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Oosterdam repair saga continues

DAllenTCY

By DAllenTCY,
in Holland America Line

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plmd

plmd

Posted
Posted

My comments are in bold:

 

I am sorry to hear that you are so put out and disappointed. Normally I would not respond here but there are some factual errors that should be corrected. Firstly, the problem with the port azimuth pod occurred at 645am on 10/8, not on the 14th. I was aboard and was awakened by the resulting hull cavitation and following fire alarm.

 

This proves that HAL knew about this even earlier than I thought. They are more negligent.

 

Any repairs once completed must be tested. That can only be done at sea. We had the same thing happen when they decided to proceed on one pod after the failure, a complete test needed to be done to see if the ship could perform within tolerances of the propulsion. It is a matter of safety and is not done just to inconvenience you.

 

You think from what I mentioned that I have no regard for safety. WHERE do I say that?

 

Based on your statement, they should have come back into port and cancelled all following cruises until they can get a pod unit built, flown to Victoria BC, replace the pod and reposition back to San Diego.

 

They are continually working on it and there was hope that the partial repair would be strong enough to allow the resumption of the original advertised schedule. I dont think there is intentional fraud here. They are dealing with a mechanical failure.

 

 

Definition of fraud: something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage

 

The advantage is clear… HAL gets full fares from a mechanically defective ship. They knowingly take on passengers and pretend that the failure is new. If this is standard operating procedure as far as you are concerned than go ahead and quietly waste your money. I however expect to get what I paid for.

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jellens

jellens

Posted
Posted

I just returned from the O on the 12/2 to 12/9 cruise. Please look elsewhere on this board for a full review. As for the azipod there were vibrations and shortened port times. I had to ask for the letter concerning the azipod. We did not receive one in our stateroom. After talking to another CC member who received one, I asked for a copy of the letter for us. Also, the people that were in the SC 4185 (starboard aft wrap around verandah suite) asked to be moved as they did not get any sleep with the vibration. We saw them and heard their complaints as they were being moved on Wednesday. We were in SC 4180 the port side. The starboard azipod seemed to be doing more than 100% as we saw water spouts coming from the wake on that side. As said earlier, the chief navigator said the port azipod continued repairs and was operating at about 50%.

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Atomica

Atomica

Posted
Posted
My comments are in bold:

 

I am sorry to hear that you are so put out and disappointed. Normally I would not respond here but there are some factual errors that should be corrected. Firstly, the problem with the port azimuth pod occurred at 645am on 10/8, not on the 14th. I was aboard and was awakened by the resulting hull cavitation and following fire alarm.

 

This proves that HAL knew about this even earlier than I thought. They are more negligent.

 

Any repairs once completed must be tested. That can only be done at sea. We had the same thing happen when they decided to proceed on one pod after the failure, a complete test needed to be done to see if the ship could perform within tolerances of the propulsion. It is a matter of safety and is not done just to inconvenience you.

 

You think from what I mentioned that I have no regard for safety. WHERE do I say that?

 

Based on your statement, they should have come back into port and cancelled all following cruises until they can get a pod unit built, flown to Victoria BC, replace the pod and reposition back to San Diego.

 

They are continually working on it and there was hope that the partial repair would be strong enough to allow the resumption of the original advertised schedule. I dont think there is intentional fraud here. They are dealing with a mechanical failure.

 

 

Definition of fraud: something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage

 

The advantage is clear… HAL gets full fares from a mechanically defective ship. They knowingly take on passengers and pretend that the failure is new. If this is standard operating procedure as far as you are concerned than go ahead and quietly waste your money. I however expect to get what I paid for.

 

"Fraud" and "negligent" are pretty strong words to be using.

 

If they were "negligent", they wouldn't be scheduling a drydock. But they are.

 

If it was "fraud", they wouldn't bother giving pax a $25 onboard credit. Is it a lot? No. But how much more should they be handing out to 2,000 people every week for the next four months for shortened port times? That's $50,000 a week.

 

They're dealing with a complicated machine which requires complicated parts that have to be complicatedly flown in from all different parts of the world, and replaced in an equally complicated drydock procedure. Sounds like a Monty Python routine, doesn't it?

 

I understand that you're upset by the situation, and in a perfect world I wouldn't want shortened port times either - I just don't think it's as malicious as suggested, that's all.

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lougee1043

lougee1043

Posted
Posted

i dont know that i have ever gone on an extended vacation and im going to call a 7 nite cruise an extended vacation that something didnt go wrong-- it could be a flat -- getting lost --having a bad meal -- a hotel reservation screwed up --my wife leaving stuff in the hotel room and telling me while we arrived at the train station in venice--falling ill etc etc etc--some things are very minor and some less so ---but i manage to take it with a grain of salt and enjoy myself --- and nobody has ever given me 25 bucks for the inconvience --- so i am looking forward to this cruise as much as all the others

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jellens

jellens

Posted
Posted
I just returned from the O on the 12/2 to 12/9 cruise. Please look elsewhere on this board for a full review. As for the azipod there were vibrations and shortened port times. I had to ask for the letter concerning the azipod. We did not receive one in our stateroom. After talking to another CC member who received one, I asked for a copy of the letter for us. Also, the people that were in the SC 4185 (starboard aft wrap around verandah suite) asked to be moved as they did not get any sleep with the vibration. We saw them and heard their complaints as they were being moved on Wednesday. We were in SC 4180 the port side. The starboard azipod seemed to be doing more than 100% as we saw water spouts coming from the wake on that side. As said earlier, the chief navigator said the port azipod continued repairs and was operating at about 50%.

 

I should have said they were moved on Tuesday.

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Tinknock50

Tinknock50

Posted
Posted
I think Tintock added one word per posting though...looks like the connection kept kicking off.

 

yes it was acting weird here on ship...i never even have a double post at home!

 

got a lounge chair for my balcony today and enjoyed the mild weather in cabo while taking my nap.:)

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LAFFNVEGAS "Live from...." Rare

LAFFNVEGAS

Posted
Posted
yes it was acting weird here on ship...i never even have a double post at home!

 

got a lounge chair for my balcony today and enjoyed the mild weather in cabo while taking my nap.:)

 

Sean, I have been spending the afternoon watching you on the Cabolive web cam, they are just finishing tendering, should be pulling up the tenders soon. Glad you could enjoy a nice nap on the verandah;)

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LAFFNVEGAS "Live from...." Rare

LAFFNVEGAS

Posted
Posted

I think the Oosterdam had a lot of late arriving excursion because they are just now pulling up the last tender. There were many excursion boats (non HAL tenders) that dropped off passenger right at the ship. It has been kind of fun dreaming I am on board;) , although I have not got a darn thing done here at work:eek: She does look really pretty all lit up.

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LAFFNVEGAS "Live from...." Rare

LAFFNVEGAS

Posted
Posted
please post the web site link ------------thanks

 

lou, here is the link but you have to play with the camera to locate the ship, then zoom in a bit closer to watch. Of course they are long gone noe and I watched them sail away. Now I am trying to work a bit faster to get a few things done before 6.:o

http://www.livefromcabo.com/index.php?pg=2

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jellens

jellens

Posted
Posted

FYI -

 

Since all ships calling on Cabo tender, there is a port tender service there. When we arrived, I thought tour boats were picking up direct at the ship, but it was actually the port tender service. In this port both the Oosterdam and the port tenders were in use all day. With the large number of tenders there was never much of a wait for service after the intial rush to get to shore.

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fcorey

fcorey

Posted
Posted

I spoke to Mr. Deering this morning and he said that the repaired port azipod was performing at about 50% and that they would probably get into Cabo around 10am. So it appears its getting a bit better, will be nice when she is repaired and back to 100%. We will be aboard her in September for an Alaska cruise.h

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Tinknock50

Tinknock50

Posted
Posted

hello from mazatlan!

 

Another do-nothing day for me (thats a good thing really):)

 

started my breakfast on the veranda , but got to warm so moved inside.

 

bright and sunny today

 

Mr. deering has been very kind to mom and i ....will tell you more about it when i get back.

 

Lisa i forgot there was a webcam in cabo....maybe i would have tried the wave again LOL is there one in mazatlan?

 

bye for now

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Minstrel Boy

Minstrel Boy

Posted
Posted

Came back aboard from PV to a sweltering stateroom and a polite note from the captain:

 

"Dear Guest:

 

As you may have noticed, the indoor air temperature onboard the ship is warmer than usual. Unfortunately, there has been a malfunction to the ship's air conditioning system which reduces it's (sic) capacity.

 

In addition to our ship's talented engineers, we have brought aboard specialists from the manufacturer to minimize the time it will take to effect repairs.

 

In the meantime, we are doing our best to make you comfortable. We have closed all of the curtains, reduced air conditioning in rooms not in use, and turned off any unnecessary appliances and lights that produce heat. We ask those of you in verandah staterooms to keep your verandah doors closed.

 

For your comfort, complimentary bottled water is being provided in all beverage outlets.

 

Once we sail from Puerto Vallarta and head north, the weather forecast predicts cooler outdoor temperatures which will also assist in lowering the interior temperatures onboard. However, we hope to have the necessary air conditioning units online as soon as possible,

 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

Captain Olav van der Waard

Master, ms Oosterdam"

 

Right now, ship time is 9:30, outside air is 78.4 degrees, indoors is hotter than outside. I haven't found any area of the ship that feels cool, though it still seems to be equilibrating with the outside temp. I don't expect to be able to sleep at all tonight...

 

KeS

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