Talk About the Same Old --- (Ryndam Review; Dead in The Water 11/27...)

[woodofpine]

Background: This was my second HAL cruise (Westerdam ’05 being first); I’ve cruised Princess most but have more than one on X and Carnival. My most recent cruise otherwise was MSC Magnifica in the Med.

 

I believe HAL’s product may be summarized in the question: Is it ‘neo’ colonialism if it’s continued uninterrupted forever? HAL’s product is characterized by Dutch officers and a service crew monopolized by Indonesians. Makes sense – American pax, Dutch officers recruiting Dutch East Indies crewman. Sure, there are American entertainers and an Eastern European casino mafia, but the service crew is pretty exclusively Indonesian. How I envision a higher end Jakarta hotel circa 1940. :)

 

Service: Generally very attentive and friendly. The Dutch – Indonesian ‘pact’ though results in a colonial deferential style where crew shield themselves using the mother tongue. Personally, I prefer the interactive gregariousness of a more varied international crew barking English. But if that subjectivity was the worst aspect of this HAL cruise then it scored high marks eh? Correct.

 

Food: What cruisers live for eh? Sure – why not. After a few cruises making mental apologies for industry cost cutting on food, finally, a chef and galley on Ryndam that needed no apologies. And the chef was unafraid of the spice rack! The cuts of meat were good and ample. Good looking rack of lamb. Surf and turf was a decent cut of tenderloin and a real sized lobster tail rather than short shrift shrimp or ‘rock lobster’ or other crayfish crappola! At today’s per diems, cruisers can’t expect Guy Savoy, but this was a refreshing stroll down memory lane’s ‘classic’ cruise fare. Attractively presented and a cut above recent experience, it was the sort of food I’d lamented the loss of on other cruises. The buffet was pretty good too as was afternoon tea etc.

 

The ship: At 55K GT Ryndam is over 200 feet shorter than the panamax standard of the 75-95K GT (or larger) ships which dominate the industry today. I really enjoyed being able to repeatedly traverse one end to the other without feeling as if on ‘fools errands’. Nonetheless, the ship had all the lounges and other amenities of its larger competitors albeit downsized a little in keeping with the approximate half size passenger load. Only one – rather than two - mid ship pools (plus a stern pool) yet for the first time in a long time lounger hogging was not an apparent issue. Are HAL’s passengers superior? Later idiocy proved the answer (no) but it was still a nice return to a classic cruise idyll. The casino is small (half hull width) but with martini and piano lounges interspersed the ship had a stylish ambiance. I love a good library and Ryndam’s is no afterthought. Well stocked library ‘compartments’ are interspersed with a café amongst them; the attraction of the floor plan made it a popular area. Although a ‘smaller’ ship carrying a full load, it actually felt emptier and more spacious than many larger ships. The ship is comparatively old, but has been refurbished and well maintained. It has evidence of age, but upkeep has converted most of this into sort of a patina. Character. It has a full walk around teak promenade with nice padded wood loungers – classic. The bow is available when wind isn’t an issue and other outdoor nooks and crannies made this an interesting ship albeit one with some passenger ‘do not touch’ items… The kids had a fairly large amount of dedicated space including a jungle themed exterior teen lounge with a water fall I was mildly envious of.

 

Cabins: We were upgraded from interior to outside – so I’m not one to complain and I wouldn’t have in any event. Good beds. No fridge (not missed). The ship has comparatively few verandas; they’re cut into the hull. I prefer the ascetics of this naval architecture – although heavy veranda users probably disagree and prefer the exterior terrace approach.

 

Activities/Shows: I didn’t take in an culinary demonstrations in that show site. The theater acts were OK but not much to my liking – too old timey for me.

 

Saturday sea day – the Dutch (of course) Captain woke those still sleeping off formal night #2 with 7:15AM in cabin announcement (in noticeably vexed tone) that ‘someone’ at 5:30 AM had ‘engaged’ (?) the aft anchor and thrown a rescue ring-buoy overboard. We had since then navigated an emergency rescue route to locate and retrieve the buoy – and – if no one came forward to fess up – regulations would mandate a full passenger and crew muster to undertake a complete roster head count. Naturally, idiots of this sort are not typically ‘stand up’ characters, thus, 15-20 minutes later seven blasts followed and most of the next couple of hours were consumed with a dead in the water muster. A full head count was achieved and the Captain thanked us for our cooperation and apologized for the inconvenience.:( Undoubtedly, cutting editorial comments about his charges were reserved for his bridge officers… We were not delayed in arrival in Tampa the following AM.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing muster, which was handled very well by officers and crew, my experience on Ryndam was a very solid product display by HAL. My prior Westerdam cruise had for personal (distracted) reasons not made a huge impression for good or bad. This cruise prompts an endorsement to those that are attracted by a solid display of “Classic Cruising” the way one likes to remember it.

[the2ofus]

Thanks for the review. You condensed in a short review all the reasons I continue to sail with HAL. I think I remember you from Westerdam '05. Nice to "see" you again.

[canadianbear]

Thanks for the great review. This is the only ship my husband and I have been on (twice) and loved the size, the crew, the service, the food...well, all of it really. :)

[Pete Jackson]

Very nice review! I like your tone of writing:) The 'colonial' arrangement of Dutch officers and Indonesian crew is somewhat unique to HAL I guess,and definitely can give a sort of retro feel.

 

They should make sure that the ring buoy is the subject of a surveillance camera so that anybody who grabs it becomes the star of their own TV show for scrutiny by the security team.

[MightyQuinn]

... ‘someone’ at 5:30 AM had ‘engaged’ the aft anchor and thrown a rescue ring-buoy overboard. We had since then navigated an emergency rescue route to locate and retrieve the buoy – and – if no one came forward to fess up – regulations would mandate a full passenger and crew muster to undertake a complete roster head count.

Woodofpine, why did you not fess up? It would have saved all that mustering! :D:D

Loved your take on all things HAL. A high end Jakarta hotel circa 1940 pretty well sums it up. Nicely done.

[joedniceguy]

Thanks Woodofpine for the great review. I too like the smaller ships with the old style classic feel.

 

Leaving 12/5 on the Ryndam from Tampa, first time "solo" on the Ryndam and really looking forward to it. Previously on the Marsdam which I loved.

 

I was on the Westerdam in May in the Mediterranean. Wasn't too impressed with the ship tours (too long, exhausting), and the ship was just OK.

 

Thanks again for the great review.

 

Joe

[GmaPajama]

We were on the cruise right before yours, and couldn't agree more about the classic character of the Ryndam and her crew. It was a most pleasing experience.

 

An officer told us they were expecting about 80 children your week. I have to wonder if one of the little darlings could have been the cause of the unexpected muster?

[aliaschief]

Your review was great and we are looking forward to next week and our cruise on the MS Ryndam. We can feel the excitement!!!!

[woodofpine]

Woodofpine, why did you not fess up? It would have saved all that mustering! :D:D

Loved your take on all things HAL. A high end Jakarta hotel circa 1940 pretty well sums it up. Nicely done.

 

Hey, I'm often up early 'prowling' (watched the Skyway incoming at 3:30 AM; I tried to heave my grappling hook high enough to play bow-to-stern 'Tarzan!' but couldn't quite manage the toss!:D) Seriously, I'm glad to have NOT witnessed anything and been forced into finger pointing security investigation. My 'prowler' instincts did cause me to note that there doesn't 'appear' to be as much video security on this ship as most, and you can normally spot the eye if you look around enough (even as they shrink with technology). This ship class has a lot of structural nooks and crannies open to passengers where too many unsurveiled buttons and switches are present to tempt kids and misplaced Carnival cruisers (hey... that wasn't nice!:D but as long as we're talking 'heritage';)). It's too bad public design has to always accommodate the weakest link in species DNA - but that's not changed over generations either...

 

Still - the passengers took it all in stride even as Mr. Cornelius so-'n'-so of cabin #349 chose to shower luxuriously prior to mustering (but who holds a toe tapping grudge?!:D) That's OK Cornelius, asst. laundry steward Ms.? and a barman were tardy too!! Hey it was a little different way to prep for breakfast.

[lka1012]

Just saw a report that the anchor was dropped by a drunk passenger.

 

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/drunk/anchor-drop-lands-cruise-passenger-brig

[woodofpine]

Just saw a report that the anchor was dropped by a drunk passenger.

 

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/drunk/anchor-drop-lands-cruise-passenger-brig

 

Thanks for the details... Boy, you just gotta wonder. Owns a 50 foot boat and is subject to such brain dysfunction. As they describe it, that was no easy task - drunk or sober - dropping anchor single handly. That's going to be a mighty expensive drunk... Lucky he didn't hurt himself or others.

[localady]

What an idiot!!!!!:eek:

Apart from the potential danger and damage, what an inconvience to have some a$$ pull a prank like that and wake everyone up at 7:15 am for muster on the last sea day of a cruise. I myself would have wanted to throw him overboard or possibly make him walk the plank for his stupidity, especially if I was sleeping !!! :mad:

He deserves a nice vacation in jail....... ;)