SO....Why did it take until this summer for everyone to see it???!!!

[sail7seas]

I've been spouting for years about how wonderful the Maasdam is....how beautiful, what a wonderful crew and all the rest we love about her.

FINALLY, the HAL CC'ers are 'seeing the light' and seeing what I have known for years!!!

IMO, she is ONE of the best ships in the Fleet!!!

I'm happy to share "MY" :) Maasdam with all who appreciate her. ;)

[esther e]

She's "Mine." But I'll share with you!!!!!

Esther

[sail7seas]

:) We must play nicely.......but, did you claim her as Yours :) from the day of her Inaugural Parties?

 

Yup.....I Did!!! She made the crossing from the boatyard, brand, shiny new and we were invited aboard when she arrived in Boston for a wonderful show with Billy Joel and a great dinner. Once DH and I saw that beautiful ship, I claimed her as Mine!!! Way back in the beginning of her happy sailing days!!!

[babyher]

Sail,

 

I think it is because of all your many posts, that people finally gave The Maasdam a try.

 

You don't have to be around this board too long to know how much you love this ship, and the way you describe it and its crew made it seem very attractive.

 

I must admit I have never really thought much about a NE/Canada cruise but your posts , as well as many others here have piqued my interested.

 

You are truly a trailblazer *LOL*

 

One could say that you are "The Grande Dame of DAM"

(so to speak)*LOL* :)

[Randyk47]

My vote is for the smaller S class HAL ships no matter which one. Sailed on the Ryndam on her 4th revenue trip, honeymooned on her 5 years later and still prefer her over the Vista class. Having taken the Oosterdam a year ago we're really looking forward to the Volendam next year. As I understand it the Volendam is kind of a stretched out S class so it will be interesting to compare our experiences. Even nicer will be, assuming HAL sticks to the schedule, the Volendam will only be a few weeks out of dry dock.

[sail7seas]

Sail,

 

I think it is because of all your many posts, that people finally gave The Maasdam a try.

 

You don't have to be around this board too long to know how much you love this ship, and the way you describe it and its crew made it seem very attractive.

 

I must admit I have never really thought much about a NE/Canada cruise but your posts , as well as many others here have piqued my interested.

 

You are truly a trailblazer *LOL*

 

One could say that you are "The Grande Dame of DAM"

(so to speak)*LOL* :)

 

 

 

Your post makes me feel soooo good. If things I have written have urged people to think about cruising Maasdam and Canada/New England when they had not previously considered it.....I'm happy.

I'm happy because I know how great it is and I want loads of other people to have the pleasure of enjoying it as much as we do.

A trailblazer.....hmmmmm, I like that, too.

 

[gizmo]

Randy,

 

I am sure you will love the Volendam. I have sailed on this ship many times.

 

You will not notice many differences, but the main one is the center bank of elevators and stairs.

 

Another difference is the casino bar. The Ryndam's bar is completely different. It is in the casino. This is hard to explain but the Volendam's spans between the casino and the jewelry store.

[lka1012]

I like the Maasdam too, but then I also like the Volendam, Zaandam and the Amsterdam. Heck I like all those "dam" ships I have sailed on.

[RevNeal]

MY dam ship is the Volendam ... :)

But I DO love the Maasdam. I've cruised aboard her twice, and both times it was a true pleasure. I would not hesitate to cruise aboard her again if the itinerary were right and my schedule were to enable it.

[kryos]

I like the Maasdam too, but then I also like the Volendam, Zaandam and the Amsterdam. Heck I like all those "dam" ships I have sailed on.

I can't wait to sail the Amsterdam next January! I have a DVD sitting here on my desk ... from HAL ... normally sent out to travel agents ... that profiles all of the HAL ships. It's a bit dated, but every time I watch the film about the Amsterdam and Rotterdam (co-flagships of the fleet ... Amsterdam being touted as being new ... that's how I know this DVD is dated), I get all excited and January just can't come fast enough! I really like the smaller ships, and thus far the Rotterdam, which I took my first cruise on, is still be all-time favorite!

 

Maybe I'll sail Sail's Maasdam one of these days, though. :)

 

But if she doesn't mind, I might lay claim on the Amsterdam. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[babyher]

Sail,

 

i am just in awe of folks like you and KK and sveral others here who have been on so many wonderful cruises and love hearing all your stories.

 

I have only been on week long Carribean cruises (and loved them) as well as land based vacations in Europe and The Carribean.

 

Never really though about NE, Canada, The Baltics, Alaska.

Always been of the mind set vacations are "fun in the sun":)

 

I guess as I get older (I'm 42), I am broadening my hozizons. *LOL* And between that and reading all the wonderful posts by yourself and so many others here, I really do want to venture out to these places.

 

I already know I love cruiseing, so what better way to see them?

 

By the way if they don't already have a bust of you on the Maasdam next to Queen Beatrix .........They should:)

 

I bet you have sailed HAL many more times than she has *LOL*

[LizB1]

:) We must play nicely.......but, did you claim her as Yours :) from the day of her Inaugural Parties?

 

Yup.....I Did!!! She made the crossing from the boatyard, brand, shiny new and we were invited aboard when she arrived in Boston for a wonderful show with Billy Joel and a great dinner. Once DH and I saw that beautiful ship, I claimed her as Mine!!! Way back in the beginning of her happy sailing days!!!

 

Sail...we were also at her Inaugural Parties, dinner, etc. and sailed overnight that first night she was in Boston. She was a lovely ship then, and we have enjoyed her many times since. I just wish they had put her in drydock before our long cruise. However, we plan on enjoying the Maasdam as always and just hope for calm seas along our North Atlantic route.

 

Next to the Rotterdam she is our favorite!

[Time2sail]

I can't wait to sail the Amsterdam next January! I have a DVD sitting here on my desk ... from HAL ... normally sent out to travel agents ... that profiles all of the HAL ships. It's a bit dated, but every time I watch the film about the Amsterdam and Rotterdam (co-flagships of the fleet ... Amsterdam being touted as being new ... that's how I know this DVD is dated), I get all excited and January just can't come fast enough! I really like the smaller ships, and thus far the Rotterdam, which I took my first cruise on, is still be all-time favorite!

 

Maybe I'll sail Sail's Maasdam one of these days, though. :)

 

But if she doesn't mind, I might lay claim on the Amsterdam. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

The Amsterdam is elegant, beautiful and wonderful--you will enjoy every moment of your cruise on her. I don't know what all is planned for her during the drydock but she was just about perfect on our cruise. Just needed some drain cleaning to get rid of a very unpleasant (:() smell in those; otherwise, she deserves her flagship status. We will sail her again to some of the ports she will visit in 2006.

 

Hope your cruise is perfect, too.:)

[sail7seas]

Sail...we were also at her Inaugural Parties, dinner, etc. and sailed overnight that first night she was in Boston. She was a lovely ship then, and we have enjoyed her many times since. I just wish they had put her in drydock before our long cruise. However, we plan on enjoying the Maasdam as always and just hope for calm seas along our North Atlantic route.

 

Next to the Rotterdam she is our favorite!

 

What a fun evening that was!! I remember it well.

We, too, were invited to stay aboard for the night and a cabin had been reserved for us. Unfortunately, DH was not able to do that. Had to be in his office the next day.....(a Saturday).

 

Do you remember the mamouth traffic jams created that Friday night when city workers went on strike and blocked the tunnels, bridge, messed up traffic all over the city? It was all we could do to get to the ship. They had said no gangway after a certain time but when they heard what trouble people were having driving there, they kept the gangway open.

I hope you have a wonderful time on Maasdam, Liz. Enjoy every minute aboard that pretty ship.

[sail7seas]

By the way if they don't already have a bust of you on the Maasdam next to Queen Beatrix .........They should:)

 

I bet you have sailed HAL many more times than she has *LOL*

 

 

 

How fun would that be!!! I'd be 'insufferable' :D "Hanging" out with Royalty. Imagine that!!! :cool:

 

 

Yes, I suppose we have been on HAL a great deal more than the Queen. But, I guess she is very busy and otherwise occupied. :)

[babyher]

How fun would that be!!! I'd be 'insufferable' :D "Hanging" out with Royalty. Imagine that!!! :cool:

 

 

Yes, I suppose we have been on HAL a great deal more than the Queen. But, I guess she is very busy and otherwise occupied. :)

 

Oh yes I am sure she is very busy with work and all, and only has two weeks vacation a year and can only cruise when the kids are out of school *LOL*

[Krazy Kruizers]

Our first HAL cruise was in 1996 on the Maasdam - Baltic.

And have sailed on her several times since then.

[esther e]

:) We must play nicely.......but, did you claim her as Yours :) from the day of her Inaugural Parties?

 

Yup.....I Did!!! She made the crossing from the boatyard, brand, shiny new and we were invited aboard when she arrived in Boston for a wonderful show with Billy Joel and a great dinner. Once DH and I saw that beautiful ship, I claimed her as Mine!!! Way back in the beginning of her happy sailing days!!!

 

You win! But can I have a small piece of her!!! Pretty please??????

Esther

[sail7seas]

You win! But can I have a small piece of her!!! Pretty please??????

Esther

 

 

Of course I'll share, Esther. I'll happily share that pretty ship with anyone who 'treats her kindly'. :)

 

[Druke I]

It appears that I am in the minority - but I think the old Westerdam (now Costa something) was much better designed than the Maasdam.

 

What the architect was thinking when he put in those escalators is beyond me. Totally the wrong location. They should have been near the movie theater, so you could get above and to the dining room without doubling back to the forward elevators. The ship really needs a midships elevator bank (added to the follow-on class of ships).

 

I don't think Maasdam a very good rider in rough seas. West of the Azores, 11-95, in a storm, water entered the hawsepipe (anchor chainway), and flooded some dozen cabins forward on Main Deck. Luckily, they had vacant cabins to which we could be moved. I've been on other ships in similar storms, and they rode better. Royal Princess comes to mind as one - but she had a much finer hull length/beam ratio than does Maasdam.

 

On a positive note, Maasdam is much better designed (my opinion) than the old Noordam and her sister Nieuw Amsterdam.

[JoyAnn]

My first cruise ever was on the Maasdam. That hooked hubby and me on HAL.

 

I've been spouting for years about how wonderful the Maasdam is....how beautiful, what a wonderful crew and all the rest we love about her.

 

FINALLY, the HAL CC'ers are 'seeing the light' and seeing what I have known for years!!!

 

IMO, she is ONE of the best ships in the Fleet!!!

 

I'm happy to share "MY" :) Maasdam with all who appreciate her. ;)

 

[Dog Mommie]

Sail,

 

My dh and I will be on her late Sept. this year for the first time. In truth, this is a kind of make it or break it cruise for us...we loved our 1st. HAL cruise on the Rotterdam. So much, in fact, that we declared we had finally found "OUR" cruise line!

 

Then came the Zuiderdam. I could never have imagined a more reverse experience in all my cruising days!!!:eek:

 

So, this cruise will, hopefully, let us know that the cruise from hell was just a fluke and not that the Rotterdam was a one time only experience for us!;)

[peaches from georgia]

We liked the Maasdam a lot, much more than the Oosterdam, which we have no desire to repeat.

 

But we loved the Volendam and Rotterdam. Those mid-ship elevators make all the difference in the world on on the liveability and convenience of life on board. Our favorite decor was the Volendam by far.

[obriendan]

We've been twice on the Ryndam, and Zuiderdam, once on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Volendam. We like the S class best.

 

Now we'll be on the Maasdam in only 22 days!

[sail7seas]

We've been twice on the Ryndam, and Zuiderdam, once on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Volendam. We like the S class best.

 

Now we'll be on the Maasdam in only 22 days!

 

 

Happy for you. Hope you have a wonderful time.