westerdam

On 2/21/2024 at 8:48 PM, Cruising Is Bliss said:

Song of America was my first cruise back in 1997 for a two week Panama Canal. She was a wonderful introduction to cruising. So sorry to see she was scrapped a couple of months ago.

She has NOT been scrapped as of yet. However, it is looking like she will be as she passed through the Suez Canal yesterday and is currently sailing down the Red Sea destination unknown. Chances are the ship breakers at Alang, India though.

Just for fun I would love to see them bring back the Dutch hats that they would have on the table at dinner 20 or so years ago.  

10 hours ago, 3yorkies said:

Great news!   I really love Allure compared to Harmony.

Just curious what are the differences between the 2? I did the Allure going on 2 years ago and almost the Harmony a few weeks ago. (I went on the Vision of the Seas instead) 

Looks sort of interesting. The prices are rather off putting though. They don't seem to have the deck plans up yet. A work in progress I suppose like the hull art.  There seems to be 2 versions of that. 

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

No word might mean,get ready for a bus ride first before your cruise.

That is more than fine.  I just want to get it all settled ASAP.  I guess time will tell though. It would not be so bad if I was not flying in from the west coast. 😂🤦

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I'm a bit surprised RC hasn't announced anything, but it is a lot easier for Carnival to switch to Norfolk since that's their port and it's on the way to Baltimore.

My guess is RC is working to announce at the same time both what to do with the current cruise and what to do about the next two.

I do hope RCI gets off of the proverbial pot soon about all this.  I am supposed to be going on the next cruise and in theory should already be onboard by this time next week. If I have to cancel, reschedule flights or book a bus to get me to wherever ship is going to be docking the sooner the better. Not just for me but everyone.  By now I would have thought there would have been at least a minor update. 

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

I think most people like whatever ship is in Baltimore for the convenience of just driving to the port.....There isn't alot of people flying to Baltimore to jump on Vision is there,when  there is so many other options to fly to in Florida.

Sadly, I am one of the very few (probably) flying in.  I currently live in Las Vegas and it was a semi free cruise from MGM that my friend received. I would rather have flown to Florida and boarded something from there or gone out of Galveston but hey this is the one he picked on the list and I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth! Hahahah

2 minutes ago, BND said:

We're on the next two.  Waiting to see. 

That is all one can do I suppose.  I am sure there is someplace the can dock the ship in the Baltimore area even if they have to set up temporary facilities with tents and whatnot. 

Wow! I am shocked this happened let alone the bridge collapsing like that! I am on the next cruise of the Vision of the Seas so it will be interesting to see how this unfolds. 

Loving your detailed review so far! I am surprised they don't have free ice cream at all.  3 weeks ago there usually was an ice cream dessert on the menu in the main dining room in the evening and they had it every afternoon in the buffet in the dessert section.  As for the coffee machines in the Lido.  I found out if you do one of the espresso then switch to one of the cappuccino it fills the cup perfectly with no overflow. 

Can't wait for further installments of your review! 😀

I will be following your post with interest on your thoughts. I also sailed on her as the Ryndam years ago and was just on her 2 weeks ago for the first run of the season up to the Adriatic. There is not a lot left from that era of her operating as Ryndam.  The majority of what I saw off the top of my head was on statue outside of the Blue Room, a few mirrors in the upper level of the atrium, the door handles to the crows nest, and the ships cabin hallways.  My cabin that was an inside on 5th deck was 100 percent vintage HAL from when they did the big signature of excellence about 15 years ago if I recall correctly.  The promenade deck is outstanding but there is no place to sit anymore. Other than all the way forward they did put in a couple of benches. I really missed the old fashioned steamer chairs!  

Overall, I had a lovely time on her and would not hesitate to use them again. On a side note if you received a credit for shore excursions make sure you use it BEFORE you embark the ship! I almost found out the hard way and saw several people in line at the shore excursion desk trying to use it but it is only available before you embark for whatever reason.  That being said do enjoy your cruise and if you have any questions feel free to send me a message. 

On 3/17/2024 at 8:50 AM, mnocket said:

Yeah, ours took a bit longer, but nothing like the waits that people were reporting a while back.  However, I'm kicking myself for not requesting the larger passport with more pages. 

Me too.  I am in the same boat. I didn't realize it was the same cost for the expanded version of the passport and I have to renew it shortly as I have just about filled my current one with stamps. I arrived home yesterday from a month in Europe and was stamped in and out about 13 or so times give or take. 

Thank you for posting this.  I was onboard for this trip.  I was running around on the promenade deck taking photos but don't seem to see myself even if in ant form.  I will have to have a look at it again on my computer when I return to the USA in a week. 

My last cruise with Princess was in May of 2002 on the original Pacific Princess to Bermuda.  Fast forward to April of 2022.  There was a dirt cheap cruise for 4 days to Vancouver on the Grand Princess. They instantly looked up my number and had my full history there.  Oddly enough with several cruises that I had not been on for some reason.  Not going to complain as it bumped me to platinum.  Have done another 2 with Princess since then.  

On 9/4/2023 at 7:01 AM, 9tee2Sea said:

I went thru the process in Feb of the year.  The NCL cruise went from Dubai-Athens.  Did the overnight NCL excursion ( Safaga,overnight, then charter flight to Cairo, fly back to Hurgurtha to get the ship).  The  day before, they called each deck by number to line up at a certain location.  You wind thru the line, give your passport to Passport Control.  Once you get in line, it takes about 20 min ( the waiting in line is the longest part).  It may be cheaper to get one on your own, but IMO, its worth the extra money to have NCL take care of everything..  

Just curious do they actually stamp your passport or is it just a glance of it and hand you the tourist card?

On 9/14/2023 at 1:01 AM, twotravellersLondon said:

 

It may well be that the Braemar just isn't fit to sail or to accommodate people. 

 

When a ship is mothballed, many of the key navigation, safety and other systems can go past their use-by-date and need to be re-certified In order to be approved by the marine authorities. This involves the UK authorities, the Bahamas where the Braemar is registered, and it's not a simple task. When the Balmoral was initially brought back into service, the operation took months and the company reported that the cost of putting the ship to sea again had a significant impact on the company finances.

 

The Braemar can't simply "be sold for scrap". Bonheur insist that when the Black Watch was sold a sales clause insisted that the new owners and all subsequent owners had to agree to the far more expensive "recycling" process. That seriously diminishes the value of the ship.

 

So it may well be that, without substantial investment, the Braemar is now a floating hulk... unfit to go to sea.

 

So with that in mind... it seems highly unlikely that FOCLs will have any spare cash to buy into a Liverpool Cruise-Terminal... but never say never as far as Bonheur is concerned.

 

 

I do not debate anything that you said.  I do recall even my own ship when I was in the US Navy and when it was brought back into service after being in the shipyards for drydock and repairs it took months afterwards to get everything back together and set right. 

Braemar has been a dead ship more or less for over a year. In cold iron status (as far as I know) I am sure it would be prohibitively expensive to bring her back to life and class. Even if it was just for non sailing purposes as an accommodation ship. 

As for her possible sale for scrapping/recycling I do remember the entire debacle a year or so ago with the Black Watch going off to Alang and the parent company of Fred fighting it. She still went none the less. Perhaps this time if it comes down to it they should just sell direct to an EU approved breaker like the ones in Turkey.  

So I do agree for now that she has become sadly nothing more than an expensive hulk. 

9 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Just got back from an hour stroll around Eastport. "A small fishing village" is a brief, accurate description. Having 1200 pax here about doubles the population. They get a few small cruises to visit, but I doubt any bigger than Zaandam, as the pier is barely fitting Zaandam. With last minute switch, we saw only two tours. Otherwise, not much else to see except "quaint- ness". Some small shops and restaurants. 

 

Been cloudy/foggy all day, with a number of showers. But dry since 1pm. Hurricane Lee continues to promise some excitement probably by Saturday night, maybe lasting into Monday. Monday is a tender port at Corner Brook. Not optimistic. 

 

Lunch in Lido was very good...seafood paella. Love paella!

 

Tonight is a dressy night.

 

The problem with drink plans...they require repeated and comprehensive exercise. Off to keep our drink plan fit.

 

 

I do envy you! Once upon a time I used to spend my summers in Eastport and the Perry, Maine area as a child.  Have not been back sadly in going on 33 years now even with owning land there that I finally parted with 10 years ago. It is a lovely area with more than meets the eye to do if one has an automobile and passport. 

I myself would love to see and sail aboard the Mardi Gras.  I have one of the 4 big glass panels that were in the main ballroom in my collection so it would be nice to see it in place. 

16 hours ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

No great signs on the horizon. It's nine month now since Liverpool decided to pull out of the project due to estimated costs escalating from £50 million to £88 million.

 

FOCLs are in deep debt and so far seems to have been unable to sell the Braemar which was put up for sale in November 2022. What does the future hold for FOCLs now that the first instalment of about £7,000,000 on the purchase of the old Amsterdam and Rotterdam from Holland America seems to be due. It's wait and see.

 

Bonheur, Fred's parent company in Norway could be interested and are currently looking at the Norwegian bond market... but it's wait and see on that eventuality.

 

"Fred" in our opinion often seems to charge more for cruises from Liverpool. We've just had a flyer advertising the "Fleet in Funchal. We have a 15 night cruise from Southampton on the Bolette or the Balmoral from £1,299pp for 15 days or... we can spend £200pp more for one less day cruising on the Bolette from Liverpool. Add the cost and time travelling from the South-East to and from Liverpool... it's a non starter.

 

FOCLs have a hard sell to almost double the number of passengers sailing on the Bolette from Liverpool compared to the numbers sailing on the Black Watch. That may well be a deterrent.

I am rather surprised that they did not charter out the Braemar to house all the Ukrainian refugees. Maybe by the time she would be done with that she could be brought back to regular service if the numbers warranted it or just sold for scrap at that point due to her advanced age.  

On 9/11/2023 at 3:26 PM, hamrag said:

 

Maybe they'll build it on the Clyde, even Govan! 🤣

There is always Harland & Wolff too!

So good to see her coming back into service! I sailed on her in 2000 and loved her when she was Ryndam.  Hopefully she has another 15 to 20 years left in her.  I do wonder though what this means for the Celestial Crystal though? 

1 hour ago, foodsvcmgr said:

Here’s another view from my visit in 1973.

So nice to see Southampton on the stern rather than Hamilton.  I just wish Cunard would reflag one or two to Southampton again if not all of them.  Maybe someday!

I have tried on 2 different computers to get prices for Australia sailings with no luck.  Every one said something along the lines of 'pricing not available'

I only had it done 1 time in August of 2002.  I sailed on P&O's Victoria to Spain and Portugal for a week.  Was the only American onboard so that is probably why.  Didn't get it stamped or anything which I thought was odd. Gave it back to me on the second to last night of the cruise. 

I am just wondering if there is the slim chance that she might be flagged in the UK rather than Bermuda? It would be nice to see Southampton on the stern again rather than Hamilton.