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MS Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam - The GRAND TOUR of SIGNATURE class - Pics and Video - the most detailed description of these ships.
Please go to Page 3 and scroll to Post #42 and 44.
6082 is essentially the same as 6110 with "flipped" layout.
Enjoy your cruise.
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Two captains and hotel managers have told us Tamarind's location isn't good due to the sometimes extreme vibration and zero foot traffic. I seriously doubt they put a surcharge restaurant in that area again.
Moving it down and more center could work.
I have not heard reports on vibration in premium restaurants on the Cunard Queens. The location is the same as Tamarind. Probably I missed something.
I believe the losses of wrap-around promenade and midship superstructure (Tamarind & private sun deck) are pretty dramatic.
It does not seem that the new HAL ship will be handicapped as drastically as the Royal Princess was, but dramatic losses in ship design need to be compensated by dramatic design additions in other areas.... that I don't see so far.:(
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Fantastic!! Thank you so much. I will be sailing her in January and again in October'15. Your pictures are out of this world and I hope you don't mind but I may try and recreate some of those shots!!! They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! :D Can you tell me what camera you were using and were you doing the videos with the same camera?
Thank you.
My camera is a simple Panasonic DMC ZS20.
I do quick touch up to check darker tones, etc.
Video is a combination of both photo and video cameras - whatever happens to be closer.
Enjoy your cruises!
Wow! I'm so impressed by your photos. Quite unique. I found myself staring at many of your pictures. Such beautiful captures.Interestingly, I am almost turned off by your pictures of food, as they appear so detailed/close/intimate that the texture of the food seems gelatinous and shiny.
I have never been so affected by someone's cruise pictures. (Lol) Just had to share my opinion. Thanks for posting. Hope to see more from you
Thank you Momma1980.
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You are welcome!
My pictures are mostly about the ship (I will post much more) and the sea, less about ports except Halifax.
Thank you all for good words!
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Wow!
What a pair!
Probably 5 best cruise ships afloat (after The Queen of All Ships - RMS Queen Mary 2 ocean liner):
2. Queen Elizabeth
3-5. Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam and Allure OTS & Oasis OTS
Just a note. The Queen Elizabeth is not a Signature Class ship (a sophisticated derivative of the Vista class platform).
This Queen is also a derivative of the Vista clas but the most distant relative with lengthened and strengthened hull, significantly redesigned public rooms and open decks.
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I thought you needed a spa pass for the steam rooms. (Also, it is deck 10 forward, I was in 1 aft). I tried to steam up the bathroom, but that was another problem I had that I did not mention. Did anyone else find the showers cold? I kept mine turned up to 50c+ most of the time, but it rarely seemed to get very hot.
Our colds were pretty much on the way out by Portland and gone by Halifax. For that and the reasons I gave above, I don't think my cold played the largest part in the issue.
Yes, you need a pass to Hydropool & Thermal Suite. We book it for duration of the cruise and it's worth every penny. This luxury is not available on "more upscale" lines like Celebrity, Princess (except the two new ships), RCI and Carnival direct competitor MSC.
Also there is a free sauna on the Splendor.
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Before leaving the topic of formal nights, subject to an earlier thread begun by me:
Cunard's FAQs encourage the wearing of military (and other) decorations on formal nights by those who've been awarded them.
I'm wondering how common it actually is for people to do so?
I'm used to wearing my medals on ceremonial occasions or in the confines of formal nights within the military but have never worn my decorations in such a setting as a cruise ship. Do others who've sailed regularly with Cunard have any insights as to how many people wear medals on formal nights and how that is perceived by other passengers? I just want to dress appropriately for the setting with the right amount of formality.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I would be delighted to see you wearing your medals on formal nights.
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I did this, not only with different ships, but different CRUISELINES, in Alaska. It was fun.
Just keep organized with all of your boarding documents, relax, and have fun :)
Absolutely!
We did it with different ships, different cruise lines, different ports (Miami + Fort Lauderdale) and even had a connecting flight between ships (Venice - Barcelona).
Refreshing, exciting!
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When I have a cold or I am sick, nothing tastes right, nothing has any flavor and everything is bland. My sense of smell also goes astray. This could have played a small (not so small - cruisetrail) part in what you experienced.
MARAPRINCE
Oh, yes!!
On the Splendor - your OTC meds and .... steam rooms!
Steam rooms!
Steam rooms right away.
And plenty of hot drinks - tea & lemon - no pay - just drinks and drinks and drinks and.... steam room!
Get ready next day!
Remember: the Splendor is a resort ship.
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I'm sailing solo on a 7 night cruise in a month. I'm planning on eating at least once at Nick and Nora's, possibly twice. I don't drink alcohol so reserving the first night for the free wine isn't a deciding factor. If you had to choose where to eat during elegant night which would you choose? I'll be dressed up regardless. Is the food better during elegant night(s) that I should attend and save the steakhouse reservation for another night? Thanks for any input!
As a rule Formal nights in MDRs feature best menus.
So we always plan specialty restaurants on other days to the best of both worlds.
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My wife and I have just booked a 14 day cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam for 25th January 2015, flying from London to Miami on January 24th, staying in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale overnight and joining the ship on the 25th.
I would appreciate any help from those that have been on this ship with tit bits of information that would make our trip even better than we expect it will be. I have tried to find a copy of the Daily Program but can only find one from 2010.
Thanks for any help.
Patrick
1. Start your day from a few circles around the ship on the wrap-around promenade deck (second best at sea)
2. Don't skip Formal nights in MDR.
3. Choose Early seating in MDR.
4. Specialty restaurants: reserve a Special Event at Pinnacle and Tamarind (days other than #2).
5. Don't miss proper Afternoon tea.
7. Reserve Hydro pool & Thermal Suite (a must) in advance (call HAL). Ask about discounts.
8. Don't forget about the Fitness center.
9. Get familiar with location and access to the Front observation decks (a must for sail away from FLL, arrival and Saint Thomas and San Juan).
10. Brealfast Buffet is best at sea. Come earlier. Room service cannot substitude variety and plentifulness of the buffet.
11. The Sun deck over Tamarind is private and spacious.
12. The Sports court is one of the largest at sea.
13. Leave your habits at home. Do what is necessary to get the best of one of a few best resort ships afloat - you'll return to your habits in two weeks.
14. Make sure you have booked a cabin that is right for you.
15. Follow The GRAND TOUR of SIGNATURE class - Pics and Video
Enjoy your cruise!
ySv_pvyW6tc
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First Thanks to all for your support & patients with my cabin issues.
First We were booked in cabins 8137 & 8139 Thanks to cruise critic discovered these cabins had poor visibility to ocean due to lifeboats. Then we changed to cabins 9066 & 9062. Once again Thanks to cruise critic found these cabins to be slightly more desirable then our first choices. However, they are not typical balconies. So now we switched to cabins 11281 & 11285.
I'm almost afraid to ask but.......what's your opinion of these.
Maybe I should not ask....Ha! Ha!
Good news!
It looks like the ship is not full that is another good news.
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That nice picture above was taken to show how sun light was playing with the sea and the glass.
As a picture is worth a 1000 words, you also can see what forward views from the gym look like.
Another picture (while standing):
I have given the OP an advice on how to get best views of Venice possible from MSC Fantasia class ships (what I would do myself if I were there).:)
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Nope, forward view from the gym is someone else's observation point. Not mine.:)
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A view from the gym (MSC Divina):
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My husband and I are close to booking a Mediterranean cruise for next summer on the Nieuw Amsterdam. The other cruise we are considering is a Costa one, on one of the old Carnival ships (husband thinks this would be okay...I'm leaning towards HAL).
I would love any information anyone could give me about the Nieuw Amsterdam. I really need to convince DH this is the better choice. Prices are a little lower on Costa, itineraries are similar. Also, has anyone sailed both HAL and Costa, and what did you think of Costa compared to HAL??
Thanks in advance!
Kat
This is your Guide to the Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam.
There may be no comparison with Costa.
Our cruises are never more port intensive than we want them to be.
On a 12 days Med cruise we would probably have 3-4 port highlights. The rest of the cruise - enjoying the summer in the Mediterranean on the most comfortable resort ship.
[YOUTUBE]ySv_pvyW6tc[/YOUTUBE]
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The Orchestra class ships have a kind of observation decks forward. The Fantasia class does not.
This video is just a window - probably 1/5 of what we could see enjoying panoramic views from absolutely beautiful forward observation deck on Costa.
This is a must for sail away from Venice.
Another description for proper forward observation decks: "I can see what the Capitan can see".:)
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Hi all cruise enthusiasts!
On October 4th, I and my husband go on our very first cruise. We'll go with MSC Preziosa, route: Venice, Bari, Olympia, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik.
Now I'm wondering and hoping to get some responses from you, more experienced, out there:
Tell me, One thing, you just don't want to miss on a cruise?
Looking forward to your reply.
Without a doubt - departure from Venice.
This the #1 show.
Unfortunately MSC Fantasia ships are not "sea views friendly". Views forward is a privilege of YC guests and even there it's as limited as views from inside observation lounge.
So you'll need to find an acceptable viewing position so that you don't miss the best part of the cruise.
Don't stay on your balcony.
Viewing areas on the Divina marked in green:
Upper deck mid ship will be crowded.
I would be on the aft pool deck (port side) or on a small open area in the aft corner (deck 13 or 12 port side).
Our departure from Venice.
Views made possible thanks to a beautiful forward observation deck on Costa ship:
[YOUTUBE]gKc6DvRwZUE[/YOUTUBE]
Enjoy your cruise!
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I think the best way for of describing Cunard is the American idea of a Bristish cruise line - a sort of British theme park at sea for Americans. I had no idea at the time that Cunard was even trying to be British or in any way European. The language, food, menus, service style, everything, the whole experience to me was distinctly U.S..
The way I have described my experience of Cunard since is that "they don't even know how to fry an egg". To avoid a fried egg coming partly raw on the plate - a truly revolting sight and enough to put me off my breakfast - I had to ask for "over easy" which was still far from satisfactory (the expression does not exist in English English). To me this was literally a basic faux pas. Had there been any element of UK training in Cunard, they would have known to thoroughly cook the white and the top of the yolk while leaving the middle of the yolk runny, all without turning the egg over. I knew this from age four. Then I am British.
The fried egg is symbolic of the whole Cunard experience. It is about as far from British or European service or tastes as California, by no coincidence.
Whether you like them or not, MSC are genuinely Italian and exploit this mercilessly in their whole onboard experience: food, wine, service, decor, music and attitude. I have lived in Milan and Turin and the MSC experience takes me straight back to Italy right down to the authentic pizzas and the cheeky chatter-chat with the maitre d's.
MSC's over-the-top Italian theme is not designed to make Europeans feel comfortable but rather be the Italian idea of an Italian theme park. MSC's authentic Italian to Cunard's fake British.
I prefer European style of sea travel. That's why Cunard (QM2, QE), HAL (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam) and Princess (most Grand Class ships) products are on top of my cruising list. Your miles may vary.
I found cruising experience on the Divina "low cost style" cruising rather than "European".
Private access to the MSC Aurea Spa
in MSC Cruises
Posted
There is an elevator inside YC area that will bring you to spa deck. Then this hallway (picture below) will lead you to spa facilities. This is what "private access" means.
Steam rooms are included.
Spa treatments are extra.
Included / extra charge items can be changed any time as it's pure marketing.