buoyancy for the bow to react violently as a wave approaches. RuthC talks about "cutting through the waves". I wonder if the Elegant Explorer is designed this way and could account for some of the ship's handling of rough seas.

 

Roy

 

I watched her last time and she does 'cut into the seas'. I was shocked when the captain reported the size of the waves as I honestly wouldn't have had a clue until he said - so I went to watch and indeed I do think she cuts through the waves (I've stolen Ruth C;'s expression on occasion:o)

[Vict0riann]

IMHO, an important factor in the Prinsendam's popularity would be that because of her smaller size, she can dock where other, larger ships have to tender their passengers in. Tendering can be a real nuisance, don't you think?

[kazu]

IMHO, an important factor in the Prinsendam's popularity would be that because of her smaller size, she can dock where other, larger ships have to tender their passengers in. Tendering can be a real nuisance, don't you think?

 

Very true - she docked at a tender port last year:D:D Captain announced that he regretted there would be no tenders today - we would have to walk off the ship - LOL:D

[Kay240]

DH and I recently had our first Prisendam cruise for the 14 day Caribbean Holiday. We had a LARGE INSIDE cabin; I could find NO INFORMATION ANYWHERE online about these larger cabins (Promenade Deck: I 228, 230, 232 and 234). I sent photos to Joanie when we returned, but they were not included in her recent update, so maybe she never received them. These inside cabins have the typical side-by-side bed configuration; the other Inside cabins only have enough space for beds which are perpendicular to each other. We had NO WALK-IN CLOSET and we had, what we think is the SMALLEST BATHROOM (it did have a tub) we have ever seen on a ship.

 

We loved the location; we were directly above the dining room and could practically roll out of bed and into breakfast! Almost everything was located on that deck: the movie theatre, Showroom of the Seas, Front Desk, stores, casino and Explorers' Cafe (Library and computers). What we liked the most was Rosario Strings who played almost outside our cabin; they were so wonderful and, if we didn't have to walk right by them, we had to walk within listening distance!

 

We had heard such wonderful comments about the Prisendam, but apparently there were things we did not find out until it was too late. We were enjoying the Rosario Strings on the last Formal (lobster) Night when a couple who we had never met informed us they just had "all the lobster you can eat" at the Lido! I questioned that on CC and was told it was a "Prisendam only" selection, as is the King Crab Legs at lunch time (also in the Lido). I am wondering if some of the unusual sundaes I ate are also "special" for the Prisendam cruisers. BTW, altho we went to several "different ports", it was still necessary to Tender- a lot.