Veendam to Bermuda - got the call!

[FIRELT5]

Thats for the Sept. 19th sailing date?....

 

Wow, thats kind of steep, would like to see what Celebrity's pricing or Summit is going to be.

 

Summit pricing should be available in March or April 2009. Unfortunately your stuck at the Dockyard for 3 or 4 Days. Cruising on the High Speed Ferry around the Island is Nice for transportation :)

[cruiselife8]

I'm reading this thread, and boy am I excited! But like the rest of you, that price is steep. I'm also wondering about Celebrity's prices. Thank you for posting, I can't wait to find out more tomorrow.

[Jade13]

Summit pricing should be available in March or April 2009. Unfortunately your stuck at the Dockyard for 3 or 4 Days. Cruising on the High Speed Ferry around the Island is Nice for transportation :)

 

Can you explain this post? Are you just telling us where Celebrity docks vs Veendam?

 

Veendam is a smaller HAL ship (approx 1,200 pax) and always higher priced than larger HAL ships. That price is what I expected. I assume these prices will go down a bit, but many sailings will also sell out. The Spa Staterooms are over $2K.

[Jade13]

Seems steep to me, too. Double what NCL is...and I realize that's comparing apples and oranges, but still....

 

How large is the NCL ship?

[FIRELT5]

Can you explain this post? Are you just telling us where Celebrity docks vs Veendam?

 

Veendam is a smaller HAL ship (approx 1,200 pax) and always higher priced than larger HAL ships. That price is what I expected. I assume these prices will go down a bit, but many sailings will also sell out. The Spa Staterooms are over $2K.

 

The Summit will be Docked at the Royal Navy Dock Yard or the west end. Bus or high speed Ferry acess will be required to visit Hamilton (Bus transportation for beaches). Bermuda has a good transportation system. Passengers can obtain a transportation pass for $28 which is valid for 3 days on any Bus or Ferry. The Summit will be to large to enter into Hamilton or St. George and will just be limited to this remote location.

 

The Veendam will dock in Hamilton, St. George due to its smaller size. IMHO this will be the better itin. ( closer to the main attractions, Beaches, less travel time)

[FIRELT5]

How large is the NCL ship?

 

The NCL Spirit & Dawn carry between 2200-2400 passengers and are limited to the Dockyard. The NCL Majesty has around 1600 passengers and can navigate into St. George through the Town Cut which is extremely narrow. The Majesty can also navigate the Narrow channels in Hamilton Harbor cruising to downtown Hamilton.

 

We will be on the NCL Dawn 8/31/2009 and the pricing for a Cat BA (Balcony) for 3 is $2703.

 

The pricing for 3 on the Veendam for the 10/3/2010 in a Cat EE is $2809. Yes it's a bit steep

 

We have cruised to Bermuda yearly since 1992 on X, RCL, Princess & NCL

[sail7seas]

Veendam's docking in both Hamilton and St. George make a cruise on her so very much better IMO than being at the Dockyard. That makes it worth it to me to pay more...... not to mention how much I'd rather be on HAL anyway. I wouldn't go if we were to be only at the Dockyard.

 

We bought some future cruise deposits while on our recent Maasdam cruise and they are burning a hole in my pocket. This may be what we will use two of them for.

 

[Lurker1]

Darn we have to sail from N.Y. :( but we will be doing that I am quite sure. :)

 

 

Hooray for NY sailings! Sorry Sail, I know you're in Mass, but we're down here in CT, living on the border between Red Sox Nation and the Evil Empire.

Seriously, we could do either, we are about equi-distant from either city.

[FIRELT5]

Pricing is now available online at HAL.

 

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action

[FIRELT5]

Just Booked the Last Sailing 10/3/2010. We are in a CAt EE

[innlady1]

I wonder how drastically the deck plans will change when they go into drydock this year?

 

I'm trying to decide between May 9 or September 26. With the economy being what it is, I'm not counting on selling our inn anytime soon. We're open at that time and I don't have an innsitter I can call upon so will book when we're slowest. May would work best for our schedue, but I prefer Bermuda in the fall rather than the spring.

 

We're open end April to mid to end October, so have not been to Bermuda since the October before we bought the inn in '93!

[FIRELT5]

I wonder how drastically the deck plans will change when they go into drydock this year?

 

I'm trying to decide between May 9 or September 26. With the economy being what it is, I'm not counting on selling our inn anytime soon. We're open at that time and I don't have an innsitter I can call upon so will book when we're slowest. May would work best for our schedue, but I prefer Bermuda in the fall rather than the spring.

 

We're open end April to mid to end October, so have not been to Bermuda since the October before we bought the inn in '93!

 

http://book.hollandamerica.com/fleet/deckPlan.do?ship=ve&deck=v&year=next

[bishop84]

Don't I wish Veendam was sailing from Boston to Bermuda. We'd do a Canada/New England cruise on Maasdam and then hop off and onto Veendam for Bermuda, back-to-back. What fun that would have been.

 

Darn we have to sail from N.Y. :( but we will be doing that I am quite sure. :)

I've read here on this board that there will far more sailings than originally announced. We'll have to see for sure but I think the sailings start before August.

 

Unfortunately NCL still have the exclusive rights to sail from Boston to Bermuda. I understand they purchased them when they bought Majesty Cruise Line in the '90s.

[herb]

just checked the prices for the summer.....insides and oceanviews are reasonable (sort-of) but, boy oh boy, $800 per person more for a balcony! :eek: Rest assured, if we book this cruise our balcony will be the promenade deck :D

[FIRELT5]

just checked the prices for the summer.....insides and oceanviews are reasonable (sort-of) but, boy oh boy, $800 per person more for a balcony! :eek: Rest assured, if we book this cruise our balcony will be the promenade deck :D

 

Summit may not be much better if not higher. Hopefully I'm wrong :(

[Jade13]

Unfortunately NCL still have the exclusive rights to sail from Boston to Bermuda. I understand they purchased them when they bought Majesty Cruise Line in the '90s.

 

How does one get an exclusive right to sail from one port to another? How long is that for?

[herb]

Summit may not be much better if not higher. Hopefully I'm wrong :(

 

Do you think so,,,, I always thought Holland America was more expensive than Celebrity.

 

I would only pick Summit if price was quite a bit lower than HAL since it docks in Royal Dockyard instead of "in town", and it leaves from Bayonne (we live in Queens so getting to Manhattan is quicker for us than getting to NJ)

 

If prices between HAL and Celebrity are basically the same it'll be HAL for us....

[Jade13]

We booked.

[innlady1]

How large is the NCL ship?

 

I'm not sure, Jade. They used to do the Majesty out of Boston. Then the Dream. Another one does the NYC/Bermuda run. They're not mega ships. I know the Dream docked in St. George last fall, and then either went to the Dockyard or Hamilton. Not sure.

 

Yes, they're not expensive cruises....but I'd very much prefer HAL over NCL....that's why we've held back!

[innlady1]

Hooray for NY sailings! Sorry Sail, I know you're in Mass, but we're down here in CT, living on the border between Red Sox Nation and the Evil Empire.

 

Seriously, we could do either, we are about equi-distant from either city.

 

I'm in MA as well, and we sailed out of NYC the last two winters on the Noordam. They had a Homeport bus, operated by Academy Bus. It was wonderful....my guess is they'll resume it for the NYC/Bermuda runs.

[innlady1]

http://book.hollandamerica.com/fleet/deckPlan.do?ship=ve&deck=v&year=next

 

I saw those, but they're only effective til 03/29/09. They don't have the new ones on-line yet. Probably won't til after the refit.

[sail7seas]

Which month did you book, Jade?

 

We may book late July for when Maasdam is doing the Voyage of the Vikings.

 

Then take our usual Canada/New England b-to-b's when she returns to Boston.

 

[FIRELT5]

I saw those, but they're only effective til 03/29/09. They don't have the new ones on-line yet. Probably won't til after the refit.

 

 

It does appear that these are effective after the retrofit.

 

http://book.hollandamerica.com/fleet/deckPlan.do?ship=ve&deck=a9&year=next

[Suesan Jean]

I received a message from HAL this evening that I can book my 2010 Bermuda cruise now. We purchased a FCC while aboard the Eurodam when the Bermuda cruise was first announced. I'll call back tomorrow to get all the info... most importantly pricing! The message said that booking will be open to the public starting on Wednesday.

 

Anyone booked yet?

 

I have been waiting for this information for MONTH'S....!!! Ever since I first read about it, I have been patiently waiting.....:)

For us, we have two options, the Norwegian Spirit out of Boston or the Veendam out of New York in July 2010.

We fell in LOVE with Holland America, last March when we were on the Noordam, but, I have read some scathing reviews of the Veendam lately, which concerns me. I am hoping that when the ship goes in for its refurbishment, things will be better.

Since we only live an hour from New York City, it is perfect for us, and it is GREAT that we go to Saint Georges and Hamilton.

The cabin I am looking at would be more than the cabin we would get on the Spirit, by quite a bit, close to $1,000. But, it is a MUCH BIGGER cabin too.....

The Norwegian Spirit is a three hour drive away, we could spend a day or so pre-cruise in Boston, which would be fun.:)

We do like NCL, and the cabin we would have would give my DD her own sleeping space and that would be good. Versus on the Veendam we are in one big room. Teenage Daughters DO need their "space".......;)

The Spirit only goes to King's Wharf, which is farther away from the beaches that we want to go too. The Spirit was just refurbished, so, that is good too........

So, I have some thinking to do.......

For those of you who are seriously thinking/planning on going on the Veendam, if you have been on this ship, what do you think about it....???

After nine cruises, I KNOW that I can LOVE the ship I was on, have had a GREAT TIME and people right next to me, as we disembark, could have had a LOUSY TIME.....!!!

But, gosh, the Veendam has been getting skewered......:eek:

Any thoughts would be helpfull.......:)

[FIRELT5]

I have been waiting for this information for MONTH'S....!!! Ever since I first read about it, I have been patiently waiting.....:)

For us, we have two options, the Norwegian Spirit out of Boston or the Veendam out of New York in July 2010.

We fell in LOVE with Holland America, last March when we were on the Noordam, but, I have read some scathing reviews of the Veendam lately, which concerns me. I am hoping that when the ship goes in for its refurbishment, things will be better.

Since we only live an hour from New York City, it is perfect for us, and it is GREAT that we go to Saint Georges and Hamilton.

The cabin I am looking at would be more than the cabin we would get on the Spirit, by quite a bit, close to $1,000. But, it is a MUCH BIGGER cabin too.....

The Norwegian Spirit is a three hour drive away, we could spend a day or so pre-cruise in Boston, which would be fun.:)

We do like NCL, and the cabin we would have would give my DD her own sleeping space and that would be good. Versus on the Veendam we are in one big room. Teenage Daughters DO need their "space".......;)

The Spirit only goes to King's Wharf, which is farther away from the beaches that we want to go too. The Spirit was just refurbished, so, that is good too........

So, I have some thinking to do.......

For those of you who are seriously thinking/planning on going on the Veendam, if you have been on this ship, what do you think about it....???

After nine cruises, I KNOW that I can LOVE the ship I was on, have had a GREAT TIME and people right next to me, as we disembark, could have had a LOUSY TIME.....!!!

But, gosh, the Veendam has been getting skewered......:eek:

Any thoughts would be helpfull.......:)

 

 

 

Sounds like a completely renovated Veendam to me ??? :)

 

 

 

 

 

Holland America Line Announces $200 Million in Enhancements to Five Ships as Part of Ongoing Signature of Excellence

 

Commitment now exceeds $525 million

 

 

Seattle, WA, November 4, 2008 - As part of its ongoing Signature of Excellence, Holland America Line is doubling the amount to be spent in upgrades, enhancements and new features on five of the line's most popular ships. Over the next two years, the ms Statendam, ms Ryndam, ms Maasdam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam will undergo extensive dry docks to create new venues, new staterooms, new décor and more. The $200 million program will begin when Veendam enters an extended dock in spring 2009, and the last ship is slated for completion in early 2011.

 

The investment in this new series of enhancements will include a new resort pool concept, innovative lanai staterooms, new entertainment and enrichment options, all new stateroom décor and more. Holland America Line's commitment to enhancing its premium fleet now exceeds $525 million.

 

Signature of Excellence features and amenities are evident in every aspect of the Holland America Line cruise experience, offering guests more luxurious accommodations, more enticing destinations, enhanced dining experiences, more creative activities and even higher levels of service.

 

Previously, during the first phase of Signature of Excellence, these five ships were enhanced with the Explorations Café, Culinary Arts Center, expanded Club HAL youth facilities and more. This next installment reinforces Holland America Line's commitment to its popular mid-sized ships. The enhancements will add more verandah staterooms, introduce a new category of stateroom, expand the Lido Deck's pool feature with The Retreat, create a showroom at sea and upgrade staterooms, bathrooms and fixtures.

 

"Holland America Line has long been the leader in the premium cruise segment," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president of sales, marketing and guest services. "This significant and continued investment reaffirms our commitment to our fleet of mid-sized ships and our ongoing leadership in the premium category by continually raising the bar in terms of products and services."

 

"In an era where cruise lines are building ships to carry more than 5,000 passengers, Holland America Line remains focused on mid-sized vessels," said Meadows. "These enhancements will blend the latest innovations for premium travel into our ships, creating a deluxe experience that is unparalleled."

 

The most dramatic alteration will be to the aft portion of the ships, allowing for a new resort-style pool area on Lido deck called The Retreat with a shallow area where guests may lounge in chairs and dip their fingers and toes in the water or relax on the bench and dangle their legs in the refreshing water. A new pool bar and an upscale pizzeria called Slice will be installed, as well as a canopy and wind screens to provide additional covered seating for the Lido Restaurant.

 

All staterooms will receive new décor, carpeting and soft goods. Each ship also will have an additional 44 to 46 staterooms, 32 with verandahs and the remaining will be inside staterooms. On the four S-class ships, twelve staterooms near the spa (on Deck 9) also will have verandahs added, and along with three inside staterooms, become 'spa staterooms' featuring a variety of enhanced spa amenities. On the Rotterdam, 23 staterooms on Verandah deck will become spa staterooms. New lanai staterooms will be created on each ship by replacing existing stateroom windows (on Lower Promenade Deck 6) with lanai doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade, and adding a few additional staterooms. There will be 38 lanai staterooms on Veendam, Ryndam, Maasdam and Statendam, and 39 on Rotterdam.

 

The program also involves enhancements to several of the public rooms. A Merabella luxury jewelry shop will be added. The Casino and Piano bars will be reconfigured into a multi-themed area called Mix with three separate bars--Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Next door, the high-energy casino will be redesigned highlighting the always trendy table and slot games. The main show space will be transformed into the Showroom at Sea with the ambiance of a glamorous nightclub. The ever-popular Ocean Bar will be refurbished and carpets will be replaced in most public areas.

 

Entertainment and enrichment, or "edutainment," is taking on a new, contemporary look and feel across the fleet. A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing and working with digital photos, blogs and movies. Each team consists of a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a "techspert." On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions.

 

Renowned for service levels provided by its award-winning staff, the program will also include significant crew area enhancements including a new fitness facility, internet centers, staterooms and recreational areas.

 

The industry-leading Signature of Excellence initiative announced nearly five years ago in November 2003 has evolved into an ongoing and comprehensive review of every aspect of the Holland America Line experience. Signature of Excellence is Holland America Line's brand promise and continues to bring innovation and relevance to guests.