Prinsendam Kiel Canal & Baltics - cruise log / review posted (very long - detailed)

[StartrainDD]

Our 10,000+ word cruise log/review has just been posted. This may be helpful to any planning a cruise in the Baltics as there is a lot of information of our port experiences included. Prinsendam lovers, rejoice! The ship remains in good shape with a great crew.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=256523

 

I will check in from time to time if any have any questions.

Edited June 12, 2014 by StartrainDD

[portofrome]

Thank you for the review of a beautiful ship.

[kazu]

Our 10,000+ word cruise log/review has just been posted. This may be helpful to any planning a cruise in the Baltics as there is a lot of information of our port experiences included. Prinsendam lovers, rejoice! The ship remains in good shape with a great crew.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=256523

 

I will check in from time to time if any have any questions.

 

 

Thank you for the wonderful review. Very interesting indeed.

 

We loved the Kiel canal. It really is an experience:D

 

As a Prinsendam lover getting ready to get on her one more time in September your news on the ship and the crew is indeed wonderful.

 

I totally agree with your comments in your review on this ship and do think that she is a step up from the other HAL ships.

 

Thanks for the good news and the great review:D

[rafinmd]

Thank you for the review. It will take me a while to digest it but I do have some questions.

 

1. Did you find the #82 bus a reasonable way to get to the ship? Would you do it again?

2. I'm wondering about the pianist in the Crow's Nest. I saw several mentions of Roger and also (I think) one of David. I know the Piano Bar thread says David is supposed to be on board, what was Roger's role. Also, how was David, he's scheduled for my Statendam cruise.

3. Who was the Cruise Director?

4. I thought I remembered from my Prinsendam cruise that Good Morning Prinsendam was on the stateroom TV. Was I mistaken about that?

5. What were you told about the time frame for booking outgoing flights?

 

Thanks

Roy

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for taking the time to write and post the very nice review of your Prinsendam cruise.:)

[LindaM]

Thank you for your report on our most favorite HAL ship. I agree 100%---she is a step above any other HAL ship. There must be something about Tallinn.....we came in OK, but had a terrible time leaving port. The winds were something else! We also toured St. Petersburg with Katherine and enjoyed a pie. And, I enjoyed reading about the Kiel Canal---a wonderful experience.

 

The only bad thing is...I get a little melancholy thinking that her days may be numbered. HAL will never have another ship like her. Or any other line, for that matter! But...we will be on her in about 5 weeks!

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report! While we have only been on the EE once, we agree she is HAL's best ship.

[LindaM]

Thanks for the report! While we have only been on the EE once, we agree she is HAL's best ship.

 

Kirk,

 

I am so glad you liked her. I know we really praised her (on the rollcall) before your first cruise on her. I remember talking to you onboard about your feelings. Sometimes people just don't "get" how special she is...I was please to know you were one of us!

 

Linda

[Naomi2]

I read your review and picked up several pointers about the ports we will be in as we will be doing the Baltic and Burgundian Collectors cruise this year. Thank you so much for posting your review with all the detail.

I can't believe this will be our 4th month on the Prinsendam. She definitely attracts us. The Baltic is a repeat cruise for us but so many of the ports are different than the last time and others need revisiting.

Thankfully the thruster is fixed so we shouldn't miss as many ports as we did last year. That was our major complaint. Otherwise our trip was superb. We do many private tours and other ports on our own along with a few ship tours. The food, staff, entertainment, and other cruisers are wonderful. Exploring Europe in a small private group from the safety of a ship can't be matched. Yours, Naomi2

[StartrainDD]

Thank you for the review. It will take me a while to digest it but I do have some questions.

 

1. Did you find the #82 bus a reasonable way to get to the ship? Would you do it again?

2. I'm wondering about the pianist in the Crow's Nest. I saw several mentions of Roger and also (I think) one of David. I know the Piano Bar thread says David is supposed to be on board, what was Roger's role. Also, how was David, he's scheduled for my Statendam cruise.

3. Who was the Cruise Director?

4. I thought I remembered from my Prinsendam cruise that Good Morning Prinsendam was on the stateroom TV. Was I mistaken about that?

5. What were you told about the time frame for booking outgoing flights?

 

Thanks

Roy

 

Hi Roy! Answers in sequence:

1. IT DEPENDS. It really depends on your physical condition and the amount of luggage you have. In reality, the bus stop and the terminal are VERY CLOSE. But there is a dike between them, so you have to lift your luggage up the equal of about two flights of stairs and then back down the other side. So if you are in relatively good physical condition, and can take your cases up and down (even one at a time), it works. We are getting better at not overpacking - the only thing I brought that I did not wear were two pairs of shorts. The bus itself is fine, so long as you don't have too much luggage. Going back to the airport we used a taxi with friends and it was 96 Euros! Yikes! The bus/train combo is about 12 Euros for two people.

 

2. David played the crow's nest each evening from 4:30 - 5:30. Roger was the "Piano bar" entertainer later at night. We enjoyed him for the Sinatra night, but other times felt he was the least reliable "Entertainer" on the ship. Several times the schedule said he should be playing but was no where to be found.

 

3. Rick Barnes.

 

4. Yes, Good Morning Prinsendam is also on the TV, but on several of the sea days it was offered "Live" in the showroom.

 

5. Honestly, as we booked air independently, I don't recall being told anything. If you are using the HAL Transfer, they recommend no flights before 11:00. I would tend to agree that booking before 11:00 is pushing it. We were cleared at about 7:40 and did see a handful of people carrying luggage off. I would think if you wanted to do that yourself, then shuttle to the terminal, catch a cab, you could pretty much count on being at the airport by 9:00. Also consider the day of the week. Our cruise was Saturday - Saturday. Now they are on a Tuesday schedule and Tuesday would be a commuter day so you'd be in "Rush hour" traffic.

 

I hope this helps!

[StartrainDD]

The only bad thing is...I get a little melancholy thinking that her days may be numbered. HAL will never have another ship like her. Or any other line, for that matter! But...we will be on her in about 5 weeks!

 

Linda, you are certainly correct, at least at the current price point. Prinsendam is almost the exact size of the "New" Viking Ocean Cruises, but their price is about 3X (or more) what Prinsendam can often be booked at.

 

I really enjoyed the small ship feel and would love to cruise her again. Next year all her "Summer" cruises are Tuesday - Tuesday and for those of us that are still working, that means more than two weeks off work at one time and I simply can't do that.:mad:

 

I actually had hoped to do the Rome - Amsterdam next Spring but it's from Tuesday - Tuesday so there is no way I can do it.

 

Arie

[aliaschief]

Wonderful review. Thank you for sharing your cruise experience.

[spikecat]

Thank you so much for your review.We leave soon for a Baltic cruise on the Eurodam. I do have a few questions Do you know if there are shuttle buses in Copenhagen,Stockholm and Helsinki provided by the ship?

Did you take different currencies for each port? Can I use a regular credit card without a pin?

How did you pay for your taxi to the airport in Copenhagen. The price seems extremely high and very different from a few others that have quoted their cost.Was it because you had 4 people maybe?

Thanks, again

[rafinmd]

Thank you for the responses. I will likely have more questions much later but you've certainly given a lot of good information.

 

Roy

[StartrainDD]

Thank you so much for your review.We leave soon for a Baltic cruise on the Eurodam. I do have a few questions Do you know if there are shuttle buses in Copenhagen,Stockholm and Helsinki provided by the ship?

Did you take different currencies for each port? Can I use a regular credit card without a pin?

How did you pay for your taxi to the airport in Copenhagen. The price seems extremely high and very different from a few others that have quoted their cost.Was it because you had 4 people maybe?

Thanks, again

 

No, no shuttle buses provided at any port.

 

Stockholm is a "DIY" cruisers dream (at least where Prinsendam docked) as there was a T.I. right at the dock and colored stripes to the public bus, the Hop on, Hop off boat, or to walk downtown (2.4 KM).

 

Helsinki had a travel "Person" just outside the port gate handing out maps. Walk about four blocks to the Tram station (tram#4) which takes you right downtown. If you buy the all day ticket like we did (7 Euros?) that is also good for the ferry to take you to the castle, which we did not do but wish we did.

 

If your cruise is originating in Copenhagen you will be docked at a different place than we were, so I can't help you there. The port has an excellent web site though.

 

We withdrew Euros in the Amsterdam airport and used them at many of the stops. In Stockholm we were able to charge everything with a regular credit card. Helsinki is not so easy; they really want the PIN. We used our cash Euros as Finland is on the Euro.

 

Copenhagen we could NOT use our regular signature credit card. I withdrew Krone (twice!) at ATM's. The stores and restaurant we stopped in claimed they could only handle PIN cards. I would suggest withdrawing Krone at the airport ATM. Usually the "Travelex" ATM's charge no fee. Just be careful to "Decline" when they offer to charge your withdrawal in dollars - then they do charge a fee! Just take out "Krone" and you will be fine.

 

The Prinsendam sails from Ijmuiden in the Netherlands; so sorry but I can't help you with airport transit in Copenhagen.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thank you for the review....

[highland cruiser]

Great review. Thank you.

So looking forward to our first time on the Prinsendam in September..

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for taking the time to write your review.

Absolutely wonderful!!

[madera1]

I just read your review which was full of useful information. Looking forward to our first Prinsendam cruise in just a few months. Thank you for sharing your review.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[erewhon]

Thank you for your thorough review.

 

The laundry service was very efficient.

[I_r_a]

Thanks for sharing, star

 

Ira

[bcnvcanada]

Loved your review. Please could you share some thoughts about your

tour in St Petersburg. We are do take the same one in 10 days, and

we are concerned. We understand the food is not really that good, but other comments would be most appreciated. thank you.

[Keith1010]

Thank you for the review.

 

Keith

[corkpopr]

Wonderfully review full of great info. We never go to shows so it is fine with us that you found that to be the only weak area. I am in the casino every nite & since you didn't comment on it I presume you never went there. Thanks for taking the time to write.

[StartrainDD]

Loved your review. Please could you share some thoughts about your

tour in St Petersburg. We are do take the same one in 10 days, and

we are concerned. We understand the food is not really that good, but other comments would be most appreciated. thank you.

 

Hello to our friends in Canada!

 

I did a review of our SPB tour experience for tripadvisor. I believe we are allowed to post this link:

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298507-d2216909-r209894345-SPB_Tours-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District.html

 

Don't cancel; you will see everything that needs to be seen. Just be prepared (and maybe bring a few candy bars or granola bars...).

 

Arie

Edited June 16, 2014 by StartrainDD