Tampa ever have an R class?

[UPNYGuy]

Just a curiosity, but did Tampa ever have an R class based there? I know Ryndam and Veendam... but for some reason I have it in my head that Zaandam was also there too.

 

 

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[sail7seas]

Yes, I think you could be correct.

 

I believe Zaandam sailed from Tampa prior to Veendam/Ryndam.

[sail7seas]

The more I think about it, I am almost sure Zaandam sailed from either Tampa or Canaveral. She homeported in one or the other for a time.

 

[UPNYGuy]

I think it was Tampa but could be incorrect. Makes you wonder if HAL ever seriously looked at putting a Vista there. I know bridge height is the limiting factor, but when RCL has Radiiance (and CCL has Legend), the bridge can't be that much an issue for a vista.

 

 

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[sail7seas]

 

I tend to agree with you it was more likely Zaandam sailed from Tampa than Canaveral.

 

It has been discussed here and some who know about such things than I do said the Vistas are too tall. There has been discussion in Tampa newspapers I have read that they fear they will lose the cruise ship traffic because the investment to raise the bridge is prohibitive. Dredging and other solutions were discussed and the investment is massive.

 

Edited August 19, 2014 by sail7seas

[jtl513]

The more I think about it, I am almost sure Zaandam sailed from either Tampa or Canaveral. She homeported in one or the other for a time.

A long time ago ... 14, 15 years maybe ... there was a HAL ship based at Port Canaveral. Could have been Zaandam.

Dredging and other solutions were discussed and the investment is massive.

And it's not just the Skyway bridge that's the problem ... the channel is too narrow and the turning basins too short for the ships being built and planned now. Edited August 19, 2014 by jtl513

[UPNYGuy]

It has been discussed here and some who know about such things than I do said the Vistas are too tall. There has been discussion in Tampa newspapers I have read that they fear they will lose the cruise ship traffic because the investment to raise the bridge is prohibitive. Dredging and other solutions were discussed and the investment is massive.

 

 

 

 

 

I have read that as well. Just didn't know the vistas were THAT much taller

 

 

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[boatmad]

Zaandam was based in Port Canaveral in 2004 and 2005. We sailed on our first 3 cruises on her in that wonderful port. Convenient for passengers, not so easy for crew. They had to bus to Orlando to shops, etc.

[sail7seas]

Zaandam was based in Port Canaveral in 2004 and 2005. We sailed on our first 3 cruises on her in that wonderful port. Convenient for passengers, not so easy for crew. They had to bus to Orlando to shops, etc.

 

 

 

We sailed once out of Canaveral and the flights weren't so convenient for us. It was an alternate port situation when a Hurricane (Wilma ?) closed Port Everglades and both Miami and FLL airports. We were to board Volendam and they reloated her to Canaveral. We were lucky to get last minute flights but it was a nuisance coming from the airport to port as compared to Boston or FLL or even Tampa was more convenient.

 

[Copper10-8]

Zaandam was based in Port Canaveral in 2004 and 2005. We sailed on our first 3 cruises on her in that wonderful port. Convenient for passengers, not so easy for crew. They had to bus to Orlando to shops, etc.

 

She (ZADM) was there (Canaveral) in 2003 also as we sailed her in March of that year

[Copper10-8]

Oh yeah; Nieuw Amsterdam III, a "N" class ship, used to be home-ported out of Tampa, but that was in the early nineties (1993)

[PathfinderEss]

I don't know of any 'R' class ships that have sailed out of Tampa, just 'S' class.

[Djptcp]

DH and I sailed on the Zaandam out of Port Canaveral, not Tampa. It was our first HAL cruise and we loved it.

[sail7seas]

Oh yeah; Nieuw Amsterdam III, a "N" class ship, used to be home-ported out of Tampa, but that was in the early nineties (1993)

 

 

 

She also was smaller, lower than the "S" Class ships.

Our first HAL cruise was her sister, Noordam III. :)

 

[Dave in NJ]

Weren't the sisters Noordam and Nieuw Amsterdam of 1983/84 delightful cruise ships for their era? I sailed one or the other, perhaps both, out of Tampa several times. A bit higher density than the S-class that followed, and a bit limited for stage productions, but a lovely pair of ships and happily still sailing for other owners.

[RedmondCruiser]

We sailed on the old Noordam (N class) out of Tampa in 2003 when she was doing 14 day cruises.

[sail7seas]

Weren't the sisters Noordam and Nieuw Amsterdam of 1983/84 delightful cruise ships for their era? I sailed one or the other, perhaps both, out of Tampa several times. A bit higher density than the S-class that followed, and a bit limited for stage productions, but a lovely pair of ships and happily still sailing for other owners.

 

We had sailed RCI and Princess prior to sailing HAL when we first started sailing. We clearly liked RCI and Princess cruises enough that we knew we wanted to continue cruising but knew we had not yet found the right cruise line for us.

 

By the time we went to bed the first day aboard Noordam III, we knew we had found our 'cruise home'. :) HAL only had four ships in the fleet and everyone seemed to know everyone. We were amazed with the interaction between crew and guests. It was so warm and welcoming yet never crossed the line.

 

Noordam was a beautiful ship but I was one who was bothered by her vibration.

 

It is my understanding they are both sailing under lease to Thompson? Anyone know if that is true?

 

 

 

[Ship's Wake]

 

It has been discussed here and some who know about such things than I do said the Vistas are too tall. There has been discussion in Tampa newspapers I have read that they fear they will lose the cruise ship traffic because the investment to raise the bridge is prohibitive. Dredging and other solutions were discussed and the investment is massive.

 

 

Carnival's Spirit class (which share a similar hull to the Vistas) can make it under the bridge quite well.

 

Vistas from HAL should be able to clear the bridge.

 

[Copper10-8]

We had sailed RCI and Princess prior to sailing HAL when we first started sailing. We clearly liked RCI and Princess cruises enough that we knew we wanted to continue cruising but knew we had not yet found the right cruise line for us.

 

By the time we went to bed the first day aboard Noordam III, we knew we had found our 'cruise home'. :) HAL only had four ships in the fleet and everyone seemed to know everyone. We were amazed with the interaction between crew and guests. It was so warm and welcoming yet never crossed the line.

 

Noordam was a beautiful ship but I was one who was bothered by her vibration.

 

It is my understanding they are both sailing under lease to Thompson? Anyone know if that is true?

 

 

 

 

Yep, that is true!

 

Nieuw Amsterdam III is sailing as Thomson Celebration and Noordam III is their Thomson Spirit

 

 

 

[sail7seas]

Thanks, John. NICE photos.

 

It drove me crazy the biggest cabins had no view and life boats were outside the windows. :eek: I had to stand on the couch each morning to see what the weather was. :D Didn't matter..... we had a FANTASTIC time on that ship and made HAL our Cruise Home.

Edited August 20, 2014 by sail7seas

[innlady1]

Anyone know which, if any, HAL ship will take over the Tampa cruises once the Ryndam departs?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Anyone know which, if any, HAL ship will take over the Tampa cruises once the Ryndam departs?

 

 

Someone mentioned a couple of weeks ago that it will be the Veendam.

[Copper10-8]

Thanks, John. NICE photos.

 

It drove me crazy the biggest cabins had no view and life boats were outside the windows. :eek: I had to stand on the couch each morning to see what the weather was. :D Didn't matter..... we had a FANTASTIC time on that ship and made HAL our Cruise Home.

 

We had a porthole on NADM III back in 1993 and a great time on our first HAL cruise out of Tampa

 

NADM III had public lounges and areas you don't hear about anymore: the two-tiered Stuyvesant (main show) Lounge, the Minnewit Terrace with Peter’s Bar, the Peartree (night) Club with the Partridge Bar, Henry’s Bar, the Book Chest Library, the Card room, De Halve Maen room, the Princess (movie) theater, the Big Apple lounge, the Paerel Straet (Pearl Street) Shopping Arcade, the Wampum Casino and The Square (including the Main Lobby, Main staircase, elevators plus offices of the Hotel Manager, Purser, Cruise Director and Maitre d’ Hotel), the Barber Shop and the Beauty Parlor

Edited August 20, 2014 by Copper10-8

[sail7seas]

I also remember reading Veendam will return to Tampa when Ryndam leaves the fleet.

[sail7seas]

We had a porthole on NADM III back in 1993 and a great time on our first HAL cruise out of Tampa

 

NADM III had public lounges and areas you don't hear about anymore: the two-tiered Stuyvesant (main show) Lounge, the Minnewit Terrace with Peter’s Bar, the Peartree (night) Club with the Partridge Bar, Henry’s Bar, the Book Chest Library, the Card room, De Halve Maen room, the Princess (movie) theater, the Big Apple lounge, the Paerel Straet (Pearl Street) Shopping Arcade, the Wampum Casino and The Square (including the Main Lobby, Main staircase, elevators plus offices of the Hotel Manager, Purser, Cruise Director and Maitre d’ Hotel), the Barber Shop and the Beauty Parlor

 

 

Wow, that's so fun.

 

I remember Piet Hein on Noordam III in place of Ocean Bar. :) It's so long ago but I think there was a Crows Nest.

Lido Restaurant was so different than what we now know. We booked Panama Canal cruise just after we returned from Noordam III

on the then under construction, Statendam. :) We sailed Statendam and all her sisters Inaugural Seasons. When we saw the ship

for the first time we were dazzled. All those fabulous verandahs!

LOVED that "S" suite right away and continue to now. :)

 

Edited August 20, 2014 by sail7seas