Noordam Dry Dock

[ncshp955]

Has anyone heard what upgrades the Noordam will receive during her dry dock this fall?  All I can find is that she is supposed to be in the dry dock from late September until the middle of October.  Just not sure what they are going to be doing.  Thanks.

[CruiserBruce]

Probably the routine, required maintenance. There may be the re-alignment of entertainment venues that has been discussed here many times.

[oakridger]

I certainly hope they will also install the new TVs with the interactive programming.  Also the suites need the same bathroom remodel and furniture and soft goods upgrades most of the other ships (Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, etc.) have already.  The balcony furniture was in pretty bad shape in May.

 

~Nancy

[PSR]

I believe the Sports Bar, Casino, Northern Lights disco, and Piano Bar will all be remodeled into the Gallery Bar, rearranged Casino, and the open air Dueling Piano area as existing on the other Vista Ships. For some reason this ship is the last one to get the updates.

[zelker]

Just now, PSR said:

For some reason this ship is the last one to get the updates.

 

Possibly because it's the newest of the four Vista-class ships?  Just a guess.

[CruiserBruce]

38 minutes ago, zelker said:

 

Possibly because it's the newest of the four Vista-class ships?  Just a guess.

More likely, as drydocks are regularly scheduled, cyclical events, it is that time in the cycle for these upgrades to be installed. The other ships drydocks came up first after those upgrades were designed and approved.

[Copper10-8]

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

More likely, as drydocks are regularly scheduled, cyclical events, it is that time in the cycle for these upgrades to be installed. The other ships drydocks came up first after those upgrades were designed and approved.

 

Noordam is actually overdue for a dry-dock. Her last one was in April 2015 in Freeport. She was originally scheduled for one in late 2018 however, that one was cancelled and re-scheduled for this Sep/Oct in Esquimalt, BC

 

Her shorex/‘Journey’s ashore’ dept. is supposed to be moved to the starboard side of the Crow’s Nest along with the FCC and EXC Guide. The Crow's Nest will get the “Explorations Central” with ‘the Hub’, ‘Destinations Display’, ‘Virtual Bridge’,  and ‘Theater EXC’’. She is also scheduled to get the “Billboard Onboard” concept, incl. “Dueling pianos” instead of her current Sports Bar, Piano Bar and part of her Casino and will get a Casino Bar instead of that same Piano Bar.

 

She is the only Vista with the combo Explorations Cafe/Library still on Deck 3 forward as opposed to in her Crow's Nest, similar to what her three older sisters now have. It will be interesting to see if that (Deck 3) stays in place.  Jury is still out whether or not her Atrium Bar and atrium stairwell (Deck 2 to Deck 1) will be removed however, the "Rijksmuseum at Sea" doohickey with the giant "disturbed goose," not a Canadian one , in that same deck 1 atrium (only Westerdam has it) seems to have been ground filed

Edited July 18, 2019 by Copper10-8

[ncshp955]

Thanks for the updates.  Sail on her next year and hoping that they do upgrade the interiors some.  The pictures of the cabins I have seen look a little dated.  Not bad by any means but just dated.  Will be my first time on HAL so really won't have anything to compare to but sure am looking forward to the cruise.

[terrydtx]

Since the older three Vista all have the new interactive TV systems after their last drydocks, I would assume the Noordam will get those on this drydock. We leave for Alaska on her this Sunday and I hope she is not in as bad shape as recent reviews have said. Had I known she had been so long since the last drydock (2015) we probably would have done our Alaska cruise a week earlier on the Westerdam which had her recent drydock last year. Shame on me for not checking here before we booked last year, but I bet we will not be disappointed.

Edited July 18, 2019 by terrydtx

[Copper10-8]

13 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Noordam is actually overdue for a dry-dock. Her last one was in April 2015 in Freeport. She was originally scheduled for one in late 2018 however, that one was cancelled and re-scheduled for this Sep/Oct in Esquimalt, BC

 

Her shorex/‘Journey’s ashore’ dept. is supposed to be moved to the starboard side of the Crow’s Nest along with the FCC and EXC Guide. The Crow's Nest will get the “Explorations Central” with ‘the Hub’, ‘Destinations Display’, ‘Virtual Bridge’,  and ‘Theater EXC’’. She is also scheduled to get the “Billboard Onboard” concept, incl. “Dueling pianos” instead of her current Sports Bar, Piano Bar and part of her Casino and will get a Casino Bar instead of that same Piano Bar.

 

She is the only Vista with the combo Explorations Cafe/Library still on Deck 3 forward as opposed to in her Crow's Nest, similar to what her three older sisters now have. It will be interesting to see if that (Deck 3) stays in place.  Jury is still out whether or not her Atrium Bar and atrium stairwell (Deck 2 to Deck 1) will be removed however, the "Rijksmuseum at Sea" doohickey with the giant "disturbed goose," not a Canadian one , in that same deck 1 atrium (only Westerdam has it) seems to have been ground filed

 

 

So sorry; forgot to add tat she will also be getting the the Gallery (Arts) Bar concept instead of the current Northern Lights nightclub as well as Suite upgrades and enhancements, incl. new sofa, lounge and desk chairs, carpeting and wall covers, a quartz stone top on the desk, dresser, nightstands and makeup vanity. Electronic upgrades will include a USB outlet added the bed's headboard, LED reading lights and a lighted closet rod. A Bose iPod docking station, in-cabin coffee and espresso machine in PS suites only. An interactive TV system on large LED flat-screen TV’s with complimentary movies on demand as well as access to the daily program and shipboard information incl. restaurant overviews, spa services and guest billing. 

[SilvertoGold]

Thanks, for the details, John.  Sounds good.  However,  we loved the Explorations Cafe/Library in its current position, what a nice surprise for our first Noordam cruise!  Never a moment during 23 days when it was not well filled with pax, reading, playing chess, etc, chatting with others, having a coffee.  So comfortable and relaxed a setting.  The hub of the ship for many pax on seas day.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by SilvertoGold

[DFWGUYZ]

We were passengers on her in 2012 in a SB and it was a little tired then....

[sail7seas]

  I am curious how she could be so tired in 2012  seeing she,  as  a  brand new  ship,  was christened and joined the fleet in February 2006.

 

 

Edited August 29, 2019 by sail7seas

[zelker]

Does anyone know if they will be implementing the suites-only line and section in the MDR with this drydock?

[sail7seas]

No, don't know, sorry

 

 

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, zelker said:

Does anyone know if they will be implementing the suites-only line and section in the MDR with this drydock?

Its called Club Orange.

[Himself]

On 7/18/2019 at 9:22 AM, Copper10-8 said:

 

 

So sorry; forgot to add tat she will also be getting the the Gallery (Arts) Bar concept instead of the current Northern Lights nightclub as well as Suite upgrades and enhancements, incl. new sofa, lounge and desk chairs, carpeting and wall covers, a quartz stone top on the desk, dresser, nightstands and makeup vanity. Electronic upgrades will include a USB outlet added the bed's headboard, LED reading lights and a lighted closet rod. A Bose iPod docking station, in-cabin coffee and espresso machine in PS suites only. An interactive TV system on large LED flat-screen TV’s with complimentary movies on demand as well as access to the daily program and shipboard information incl. restaurant overviews, spa services and guest billing. 

I think she will be getting the new Logo on her stacks.  Wouldn't be wonderful if the forgot to replace the old logo! 

[Himself]

On 7/18/2019 at 9:28 AM, SilvertoGold said:

Thanks, for the details, John.  Sounds good.  However,  we loved the Explorations Cafe/Library in its current position, what a nice surprise for our first Noordam cruise!  Never a moment during 23 days when it was not well filled with pax, reading, playing chess, etc, chatting with others, having a coffee.  So comfortable and relaxed a setting.  The hub of the ship for many pax on seas day.

 

 

 

15 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Its called Club Orange.

CLUB ORANGE is offered to Suite Passenger--thimk big rooms on Rotterdam Deck and any one purchasing a Club Orange Membership.

[sail7seas]

I so agree they  absolutely should not move Explorations  Cafe on Noordam.

 

[arzz]

For what it is worth - we sailed the Noordam from Honolulu to Vancouver in May and did not find her “tired” at all. We had an SS cabin that was in great condition - the only negative we found were the cushions for the balcony furniture that were so stained it was difficult to sit on them. 

 

I wonder if to some the more traditional HAL decor (which, I will admit is a bit out of date) makes it seem tired. We were concerned before boarding her because of all the reports of rust, etc that we had read about on line. In our cabin the only rust we could find were a couple small spots on the balcony roof.  Our cabin was in great shape.  The food was excellent as was the service. 

 

We really appreciated that that she still had the old Explorations Lounge and a real Crow's Nest. 

 

What we did miss miss was the live music!  

Edited August 30, 2019 by arzz

[frankc98376]

The last Oak Room finally bites the dust

[zelker]

10 minutes ago, frankc98376 said:

The last Oak Room finally bites the dust

 

YAY!!  No more stinky smoke creeping out of there.

[RuthC]

1 hour ago, frankc98376 said:

The last Oak Room finally bites the dust

That's a shame. Every ship should have one so smokers have a separate, enclosed place they can go. Casinos aren't always open (and are used by non-smokers, too), and the outdoor area is sometimes closed.
It would be more comfortable for everyone. 

[Copper10-8]

2 hours ago, frankc98376 said:

The last Oak Room finally bites the dust

 

And it's a nice one

[AtlantaCruiser72]

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

That's a shame. Every ship should have one so smokers have a separate, enclosed place they can go. Casinos aren't always open (and are used by non-smokers, too), and the outdoor area is sometimes closed.
It would be more comfortable for everyone. 

 

Once the Noordam goes through drydock only the S&R class ships, and the 2 Pinnacle ships will allow smoking in the casino.  all of the Vistas and Signature Class ships will be 100% non-smoking in all indoor areas.