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Just back from the Noordam today-10/31

rocks

By rocks,
in Holland America Line

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rocks

rocks

Posted
Posted

Hi Everyone!

Just got back today from the Noordam. What a GREAT time we had & were lucky enough to sail with some of our wonderful friends that we met on our cruise last Oct.

The ship has a GREAT crew, was BEAUTIFUL, and very well taken care of-they rec'd a 100% inspection score while we were on board.

We had cabin 8094 which is on the 'bump-out' on the side & loved it.

If anyone has any questions, ask away.. will try to answer them. Will post a link for photos when I get my 'land-legs' back. ;)

rocks

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liv2cruise4ever

liv2cruise4ever

Posted
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Hi Everyone!

Just got back today from the Noordam. What a GREAT time we had & were lucky enough to sail with some of our wonderful friends that we met on our cruise last Oct.

The ship has a GREAT crew, was BEAUTIFUL, and very well taken care of-they rec'd a 100% inspection score while we were on board.

We had cabin 8094 which is on the 'bump-out' on the side & loved it.

If anyone has any questions, ask away.. will try to answer them. Will post a link for photos when I get my 'land-legs' back. ;)

rocks[/quot

 

Welcome back Pat,

 

I can't wait to hear about this one. Marie leaves next week on the Spirit. We won't be cruising for awhile. We did 2 11 nighters out

of SF this year. The last one we both got sick on. That was the Golden out of SF. Glad you made it home safe and sound. How's Dan??

 

John:D

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waiting2retire

waiting2retire

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Thanks for posting Rocks, I will be on the Noordam for the first time next Saturday, November 10, doing the same 11-day cruise you just did. Hmmmm, questions...

 

Although I realize some of these are subjective, can you provide your overall opinion of quality of meals in the diningroom? in the Pinnacle Grill? How was the entertainment -- what "guest" entertainers did you have and do you know whether they will still be there? Who was in the Piano Bar (and RuthC, can you tell us whether he is any good :D )? How was your weather? When could you sit outside and enjoy the aft pool (going and coming)? Which nights were formal nights?

 

I'm sure I'll think of more :o TIA

 

Bonnie

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mamaofami

mamaofami

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DH just asked me a question and I can't really answer it. I know HAL is known for its wonderful crew, but since they sign a year's contract and rotate to other ships, how does the Noordam keep the reputation of having such a wonderful crew? Is this a spirit passed down from the Hotel Manager ? Just curious as to how to answer him. Thanks!

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RuthC

RuthC

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... how does the Noordam keep the reputation of having such a wonderful crew? Is this a spirit passed down from the Hotel Manager ? Just curious as to how to answer him. Thanks!

This is such a good question! I'll tell you what I think, based on my experience in front-line management. I think there's a group dynamic that pervades the employees. Whenever someone new joins the group they take on the dynamic of the others. Over time, the individual employees move on---there's multiple turn-overs of staff. But the dynamic remains the same.

Now, when a new boss---the Captain, Hotel Manager, and to some extent his subordinates---takes over, yes, there can be some changes. But they aren't as great as you would think. That original group dynamic is still there.

I'm looking forward to how others answer.

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rocks

rocks

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Welcome back Pat,

 

I can't wait to hear about this one. Marie leaves next week on the Spirit. We won't be cruising for awhile. We did 2 11 nighters out

of SF this year. The last one we both got sick on. That was the Golden out of SF. Glad you made it home safe and sound. How's Dan??

 

John:D

Hey John! GREAT to hear from you! Dan is just fine..& waiting to see the menu for tonight! Sorry to hear you got sick last time.:(

The Noordam is a GREAT ship!

Pat

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rocks

rocks

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Thanks for posting Rocks, I will be on the Noordam for the first time next Saturday, November 10, doing the same 11-day cruise you just did. Hmmmm, questions...

 

Although I realize some of these are subjective, can you provide your overall opinion of quality of meals in the diningroom? in the Pinnacle Grill? How was the entertainment -- what "guest" entertainers did you have and do you know whether they will still be there? Who was in the Piano Bar (and RuthC, can you tell us whether he is any good :D )? How was your weather? When could you sit outside and enjoy the aft pool (going and coming)? Which nights were formal nights?

 

I'm sure I'll think of more :o TIA

 

Bonnie

 

Hi Bonnie!

We left on a Sat. & the first formal was on Mon., 2nd on Fri. (Barbados night ) and the last on Mon.(the 1st sea day on the way back)

Food was excellent! The menu a little different. Be sure to look at the Chefts Suggestions on the 2nd page as they are not included with the other entrees.

Piano Bar was a ghost town..NO ONE ever in there when we checked. Ian McFarlane listed as playing there. Can't say how he was; but for sure, every time I looked, no one was in there. My favorite group was the Filipino band, Four Seasons, who played in the Ocean Bar. They were REALLY good & very very nice. The Ocean Bar is the happening place on this ship..at least it was this cruise. Hal Cats were playing around the ship-heard them a few times & thought they were very good.

Can't comment on the shows or entertainers as we just don't go to the shows. I'm usually SO full after diner, that I have to walk around; the thought of getting up from eating to sit again just doesn't work for me.

We say out by the back pool on both days down to the first port and even both sea days coming back we were mostly out there. The sun was shinning so it wasn't too cold. I wore shorts but some had jeans on.

Had diner in the Pinnacle & thought it was wonderful. One in our party had a porterhouse stk & it wasn't very good-but all the rest of us had a great meal & service. We had sprinkles of rain on & off in St. Maarten & San Juan. Rest of the weather was good to great.

We hired a taxi in Dominica & he took us to swam in a gorge in a cave (which was AWESOME!) and then swim in a hot mineral pool with the water coming down from the volcano (again, AWESOME!) We went to the Baths while in Tortola (beautiful!) shopped in St Maarten, and went to the beach in Barbados.

Saw the Cruise director about 3 times, but the cruise staff less then that. They really should have more planned fun things. The 50's/60's sock hop lasted all of 5 songs! I remember when we would dance till we dropped at those things-nothing at all like that on this cruise. If this was a solo cruise for someone, it would be really bad. We were with friends, so we didn't really need it. Although, we love to dance off the extra calories & the DJ in the disco was, as usual, playing all hip-hop stuff for the small handful of 20 yr olds.

Casino was smoke-free till 10:30pm (I don't smoke, use the casino, & I was fine with that) The World Series games were on all through the ship-Congrats to Red Sox!

We had a GREAT Meet & Greet CC party! Open bar with hot snacks. No 'white coats', but we had such a GREAT group, we didn't miss them at all!

rocks

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rocks

rocks

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Hi Pat,

 

it's great to see you on the board. Looking forward to your pictures. How are your sweet baby dogs?

 

(Hi sweet bro).

 

 

Marie

Hey Marie!

GREAT to hear from you! :)

Our girls were fine-we probably missed them more then they missed us. It was GREAT getting all those wet doggie kisses!

Glad to see you have a bunch of cruises to look forward to! We did the $100 deposit thing for a future cruise; just not sure when/where we will go.

Pat

Have a GREAT cruise in Nov.! :D

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SallySlapCabbage

SallySlapCabbage

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Rocks - we enjoyed reading your review of the Noordam 11 day. My family and I were on the same cruise, and we agree with you on several points. For instance, the HALcats sounded terrific while we listened and sunbathed in the lido pool, but I would have liked to hear more from them. The food was so delicious, as always, in the dining room, but, I too, found the Chef's selection on the right side of the page a tad bit confusing. Not a big issue by any means, but each night, as I would peruse the starters through entrees, I would find myself "starting over" as my eyes moved to the top of the next page and read what Chef Rudi suggested I eat.

 

The Noordam is truly a majestic ship, and we were thrilled to be on it. However, my family and I were rocking and rolling the last few nights in our cabin, were you? The Noordam was the noisiest ship I have ever sailed. I am sure it was due to unusual choppy waves, due to the current storm brewing in the tropics.

 

What else can I add? Well, I love to run each morning, and I had planned out an itinerary for the Noordam's gym treadmills. One for each morning.

I ran a total of 3 out of the 11 days. Why? Because those HAL beds are so darn comfortable, That's why! Best nights sleep I have had in years. I slept in until 9:30 am almost every day, and then I hit the breakfast bar, a puzzle from the Explorations Cafe, and I was set for the morning while I read over the Daily Programme.

 

Okay, all for now. We took a few pics of the Choc. Extravaganza and our favorite stewards from around the ship. Will post them if anyone is interested.

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jtl513

jtl513

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... since they sign a year's contract and rotate to other ships, how does the Noordam keep the reputation of having such a wonderful crew?
If all (or a great majority) of the contracts ended simultaneously you would probably see some "personality" change in the crew, but as it is there is sufficient overlap of personnel to provide continuity of the team attitude.
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RuthC

RuthC

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Piano Bar was a ghost town..NO ONE ever in there when we checked. Ian McFarlane listed as playing there. Can't say how he was; but for sure, every time I looked, no one was in there. My favorite group was the Filipino band, Four Seasons, who played in the Ocean Bar. They were REALLY good & very very nice. The Ocean Bar is the happening place on this ship..at least it was this cruise. Hal Cats were playing around the ship-heard them a few times & thought they were very good.

Thanks for the info on the entertainers.

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LAFFNVEGAS "Live from...." Rare

LAFFNVEGAS

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Welcome Home Pat, I just had a chance to read this. Sounds like you had a great cruise. To me the Noordam rates right up there with the Oosterdam:D ;)

Ruth I would say you answered this very well :)

This is such a good question! I'll tell you what I think, based on my experience in front-line management. I think there's a group dynamic that pervades the employees. Whenever someone new joins the group they take on the dynamic of the others. Over time, the individual employees move on---there's multiple turn-overs of staff. But the dynamic remains the same.

 

Now, when a new boss---the Captain, Hotel Manager, and to some extent his subordinates---takes over, yes, there can be some changes. But they aren't as great as you would think. That original group dynamic is still there.

 

I'm looking forward to how others answer.

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