Please tell me more about the Prinsendam

[BeardieMom55]

Love the Prinsindam! We did a 14 day out of London, around England, Ireland and Scotland ending in Amsterdam last June/July. She is a beautiful ship. We really like the smaller ships (fewer passengers). We originally booked a large Ocean View Room but were able to upgrade/upsell to a verandah a few days before we left for a very reasonable fee. We really enjoyed the verandah. Found the entertainment on board about the same as other HAL ships. Can't think of anything that we missed on the smaller ship. We have found that you can get some great deals on upgrades/upsells at the last minute so we book the least expensive cabin that we will be happy with and keep checking for good deals. I would definitely recommend this ship!

[rochelle_s]

We are considering this ship for next year and have a few questions.

 

1) On a 14 night cruise, how many formal nights will there be? On those nights, is the buffet open if we choose not to bring formal attire?

 

 

Doing a 14 day cruise this Saturday. Our documents say 3 formal, 11 smart casual.

 

Rochelle

[Windsailer]

We are considering this ship for next year and have a few questions.

 

1) On a 14 night cruise, how many formal nights will there be? On those nights, is the buffet open if we choose not to bring formal attire?

 

2) Is there a sauna in the locker room free of charge?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Yes, the buffet will be open. We ate there each formal night last August.

[walkinman]

Are the pool ladder steps staggered or straight up and down on the Prinsendam? On the Westerdam, they were staggered at a slight angle, which made it fairly easy to climb up and down. We were just on a Carnival ship, the Sunshine, and their stair ladders were straight, and steep, which I found almost impossible to use.

 

We are thinking of a 30 day cruise on the Prinsendam, but the pool accessibility is important to me. Can anyone comment, or perhaps post a picture of the pool ladders?

 

Thanks,

Mrs. Walkinman (should probably call me Gimpy Girl!)

[serendipity1499]

Like Kazu, Linda, & many others, the Prinsendam is our favorite ship followed by the Amsterdam.. We spent 68 days on her in Jan of 2013 around SA into Antarctica.. This was our 2nd cruise on the Prinsendam.. Yes it is smaller than the other ships, but we are used to small ships as spent many months at a time aboard our 33 ft. sailboat.. Since my Hip operation I especially enjoyed the fact that I did not have to walk the length of a football field to get to dinner or entertainment..We had a mid-ship outside cabin with a walk-in shower on main deck close to the elevators..

 

It was much better for me (5ft. 0") not to have to try to climb into a high sided tub!! Also loved the walk-in closet!! Once again, I took too many clothes, but was able to re-pack a suitcase mid-cruise with some of the warm clothing after we got out of the frigid areas, & leave it standing up in the cabin.. No problem walking around it.. It was nice to have a window close to the couch & not over the bed!

 

The crew was wonderful & there were a few who were especially kind & helpful with my DH who occasionally forgot where I was seated in the Lido.. DH likes to sleep late so most often we had breakfast & lunch in the Lido & dinner in the MDR.. The food was excellent both places!

 

We especially enjoyed sitting out on Promenade Deck when the weather was nice or in the lovely & comfortable library when it was too cold..

 

Would sail the Prinsendam again in a heartbeat!:):)

 

Betty

Edited June 7, 2014 by serendipity1499

[CGYCruisingFamily]

here are some answers from my parents who have cruised on the Prinsendam 65 days most recently just before Christmas. Their answers are in red.

 

Just a couple of last minute questions;

 

1. Is there a proper hair dryer in the cabin for someone with long hair? yes there is
   
2. Do they still provide conditioner? On the website it only states shampoo. yes they do. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash. My mom says though she doesn't like the conditioner
   
3. As there is no thermal suite are the steam room and saunas open to everyone? Are these unisex or his and hers? they don't use these but my mom thinks they are unisex. She says they have upped the price to use.
   
4. How do you access the seaview pool area? Must you go through the spa/fitness area? they said you come out of the elevator on deck 9 by the spa, you just walk by but don't have to go through- there is a hallway between the spa and exercise room. You must go up a small set of stairs or a handicap elevator
   
5. Is there an art tour on the ships similar to others in the fleet? they don't think there is because the ship is not big enough. There is a ship tour but not one specific to the art
   

 

Thanks for any input you can provide.

 

 

Rochelle

[USN59-79]

We cruised twice last year on the Prinsendam. The first cruise, we booked an inside cabin (503). We always book inside and have been very satisfied with their size. Not so on Prinsendam. There was so little space inside that there was no furniture; no coffee table, no chair, certainly no love seat. If you wanted to sit you sat on the bed. But we loved the ship. In the fall we spend a month on her in the Eastern Med and returned to Ft Lauderdale. This time we booked an outside and while not huge, the space was much better. Before we booked the first cruise DW was concerned that a smaller ship like her would have more ocean motion than the larger ships. Not true; she sails smoother than ships twice her size in my opinion.

[navybankerteacher]

Thanks for all the information. Maasdam is our favorite ship (to date) so we are looking forward to our T/A on Prinsendam in November. I am enough of a believer in "smaller is better" that I will not be bothered by the less exciting entertainment; and I am more than happy to do without skating rink, bowling alley, climbing wall, water slide and bumper cars (I am still reluctant to believe tales of them aboard ship.),

[navybankerteacher]

I've noted a couple of negative comments concerning the aft staterooms on the Promenade Deck. What are the issues which cause concern?

[kazu]

I've noted a couple of negative comments concerning the aft staterooms on the Promenade Deck. What are the issues which cause concern?

 

The concerns only apply to the AB cabins aft. They were newly installed and are not part of the original cabins of the Prinsendam. Aside from them not having the characteristics of the Prinsendam cabins (ie walk in cabins - good use of space) occupants have reported.....

 

a LOT of vibration - Loud, unable to sleep when pulling in

 

Walls shaking

 

a LOT of noise

 

the pool spilling over onto the balcony of the aft cabins here.

 

There are a number of posts on these cabins on the boards. The posts were confirmed first hand on our first cruise on her when our tablemates finally got a 'sleeping cabin' as they could not sleep well in their AB cabin.

 

While we love the Prinsendam, this isn't a cabin category I would risk booking.

[LindaM]

Like Betty said, for us, a shower without a tub is important . I much prefer walking into the shower instead of climbing over the side of a tub. Even in hotels,I am uncomfortable with tubs---and I'm not exactly out of shape. I just don't want to tempt fate at my age! But, if I had a choice of an AB verandah on deck 8 aft, I'd choose the A verandah cabin with a tub! In fact, I wouldn't choose an AB after reading the negative comments here. I think they must be having some issues getting rid of them, because we were offered a couple as an upgrade on our Sept. France/Spain cruise. No thank you!

 

The reason I remember the number of deck 8 with the new cabins is because it was our favorite deck previously. Nothing was there but some leaky hot tubs. We had it ALL to ourselves. We could get a good value OV and use deck 8 aft as our private verandah!

Edited June 7, 2014 by LindaM
edit

[wandrr]

Be aware of the mold problem in some PRINSENDAM cabins. We have been aboard for a month doing the Grand Voyage from Barcelona to Rome. We started having respiratory problems a few days after we boarded. We noticed a faint odor and traced it to the area behind the wooden nightstand adjacent to the bathroom. We pulled the furniture away from the wall and found mold in abundance. The cabin stewards tried without success to clean it over the next two days. We both had increasing breathing problems. Finally, we went to the desk and insisted we be moved to another cabin that same day. Fortunately there were other cabins available.

I have read other posts mentioning mold problems aboard the PRINSENDAM. She is is fantastic ship and I would sail on her again, but next time I will closely inspect the cabin before accepting it. I suggest others do the same, especially if you have asthma or any respiratory issues.

 

 

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I suspect this is not just a problem in one cabin, but may be endemic on the entire ship, it being fairly old. We sailed on the South America and Antarctica Grand Voyage two years ago. Almost everyone we associated with on the ship had some sort of respiratory problems that just would not go away. On the other hand, their symptoms greatly diminished when they were on shore excursions. Your mold suggestion sounds like it could be the underlying cause.

 

That said, we very much enjoyed Prinsendam, and are very seriously considering another Grand Voyage in 2015.

[mame42]

Thanks to all who have posted here. I am considering the Prinsendam for 2015 and had many of my questions answered.

[BeardieMom55]

We sailed on her last June for a 14 day around the UK and Ireland and had no respiratory problems at all. So perhaps the mold issue has been resolved. We booked an ocean view and kept inquiring about an upsell to balcony. After turning down several offers (too expensive), we were offered an upsell at a very reasonable rate for the cruise just a few days before sailing which we did take. We were very glad we took the upsell and really enjoyed the balcony. For us persistence paid off. Good luck and enjoy the Prinsindam.

[kazu]

We sailed on her last June for a 14 day around the UK and Ireland and had no respiratory problems at all. So perhaps the mold issue has been resolved. We booked an ocean view and kept inquiring about an upsell to balcony. After turning down several offers (too expensive), we were offered an upsell at a very reasonable rate for the cruise just a few days before sailing which we did take. We were very glad we took the upsell and really enjoyed the balcony. For us persistence paid off. Good luck and enjoy the Prinsendam.

 

We were on her for 31 days last spring and had no issues until the last few days when I did end up with bronchitis. I honestly do not think that it was due to mold. I blamed it on a 'Typhoid Mary' who I was unfortunately in a room with once. She was coughing profusely with her mouth wide open and never covered it. I suspect that one person who spreads germs in this manner would be responsible for a number of colds, etc.

[mame42]

I am fairly impervious to noise and vibrations, so I may be able to pick up a relative bargain in this category. However, I am somewhat sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke; I can take it in small doses, but not for any length of time. How much are these cabins impacted by the smoke from the casino? On my recent sail on the Maasdam, I could spend very little time on Deck 8.

[Barbara1973]

This will be our first trip on Holland America, taking the Prisendam to Norway on June 13, 2015. Unlike the Princess line, where the difference between ocean view and balcony is $200, the verandahs are considerably more expensive on HA. I know that the verandah rooms are larger but is it worth $1400 pp more??? If we choose ocean view, are there decks/cabins that we should avoid due to noise/traffic, etc. We are fairly new to cruising so ANY advice on the Prisendam would be helpful and appreciated. Thank you!

[donatienne]

Just returned from a cruise on the Prinsendam. Loved the ship and crew. We had a problem on the Port side, it smelled like sewage the whole cruise. Those who had a verandah cabin on that side couldn't open their door. You couldn't walk on the promenade deck because of the smell. Do check on the problem before booking.

[kazu]

I am fairly impervious to noise and vibrations, so I may be able to pick up a relative bargain in this category. However, I am somewhat sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke; I can take it in small doses, but not for any length of time. How much are these cabins impacted by the smoke from the casino? On my recent sail on the Maasdam, I could spend very little time on Deck 8.

 

Casino is not large on this ship. You may smell a bit as you pass by but I didn't notice it in the hallways of the cabins. It won't impact the verandahs but smoking is permitted on verandahs so you could be impacted. I didn't notice a lit of cruisers on my cruises on this ship but those are only my experiences

 

This will be our first trip on Holland America, taking the Prisendam to Norway on June 13, 2015. Unlike the Princess line, where the difference between ocean view and balcony is $200, the verandahs are considerably more expensive on HA. I know that the verandah rooms are larger but is it worth $1400 pp more??? If we choose ocean view, are there decks/cabins that we should avoid due to noise/traffic, etc. We are fairly new to cruising so ANY advice on the Prisendam would be helpful and appreciated. Thank you!

 

There are pics and information on HALfacts.com . The link is in my signature.

 

Small ships cost more and certainly this one has fewer balconies so it does make them pricier.

 

Only you know if it is worth it or not. For us, yes. For others, no.

 

Lots of public space and room if that helps

[kazu]

Just returned from a cruise on the Prinsendam. Loved the ship and crew. We had a problem on the Port side, it smelled like sewage the whole cruise. Those who had a verandah cabin on that side couldn't open their door. You couldn't walk on the promenade deck because of the smell. Do check on the problem before booking.

 

Thank you. We never experienced this. Was there any explanation?

 

We have a port cabin booked so any extra info is appreciated.

[grannyk]

Can anyone tell me if in the self laundry the detergent is included in the price of the wash or if you purchase it separately and add it to the wash? On one HAL ship it was dispensed with the wash water into the machine. I would like to know if I need to pack detergent. Looking forward to cruising on her in October.

Ellen

[RuthC]

Can anyone tell me if in the self laundry the detergent is included in the price of the wash or if you purchase it separately and add it to the wash? On one HAL ship it was dispensed with the wash water into the machine. I would like to know if I need to pack detergent. Looking forward to cruising on her in October.

Detergent is included on the nine HAL ships that have self-service laundries. If you use dryer sheets, though, you have to supply them yourself.

[grannyk]

Detergent is included on the nine HAL ships that have self-service laundries. If you use dryer sheets, though, you have to supply them yourself.

 

Thanks

[gigianne]

Donnatienne - can you let us know what was done about the smell?

[LindaM]

This will be our first trip on Holland America, taking the Prisendam to Norway on June 13, 2015. Unlike the Princess line, where the difference between ocean view and balcony is $200, the verandahs are considerably more expensive on HA. I know that the verandah rooms are larger but is it worth $1400 pp more??? If we choose ocean view, are there decks/cabins that we should avoid due to noise/traffic, etc. We are fairly new to cruising so ANY advice on the Prisendam would be helpful and appreciated. Thank you!

 

We have had 3 OV's on Prinsendam. I think they are a very good value. On Dolphin Deck, the window is at a good level for viewing scenery. We have a verandah on Port side in a few weeks. Hopefully there won't be a problem. I have heard that there is a gas smell on that side when the ship is refueling, on the lower levels.