Our Christmas and New year's cruise on the Oosterdam

[tompaddyelle]

We have just returned from our 14 day cruise on the Oosterdam.

Before going on our cruise I found it very difficult to find any first hand information on this ship so I thought that I would do a day by day (well as close as I can) review of our cruise.

 

We were a group of 8 on this cruise consisting of myself (46), DH (45), DS (20), DD(16), DS (12), DS friend (19), my mother (81) and my niece (25). As you can see we covered all ages :)

 

This was the 3rd cruise for my DH and myself, the 2nd for my children and the first for my mum and niece.

 

Will start my review tomorrow when I figure our how to post photos :o

 

 

 

[Cruise_me_Crazy]

We have just returned from our 14 day cruise on the Oosterdam.

Before going on our cruise I found it very difficult to find any first hand information on this ship so I thought that I would do a day by day (well as close as I can) review of our cruise.

 

We were a group of 8 on this cruise consisting of myself (46), DH (45), DS (20), DD(16), DS (12), DS friend (19), my mother (81) and my niece (25). As you can see we covered all ages :)

 

This was the 3rd cruise for my DH and myself, the 2nd for my children and the first for my mum and niece.

 

Will start my review tomorrow when I figure our how to post photos :o

 

 

 

 

 

YAYYYYYY :) love pics & love reviews. Bring it on please.

 

 

:p & don't forget to mention some bogans, whingers (any nationality is fine ;)) & please include a tipping / gratuity story. That should keep us all enthralled! Go easy on the truth and liberal with embellishments !!!:D HA HA HA

[cruiselover53]

We are on the Oosterdam on 30 March so I'm looking forward to this.

[bazzaw]

I hope they don't say that they are never going with Holland America again!! ???

 

Barry

[MicCanberra]

We have just returned from our 14 day cruise on the Oosterdam.

Before going on our cruise I found it very difficult to find any first hand information on this ship so I thought that I would do a day by day (well as close as I can) review of our cruise.

 

We were a group of 8 on this cruise consisting of myself (46), DH (45), DS (20), DD(16), DS (12), DS friend (19), my mother (81) and my niece (25). As you can see we covered all ages :)

 

This was the 3rd cruise for my DH and myself, the 2nd for my children and the first for my mum and niece.

 

Will start my review tomorrow when I figure our how to post photos :o

 

 

 

I look forward to reading of your adventures. :D

[MMDown Under]

We have just returned from our 14 day cruise on the Oosterdam.

Before going on our cruise I found it very difficult to find any first hand information on this ship so I thought that I would do a day by day (well as close as I can) review of our cruise.

 

We were a group of 8 on this cruise consisting of myself (46), DH (45), DS (20), DD(16), DS (12), DS friend (19), my mother (81) and my niece (25). As you can see we covered all ages :)

 

This was the 3rd cruise for my DH and myself, the 2nd for my children and the first for my mum and niece.

 

Will start my review tomorrow when I figure our how to post photos :o

 

 

 

 

I look forward to reading your review, because, as you say, there isn't much local information available on cruises on this ship. Your large family group certainly covered all ages.

 

If you can't figure out how to post photos, you could just do a review, if you wish.

[cruiselover53]

I hope they don't say that they are never going with Holland America again!! ???

 

It's a risk so if it's bad I'll just look at the photos.Would you not go on a cruise because of a bad review or judge it yourself.

[rkmw]

I hope they don't say that they are never going with Holland America again!! ???

 

It's a risk so if it's bad I'll just look at the photos.Would you not go on a cruise because of a bad review or judge it yourself.

 

i wouldnt worry about a review, what one person doesnt like you might enjoy....you have to try it out for yourself

 

when Carnival Spirit came out here some people didnt like it and a lot love the ship

[cruiselover53]

 

i wouldnt worry about a review, what one person doesnt like you might enjoy....you have to try it out for yourself

 

when Carnival Spirit came out here some people didnt like it and a lot love the ship

 

 

That's what I'm saying.I'm interested because I will be cruising on her shortly.I love reading the reviews good or bad and I particularly enjoy seeing photos of the ship.:)

[Wastegirl]

I've been on the Ooosterdam twice and will be again on the March 30 cruise. Loved the ship. Was it perfect - no, but what cruise ship is - but loved the staff, unlimited laundry, the promenade deck and the whole ambience of the ship. Not one for those that are adrenalin junkies and paaaaartying but for my DH and I, perfect.

 

Looking forward to the Century which seems to have a similar ambience from what we see on line but a little trepidatious of our Solstice trip, but one must expand one's horizons :D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

We have had 3 cruises with HAL, Amsterdam 2003, Statendam 2005 ,and then a B2B on Rotterdam in 2008. Just on a 100 days in total with HAL , so I will look forward to hearing about what they are like these days.

 

If you are wanting to post photos you will need to upload them to a hosting site such as Photobucket, TinyPic etc , ...theres heaps more on google ...and they are free. They will give you a URL for posting on message boards..the URl will have .

If you waant to test posting photos there is a section on CC where you can do some trial posting if you wish.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=118

[MicCanberra]

We have had 3 cruises with HAL, Amsterdam 2003, Statendam 2005 ,and then a B2B on Rotterdam in 2008. Just on a 100 days in total with HAL , so I will look forward to hearing about what they are like these days.

 

If you are wanting to post photos you will need to upload them to a hosting site such as Photobucket, TinyPic etc , ...theres heaps more on google ...and they are free. They will give you a URL for posting on message boards..the URl will have .

If you waant to test posting photos there is a section on CC where you can do some trial posting if you wish.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=118

So that is the secret, I have been posting thumbnails.:D

[MicCanberra]

I've been on the Ooosterdam twice and will be again on the March 30 cruise. Loved the ship. Was it perfect - no, but what cruise ship is - but loved the staff, unlimited laundry, the promenade deck and the whole ambience of the ship. Not one for those that are adrenalin junkies and paaaaartying but for my DH and I, perfect.

 

Looking forward to the Century which seems to have a similar ambience from what we see on line but a little trepidatious of our Solstice trip, but one must expand one's horizons :D

The Solstice is a lovely ship, you will love her as well.:D

[yatchet]

So that is the secret, I have been posting thumbnails.:D

Sure is, like this!

 

 

Don't forget to resize to 800/600 or you need to walk across the room to view them.:D

 

Alaska BTW.

Edited January 7, 2014 by yatchet

[aussielozzie18]

Awesome photo! I think I need to put Alaska on my bucket list.

[K-Roo-Zers]

Only ever done one HAL cruise and that was two years ago on the Nieuw Amsterdam which we loved.

 

We have considered Oosterdam before, so we, too, cannot wait to see the pics and drool!

 

Bring it on.

 

Nicki

[bazzaw]

I've been on the Ooosterdam twice and will be again on the March 30 cruise. Loved the ship. Was it perfect - no, but what cruise ship is - but loved the staff, unlimited laundry, the promenade deck and the whole ambience of the ship. Not one for those that are adrenalin junkies and paaaaartying but for my DH and I, perfect.

 

Looking forward to the Century which seems to have a similar ambience from what we see on line but a little trepidatious of our Solstice trip, but one must expand one's horizons :D

 

Elise

 

I am interested in your good reference to the Promenade Deck (Do you mean the outside Promenade?) . I am an aficionado of Promenade Decks and consider them to be one of the prime determinants of what makes a good cruiseship :) http://ukagain2010.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/thats-not-promenade.html

 

What did you like about Oosterdam's Promenade deck?

 

 

Barry

[rkmw]

someone posted on facebook that the Oosterdam had the noro virus on the xmas cruise

[tompaddyelle]

someone posted on facebook that the Oosterdam had the noro virus on the xmas cruise

 

yep it did but we managed to avoid that. :)

 

Just need to eat dinner and then I will get to the review. :)

[tompaddyelle]

Sunday the 22nd December rolled around and let me say we had a very excited household. :p

 

We had booked a mini van to take all of us to White Bay.

 

When we got to the port this is what we saw.

 

we quickly got our bags out and some of headed off

 

We took awhile to work out how to carry the cartons of soft drink and wine brought with us.

 

We were lucky to be on the last sailing that allowed unlimited wine to be brought on board.

 

We just stuck a luggage tag to the carton and it was delivered to our room.

Brilliant!

[tompaddyelle]

So here are some of the gang I travelled with

 

 

Dropping off our luggage was very easy. It was right in front before you entered the terminal.

 

 

 

We then went inside joined the queue and were quickly on board our home for the next fourteen days.

 

A very elegant ship I think.

 

[erewhon]

Thanks for beginning this review of your Oosterdam cruise.

 

Looking forward to your next instalment.

[MicCanberra]

Sure is, like this!

 

 

Don't forget to resize to 800/600 or you need to walk across the room to view them.:D

 

Alaska BTW.

 

Great photo, loved Canada and Alaska and the mountains that never stop.:D

[MicCanberra]

Wow, a lot of drinks but then it is a big group and it was for 14 days.

Loving the photos/review so far, keep it coming.:D

Edited January 7, 2014 by MicCanberra

[tompaddyelle]

Once on board we headed for our cabins. We booked three interior cabins on deck 5.

We chose to do this as we are never in our cabins unless we are changing clothes or sleeping. :)

 

We found the cabins to be small but well set out. We weren't expecting anything more than we got so we were very happy.

 

The beds on the Oosterdam were sublime! They were so comfortable and I slept extremely well every night.

 

Here are a few (albeit poor) photos of one of our cabins.