Noordam Dec 7: A Few Comments

[vcdarty]

We've only sailed on three lines: HAL, Celebrity, and Crystal. (Not counting DW's crossings on the French Line as a child.) It had been four years since our last HAL, the Veendam before drydock, and it was fine. So we speculated about the Noordam in 2012. Needn't have. The Dec 7 cruise was splendid on all counts.

 

Our TA found us an SA suite at a terrific price during a flash sale. Substantially larger than a PH on Crystal though less luxuriously appointed, but wonderful--large enough to entertain 8 or 10 easily. Happy we. Our stewards perfect--discreet and efficient. The concierges in Neptune Lounge helpful in every way, with smiles and great courtesy, plus ways of getting things done.

 

The food exceeded expectations. Room service breakfast every morning was hot, on time, and nicely presented. We enjoyed the Asian selections in the Lido at lunch twice, but used the MDR for other meals, again very happily. Interesting, well-prepared selections for the most part: tuna tartare, lamb tagine, rare and tender beef, good pompano. A poor lamb curry at lunch one day, but that was the only miss. Pinnacle a couple of times: excellent tenderloin once, good tuna steaks another lunch. And our waiters were superb. On the whole, way above Celebrity and almost approaching Crystal quality.

 

On the music scene, the Moldavian string quartet played very well, especially for the cruise ship ambience--by far the best we've ever heard on board any ship. In the Ocean Bar, the Neptunes disappointed--routine selections routinely performed. On Celebrity Summit, an Argentine quartet were much much better for listening and dancing.

 

Re the shows: we only made the singing/dancing evenings--we had late fixed dinner seating, so the 10 pm shows worked for us. (Rather sparsely attended.) Energetic and colorful but predictable, and some of the costumes are looking tired. An Aussie singer, Gavin x x x, made a fine impression. Entertainment about tied with Celebrity, on the whole. We don't do casino.

 

Embarkation a breeze--lunch in MDR all set on arrival and cabins ready, with bags soon appearing. Likewise the disembarkation: off the ship at 7:45 and on the shuttle, headed to FLL a half hour later. Not the nightmares we've encountered with Celebrity.

 

We'd never been on a ship this large, but choosing venues carefully, never felt jammed up. The library is the largest and most comfortable, trivia was great, and we met some swell fellow passengers.

 

We'll be back.

 

J

[CruiserBruce]

A HAL suite is larger than a Crystal PH? Really?

[kjw869]

We've only sailed on three lines: HAL, Celebrity, and Crystal. (Not counting DW's crossings on the French Line as a child.) It had been four years since our last HAL, the Veendam before drydock, and it was fine. So we speculated about the Noordam in 2012. Needn't have. The Dec 7 cruise was splendid on all counts.

 

Our TA found us an SA suite at a terrific price during a flash sale. Substantially larger than a PH on Crystal though less luxuriously appointed, but wonderful--large enough to entertain 8 or 10 easily. Happy we. Our stewards perfect--discreet and efficient. The concierges in Neptune Lounge helpful in every way, with smiles and great courtesy, plus ways of getting things done.

 

The food exceeded expectations. Room service breakfast every morning was hot, on time, and nicely presented. We enjoyed the Asian selections in the Lido at lunch twice, but used the MDR for other meals, again very happily. Interesting, well-prepared selections for the most part: tuna tartare, lamb tagine, rare and tender beef, good pompano. A poor lamb curry at lunch one day, but that was the only miss. Pinnacle a couple of times: excellent tenderloin once, good tuna steaks another lunch. And our waiters were superb. On the whole, way above Celebrity and almost approaching Crystal quality.

 

On the music scene, the Moldavian string quartet played very well, especially for the cruise ship ambience--by far the best we've ever heard on board any ship. In the Ocean Bar, the Neptunes disappointed--routine selections routinely performed. On Celebrity Summit, an Argentine quartet were much much better for listening and dancing.

 

Re the shows: we only made the singing/dancing evenings--we had late fixed dinner seating, so the 10 pm shows worked for us. (Rather sparsely attended.) Energetic and colorful but predictable, and some of the costumes are looking tired. An Aussie singer, Gavin x x x, made a fine impression. Entertainment about tied with Celebrity, on the whole. We don't do casino.

 

Embarkation a breeze--lunch in MDR all set on arrival and cabins ready, with bags soon appearing. Likewise the disembarkation: off the ship at 7:45 and on the shuttle, headed to FLL a half hour later. Not the nightmares we've encountered with Celebrity.

 

We'd never been on a ship this large, but choosing venues carefully, never felt jammed up. The library is the largest and most comfortable, trivia was great, and we met some swell fellow passengers.

 

We'll be back.

 

J

 

It's great you enjoyed your cruise on the wonderful Noordam. We took the 11-day cruise on the Noordam this past January, and are booked on the same cruise and cabin in January 2014.

 

Our cabins stewards were outstanding and the Neptune staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We also think the large library was the most comfortable in all the ships we've sailed on, but sadly it's been reported that it may be relocated to the Crow's Nest.

[sail7seas]

So happy you enjoyed the beautiful Noordam so much.

 

HAL really did it right with that pretty ship.

Thanks for sharing your review with us. I enjoyed reading it.

 

Welcome Back.

 

[kjw869]

A HAL suite is larger than a Crystal PH? Really?

 

On the Crystal Symphony, the "Penthouse" is 367 sq ft, the "Penthouse Suite" is 491 sq ft, and the "Crystal Penthouse" is 982 sq ft.

 

I think it's the title of the cabin grade, as there are 44 "Penthouses", 17 "Penthouse Suites" and two "Crystal Penthouse" cabins on this ship.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome Home

Glad you had a wonderful cruise.

[Typhoon1]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the rest of us.

[cruz chic]

Thanks for your review. I'm looking forward to my turn on the Noordam.

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for posting a review of your Noordam cruise. Glad you had a good time.

[JamesEM]

Thanks for sharing.

[portofrome]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the Noordam. Thanks for the review.

[Caribbean Chris]

Enjoyed your review, too.

 

We had a great time on a ten day Noordam in the Caribbean in an aft end stateroom with a lovely large balcony... but I just realized it has been a few years! 2009 I think. Time to return. (Maybe for our next transatlantic, my favorite way to cruise.)

[cruiseapril]

Good to read your review.

 

The HAL libraries are so nice and wouldn't it be great if the Noordam library stayed where it is?

 

What did you do in the ports?

[Himself]

I enjoyed your little review and loved the line "we will be back."

[Cinder Again]

Thanks so much for your impressions. Wonderful to hear, as I head to the Noordam (first time for me on THIS Noordam!) in January! Happy Holidays!

[vcdarty]

Chris--transatlantic is our favorite way to go, too. All those swell sea days.

 

April--we had scheduled no port activities. Tenders to Samana were canceled due to squally conditions and roughish seas. Since we don't dive nor snorkel nor zip nor shop, the only port of interest was Willemstad where we enjoyed seeing the pontoon bridge in operation and the floating fish and fruit markets and, especially, the Kura Hulanda--a luxury hotel on the Otrabanda made up of a neighborhood of beautifully restored 18th/19th century houses, great for a wander through courtyards, gardens, sculpture settings, and restaurants (beware of the very strong G&Ts). It's a UNESCO world culture site, the staff is pleasant, and it's well worth a visit.

 

J

[aliaschief]

Thanks for the review. We loved our Noordam cruise in Nov.