BSinPNS Posted July 7, 2011 #1 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Debating between booking the 11 Day Southern Caribbean on January 2 on Maasdam or Nordam. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesinindy Posted July 7, 2011 #2 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Debating between booking the 11 Day Southern Caribbean on January 2 on Maasdam or Nordam. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks. Cannot comment on the Maasdam yet (sail in December), but the Noordam was an elegant ship, great crew and we did the same cruise last December and would do it again in a heartbeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted July 7, 2011 #3 Share Posted July 7, 2011 If I were deciding based strictly on ship, the decision would be easy. The Maasdam. It's smaller, more intimate. A lovely ship. Sure, the Noordam is lovely, too, but it is just too large. You don't get to know your fellow passengers nearly as well. The stewards don't get to know the passengers nearly as well as they do on a smaller ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted July 7, 2011 #4 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Have sailed on both ships -- and both are great. The Noordam is newer and larger -- that holds an edge for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJSULIBRARIAN Posted July 8, 2011 #5 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Both itineraries look great. If you have been on one of the ships, I might choose the other to try something new. Have been on the Maasdam on a Caribbean cruise and loved it. Am going on the Noordam in November. I'm not much of a help for your decision. Whatever you choose, I am sure your will enjoy - you can't beat a HAL cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airlink diva Posted July 8, 2011 #6 Share Posted July 8, 2011 BSinPNS I will admit being bias towards the Maasdam (sailed on her three times :D!) But I would base it on ports. Which are the ones that really appeal to you? Both ships are heading to some great places. I've sailed on other Vista class ships and they were still a nice size that wasn't overwhelming. Compared to some of the other cruiselines larger ships in their fleets, the Noordam is still a small ship. You can't go wrong with either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted July 8, 2011 #7 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Noordam and Maasdam are my two favorite ships. Although Maasdam is older, she looks very good after dry dock. I would pick based on the ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeriatricNurse Posted July 8, 2011 #8 Share Posted July 8, 2011 If I were deciding based strictly on ship, the decision would be easy. The Maasdam. It's smaller, more intimate. A lovely ship. Sure, the Noordam is lovely, too, but it is just too large. You don't get to know your fellow passengers nearly as well. The stewards don't get to know the passengers nearly as well as they do on a smaller ship. Is there some compelling reason(s) why one would be obligated to "get to know your fellow passengers" or for the stewards to get to know the passengers? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GmaPajama Posted July 8, 2011 #9 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Is there some compelling reason(s) why one would be obligated to "get to know your fellow passengers" or for the stewards to get to know the passengers? :confused: Obligated? That's your word. Why would you visit that upon RuthC? I, like her, very much enjoy the social aspect of cruising the smaller ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted July 8, 2011 #10 Share Posted July 8, 2011 It's a very nice feeling to walk around a ship and have the stewards and entertainers and staff stop to talk to you by name. It's also nice to meet fellow passengers and run into them in the show lounge, on tours, or around the ship. It's never an obligation, but rather a nicety. And, I believe this will be my 9,000th post.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted July 8, 2011 #11 Share Posted July 8, 2011 And, I believe this will be my 9,000th post.:) Congratulations! As usual, it's a good post to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted July 8, 2011 #12 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Thanks, Ruth .:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GmaPajama Posted July 8, 2011 #13 Share Posted July 8, 2011 ... And, I believe this will be my 9,000th post.:) Good job, Carol - you have contributed a great deal of good information here. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted July 8, 2011 #14 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Thanks, Donna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted July 10, 2011 #15 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Maasdam and Noordam are our two favorite ships and we have done the Southern Caribbean on both...... loved both trips and you cannot go wrong with either IMO When we were in port on Maasdam and saw Noordam, she was gorgeous to see. When on Noordam and in port with Maasdam, sigh....... we wanted to be on both. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted July 10, 2011 #16 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Carol....... I'm a little late as I'm just seeing this thread after returning home from Maasdam yesterday......... Congratulations on 9,000 posts. Looking forward to seeing many more from you. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissMyst Posted July 10, 2011 #17 Share Posted July 10, 2011 The Maasdam Southern Caribbean is the reason we fell in love with HAL. Yet, all reports from the Noordam are first rate too. Guess what? You can't lose.:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willowtak Posted July 10, 2011 #18 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I would prefer the Noordam because of the middle elevator. Although it is a larger ship, many times it cuts down walking by having the middle elevator. There are times when I have to limit my walking. Both are wonderful ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissMyst Posted July 10, 2011 #19 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Is there some compelling reason(s) why one would be obligated to "get to know your fellow passengers" or for the stewards to get to know the passengers? :confused: Not really. We tend to be loners when we cruise so while we enjoy the staff's always friendly and professional courtesies, we are not minglers nor does it matter if they "remember us" in any way. Though it is nice when after the first night in fixed dining, the staff assigned to our table gets to know I like Jasmine tea and DH likes an espresso after dinner and we don't need to ask each evening. But that is about it for us "getting to know" anyone on the ship. We travel to get away from our busy and people intensive daily lives at home, so cruises are retreat and refresh times for us alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted July 10, 2011 #20 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks, Judy. It must be so hard for you to settle back in after such a great cruise. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted July 10, 2011 #21 Share Posted July 10, 2011 We've never been on the Noordam but have been on other Vista class ships. Lovely ships but eight of our cruises have been on the smaller S and R class ships like the Maasdam and we were just on her this past March. No doubt we'd go with the Maasdam first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted July 10, 2011 #22 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Funny, I would like the Maasdam for walking less than the Noordam. Smaller ship equals less walking unless your cabin and everything else you are doing are near the mid elevators! On the other hand, I like riding in the glass elevators!! Either ship is fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innlady1 Posted July 10, 2011 #23 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Is there some compelling reason(s) why one would be obligated to "get to know your fellow passengers" or for the stewards to get to know the passengers? :confused: Ruth did not say she felt "obligated" to meet fellow passengers. I believe she meant that as a positive...that she enjoys meeting fellow passengers as is easier on a smaller ship. I totally agree...I enjoy meeting pax as well as the crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKoch5 Posted October 3, 2011 #24 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Noordam, January 2nd, Very excited. We are past Princess passengers, will that count toward our Mariner status? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vttwinner Posted November 3, 2011 #25 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Hi, our first post! We booked the Jan 2 cruise on the Maasdam. Just found this post. Look forward to a great cruise and meeting new people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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