Nieuw Amsterdam 12/8 Review

[Crazy For Cats]

This was our second sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam this year. I had reservations about the ship since the first sailing while not bad didn't stand up to other HAL ships. I am happy to report that the December voyage was much better than expected and I wish I could have stayed on for another week.

 

We flew down the day before and took a hotel shuttle to the port. The embarkation process went fairly smoothly but did take longer than necessary. It would seem that the need to try and get everyone's picture trumped speed. I heard one of the ship photographers tell the couple ahead of me that this picture was for ship identification. Never mind that everyone's photo is taken when you check in. This did not bode well for the start of the cruise. Once we got past this hurdle, picture not taken, we took our bags to the room and proceeded to the embarkation lunch.

 

Typically we stay away from the MDR except for the lunch the first day to avoid the crowds on the lido deck. This trip we tried breakfast in the MDR and the service was quick and the food was good. Once the waitstaff realized that I liked more than one cup of coffee they made sure to keep the coffee cup full. It seems like a much easier way to start the day if you are not in a rush to get to port.

 

We did enjoy a night at the Pinnacle Grill. Service was wonderful and the food was even better.

 

In many ways this trip was almost like a homecoming. We ran into several crew members that we meet on previous HAL sailings. This may have added to our enjoyment but the crew on this trip was outstanding. (They are giving the Westerdam crew a good run for top honors) Far better than what we received on our earlier NA sailing. At the first happy hour we meet a wonderful bar person who remembered our names after one order and said hello throughout the cruise whenever we saw him.

 

Interestingly we even had the same cabin stewards as our first sailing on the NA. Here too the service was improved. On the first day they stopped and asked us when we wanted ice delivered to the room. They followed through at the requested time. They kept the fresh fruit filled, the room cleaned and always checked throughout the cruise to see what, if anything, they could do for us.

 

Getting off ship in port was no problem was seemed to go well. The biggest surprise was at disembarkation. I was fully prepared for an hour or more wait to go through customs and much to our delight we walked right through. Less than five minutes from end of line to getting our taxi to the airport.

 

Regrettably there was one flaw and that was with the front office. When we filled out our boarding documents online we each provided separate credit cards. The front office in their infinite wisdom decided that only one card would be billed and it would be their choice. When I complained I got a blank stare from the woman behind the counter as if to say why is this a problem? In the end they did correct and provided separate statements and billed correctly. Another mistake was that we did not get our full OBC and that is under review with our TA. In the future, if we use a TA, I will request better documentation from them.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Crazy For Cats
typo

[aliaschief]

Thanks for your review. We were on the same cruise and concur with your positive experience.

[erewhon]

Thank you for this review of your cruise.

[headhunterke]

Thank you for this great review. Great to hear all is fine on this wonderful vessel.

[Himself]

I was on the NA a week before you. I have been on moss and the of the Dam ships and this one is my favorite ship.

[dfish]

Great reading about your cruise, Jake. I'm glad you had such a good time. Thanks for taking the time to comment about it and let us know how things went. Also, I'm glad you did the Pinnacle Grill again. Did you do the last night? Sue and I think it is a great way to celebrate a great cruise.

 

Debbie

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review.

[GeriatricNurse]

This was our second sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam this year. I had reservations about the ship since the first sailing while not bad didn't stand up to other HAL ships. I am happy to report that the December voyage was much better than expected and I wish I could have stayed on for another week.

 

We flew down the day before and took a hotel shuttle to the port. The embarkation process went fairly smoothly but did take longer than necessary. It would seem that the need to try and get everyone's picture trumped speed. I heard one of the ship photographers tell the couple ahead of me that this picture was for ship identification. Never mind that everyone's photo is taken when you check in. This did not bode well for the start of the cruise. Once we got past this hurdle, picture not taken, we took our bags to the room and proceeded to the embarkation lunch.

 

Typically we stay away from the MDR except for the lunch the first day to avoid the crowds on the lido deck. This trip we tried breakfast in the MDR and the service was quick and the food was good. Once the waitstaff realized that I liked more than one cup of coffee they made sure to keep the coffee cup full. It seems like a much easier way to start the day if you are not in a rush to get to port.

 

We did enjoy a night at the Pinnacle Grill. Service was wonderful and the food was even better.

 

In many ways this trip was almost like a homecoming. We ran into several crew members that we meet on previous HAL sailings. This may have added to our enjoyment but the crew on this trip was outstanding. (They are giving the Westerdam crew a good run for top honors) Far better than what we received on our earlier NA sailing. At the first happy hour we meet a wonderful bar person who remembered our names after one order and said hello throughout the cruise whenever we saw him.

 

Interestingly we even had the same cabin stewards as our first sailing on the NA. Here too the service was improved. On the first day they stopped and asked us when we wanted ice delivered to the room. They followed through at the requested time. They kept the fresh fruit filled, the room cleaned and always checked throughout the cruise to see what, if anything, they could do for us.

 

Getting off ship in port was no problem was seemed to go well. The biggest surprise was at disembarkation. I was fully prepared for an hour or more wait to go through customs and much to our delight we walked right through. Less than five minutes from end of line to getting our taxi to the airport.

 

Regrettably there was one flaw and that was with the front office. When we filled out our boarding documents online we each provided separate credit cards. The front office in their infinite wisdom decided that only one card would be billed and it would be their choice. When I complained I got a blank stare from the woman behind the counter as if to say why is this a problem? In the end they did correct and provided separate statements and billed correctly. Another mistake was that we did not get our full OBC and that is under review with our TA. In the future, if we use a TA, I will request better documentation from them.

 

Thank you for the heads up regarding this trick of the ships photographers to (try) to entice those who are boarding that they need to take your pic for "ship identification"! :mad:

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for your review.

Our TA always gives us a copy of all shipboard credits that we are due. And I make extra copies. About day #3 I always ask for a copy of our bill so that I can see if we have been credited with all shipboard credit.

[Keith1010]

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your review.

 

Keith

[Crazy For Cats]

Great reading about your cruise, Jake. I'm glad you had such a good time. Thanks for taking the time to comment about it and let us know how things went. Also, I'm glad you did the Pinnacle Grill again. Did you do the last night? Sue and I think it is a great way to celebrate a great cruise.

 

Debbie

 

Hi Debbie, yes we did it the last night. I really liked your idea last time and adopted for us as well. It was nice talking with the manager as he was on the Veendam.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Crazy For Cats]

Thank you for the heads up regarding this trick of the ships photographers to (try) to entice those who are boarding that they need to take your pic for "ship identification"! :mad:

 

When I wrote up my review for HAL I suggested a line for those of us who don't want that photo. It would speed up the process. May still write a letter to the office.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[GeriatricNurse]

Thank you for your review.

 

Our TA always gives us a copy of all shipboard credits that we are due. And I make extra copies. About day #3 I always ask for a copy of our bill so that I can see if we have been credited with all shipboard credit.

 

Rather than waiting until day #3 to ask for a copy of a bill to confirm my sbc/obc, I make a beeline to the Front Desk immediately upon boarding to confirm my sbc/obc! ;)

[Crazy For Cats]

Thank you for your review.

Our TA always gives us a copy of all shipboard credits that we are due. And I make extra copies. About day #3 I always ask for a copy of our bill so that I can see if we have been credited with all shipboard credit.

 

My TA did give me a copy of all perks, including OBC. Next time I'll ask her to print out the page from the HAL web site instead of handwriting the amount on the paper. This might have caught it before I left.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review, glad you were able to overcome the "blank stare". We all have received that at onetime or another.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ...

[Crazy For Cats]

I should also note that we tried laundry service this trip. We gave our cabin steward a bag of clothes before 8 am and we received our clothes back by 7 pm the same day. Another reason why we think this crew is aiming for superstar status. I know not to expect service this quick on our next trip.

 

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[pris993]

Thanks for your review... we will be on board for the TA in April.

 

Can't see why folks who don't want photos can't just go ahead and around the photographers, if there was a long line that is what we would do. We don't do photo boarding anymore. Sometimes we go early and the photographers are not on duty yet. That works too.

[startwin]

Thanks for the review. It seems to me that the NA gets pretty favourable reports, when compared to the other HAL ships. I've sailed on her, maybe I should.;)

[RuthC]

Can't see why folks who don't want photos can't just go ahead and around the photographers, ....

Usually, it's because the photographers have themselves situated so there is no actual way to "go ahead and around". Any potential path, except straight through, is blocked. :rolleyes:

 

They would better set themselves so that those who want the embarkation photo taken could just step out of line and go over to them.

[startwin]

Thanks for the review. It seems to me that the NA gets pretty favourable reports, when compared to the other HAL ships. I've sailed on her, maybe I should.;)

 

Oops, dropped a word! That should be I've NEVER sailed on her.....:o

[Typhoon1]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the rest of us.

[pris993]

Usually, it's because the photographers have themselves situated so there is no actual way to "go ahead and around". Any potential path, except straight through, is blocked. :rolleyes:

 

They would better set themselves so that those who want the embarkation photo taken could just step out of line and go over to them.

 

I understand RuthC what you are saying. Still think it might be possible to pass thru politely saying pardon me, while folks wanting a photo are getting set up.... then HAL may get the point. Sometimes I think cruise lines block spaces even on the ship, trying force folks into photo ops. When we board in April, will check it out.

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for your review, sorry about your credit card issues.

[RuthC]

Still think it might be possible to pass thru politely saying pardon me, while folks wanting a photo are getting set up....

The photographers don't like it when you don't even break stride and pass on through. Especially when they are taking the picture. :D