Original MS Amsterdam Promotional Video

[curtdesilets]

This is kind of fun. Oh Boy, did we dress up back then! From 2000. Enjoy!

 

[rkacruiser]

Enjoy? I did! Thank you for this link!

 

Captain van Zaane is still at the helm although on Nieuw Amsterdam.

 

Terra Cotta Soldiers art shown are on Rotterdam VI and not Amsterdam.

 

Not hard to note the difference in the uniforms of the hotel staff, but their excellent service remains, as shown.

 

A Hostess was interviewed. That is a long retired position!

 

I never knew that the Astrolabe played any music at anytime. Does it still and was I ignorant of this feature?

 

Amsterdam is a fine vessel and my July, 2018 cruise aboard her only re-confirmed my opinion.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

It was interesting to see all the moving pieces of the Astrolabe when the ship first entered service. My understanding is that it no longer is a functioning timepiece and is merely decorative, as maintenance became very difficult, which is a shame.

 

I also was unaware that the Amsterdam has an Azipod propulsion system. Are all the R-class vessels this way, or is she the only one?

[rkacruiser]

It was interesting to see all the moving pieces of the Astrolabe when the ship first entered service. My understanding is that it no longer is a functioning timepiece and is merely decorative, as maintenance became very difficult, which is a shame.

 

I also was unaware that the Amsterdam has an Azipod propulsion system. Are all the R-class vessels this way, or is she the only one?

 

It's my understanding that Amsterdam was the first vessel of the fleet that had Azipods.

 

Rotterdam VI was unofficially named before she was officially named as "Fastdam". Not sure how her top speed that can be achieved with her conventional system compares to the Amsterdam's.

[RuthC]

Lovely video. Thanks for posting it. Best spent 15 minutes of my day today.

[aliaschief]

Those were the days my friends! Thanks for sharing these wonderful memories of cruising.

[Scrapnana]

It was interesting to see all the moving pieces of the Astrolabe when the ship first entered service. My understanding is that it no longer is a functioning timepiece and is merely decorative, as maintenance became very difficult, which is a shame.

 

I also was unaware that the Amsterdam has an Azipod propulsion system. Are all the R-class vessels this way, or is she the only one?

The Astrolabe does not work as it once did. However, the bells do ring from time to time. It was nice to see what it was built to do.

 

Enjoyed the video.

[IslandThyme]

Thanks for that! I'll soon be on the Amsterdam for 89 days and I hope she's still that beautiful. Too bad about the astrolabe - I got really excited about seeing that at work.

[madera1]

Enjoyed viewing. Thank you for sharing.

 

 

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[eswn]

When I was on the Amsterdam in 2011 and 2012, the astrolabe worked. Still hoping to return. Thanks for the video!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for sharing the video -- wonderful.

Brought back lots of memories -- we first sailed on her in 2001.

Those were the days.

[frankc98376]

Wow! Thank you so much! Brought a big smile and a few tears.

 

Brought back some wonderful memories of days that are sadly long gone now.

[OlsSalt]

Thanks for passing this on. When the appearance of formal was truly formal, and cruise director who encouraged leaving the balcony door open. But like most cruise marketing efforts, I suspect these were hired actors costumed for effect. And a darn good one.

[Sir PMP]

This is kind of fun. Oh Boy, did we dress up back then! From 2000. Enjoy!

 

 

Great, I was there, in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, we ran out of onions, so we and other passengers went shopping with chef Robert Hendricks for onions, it was a Sunday but we found them..

[Queen of Adventure]

That was fun! Leaving for Alaska on the MS Amsterdam in 6 days... this was the perfect anticipatory activity :D

[cruzingnut]

Oh, that was great! Thanks for posting the link! We sailed from FLL to Rome in 2001 on her on a 16 day transatlantic. A good number of those "first port visit" plaques were from that trip. Brings back memories watching this of how it used to be although much looks the same as it does now. Anyone else remember the Java Bar with the free cappucino? The Java Bar was in the area where the wine bar is now (across from the theater).

 

 

 

The Astrolabe does still work, to an extent, but not like it used to with all the parts whirling around. Be there at 4PM in the afternoon when it still plays a different song each day. I never did count how many there were but there are a few at least.

 

 

 

The Amsterdam is my favorite ship with 589 of my HAL days spent on her. :)

 

 

Linda R.

[Moriah]

So much fun watching this!! I board the Amsterdam on August 12, and while I know it's not going to look exactly the same as it did 18 years go, this video made me feel great!

[rkacruiser]

cruzingnut,

 

Yes, I do remember the Java Bar and the good coffees. That area is one that has been poorly utilized once the Java Bar concept became history. I've never seen any activity at the "Wine Bar" that replaced the Java Bar.

[djhsolara]

Wow. White-gloved stewards took you to your stateroom? That’s impressive.

 

 

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[HUNKY]

Jan Brehm's Youtube channel has some other gems. Loved the Bruce Jenner and Ultimate Gym one!

 

Sad to see the Twin Towers in a background shot.

[frankc98376]

Wow. White-gloved stewards took you to your stateroom? That’s impressive.

 

 

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I remember this well. Also remember the reception line when you stepped onto the ship led by a woman if full Dutch attire holding a bouquet of Tulips followed by a group of officers; each saying "Welcome Aan Boord". After you passed the line a steward would be waiting to take your carry on and escort you to your stateroom.

[RuthC]

I remember this well. Also remember the reception line when you stepped onto the ship led by a woman if full Dutch attire holding a bouquet of Tulips followed by a group of officers; each saying "Welcome Aan Boord". After you passed the line a steward would be waiting to take your carry on and escort you to your stateroom.

It was lovely and gracious, so very true. But let's not forget that was before 'early boarding' was instituted. This lovely boarding ritual was later in the afternoon (1:00? 2:00? I forget precisely).

 

Now that boarding begins at 11:30 and our cabins are ready, we can get to those cabins and unpack our carry-ons, have lunch in the dining room (if that's our choice), and get many of the 'business' details attended to, as well as be fully unpacked---long before muster drill.

That didn't happen in the gracious days. I think it's a fair trade-off.

[frankc98376]

It was lovely and gracious, so very true. But let's not forget that was before 'early boarding' was instituted. This lovely boarding ritual was later in the afternoon (1:00? 2:00? I forget precisely).

 

Now that boarding begins at 11:30 and our cabins are ready, we can get to those cabins and unpack our carry-ons, have lunch in the dining room (if that's our choice), and get many of the 'business' details attended to, as well as be fully unpacked---long before muster drill.

That didn't happen in the gracious days. I think it's a fair trade-off.

.

I believe it was at 1 pm. We always had friends (visitors) onboard for bon voyage parties back in the 80's so were less worried about food than "bubbly". We lived in San Francisco so always kept some visitor passes on hand so we could go to the ship and see our HAL "families" on board. Many times met crew friends and took them out shopping in the afternoon during their shore leave.

[St Pete Cruiser]

Amsterdam was the first HAL ship with azipods and thus, is the only "R" class with them. I asked on board Rotterdam back in 2014 if they could retrofit it with azipods, and the officers said it was much too costly to do so. The Amsterdam is more maneuverable and a bit more efficient with the azipods than Rotterdam, but the Rotterdam is a bit faster.

[rkacruiser]

I remember this well. Also remember the reception line when you stepped onto the ship led by a woman if full Dutch attire holding a bouquet of Tulips followed by a group of officers; each saying "Welcome Aan Boord". After you passed the line a steward would be waiting to take your carry on and escort you to your stateroom.

 

So well remembered by me. Embarking a HAL ship on which I had previously sailed, all of the white gloved Stewards were escorting other guests to their stateroom. The Supervisor in the foyer stopped me to await another Steward. I told him that I knew where I was going, but I had to wait for the next available Steward.

 

A semblance of this greeting remains today. I have found 2 Stewards (one on the Port Side and one on the Starboard side) in the elevator/stairway foyers. If not far from their "station", they will escort one to your stateroom. Otherwise, they will "point the way".

 

I still find the greeting that I receive from those at the entrance to the ship and those operating the elevators to be warm and very welcoming.