Noordam Presidents week

[Smartcookie]

Hi, I'm looking at this cruise for 2008 with our 2 teen sons, I have 2 questions, if anyone went over last Presidents week, were there enough young people on board so that my kids won't feel like they're on the wrong ship?

 

Secondly, how is it going from NYC in winter? How soon before you can comfortably stay out on deck, by the second day? Third?

 

Thanks!

[hammybee]

There are many posts from this past cruise. As I understand it, there were more than 400 kids onboard much to the surprise of many pax who expected a relatively adult winter cruise enviornment.

 

The school holiday, proxcimity to port and the ship are attractive to the entire tri-state area, PA, Del and Baltimor/Washington corridor.

 

The seas are unpredictable as always, but if you are prone to motion sickness, plan accordingly.And who know knows about the weather? What was yesterday is different today.

[innlady1]

Hi, I'm looking at this cruise for 2008 with our 2 teen sons, I have 2 questions, if anyone went over last Presidents week, were there enough young people on board so that my kids won't feel like they're on the wrong ship?

 

Secondly, how is it going from NYC in winter? How soon before you can comfortably stay out on deck, by the second day? Third?

 

Thanks!

 

I'd suggest you scroll through and read the threads on this....I believe there were hundreds of kids on that cruise.

 

We were on the Noordam 2/7 to 2/17. It was pleasant on the first sea day. More pleasant on the 2nd sea day! Warm enough for a walk on the Promenade Deck for sure. The seas are unpredictable, of course. We had rough seas 1st and last days (up to 12 F. waves), but it didn't bother us.

[madelinerose]

Smartcookie...here's everything and more than you'll ever need to know: ;)

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=509870

[Smartcookie]

Thank you! Glad to know that the ship gets a lot of younger people over the school holiday, although I guess I'm surprised at how raucous it sounded.

 

We've cruised on most lines and COULD NOT STAND our Carnival cruise - too loud, too rowdy, even my kids didn't like it, but we loved Celebrity, which had a good number of kids on it but everyone was well-behaved. The atmosphere was completely different, very much what we're used to and we loved it. I was hoping HAL would be the same.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Thank you! Glad to know that the ship gets a lot of younger people over the school holiday, although I guess I'm surprised at how raucous it sounded.

 

We've cruised on most lines and COULD NOT STAND our Carnival cruise - too loud, too rowdy, even my kids didn't like it, but we loved Celebrity, which had a good number of kids on it but everyone was well-behaved. The atmosphere was completely different, very much what we're used to and we loved it. I was hoping HAL would be the same.

 

Smartcookie:

 

From my own (admittedly limited), HAL experience, I would say that the Noordam cruise over the Presidents' Week Holiday (2/17-2/28) was an anomaly. However, that experience could very well be repeated over next year's holiday. Speaking entirely for myself, and I'm also a parent, I would think twice about booking the Noordam from New York during a major school holiday. However, I'm including a link to a post written by a parent who was on this year's Presidents' Week cruise, whose family had a very positive experience on the Noordam. Here it is.

 

Karin

[Smartcookie]

Speaking entirely for myself, and I'm also a parent, I would think twice about booking the Noordam from New York during a major school holiday.

 

Unfortunately we don't have a choice. This is our family vacation and presidents week is the only time the entire school year that our children have no sports commitments and that we can take them on vacation. Actually, given the choice of a few rowdy kids or a nursing home atmosphere, I'll go with the rowdy kids...:p

[2boyzmom]

We will also be cruising over next Presidents week and am not scared off by the posts we read. If we see a group of rowdy kids- simply walk away. What choice do you have- you're on a ship in the middle of the ocean for petes sake. The boys will be in the kids club ( youngest group) and hubby and I spend our time in casino and lounges. 2 places we don't expect to see any kids. Our port days are just that- on shore the entire time allowed. So - the pool may be rowdy- that's kids. I don't expect them, reading in lounge chairs all day. The parents are the ones to be annoyed at when kids are out of countrol and I will have no problem finding Mom and pop and telling them so!

[caribbean girl]

You are lucky to have Noordam to look forward to! Your children will probably have plenty of company and you will love the ship. It and its crew are wonderful!

The seas may be unpredictable but you can prepare yourself, if you are worried. Take bonine, ginger, etc. (I asked my md for something to 'take the edge off'~just in case~and I did not need it!:p ) and expect to get rocked and rolled...or to be blessed by having a smooth sail down to the Caribbean and back. Either way, it will be a day or so and things will probably calm down. You're going to love sailing from NYC...an unforgettable experience! Have fun anticipating!:D

[Smartcookie]

Question, I'm trying to decide between 2 cabins or one, an inside and a veranda across the hall, or just the veranda quad(only the largest suites can accomodate 4, and are very expensive).

 

How cramped would it be with 4 in a veranda quad? What is the bedding configuration for the 3rd and 4th pax? It's about $700 more total to have the 2 cabins instead of one.

 

Thanks!

 

If we don't choose the Noordam I'm looking at the Century out of Miami, but it's only a 5 nighter...I'm a little nervous about dh doing an 11 night cruise, I don't know if he can handle it!

[RuthC]

How cramped would it be with 4 in a veranda quad?

Two cabins = two bathrooms. ;)