seaventurer

3 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Thank you all. 

 

Got a question- does P'Dam have any warm/hot tubs? I'm rethinking my packing and my swimsuit (and a few other things) is up for reconsideration. 

 

On the deck plans I see some whirlpools in the Lido and Seaview Pool areas. We don't use the spa, so it would be one elsewhere in a "public" area. Am thinking the weather will be too "crisp" for swimming in the pool.  I loved the hot tub on the Veendam in Antarctica....

Four of them - 2 midship, 2 aft...HOT.

I'll also be sailing on Prinsendam's final voyage...can't wait. I was on her Transatlantic from Lisbon to FLL last fall, and also joined her six day quickie to the Caribbean in December. I'm a photographer and author and will be documenting the journey through my blog and gallery. JDS

OH MY: Remember when airport boarding with PRE was special? Now, some of the PRE lines are longer than the regular line. So here we go with upcharges and fees that at the end of the day eliminate any deal we thought we may have secured. Add an upsell for a better cabin, now ORANGE, big bucks for a spot at the RETREAT, daily gratuities going up.. Best to just get a suite and savor the journey with those perks to begin with. I'm not quite sure I'll ever make 500 days with HAL since I sail on other lines and don't happen to have 50 days a year to cruise (although this year I did manage to spend 60+ days cruising.) Just my thoughts. I have no problem doing some wash at the launderette and frankly, any day at sea is better than PERIOD.

FOUR (4) GREAT GIFTS FROM CUNARD

1.) Queen Elizabeth 2017 first leg of her World Cruise: Transatlantic. I booked an outside single balcony - paid about $1,800. One week before departure, the call came in. "Mr. Schwartz, we have an upgrade to a Princess Grill suite..." uh oh, I thought as I quickly pulled up the fares for the crossing..."The upgrade cost would be $600..." (*&$@(*#&($@$)@#)...I though, for one second, and accepted. If I had booked and paid for this prior, it would have cost me $9,800. I ate every meal in the Grill. Of course, the purchase of a tux was at this point an irrevocable decision.

2.) Queen Victoria, Transatlantic January 2018. I really wanted to get on this crossing. I love Cunard and love crossing the Atlantic, especially in January knowing the seas will be big (I am a wave chaser...) One night as I was searching the net, I was looking for a balcony (single) and OMG, a fare popped up without the supplement - so one person, one fare. It was late so I went to the Cunard site and found the same deal: It was booked and paid for at $1,200 on the spot.

3/4.) On July 27th of this year, I will sail QM2 Transatlantic in one of her FABULOUS single cabins number 3006 - the ones on deck 3L with the huge circular windows. I did the same last year in number 3002. First of all, these cabins are really hard to get - there are only nine of them. Second, if they are available, they are more expensive (typically) than booking a balcony and paying the supplement. On both occasions, I beat the balcony offer and this year paid only $1,600 ! Normally, and if they are available, the cost is over $2,500.

OH, CUNARD AIR - My air from Miami to the UK, and from NY to Miami has never cost me more than $500. On my July 27th crossing, my air cost $350 (British and America.) TOTAL.

When I tell people about my affair with Cunard, a typical response is, "oh, it's stuffy and expensive..." My response is "you don't know what you don't know..."

JD

Per CGreenhills, I would visit ROTTERDAM - first for the SS Rotterdam, then for the city. The architecture is great as are the small neighborhoods, cafes and galleries. Here's a link to photos of the SS Rotterdam - in all her glory! ENJOY: http://www.galleryofships.com/p315162634

I haven't see a responsive (mobile) web site / ap from Cunard yet. When you check out the CUNARD web site on your phone, it's a desktop version.

Honestly.

Don't let this comment fool you. I too hope CUNARD tweaks what's right, and gets rid of what's not (which is very little.)

Just booked QM2 TA 11.04.18. Hoping for rough seas - the only way to cross.

SV

OK, so on deck 4, and this is also true on all Signature and Vista class ships as well, deck FOUR has the largest (standard) balconies due to the design of the hull. Aft and forward, they are the same width but about 8 feet deep - really deep. The most forward balcony cabins on deck four have steel, rather than glass below the railing which works for me. I am in 4017 TA on the Koningsdam and recently sailed in 4019 Westerdam and also Queen Victoria, 4001. Same price, but those who know, the early bird gets the worm. HOWEVER, BEWARE, in heavy seas, waves hitting the bow (forward) can shock you. 4001 on Queen Victoria - the most forward balcony cabin on the ship, we hit 30 foots seas. I thought the cabin was going to explode. Waves flew right by - it was GREAT!!!

And yes, the Koningsdam balcony cabins everywhere else are narrow (er).

SV

I can agree with most of your post. Although there are still some of the older traditions still around on Holland America ships. They still have the working bellboys, still play the chimes to announce dinner. Still have teak decks.

I have been sailing for many years and actually started out my cruise life working on the SS Rotterdam. I did my first world cruises on her in 1981.

I have always loved all things Cunard and have clocked up hundreds of nights onboard various Cunard Ships. I love what Cunard offer.

I have three cruises booked for the coming year, two in Britannia, one in the Grills. I do not care where I stay as long as I am onboard.

Unfortunately, there were too many things that were not a Cunard style on my last cruise.

Even Cunard customer services told me they had been many complaints and they were looking into this.

Good that they do as they need to keep one step ahead of the game as cruisers are now a different breed to the ones that sailed on the ships like SS Rotterdam. They do not have the same style of the glamour of the old style ships. Wearing anoraks into the bars on a formal night etc is not what one expects.

As a point of interest. This time last year we took a cruise on the MS Rotterdam. Sailed on her repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rotterdam. The ship is 20 years old. Has a wrap around teak deck and. Still has portholes. I loved her!

Plus the food was far, far superior to what we had on QM2.

Stephan Payne who designed QM2 took his idea if the wrap-around teak deck from the SS Rotterdam, plus the Staircase in G32 is his modern take if the stairs in the Ritz Carlton.

He told me this himself .

The SS Rotterdam is now a floating hotel and conference centre in Rotterdam harbour.

We stayed onboard last year after disembarking the present day Rotterdam. She is in incredibly good condition and it was wonderful to step back in time to what had once been my home. Fabulous dining rooms and other rooms still in tact in their original state of design, well worth the visit.

One has to wonder what QM2 will be like when she reaches the grand old age of 60 like SS Rotterdam.

 

 

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My first cruise in 1967 was on the SS Rotterdam. I celebrated 50 years of cruising last year on her in Rotterdam as well - in an original suite which I stayed in back in the '70's. I sailed on her frequently through the 70's. In the past year, I have sailed on HAL 3 times: MS Rotterdam to Norway, Westerdam TA and the Veendam to Cuba. Just two bellboys left per ship and staffed mainly in the dining room to serve mints and ginger and seat people to their tables. No chimes at dinner time in any of the lounges. Payne was also inspired by the original QM and Normandy which gave QM2 a lot of her inherent and iconic liner design features. You would enjoy this book, about QM2 which includes Payne and the SS Rotterdam...www.qm2divine.com.

HI. Three QM2 crossings. One (crossing) each on QE and QV. If anyone chooses to sail with Cunard based on food, know this - you have not made the best decision. CUNARD is not known for its culinary excellence in Britannia. However, the Grills offer a different dimension of dining at sea. I did have the privilege of crossing in a PG suite on my QE crossing - it was nearly flawless. Oceania does deliver great food, some of the best. Cunard's buffets on QV and QE are average at best, serving the same fare each day and in limited fashion. Very limited. QM2's Kings court is good with much more variety and fare than the twins.

Now, the QM2 is like no other ship. Period. Sail on her for the legacy, the tradition and the greatness of this fine ship - she is an ocean liner as we all know. Don't expect an experience anything near that of a cruise ship. On QM2, you can walk around the promenade in 25 foot seas at 22 knots. On any other ship - forget about it. Even the pools are open in really bad weather, in January.

Cunard has done the best job with the Vista/Signature class platform (QE & QV). The Interiors are awesome and carry on the Cunard tradition offering a wonderful array of lounges and spaces that are far superior than any other ships (and there are many) using this footprint of ship. It will be intriguing to see how Cunard outfits their new ship, comparing that to the Koningsdam which I have sailed on and was seriously disappointed with the fragmented design and layout of that ship.

I began my cruising life at age 10, 50 years ago on the SS Rotterdam. I like old world, old style, traditional voyages and today, I find that it is only CUNARD that can deliver those memories in any type of manner or fashion. I tolerate mediocre food and shower curtains. I sail CUNARD because they still produce what this whole business was founded on - a seafaring experience. No rock climbing, no skating rinks, no neon. It's about the only pure, authentic ship line left and that said, it is a stretch. It requires a certain level of tolerance and CUNARD is not for everyone. The trade off is worth it. I love CUNARD.

HI, Yes, I stole my Queen Victoria sailing Jan 7 - UK to Ft. Lauderdale. Amazing deal. Thanks CUNARD !!!

WOW, this is beginning to get forensic. My take is the percentage of promenade enthusiasts (and I am one of them) is so overwhelmingly small compared to those who never set foot on it, or even know there is a promenade would not influence making the requisite design changes (cost.)

FYI: There was a SOLAS regulation about 15 years ago that imposed lifeboats be no more than 43' above the waterline. Those lifeboats aren't going to gain any height.

CUNARD's concept (with new tonnage) would be to expand their customer base - grow their product offering, converting cruisers from other brands which most likely don't have a large or loyal promenade deck guest following. I've been on ships with decent promenade decks that are empty from dawn til dusk. I'm afraid there aren't many of us left. The joggers and walkers will have to (and usually do without avail) settle for a track up top and frankly speaking, I'm not quite sure many of them are steamer chair, rug and bouillon folks. What happened to the bouillon? This would be particularly true if CUNARD geared this ship to the AMERICAN market. Rock climbing for God's sake. Does anyone miss those?

There are some trade offs with the K-DAM footprint (which I have been on) in our favor. For example, the main, mid-ship pool embedded in a wonderful two story domed oasis is amazing. While not a KDAM fan (see my earlier post), I'm confident (optimistic) CUNARD will have license to continue their tradition with the iconic lounges and dining venues by re-configuring the design foundation of the public decks (to a certain degree) as opposed to what Holland America tried to do and IMO failed. Remember HAL is trying to reinvent themselves - CUNARD has a proven, established and widely accepted tradition of how their product is delivered. I love what they did with QE.

Change is inevitable and if the only transition or evolution is a reduced promenade (a tunnel is correct) than so be it. I'm sure she will have some extraordinary features we won't know about. Heck, delivery is 5 years off. They may not cut steel for another 3 years, so there's a very large window for ensuring the ship is perhaps more than we could ever imagine. Everything could change in that time frame, look at VIRGIN's new ship(s) and in fact it may. Technology and design are moving ahead at breakneck speeds.

Of the items on my wish list (simple), I'd like to see them emulate QM2's new single staterooms and put a bunch of them on this new ship. They sell out, always, and I fell in love with #3002 (QM2). I'm so happy with CUNARD frankly, whatever we end up with will no doubt be a great ship (albeit a tad ugly). If anyone believes the Westerdam is anything like the QE or QV except for the bones, look again. Thank you CUNARD.

SV

Great Thread. Queen Anne? Not so fast. I'm glad we're sharing opinions (on the most part). I would wager a different naming approach.

I've been on the Koningsdam. I have faith that Cunard will execute it's own deck arrangement and execution with respect to lounges and passenger space. The Koningsdam is quirky (to me). There's no real definition from one lounge (space) to another on Kongingsdam except for decor. Music from one venue overwhelms that of another and it seems almost as there were conflicting teams designing her. It's pretty, but in my opinion a mass of a brand gone astray. Almost like a first attempt to change the game and again, while it's pretty it doesn't seem to work (cosmetically and otherwise.) One superb feature on Koningsdam is the two level pool, midship with it's dome. I never could understand why QE or QV didn't design a dome for the exception that it wouldn't fit with the Winter Garden, but why they couldn't merge a pretty Winter Garden with a dome over the midship pool is beyond me.

I believe QM2 will sail through her 40's. She's spectacular and after sailing on her three times since her remastering, she looks, feels and smells almost NEW. I happen to be lucky (a strategic deployment) and get #3002 in August, one of her new singles, which was, after 140 cruises and crossings, perhaps one of my favorites. The fit and finish was Mercedes Benz quality - and the space was deceiving. Roomy would be an understatement. Thanks Blohm and Voss. OH those windows!

In real life, the KDam is not very attractive and brings back to haunts of the ugly duck appeal of NCL's Epic. Out of proportion, just stack 'em as high as you can, up front. Clearly and as stated, the savings in employing a VISTA footprint compared to that of a new design are huge. But, for an extra, say, $100 million, CUNARD could have gone another route. Why not an exploration/adventure ship? It's the hottest space in cruising - Sailing on CUNARD to Antarctica would be fab - TEA and penguins? Hey, Crystal is doing it and we're not dead yet.

FYI, the Veranda cabins on KONINGSDAM, new and fresh as they are - are small - tight, especially the bathrooms and I'm not a large person. Given the projected pax capacity of the new QUEEN, I don't believe this will change so don't expect the spacious design of what we're used to?

One of Cunard's ships should be positioned in the AMERICAS - the brand is not well recognized in the US market, but could be a breakthrough since the mainstream options we have are getting very blurry. Celebrity is my favorite (after CUNARD) but only because I believe the Solstice class ships are the best designed and sized ships today. Almost flawless. Three times on the Eclipse somewhat qualities that statement.

CUNARD makes me feel special, almost privileged and entitled (sorry) but it's that what you want? I want to sail with a cruise brand that knows what delivering a real ocean going product is all about. I love the formality and the outright mix and class of passengers CUNARD garners. It's actually much less pretentious than what one would expect. Perception is reality.

QM2 would make the ultimate HOTEL ship in her retirement. I was on HAL's ROTTERDAM V in Rotterdam in May (the first ship I ever sailed on) and stayed in the same suite I was on cruises during her heyday in the '70's. She is a phenomenal example of how to restore a Grand Lady (or Grade Dame) to near perfection (albeit it did take a cool $250 million.)

I'm completing my first book - a 220 page Photographic Chronical (hardcover) featuring QM2 and my life. I love CUNARD.

How well they are able to transition a new, 3,000 passenger ship into their fleet will be the question. Where will it go; in which market will it serve its shareholders and loyal CUNADER's best, and will CUNARD be able to continue, more like hang onto, the tradition of excellence (White Star Service) they are currently delivering. They will have to draw significant resources from their other ships to make this happen. I have confidence that CUNARD will maintain this standard and look forward to many more great journeys on this brand of excellence (I do not work for CUNARD.)

We have until 2022 to see how this unfolds and I suspect this thread by then will have been parced into numerous iterations - let the journey begin.

HI : I would place a (small) wager on CUNARD breaking out and NOT naming this newbie a QUEEN...Queen Anne? Not a very striking name for a ship. Also, since she is basically a blown up Vista class ship (a la HAL Koningsdam/Pinnacle) no worries about it NOT having a wrapped promenade...pretty sure this is a feature CUNARD would never break tradition with.

3,000+ guests, she'll be the largest capacity CUNARD ship. I've been on the Koningsdam and knowing CUNARD, whatever she's called, it will be an amazing ship - the two level mid-ship pool area is stunning (on Koningsdam) and covered, a feature sadly missing on the Victoria and Elizabeth and for reasons I can't figure out, except to give the Wintergarden's ample room. They surely could have incorporated those respective venues into an indoor/outdoor (covered) feature. It would have been nice crossing the Atlantic this past January on QE. Lot's of ice on the deck.

My question is where will this new ship go? I don't see current voyages being sold out (regularly). Why not position this (or the Victoria or Elizabeth) in the US - Cunard is not a well known brand in the US but should be and we could use everything that Cunard is famous for here in the States. I've crossed the pond four times with Cunard in the past year (3 on QM2 and once on QE) and getting tired of flying to the UK to catch a ride (not really.) Cunard outshines and out delivers anything close to price and standards of service (IMO). Cunard transiting the canal; Hawaii; Alaska - we need some solid, sound British appeal over here. Show the Americans (I'm one of them) how it's done, what it's really like to cruise. Want to climb a rock, go to Wyoming, or sail on a floating theme park. Tea?

The journey continues, and always will.

Nice ship, problem is, she is one of the last remaining steam ships (passenger) sailing today. In fact, many were puzzled by this option to engine here with steam in the '80's...doubt she will be sold to any significant cruise venture...steam just doesn't work anymore, and after the Norway explosion, and the extensive upkeep costs of this system it's highly unlikely the cruise community (passengers) would support her. Sad to say even though she is a beautiful ship.

The Columbo movie was on the Sun Princess, the ship filmed at the end of Legend of 1900 was the Rotterdam V and Table for Five was filmed aboard the VISTAFJORD, not the Sagafjord. Boat Trip was filmed on a Renaissance Ship and the upcoming film, "Into the Horizon" - something about a diamond heist was filmed on Radisson's Navigator - I saw them filming this in Nassau.