need advice about Prinsendam cruise

[momK]

My dh and I celebrate the big "25" 12/06, and want to celebrate with a cruise. We've previously gone on a Celebrity cruise to AK in 2001, and taken the family on a Carnival Caribbean cruise 11/04. We're seriously considering the Prinsendam's 12/2 cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Here are some questions:

 

1 -- What is the quality/variety of food on HAL? We really liked the food on our Celebrity cruise, but were quite disappointed on the Carnival.

 

2 -- We don't drink or gamble, and don't care for huge crowds. I like to veg with a book, dh likes scuba diving. Does this particular ship/cruise sound like something we would find enjoyable?

 

3 -- We can splurge a bit on the room. While we don't want to get the PS, is the S category worth it, or would we be just as happy with the S,SS,A, or AA categories? And along that line, is the area aft on the Promenade deck a good place to be? Is the casino noisy?

 

4 -- Would dh be able to dive at each of the stops along the way?

 

TIA! This site is VERY helpful!

 

momK

[localady]

We stayed in cabin 196 in the aft area of the Prinsendam. It is a veranda cabin, but far different from the others. You could not hear noise from our room from the casino. We also loved the hot tub in the aft area and highly recomend those cabins.

The Prinsendam is the 'Elegant Explorer', last July we had the best cruise bar none on her. Fresh Squeezed OJ delivered to you room at breakfast, many breakfast items cooked freshly in the morning, and a staff who pride themselves and the ship. I would not hesitate to recommend her to you, sepecially if you are looking for a more elegant ambiance with a few less people aboard!!

I can't answer the question about your huband being able to dive, as I don't know what ports you will be going into. Scuba diving is offered in most Southern Caribbean ports.

[GrammyPL]

Mom --- We were on the Prinsendam in Nov of 04 for a 28 day Amazon cruise. We have been on 1 Carnival (never again) and 18 HAL cruises and the Prinsendam is our favorite ship. She is small be so elegent. We found the food to be wonderful (really better then the other HAL ships). The Prinsendam is a great ship to veg out on. As far a scuba diving - take a look at the HAL web site for your cruise and click on the port and it should give you the excursions for that port. We had a E cabin so don't know much about the veranda classes. The cabins on the Promende deck would be wonderful since they have their own hot tub just for them. I don't think you will hear any noise from the casino - the rooms never seem to have much noise comming in at all and there is a small passageway to those rooms. Hope that answers some of your questions. Penny

[Grumpy1]

We were on the Prinsendam for a 113 day Grand world Voyage. We liked it so much we are scheduled for 66 days in 2007. Cabins 196 and 197 are great cabins for their category. I would not book 198 or 199, even though it is a higher category.

 

The SA,SB and SC cabins, of course, come with the added suite amenities, and no one but you can decide if it's worth the extra money. The SS and SY cabins are very roomy (that's the category we have been in and have booked for next year), but for a short cruise, a Cat A would be very comfortable.

 

Personally, being a 25th anniversary cruise... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!... I would be inclined to splurge a little and get a Cat S. The drawback is that you will never be satisfied with a smaller cabin in the future:D .

 

I think you will really enjoy the Prinsendam.

[helenp2]

We were in Cabin 194 and loved it. That rear deck is very private and the hot tub was great. We had breakfast out there and watched the sunset in the hot tub while leaving Curacao. These cabins are the best kept secret on the entire ship. Very quiet and no traffic whatsoever. Enjoy!

[Grumpy1]

We were in Cabin 194 and loved it. That rear deck is very private and the hot tub was great. We had breakfast out there and watched the sunset in the hot tub while leaving Curacao. These cabins are the best kept secret on the entire ship. Very quiet and no traffic whatsoever. Enjoy!

 

Helen, I've heard comments that noise from adjacent cabins is noticeable in that block of cabins. Can you comment??

[Vic The Parrot]

Fresh Squeezed OJ delivered to you room at breakfast, many breakfast items cooked freshly in the morning, and a staff who pride themselves and the ship.

 

 

But they have all of that on every HAL ship, no??

Not trying to be funny, just curious as to why those attributes make that ship any different from the others in the fleet.

 

:confused:

 

 

 

Is it the name? ... The extra "cachet" of being on the 'Elegant Explorer'?

Dying to find out here.

 

;)

[Maryandi]

I read on another post not too long ago, that the hot tub back there is open to all. Something about that it is more accessable for handicapped, etc.

[jhannah]

We, too, thoroughly enjoyed the Prinsendam, having sailed her twice. The more intimate feel was refreshing. Give her a try.

[Grumpy1]

I read on another post not too long ago, that the hot tub back there is open to all. Something about that it is more accessable for handicapped, etc.

True, but since it is tucked away on a smaller deck that is only accessed by going down a corrider past cabins or by stairs from decks above and below, there are very few that ever find it.

[localady]

Fresh Squeezed OJ delivered to you room at breakfast, many breakfast items cooked freshly in the morning, and a staff who pride themselves and the ship.

 

But they have all of that on every HAL ship, no??

Not trying to be funny, just curious as to why those attributes make that ship any different from the others in the fleet.

 

Vic-

The Prinsendam is the only ship in the fleet that I personally have been served Fresh Squeezed OJ in my veranda room by just asking for OJ on the breakfast request form. The food is wonderful, probably better than I've had on another ship. I suspect it's because they are cooking for less than 1/2 of those on the larger ships.

[helenp2]

Helen, I've heard comments that noise from adjacent cabins is noticeable in that block of cabins. Can you comment??

Hi Grumpy, We loved reading your reviews from your world tour. Thanks so much for the almost daily updates.

 

We sailed on her last Christmas 2004 - for 16 nts. We never heard a thing. BTW, the verandas on these cabins are also quite a bit larger than the regular Cat A cabins (deeper).

 

About the only thing that was annoying was a blinding exterior light that was just above that rear deck. After just one night of this, the engineer just turned it off and it was smooth sailing for the balance of the cruise.

 

I highly recommend these cabins for sooo many reasons.

 

1. That back deck with the private hot tub are to die for

 

2. Right around the corner from the Explorers lounge - so when you are looking for a nice, quiet place mid-day to just sit and read you've got it. Also, they seemed to hold most of the mariners parties right there so it was very convenient.

 

3..Cabins were added when HAL bought this ship, so all of the soft goods were much newer than the rest of the ship and all were in excellent condition.

 

4. No walk-in closet, but plenty of closet space.

 

5. And, last but not least - it was truly like traveling on a private yacht. Truthfully, we never even saw the main pool area or deck. Even if all of the cabins are occupied, I think we would be talking about 20 to 24 people on that entire floor.

 

When we ordered room service they would ask us if we wanted it delivered to that rear deck or to our cabins. Sitting in that hot tub sipping ice cold champagne while leaving port on Christmas Eve is something I will remember for a long time.

 

I think it is something you should consider. Happy cruising.

[Rotterdam]

Helen, I've heard comments that noise from adjacent cabins is noticeable in that block of cabins. Can you comment??

 

 

I had mentioned that when I was on the TA in May I met the couple in 196(on the port side)they moved after the noise from the next cabin became a problem...there is a connecting door between the 2 cabins. They also mentioned the vibration coming from the celing... I heard that & if you are alite sleeper it would not be fun. The difference in speed & ocean can be a factor - also the aft location.

 

The cabin itself was nice etc but the suite they moved to was original to the ship & much nicer imo & midships.

 

Hope all is well with you & Mrs Slinkiedam!

[momK]

Wow!! You people are so helpful!

 

I went ahead and booked the cruise today. (It's so nice to have a sis-in-law as my travel agent!) We will be in 196. Even though these are AA class cabins, the deck plan shows them being larger than the Upper Promenade deck AA cabins, and they look bigger than the AB cabins right next door. I'm happy that the verandas are large, and appear to have a bit more vista-view. According to my info, 196 and 197 DO have walk-in closets, so that will be one more nice thing.

Grumpy -- your photos show one that appears to have a hot tub on the deck; is that "this" area of the ship?

As for the noise and light that some encountered: I'm willing to try it. As a mom of 6, and a past night-shift RN, noise and light don't bother my sleeping too much!

 

Again, thanks so much for your kind help. Now I get to look into dh's diving opportunities. . . .

 

Looking forward to my fresh orange juice, book, and hot tub!

momK

[localady]

Yippee!!!!:D

You booked a really special cabin!!:)

I hope you and DH love it as much as DH and I loved it last year. She is a lovely Ship, have a wonderful cruise!!

P.S. If you send me an email at localady42@yahoo.com, I'll be happy to send you a couple of pictures I took of the cabin last summer in the Baltic.

[Grumpy1]

Grumpy -- your photos show one that appears to have a hot tub on the deck; is that "this" area of the ship?

That's the one! It's right outside of 197.

[Bill S]

We had cabin 197 on the same cruise with localady - it is a mirror image of 196. It most definitely has a true walk-in closet!

 

We encountered no noise problem in that cabin either from the common wall with the adjoining cabin or from above.

 

I'd have to say it became DW's favorite cabin ever (so far) and the Prinsendam became our favorite HAL ship. We loved being on the deck where almost all activities other than dining, occur.

 

The bay window looks out to aft at the covered aft deck and spa. That area, though open to all guests, is used very little.

 

The crew and HAL do refer to the Prinsendam as "The Elegant Explorer", a very apt description, IMO.