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Report from the Noordam - Maiden Voyage

RevNeal

By RevNeal,
in Holland America Line

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seabourndt

seabourndt

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your found this thread thoughtbthere was nothing from the ship. see you are on the 15th april to new york not seen you on my thread i started a few. you are from new yoprk then. i fly therre on 8th for a few days before flyimg to bermuda before the cruise. did the nieuw amsterdam before. iam in 4136

hope we meet

dave

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calm_seas

calm_seas

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Just a note to all those waiting for postings. Yesterday the satellite and systems were down most of day for maintenance. I am sure the "crew" will be back ASAP! The weather in St. Maarten is beautiful. Not a single day of rain in port so far with temps all in the 80's. Great weather for a great ship!!!

 

CD Jason just announced that Tommy Tune's "Paparazzi" will be the show for tonight. Really looking forward to it, since the entertainment group is so talented.

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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Greetings from Lovely, sunny, and WARM St. Maarten!

As Martha said a little while ago, the internet was down for a large chunk of yesterday, so I wasn't able to get online. Of course, I was spending most of the morning and early afternoon hanging around with Brian taking in the lovely sights from the Lido pool deck, and then I spent quite a while in the hot tub, the pool, the hot tub, and the pool. :) Yesterday was just a totally relaxing day for me ... and for others, it would seem. Even though we were in port, some of us didn't get off the ship but preferred to have the run of the ship 3/4 empty! :)

 

Last night was the Lido Deck Bar-B-Q. <sigh> That fair is not to my taste, so while I did taste it I nevertheless went down to the main dining room and had dinner with several members of our CCer group who preferred the offerings there. It was an excellent dinner. After dinner I caught the show, which was made up of the ship's cast's four singers ... EXCELLENT voices. They did selections from some of the current hits on broadway, which I really enjoyed. Afterwards, I spent a while with many other CCers in the Ocean bar, drinking brandy and chatting until midnight, when the ship finally pulled out of Tortola to make the less-than 100 mile cruise to St. Maarten. I then went down to the Northern Lights for some "Salsa Mix" dance music. It was fun, and Jazzy is -- as always -- a real hoot. About 1 am I wandered into the casino -- against Brian's sage advice -- and picked up another couple of hundred from the blackjack table. :D I think one of the dealers like me. <wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more> At this rate, I'll have won the cost of the cruise by the time we dock in New York Saturday morning. :D

 

This morning, the instant Jason announced that the ship was cleared for passengers to go ashore, I was off and out on the pier, taking photos. This was my first chance to get some aft shots of this baby. I'll have them processed and uploaded tomorrow (I would imagine).

 

More to follow.

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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A few general observations about the Noordam now that we're about half way through this cruise.

 

1. Food -- EXCELLENT. I really cannot amplify this assessment sufficiently to get across this one point. I've always enjoyed the food on Holland America; even when I thought it a bit bland, I nevertheless enjoyed it and was always able to find something I liked. On the Oosterdam in January I was pleased with the quality of the dishes. This cruise goes FAR beyond my experience in January. The Food on this ship is EXCELLENT. Yes, many of the selections are quite similar to what I've had before on other ships of the line, but by-and-large the quality of the preparation and presentation is superior to any that I've had on other HAL ships. I've truly enjoyed it.

 

2. Service -- Good. Now, this demands qualification. The service is EXCELLENT in some respects, and not quite as good as it could be in others. My cabin steward is EXCEEDINGLY efficient, and I've enjoyed prompt service from bar staff ... several of whom remember me from the Oosterdam, the Westerdam, and the Zaandam. One fellow ... a wine steward ... recognized me right off from my stint as Chaplain aboard the Volendam. The service in all these areas has been exemplary. This extends to the food on the Lido, which is as good as it can be. In the main dining room our service stewards are pleasant, and they do their job well, but it just seems as though our evening meals are dragging. More than once we've found ourselves rushing to leave the dining room and make it to the show lounge. In the past we've usually been done by 10 pm, but this cruise service is about 20 minutes slow. Indeed, we're often the very last to leave the dining room ... and it's not always due to us lagging behind and talking. I've spoken with several Supervisors about the speed of service, and they understand the problem and have promised to keep an eye on the pacing. It HAS gotten better.

 

3. Air Conditioning -- Mixed. In the main dining room it's like sitting in an oven. It's VERY warm, and particularly so when wearing a jacket. Jim, Stan, Brian, Scotty, Vic, myself ... even some of the ladies ... we've all complained about the AC in the main dining room and some improvement has been noted, but it's still very warm in our area.

 

4. Cruise Staff -- Among the best. But, then, given the mix of staff members this really isn't a surprise. :)

 

I will give thought to more observations and remarks and will post any such further remarks later.

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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Oh, about Captain Card's book signing and Q&A ... it was great. Captain Card is a pleasure and he answered some questions about his method for preparation and gave us some insights into the arrangements made between him and HAL regarding the production of the paintings. His book is FANTASTIC and I was honored to have him sign it. Captain Scott signed it too. :)

 

I need to get Captain Card's Book on the Cunard Line ships.

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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Photos!

 

Ok ... here are some sample photos. I'll actually have one shot displayed ... the rest are links that you'll need to click on.

 

noordam1.jpg

 

Links to more photos:

 

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/ccerparty1.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/ccerparty2.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/ccerparty3.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/newyork1.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/newyork2.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/noordam1.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/noordam2.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/noordamaft1.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/sailandhubby.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/watership.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/ladyliberty.jpg

http://www.revneal.org/noordamsamples/bridge.jpg

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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Of course, I have MANY more photos to post, and most of them will go up once I'm home. But I have a few I took today while on the pier here in St. Maarten that I want to process and upload. Watch for those within the next few days. :)

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booboo29

booboo29

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Rev.,

 

GREAT pictures. Thanks for posting them. As I look at your incredible photos of a shiney new ship, palm trees, and sun, I am getting more and more excited to leap on the Volendam in a few short weeks!:p

 

Hope the rest of the cruise is a fabulous as the beginning!

 

Safe travels to you and the rest of the group!:D

 

Jennifer

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HeatherInFlorida

HeatherInFlorida

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Thank you so much for the pictures, Greg! They are wonderful:) . I love the pictures of New York and most especially Lady Liberty! There is nothing like sailing down the Hudson past the Statue of Liberty and out under the Verrrazano Bridge to the welcoming sea beyond.

 

And it is such fun to see our very own Sail7Seas!!! ... so obviously happy and enjoying herself with DH.

 

Keep enjoying! Sounds like you're all having a great time! I'm so used to cold DRs that I just might enjoy one a bit warmer;) .

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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Paul,

 

Today, at St. Maarten, the first thing I did when I got off the ship was head aft to get some shots of this baby's behind. I'll have those ready to upload tomorrow (I would imagine). Above you WILL find links to photos take from the Lido aft pool deck, looking down. As you can see from those, the "stair-step" effect is nearly gone thanks to the extension of the decks below and the adding of cabins.

 

Oh ... one observation in that regard ... I know some people were moaning and groaning about the addition of 70 or so extra passengers. Well ... people ... stop worrying. It's impossible to tell that there are more passengers aboard. Indeed! If anything, the public rooms feel as though they're more empty than they were on the Oosterdam. Of course, there is an additional ounge to what's on the other vistas ... the Explorations Cafe, which is VERY well used. :)

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RevNeal

RevNeal

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A Note For Those interested topless and nude sun bathing.

In Tortola we parked next to a German cruise ship. As we came in we noticed that people were laid out all over the top decks ... nekked. :D ;)

 

So ... NNN ... if you want to do that, I know a ship and a cruise line you're welcome to try. :D <hehehehehe>

 

Sorry ... had a naughty moment there. :)

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babyher

babyher

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A Note For Those interested topless and nude sun bathing.

In Tortola we parked next to a German cruise ship. As we came in we noticed that people were laid out all over the top decks ... nekked. :D ;)

 

So ... NNN ... if you want to do that, I know a ship and a cruise line you're welcome to try. :D <hehehehehe>

 

Sorry ... had a naughty moment there. :)

 

 

 

And when will you be posting those pics????????????????

 

 

 

Sorry.....had a naughty moment there myself :)

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AAAAmerican

AAAAmerican

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Finally I see you saw the naked truth.. **S**:eek:

 

Alas in a Two Country Made Island from a walkabout... ...

 

Here in the Greater NYC area we have Cold days and nights now it is 24f just before noon.. Brrrr..... and your there on the New Noordam with man planted (psalm) trees..

 

Envy and desire have been planted and are emerging all over, LOL

 

Your samples were very nice to show everyone. Thanks again .

 

The more you show the more shall know.:D

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