Did they fix Nieuw Amsterdam's azipod or is she sailing with one operational?

[ski ww]

I'm sure there are going to be a lot of unhappy people, but now they know for sure. I'm sure trying to change your vacation plans will be difficult for many people.

[tennispretzel]

I'm confused. If I'm reading my email correctly, I was offered 50% IF I took the Zuiderdam sailing but nothing otherwise except a refund?? This can't be true. I will call ASAP. There was no mention of 100% or switching to another sailing of my choice.  (I am a casino guest who was offered an inside free room but opted to upgrade to a Neptune)

Anyone been on the Z since the refurbishment? It is not the itinerary I would want but I like "new". Wondering if they will let me switch to the Nieuw Statendam the next day with no penalty.

[rotjeknor]

12 minutes ago, tennispretzel said:

I'm confused. If I'm reading my email correctly, I was offered 50% IF I took the Zuiderdam sailing but nothing otherwise except a refund?? This can't be true. I will call ASAP. There was no mention of 100% or switching to another sailing of my choice.  (I am a casino guest who was offered an inside free room but opted to upgrade to a Neptune)

Anyone been on the Z since the refurbishment? It is not the itinerary I would want but I like "new". Wondering if they will let me switch to the Nieuw Statendam the next day with no penalty.

We’ve been on the Zuiderdam before and after the refurbishment. Last time we had a signature suite. Completely modernized cabin and bathroom. See Halfacts.com for cabin pictures. Carpets throughout the ship were renewed. Northern Lights nightclub and sportsbar were replaced by Gallery Bar and new piano bar called Billboard on board.Crow’s nest redone as well . Ship looked A-ok to me ! 

[wdw1972]

Also glad the decision has been made and communicated.  It sounds like HAL has been very generous, and those who are able to switch to another sailing during this season will essentially be getting their cruise for free.  As with anything else, nothing is truly "one size fits all" so of course there are some for whom this isn't a perfect solution....mainly those who were due to be onboard for 2 weeks in a row, with Feb 1 being one of them.  

 

Sue/WDW1972

[NavArch64]

If there is anyone currently onboard Nieuw Amsterdam who is planning to attend the "Ask the Captain" session today, I am interested in a bit more information on the "spare" azipod unit that the Captain inspected in Freeport during the Dec. 17-20 "visit" of NA that is now to be installed in the Feb. 2-7 period. Is this a new or "used" azipod? Who owns it .. Carnival Corp or ABB? How long has it been sitting in a shed in Freeport? If "used", how "used " is it?

[chengkp75]

49 minutes ago, NavArch64 said:

If there is anyone currently onboard Nieuw Amsterdam who is planning to attend the "Ask the Captain" session today, I am interested in a bit more information on the "spare" azipod unit that the Captain inspected in Freeport during the Dec. 17-20 "visit" of NA that is now to be installed in the Feb. 2-7 period. Is this a new or "used" azipod? Who owns it .. Carnival Corp or ABB? How long has it been sitting in a shed in Freeport? If "used", how "used " is it?

I doubt there will be the detailed response you are looking for, but maybe.  I'll put in my two cents.  I doubt it is a new pod, there would be no need of a new pod in Freeport, nearly all are built to order, and any "laying around" would be at newbuilding yards.  Carnival may own a spare pod or two, or they may have a contract with ABB to provide a replacement pod when requested, it depends on their maintenance contract.  Not sure "how long has it been sitting in a shed" has any relevance.  Machinery that costs several hundred thousand dollars are not just left to collect dust in a corner.  There is routine maintenance done, and special long term preservation done to the unit (sealing the unit, special preservative (rust preventative) oil, turning the shafts on a scheduled basis to prevent wear on bearings and seals).  When these units are exchanged on a ship, they are immediately rebuilt to manufacturer's specifications, so while not "new", all relevant wear parts have been renewed (thrust bearing, shaft seal, all "soft goods" (o-rings and seals on parts like the azimuth gear).  Extended life parts like the gear teeth, the motor stator, motor exciter, and radial bearings will be examined based on maintenance records from the ship where the pod came from, and from testing of the pod (vibration analysis, shock pulse monitoring of bearings, oil analysis, motor winding insulation testing, etc).  The manufacturer will guarantee the reconditioned pod to operate as long as a new pod.  This is what is done at the normal routine intervals during drydock, a reconditioned cartridge (just a portion of the pod that contains most of the wear parts) will be exchanged for the one in service.

[NavArch64]

To chengkp75 …. excellent background info as usual. Sounds like she should be "as good as new". We wish HAL the best. 

[kevingastreich]

Well, at least now we know.  Thanks to all who have contributed.

Edited January 9, 2020 by kevingastreich

[swscruiser]

We’re on the February 8th sailing.  Is this something that should be completed within this week time frame as long as it goes as planned. Or we looking a a possible shortened cruise?

Edited January 9, 2020 by swscruiser

[HappyInVan]

58 minutes ago, swscruiser said:

We’re on the February 8th sailing.  Is this something that should be completed within this week time frame as long as it goes as planned. Or we looking a a possible shortened cruise?

 

 

No one here knows. Suggest you wait for the notification from HAL. They've given the Feb 1st passengers 3 weeks notice.

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, swscruiser said:

We’re on the February 8th sailing.  Is this something that should be completed within this week time frame as long as it goes as planned. Or we looking a a possible shortened cruise?

Yes, provided it goes as planned, it should take less than a week.  That is why HAL has only cancelled the one cruise.  If it was planned to take longer, they would have cancelled more at this time.  Unexpected delays can always happen.

[NavArch64]

At the moment, it looks like she is running 2 hours late to HMC tomorrow morning. 

[HappyInVan]

I've said from the beginning that the passengers don't need to know the details of the problem. They'll just get confused by the speculation from the forum experts.

 

They just need adequate compensation and enough notice. So far, IMO, HAL has done a B grade in notification. Could have been better, but not a failing grade.

 

For those really interested in the details, this thread started by HamOp might help …

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by HappyInVan

[RunningTheWonder]

26 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

I've said from the beginning that the passengers don't need to know the details of the problem. They'll just get confused by the speculation from the forum experts.

 

They just need adequate compensation and enough notice. So far, IMO, HAL has done a B grade in notification. Could have been better, but not a failing grade.

 

For those really interested in the details, this thread started by HamOp might help …

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my book, they have failed at adequate compensation. Nothing is what we get if we don't go, and only 50% of the first half of our 14 day cruise if we take the lesser ship, lesser cabin, and lesser itinerary. I'll go with your "B" for notification, but they get an "F" for adequate compensation!

Edited January 9, 2020 by RunningTheWonder
Grammar

[NavArch64]

I could very well be totally wrong … but …. current heading of 286 doesn't seem quite right for HMC. Nassau forecast for tomorrow (Friday) calls for winds from the east at 20-30 mph with gusts to 34 mph. Maybe the cautious Captain has already decided to bypass HMC. If I had a less than fully capable ship, I would be cautious as well. We shall see.

[fatcat04]

From the Captain's update today, I have a sneaky feeling HMC is not going to happen and he is giving us info to help that sink in before making the inevitable call. He mentioned rain and Beaufort 8!! by the time we get to HMC tomorrow. Eeeek. 

[fatcat04]

Course change is due to a medical evacuation in progress. The patient will be air lifted off the aft deck in the next few hours. 

edit: Keep some good thoughts and prayers going out for the helicopter crew, the ship crew, and the patient and their family. The seas aren't too bad but they sure aren't smooth and it is windy. 

Edited January 9, 2020 by fatcat04

[canadianbear]

23 minutes ago, fatcat04 said:

Course change is due to a medical evacuation in progress. The patient will be air lifted off the aft deck in the next few hours. 

edit: Keep some good thoughts and prayers going out for the helicopter crew, the ship crew, and the patient and their family. The seas aren't too bad but they sure aren't smooth and it is windy. 

 

Thanks for the update.  Could be a tough time for the helicopter crew etc.  Hope all goes well for the patient.  

[kochleffel]

2 hours ago, NavArch64 said:

At the moment, it looks like she is running 2 hours late to HMC tomorrow morning. 

Diversion right now toward the Turks and Caicos for a medical emergency. USCG helicopter being dispatched from Great Inagua.

 

[chengkp75]

54 minutes ago, NavArch64 said:

I could very well be totally wrong … but …. current heading of 286 doesn't seem quite right for HMC. Nassau forecast for tomorrow (Friday) calls for winds from the east at 20-30 mph with gusts to 34 mph. Maybe the cautious Captain has already decided to bypass HMC. If I had a less than fully capable ship, I would be cautious as well. We shall see.

The reason for missing HMC is not the ability of the ship to be there, but the ability to tender, which has nothing to do with the azipod.

[NavArch64]

We wish the medevac to go well …. that is always tricky business. I have seen two at sea … off Eurodam and off Regal Princess. The USCG helo pilots are the best.

[kochleffel]

On 1/7/2020 at 2:37 PM, glenbrook said:

After shocks felt all over island, power out and so I am surprised the ship did not skip this port.  Guess not since they skipped St. Martin. I would have not disembarked in San Juan if I were aboard. No need to feel the tremors of the after shocks. 

Thank you for your opinion but I'm glad the captain didn't have the benefit of it. I went ashore, felt no aftershocks, and was able to do almost everything that I had planned. 

 

The ship was moving at 18 knots when I checked at noon today.

[3rdGenCunarder]

14 hours ago, RunningTheWonder said:

We didn't get nearly as good of an offering. First off, ours was the 14 day collector cruise, but they only cancelled the first 7 days of the cruise and moved us over to the Zuiderdam, without even asking. This changes our ports (this was a dive cruise), changes our cabin (which we hand selected for this particular cruise), changes our dining plans (no Tamerind on this ship), and generally messes up our plans with a ship that we aren't comfortable sailing and intentionally never booked in the first place! 

 

They did offer to let us change BACK to the Nieuw Amsterdam on the 8th, if we let them know within two days. Just what I want to do - change ships in the middle of a 2 weeks cruise! No thank you HAL! I booked a 14 day cruise, not two 7 day cruises aboard different ships. Of course, all of our shore excursions for the entire sailing have been cancelled, so we would have to try to find somewhat equivalent ones on our own.

 

So what did they offer for this "disruption"? They are offering 50% of the fare for the first half of the cruise (the 7 days that was "cancelled") in future cruise credit, plus $50 in shipboard credit. So for shifting us to a lesser ship, with a lesser itinerary, with a lesser cabin, we get a 25% future credit + $50.00. Sorry, but this one just isn't sitting right with me! Guess who I'll be on the phone with in the morning?

 

So they didn't offer the option of cancelling? No money back, just the FCC equal to half of the fare?

 

How is the Zuiderdam cabin lesser? Is it a lower cabin category or letter grade?

[3rdGenCunarder]

19 hours ago, 510picker said:

Just got off the phone with HAL. The gentlemen I spoke with said I was the first person he talked to since the cancellation. He was very confused with the information he was reading and he had to put me on hold to speak with his supervisor. The final word I got was, suite guests, international guests and casino rate guests were being automatically rebooked to the Zuiderdam sailing on the same day. I told him I was a casino rate guests and he said he didn’t have any other information and would probably hear something by Friday. I’m sure there is lots of scrambling going on right now. 

 

The info below was copied from the email I received. 
 

If you rebook to any other winter or spring 2020 7-day Caribbean or Mexico voyage by January 24, 2020, we will protect your rate in the equivalent stateroom category and you will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid to use on another future voyage. 

If you’d like to rebook to another destination or elect not to rebook a replacement cruise at this time, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit of 50% of the cruise fare paid and all monies paid to Holland America Line will either be transferred to your new sailing or refunded in full. 

 

To clarify, if you rebook by Jan 24, does that mean a cruise departing Jan 24 or sooner, or is that a decision deadline? So you would get a replacement cruise in the same stateroom category plus FCC? Sounds generous.

 

If you cancel, you get your money back but less FCC. So HAL is trying to motivate people to find a cruise they can fit into the time frame and their schedule. 

[kochleffel]

From the Lido Market. Right after this it started to rain in earnest.

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by kochleffel