Prinsendam Trip Report

[Vict0riann]

We are just back from 44 days on Prinsendam, an amazing cruise. I can't be as funny or interestingly grouchy as Whogo, and we have arrived back to utter chaos in our "new" townhouse. The contractor is coming in to see us in a couple of hours and I'm awake early, so I thought I would at least make a start on this.

 

We left here late September, had a day in Toronto with our daughter, and then we all travelled on to Athens, where we spent 4 hot and interesting days. We walked everywhere, didn't even ride the HOHO. Cathy had downloaded an amazing bunch of "city maps to go" and her phone followed us wherever we went. We did manage to lose DH on the Acropolis one day, and we eventually just went back to the hotel, and he turned up later. Should have had a GPS on him!:eek:

 

Prinsendam welcomed us in Piraeus. It was like coming home. We had sailed on her before, an ill-fated cruise with almost the same itinerary as we were taking this time. Prinsendam had turned into a "plague ship" and noro ran rampant. No fun, but we decided to give the old gal another chance. Second time's the charm! We had major changes to the itinerary, as all the Turkish stops were removed, and eventually the Black Sea was changed to the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. We were happy with the changes, there were beautiful new ports I had never seen in Italy, Slovenia, Albania, etc.

 

But mainly I started this to post a few photos I took of the ship. She had had a dry dock a few months before and I'm not sure what they did to her, but she was looking very spiffy. The new closed-in addition to the Lido worked well for the Canaletto, but didn't seem to have as good air conditioning; occasionally someone would set the doors to "open" from the Lido Market and that would help. We ate 4 or 5 times in Canaletto and liked the new menu better than the first we had, but I think the "new" menu actually was the same as a previous menu.

 

We also had dinner a few times in the Pinnacle, and we went to 2 of the 3 Cellar Master's dinners. All very good. Cathy never wanted to eat in the dining room, so we ate most of our meals in the Lido Market, and they were quite good. I missed not having anchovies with my lunchtime salads. I mentioned this on a later roll call thread, and was made a gift at their M & G of a tin of anchovies! Made my day:D

 

The crew were all amazing, and we loved them all. When we did eat in the MDR we felt the stewards were rushed, but in the Lido they were able to chat.

 

I'll switch over to Tapatalk on my iPad now.

[AV8rix]

The crew were all amazing, and we loved them all. When we did eat in the MDR we felt the stewards were rushed, but in the Lido they were able to chat.

 

That's an interesting obeservation. I had the same feeling on my September cruise on Maasdam -- early fixed seating. I believe that it's because they've "compressed" the time between early and late seatings and the stewards really are rushed. I felt quite sorry for our wonderful stewards, who were obviously struggling to do their best despite the new constraints. I did comment on this on the post-cruise survey.

 

Looking forward to your further postings about this cruise. Your reviews are always terrific.

[Vict0riann]

I'm out of practice so probably will be slow posting the photos. Between us, Pat and I took around 4,000 pictures, so it is taking me an age to go through them.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

 

That was our first room, on the Lower Promenade deck, and the next is Cathy's room next door.

 

 

 

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[easyboy]

Looking forward to more of your review, and photos.

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

The atrium, with the glass "beam-me-up-Scotty" tube.

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

We never got a chance to sail on the Prinsendam so I appreciate you sharing pictures of her.

[taxmantoo]

Enjoying the pics so far Ann. Glad you, Pat and your daughter had a nice time together.

Good luck with the condo !

[Lizzie68]

Great to see you doing a review, and looking forward to more - and photos!:)

[lazey1]

I willl be on the Prinsendam for the first time next month. Thank you so much for all the photos that you can share. The cabins are lovely. I would love to know what the cabin numbers are.

[kazu]

Oh Ann, welcome home :)

 

So glad you had a good cruise and enjoyed the P'dam.

 

Your pictures are wonderful - you're doing a great job.

 

Can't wait for more posts :)

[mame42]

Welcome home, Ann and Pat. Your pictures are fabulous; I hope to get to sail on her someday. Maybe 2018?

[Vict0riann]

Thanks for the welcome homes!:) We're happy to be back.

 

Lazey1, our cabin was 252, Cathy's was 254. The funny thing was, ours was more than 3 feet longer than hers, we had a full bathtub/shower, she just had a little corner shower. I think our walk-in closets were about the same size. We were quite far forward, lots of ship's noises, especially if we were anchored, and we were right under the Showroom at Sea, so we heard all the shows multiple times!:eek: But we were very comfortable, as always.

 

For the Transatlantic we moved to a balcony (204) far aft, which was great, except for the paper-thin walls, and we heard our neighbours' TV playing all day, and them talking over it. There, too, we felt we couldn't complain, because they only turned it on after 7 a.m., and turned it off before midnight.

 

When we moved from one room to the other in Civitavecchia, I had nothing planned for the day, because I thought we would have to give over most of the morning to the move. When we went to breakfast we told our room steward that everything was packed except the hanging stuff, and they could come in and strip the room for the next passengers, and we would find them when our next room was ready. After breakfast, we went to the Front Office to see about timing, and we were given our new room key cards! So we went to see if the room was ready, and we couldn't get in, so we assumed it wasn't ready yet. Our new room steward saw us and said we could go in, so he let us in, and there was all our luggage on the bed, and our hanging clothes nicely in the closet!:)

[kftw]

Enjoying your review & looking forward to the next installment. Thank you for sharing.

[Vict0riann]

We'll be heading out in a bit to look at some plumbing stuff, but I'll try to post a few more pictures. How about a bit of food porn. On Venice night we had a feast out on the Lido deck. We were ate back on board, so I didn't get any early photos, but it was lovely, with all our servers dressed up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

The Main Dining Room

 

 

 

 

And the "Annex" of the MDR, which was where they seated people with fixed dining times. We found the MDR very noisy. The ceiling is low and the acoustics are bad. It was quieter last time in the Annex!

 

 

 

 

 

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[rkacruiser]

My dining experience on the Prinsendam was in the "annex". Initially, I was concerned if I would feel like a "second class" guest. No way! It was a wonderful venue to enjoy a good dinner, with good service, and without the hub-bub and noise of the MDR.

 

Your photos of the Ocean Bar brings good memories. Lots of pleasant evenings spent there. And, the photos of the Atrium was where the main Christmas Tree and decorations were located. On sailing day, our Christmas/New Year's cruise festivities began here: carols, tree lighting, Hot Chocolate, and Christmas cookies. The Prinsendam's Staff provided an excellent start for a holiday cruise.

[KNOT2L82SAIL]

Oh my.... This is the first for photos of the lovely P ship. At least, first for me. Those cabins.... WOW. The other photos, she is a beautiful ship. Thank you for sharing,... and looking forward to more photos. :)

[Vict0riann]

The Lido Market and Garden Room area where they have the Canaletto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

And just in case you think I'm fixated on food, some photos of the Pinnacle Grill!

 

 

 

 

 

And how you have your salad prepared and your wine poured in the PG!

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

Oh, and I forgot - Dutch treats in the Lido Market for breakfast every day!

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Oh my.... This is the first for photos of the lovely P ship. At least, first for me. Those cabins.... WOW. The other photos, she is a beautiful ship. Thank you for sharing,... and looking forward to more photos. :)

 

She is a pretty little ship. Unlike other HAL ships, most cabins have a little "hallway" before you enter the cabin itself. It really helps with noise and adds a little personal space. (Suites are different of course).

 

Ann, your pictures are SO good. Bringing back lots of memories and making me very envious.

 

But do post more - so nice :)

[rkacruiser]

VictOriann,

 

Thanks for your photos. From what I saw, the Prinsendam has "upped her game" from even my most satisfactory experience during this last last year's Christmas/New Year's Cruise.

 

The Winter Garden addition aft of the Lido Restaurant is a really pleasant place to have breakfast.

[KirkNC]

Glad to see they still have the live orchids in Lido, that's really a nice touch. On our TA this spring we ate breakfast in the Canaletto section often, very nice. We have never eaten in the annex, I have always thought it gets a lot of foot traffic but understand it is quieter.

[Vict0riann]

Just a few more odds and ends....

 

We had a sailaway get together mainly to discuss tours because the M&G wouldn't be until 5 days into the cruise. We met after muster, by the aft seaview pool (which I have to admit I never found again! You have to find your way through the spa.). And there was a good crowd, so when the actual M&G happened, we already had friends. I had set up 3 M&G's, with the assistance of Kazu (thank you, Jacqui). The first we had 85 signed up; about 70 showed up, which was nice. We had 2/3 of the Crow's Nest; the next we had the whole of the Crow's Nest and over 100 of 120 came. The third (the TA) we had about 80 out of 100. I was informed by the Special Events manager that they had been told not to attend any Cruise Critic functions - I invited officers anyway, but no one came, except the Beverage Manager, who was great and very friendly, organizing the "parties".

 

The spa hallway and gym -

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

The Explorers Lounge

 

 

Java Cafe - which is also the bar for the Explorers Lounge and the Casino

 

 

The casino

 

 

 

The library

 

 

 

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