Question for Recent Veendam Passengers

[ITravelNow]

A friend is cruising with his family in a couple of week on the Veendam. He is concerned about all the reports of Norvo virus but can't seem to find any recent news about the Veendam's condition.

 

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has returned from the most recent sailings. Hope you had a fine cruise with no virus to report, just checking!

[sail7seas]

The ship is free of NLV......

 

 

There were one or two isolated cases that were quckly contained and quarantined.

 

 

Your friends need have no concerns whatsoever about boarding Veendam and having a wonderful cruise. She's a great ship IMO We'd go back in the blink of an eye!!

[diesel]

Just returned from 14 days on Veendam. 300 passengers of the 1200+ were ill with virus - itinerary shortened - port of call cancelled - early return to port - many complaints.

[RuthC]

But to be fair, diesel, it should be noted that your cruise was the one before the cruise Sail is referring to.

Apparently the thorough cleaning done when your cruise was shortened was successful.

[sail7seas]

But to be fair, diesel, it should be noted that your cruise was the one before the cruise Sail is referring to.

Apparently the thorough cleaning done when your cruise was shortened was successful.

 

 

 

Yes, Ruth.

 

That is correct.

 

The cruise I was on had a number of cases and the one that followed did also. (Diesel's cruise).

 

The subsequent cruise had isolated (and was qarantined so as to not spread.)

 

Veendam does not currently have the large numbers of ill persons such as existed on the previous cruise.

 

The super-sanitizing was very effective. The incredible hard work of the crew successfully accomplished what it needed to do.

 

 

Welcome to the Board, Diesel. Glad you found us and hope you pull up a 'deck chair' and hang around. I notice this is your first post.

[Cruising Illini]

We had the officials from CDC and they announced 185 cases (NOT 300) plus a few that were probably not reported. The cause of any spreading was that some passengers did not stay in cabins but after the thorough sanitizing at the end of the cruise she is in great shape. The crew and Capt. kept all very informed and couldn't have done a better job. We did arrive in port 12 hours early because it was very doubtful that Grand Cayman would allow us to enter. Very nice $$ credits were given to all cabins -- based on price paid originally. Good job HAL!!!! On this report the first cruise following ours reported only 1 case and this is what the CDC also reported.

[schack2]

We were on the 1/29 sailing immediately after Veendam came in a day early. They super sanitized and we could not board until after 3 p.m. They had a guard watch carry on luggage and we were able to get off and grab a bite to eat etc. and were reimbursed up to $10 pp with receipts. Capt. kept us informed the whole cruise. We had one case the first night and none after that. Natuarally, super hand sanitizers were required at buffet, getting on ship, and before dinner, entering casino etc. No self serve in buffet until Thurs. after no additional cases reported. Also, no bread and butter nor salt & pepper on table until Wed. evening. If you wanted salt and pepper at dinner it was done by waiters and bread and butter was served.

 

We enjoyed the cruise and it was our best ever out of 16.

 

Go, enjoy and don't fret.

 

Just take the necessary precautions. Wash your hands.

[swarms]

A friend is cruising with his family in a couple of week on the Veendam. He is concerned about all the reports of Norvo virus but can't seem to find any recent news about the Veendam's condition.

 

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has returned from the most recent sailings. Hope you had a fine cruise with no virus to report, just checking!

 

Hi,

We just returned yesterday and had a wonderful time on the cruise. Last Sunday the captain reported 2 cases of the flu and we thought "oh no". But we stopped to realize that the people had to have been sick before they boarded. The captain closed the hot tubs and we were served in the buffets. (Actually I liked that) The coffee & tea was served by the waiters only.

He told us not to shake hands but to smile instead! He also asked everyone to wash hands often and use the sanitizing lotion provided at buffet lines and all over the ship.

It seems that he was concerned about us going on shore and meeting with people from other ships from Florida. The virus is NOT airborn but is transferred from person to person. There was about 1 case a day but kept very well under control. They said only 5 cases all week. In the dining room we were not allowed to handle food stuff. That is no bread baskets on the tables, salt & pepper, sugar, ketchup, etc. on table. All these things were given to us separately. But again it caused us no problem. The last day he opened up the buffet and we laughed that he didn't care if we got the flu now because we would just take it home.

They had to close the back pool because we picked up some beetles in Belize that took up residence in that pool and they could not empty it while we were in port so it was closed till we were out far enough to empty the water out and spray.

This was our 15th cruise but first on HAL...and I must say the food was some of the best we ever had and the service tops... The crew was the friendliest also. Always had a smile for you. And unlike other ships they seemed to be there 24/7. (I think they must sleep in the little room down the hall.) If I really had to nit pick I would say the chairs in the main lounge for the shows were the most uncomfortable and also, take a warm sweater or something because the inside the ship including dining for breakfast was cold.

Be sure to order the "Chilled Strawberry Bisque"

And on the Farewell Dinner order 2 entrees.....Lobster Tails & Filet Mignon.

And don't worry about gaining weight....there are soooo many sugar free deserts that you can have two!! And for fish lovers everyday was a new adventure in taste. King Crab Legs....And the ice-cream bar WOW. (I think I want to go back!)

There was one thing that I did not realize until the last day was that you could get the same things that were served in the dining room at the Lido buffet. They put tableclothes and candles on the tables and it was almost as nice as the dining room. There was not enough room for early seating in the dining room and late seating was 8 & 8:30 so I ordered room service but could have dined on the Lido deck instead. Oh one last thing....if they have the Bar B Q don't miss the ribs...yummy...

Tell your friend to relax and enjoy the cruise.....just be aware...wash hands often and have fun!!!

[OCruisers]

Just returned from 14 days on Veendam. 300 passengers of the 1200+ were ill with virus - itinerary shortened - port of call cancelled - early return to port - many complaints.

 

diesel .... We understand what you're saying!!! We were also on that 1/15/05 14-Night Veendam Sailing! It was the WORST cruise we have ever taken (40+) and certainly the worst HAL (4)!!!

 

Remember how they kept telling us all of the things they were going to do for the NEXT cruise that they didn't do for ours? (In fairness ... they did apologize for not having done these things ... and, understood this was no help to us .... :confused: )

 

Too much blame on this board goes to passengers bringing the Norovirus aboard and not staying in their cabins when infected!

 

While I have no way of knowing if anyone came aboard ill, I do know ... FOR SURE (per CDC meeting) ... many members of the crew and the staff WERE ALREADY ILL when we boarded the ship!

 

Much was done for the next sailing! The WHOLE ship (including gift shops) was "Super Sanitized" and the crew was tested. (A bartender told us they were doing this to the crew. He was not happy about it ... but admitted the crew hated to report anything because of the 72-Hour quarantine ....)

 

The Norovirus was only a part of it! The drycleaning machine was broken 12 out of 14 days (big deal to us) , plumbing problem on Deck 5 and Navigation Deck, big delay a ports, problems with dining seating, etc.

 

It was NOT a HAPPY ship on this sailing!!!! :(

 

--> ITravelNow .... Tell your friends to go and expect to have a great time! :) Everything is OK with Veendam now!

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[cml3]

Glad to hear the news about Veendam. We are also going on her in a couple of weeks.

 

Any other details about recent sailings would be appreciated.

 

cml

[gaylenhazel]

I just posted a little of my experience on the Veendam this past week. My advice to you is to find another ship. Don't waste your money like we did.