Oosterdam questions

[ponstad]

We will be boarding the Oosterdam on Aug. 30 in Vancouver and heading north up to Seward.

The reviews I have read for the Oosterdam seem all over the map - they hardly seem to be describing the same ship! We have some experience with HAL- did a South American cruise on the Rotterdam a number of years ago, and loved it.

So we have lots of questions:

Does anyone know if the ship will be in dry dock before August?

Recent cruisers - how was the food in the main dining room? Any special dishes we "must" try? Are there any special places on the ship that we shouldn't miss? What's the Greenhouse Retreat area like on the Oosterdam? Was it crowded? Did they offer any organized games of bridge? Anybody have any activity newsletters to share? What is the entertainment like? Do they do any karaoke? Have they instituted the BB King shows yet?

We have booked a suite and are wondering if HAL supplies slippers as well as robes.

Thanks so much.

Phyllis

Edited March 20, 2015 by ponstad
left something out

[sail7seas]

My experience on Oosterdam was outstanding but that was 2 1/2 years ago so not current. I wouldn't hesitate to sail her again. :)

 

If you are in a Neptune or Pinnacle Suite, you will get slippers. Stewards normally leave them at the side of the bed(s) the first night.

[jaspersmommy]

We will be boarding the Oosterdam on Aug. 30 in Vancouver and heading north up to Seward.

The reviews I have read for the Oosterdam seem all over the map - they hardly seem to be describing the same ship! We have some experience with HAL- did a South American cruise on the Rotterdam a number of years ago, and loved it.

So we have lots of questions:

Does anyone know if the ship will be in dry dock before August?

Recent cruisers - how was the food in the main dining room? Any special dishes we "must" try? Are there any special places on the ship that we shouldn't miss? What's the Greenhouse Retreat area like on the Oosterdam? Was it crowded? Did they offer any organized games of bridge? Anybody have any activity newsletters to share? What is the entertainment like? Do they do any karaoke? Have they instituted the BB King shows yet?

We have booked a suite and are wondering if HAL supplies slippers as well as robes.

Thanks so much.

Phyllis

 

 

I have never cruised with HAL before and am considering a cruise on the Oosterdam (also one on the Zuiderdam). I too am baffled about the Oosterdam reviews - they really are all over the map. It would be really helpful to hear feedback from recent Oosterdam passengers. In addition to the OP's questions, can anybody address the general condition of the ship? Did it look really tired, and what was the state of the cabins - are they generally in good shape, or are they getting tattered?

 

Not trying to hijack the thread... just piggybacking on it :)

[nana51]

I have been on the Ooserdam twice and LOVED it both times. The last time was last summer, so relatively recent. It was perfect!

[ozcruizer]

We were on the Oosterdam for 2 weeks last month and we found very little to complain about. Food was on a par with regular HAL fare, ship was clean and it was very similar in condition to the other HAL ships we've been on. We would certainly opt to cruise again on the Oosterdam if the itinerary was what we wanted. Obviously a lot of feelings about a ship are subjective though.

 

Ozcruizer

[AZNative2000]

We will be boarding the Oosterdam on Aug. 30 in Vancouver and heading north up to Seward.

The reviews I have read for the Oosterdam seem all over the map - they hardly seem to be describing the same ship! We have some experience with HAL- did a South American cruise on the Rotterdam a number of years ago, and loved it.

So we have lots of questions:

Does anyone know if the ship will be in dry dock before August?

Recent cruisers - how was the food in the main dining room? Any special dishes we "must" try? Are there any special places on the ship that we shouldn't miss? What's the Greenhouse Retreat area like on the Oosterdam? Was it crowded? Did they offer any organized games of bridge? Anybody have any activity newsletters to share? What is the entertainment like? Do they do any karaoke? Have they instituted the BB King shows yet?

We have booked a suite and are wondering if HAL supplies slippers as well as robes.

Thanks so much.

Phyllis

 

From another thread (Drydocks and charters) ...

 

Oosterdam : APRIL 2016 possible drydock - exact dates ?

Oosterdam : 28 August 2016 - 04 September 2016 : Mediterranean : Gertrude Byrne Promotions Irish charter

 

Hope the dry dock part is right! We get aboard in September.:)

 

Cheers!

[sail7seas]

Gertrude does a number of those charters. They are very popular.

 

[Hlitner]

We spent 38 days on the Oosterdam (Seattle to Auckland) last spring and had very little problem with the ship. Food was typical HAL which is to say not nearly as good as in years past. Pinnacle was nothing special for dinner but excellent for lunch. The Guest Entertainers on our cruise were very good but the main HAL shows were tired and the singers nothing special.

 

Hank