Would you recommend the Noordam?

[stickey_mouse]

I finally bit the bullet and booked a Signature Suite (SY) on the Noordam to Alaska. I'm very excited! Thanks to all who chimed in and generously gave their opinions.

[colonialinnkeeper]

Congratulations. You'll have a wonderful time on the Noordam and now you can have the fun of starting to plan port activities.

[jvalentine]

We really liked the Noordam when we went to Alaska on her this past August. Had a great cruise...I'm sure you'll have a great trip!!

[Cindy]

Are you basically advising to avoid the aft staterooms on the Noordam? Also, any experience with the lowest tier of Neptune suites (category SC)? I can't tell from the deck plans what makes them less desirable (for lack of a better phrase) than the SB rooms (see Deck 7 on Noordam, for example).

 

No, I am not advising anyone avoid the aft staterooms on Noordam, nor any other HAL Ship that has them. I will only book one of these. It is just if I have my choice over 5190 on Noordam or let's say the same stateroom on Westerdam, doing the smae itinerary, then I will book Westerdam specifically because of the full coverage. Same with say 6166 on either ship. Noordam has less coverage and I want coverage.

 

Cannot tell you why the SC's are even designated as SC. To me, they appear to have much larger interiors, but much much less verandah. I know that I will do everything in my power not to book one of the SC's, only because of my preference for the aft wraps. I will not say I'll never book one, but...........

 

Joanie

 

Stickey_Mouse, The Noordam was our first HAL cruise, and we loved the ship and the itinerary. I know you said you booked a Signature Suite, but if you decide to upgrade to a Neptune Suite we think the aft corner we had on the Noordam (5191) was one of the best cabins we've ever had because of the balcony. As IRL_Joanie said, the aft part of the balcony is only half covered, but that was plenty for us, especially since the side part of the balcony is completely covered.

 

Here's a picture of the balcony:

 

Here's a picture of the aft...5191 is the second balcony up on the corner:

 

We liked it so much we just chose 7151, an aft corner on the Westerdam for a Med cruise. We preferred the partially covered, more open feel of the balcony of 5191 on the Noordam to the completely covered version on the other Vista ships.

[canadianbear]

I finally bit the bullet and booked a Signature Suite (SY) on the Noordam to Alaska. I'm very excited! Thanks to all who chimed in and generously gave their opinions.

 

I'm glad you decided!! I don't think you will be disappointed in the Signature suite-very roomy. We love the shower/tub and separate shower in the bathroom.

 

Let us know when you return how you enjoyed the cruise and your suite. It is possible too that you may be offered an upsell to a Neptune so just try to figure out where you might want to be on the ship if you get a choice because some of the upsells go very quickly so you need an answer right away usually.

[roberts2005]

Sitting in aft wrap 6166 on the Noordam right now, back for a second trip, she is still as lovely as ever. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow in the Pinnacle, it's a superb meal in there, one of the highlights of having a Neptune suite and the walk from the aft helps to at least make me think I'm working some of it off.

 

Why so few posts on the Australian Roll Calls. Do the people not get involved with cruise critic in Australia

 

I started a roll call for November 22 and no one else has posted

[Stratheden]

Why so few posts on the Australian Roll Calls. Do the people not get involved with cruise critic in Australia

 

I started a roll call for November 22 and no one else has posted

 

You may find more US/Canadian passengers than Aussies.

 

The Roll Call for the Noordam 23rd March 2016 has 61 attendees of which at least 75% are not from Australia.

 

CC is US website so probably not a lot of us on here.

[roberts2005]

You may find more US/Canadian passengers than Aussies.

 

The Roll Call for the Noordam 23rd March 2016 has 61 attendees of which at least 75% are not from Australia.

 

CC is US website so probably not a lot of us on here.

 

Do more Australians use P & O or other cruise lines Was hoping for a more local mix

[AncientWanderer]

Between 2011 and now, we've spent a total of 92 days aboard the Noordam. It just worked out that way because we liked her itineraries. I have to say that every single one of those 92 days was just about perfect. Never a bad one.

[Stratheden]

Just like in the US where many cruisers just cruise the Carribean year after year, I am sure many Aussies cruise to the South Pacific Islands eg. Fiji, Vanuatu etc.

 

P&O and Princess seem to be the goto ships along with occasionally Carnival.

 

We have never cruised locally before but will be cruising NZ in March/April on the Noordam. With the current situation in Europe it looks like we won't be heading back that way again very soon. We may have to have a look at the South Pacific in 2017. It will be HAL though.

 

We like the ambience on HAL - can't see us ever trying P&O or Carnival.

Edited January 26, 2016 by Stratheden

[Tripper10]

This is my first HAL post. I'm considering an Alaskan cruise on the Noordam next summer and wanted to get some opinions of the ship. I keep reading that people don't love the Noordam, or that the Noordam is their least favorite Vista Class ship.

 

I'm also considering upgrading to a Signature or Neptune Suite. Is the Neptune worth it? Is the exclusive breakfast a vast improvement over the Lido buffet?

 

Thanks!

 

We loved the Noordam 3x so far. Great ship if you like HAL style cruises.

[Sopwith]

This just goes to show how subjective people's opinions on cruise ships are. We sailed on the Noordam exactly once several years ago after several cruises on the Westerdam and Oosterdam. After many cruises on HAL, we had sworn off them because of a bad experience on the Zaandam the year before, but booked the Noordam to use up a substantial future cruise credit HAL gave us as compensation for the Zaandam fiasco.

 

When we boarded in Civitavecchia (several hours late) the Noordam was in full lockdown mode because of a norovirus outbreak. Okay, that was a one-off that could have happened on any ship. Leaving that aside, we were disappointed in the Noordam. They have crammed many extra cabins onto the aft end and upper decks, and the service and food were mediocre at best. There was nothing to make us want to come back.

 

Since then we have done several Oceania cruises. Not perfect, and a bit more money, but we're much happier. It is doubtful that we will cruise with HAL again, but I truly hope it's getting better after several years of a downhill slide.

[crystalspin]

I love the Noordam! ...

This march will be my first time on a smaller HAL ship, the Zaandam, so we shall see.

 

I think you will like the Zaandam. She has a smaller passenger capacity but many and varied venues. I remember remarking to myself how well-thought-out it was, walking down the hall/corridor and never hearing one area to the next -- be it the Piano Bar or the Casino...

 

My husband did like the Nieuw Amstersdam better, although he has not been successful voicing WHY! I suspect it is because we were on for so long (26 days, and the first 9 with only one port) that he just got to know the ship better and relaxed more!

 

We're booked on the Westerdam for a 19-day Panama transit in 2017. That will make at least one cruise on all of the "classes" except the smallest and the largest!

 

previous cruises: 2xStatendam, Zaandam, Nieuw Amsterdam

also Norwegian Star&Orient Lines Marco Polo...

[Stratheden]

I can't comment on the Noordam as we haven't sailed on her yet but we are really looking forward to our cruise in March. I'm not expecting to not like the Noordam. I believe the crew is what makes a ship anyway

 

We have cruised on the Zuiderdam in both a Verandah and Signature Suite. We will never go back to just a Verandah stateroom. The extra space in both the cabin and the bathroom are great and you get used to it very quickly.

[david,Mississauga]

Prior to our Alaska cruise in the Noordam, our only experience with a "Vista-Class" ship was Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. Although I had done my research about the Noordam and was prepared for lower ceilings almost everywhere, it was more cramped than I expected.

 

I had to stifle my laughter when I saw what passed for an atrium. The atrium aboard the QE is vast by comparison. Also, the QE has a two-deck high library; the Queen's Room was also two decks high with a mezzanine and even the shopping area was two decks with a grand staircase joining the two levels. Then there was the theatre which was designed like a West End theatre with a balcony/dress circle and boxes.

 

There was a similarity in the two ships in that the stair/lift towers and major public rooms were in the same place. The Noordam's overall décor was quite modern for my taste (as I knew it would be) but the art-work and antiques made it more pleasing and we are grateful to HAL for the thought that went into this. One thing that stood out on the Noordam was the real teak decks. The QE, regrettably, has the fake decking.

 

When I take my next Alaska cruise I would like to try a different HAL ship, but if the price was right I would cruise again in Noordam.

[ibfishing2]

I just jumped on an upsell to 5190 for our Australia Cruise. I am so excited and want to thank everyone for their post regarding this wraparound suite.

Edited March 9, 2016 by ibfishing2

[Crew News]

I just jumped on an upsell to 5190 for our Australia Cruise. I am so excited and want to thank everyone for their post regarding this wraparound suite.

 

Kudos!!! That aft-wrap will be your favorite stateroom, as it is ours, on all future cruises. The amazing views will be perfect for your photos and just enjoying Australia.

[OceanTraveller4ever]

All Vista class are great, and it gets subjective on preference. For me, the Westie is first, Zuidie second, then N-dam, and O-dam.

 

JMO

[ibfishing2]

Kudos!!! That aft-wrap will be your favorite stateroom, as it is ours, on all future cruises. The amazing views will be perfect for your photos and just enjoying Australia.

 

I think we are setting ourselves up to be "spoiled" forever.:)

[avian777]

Add me to the list of CCers (and I'm sure many non-CCers, as well) who love the Noordam ... she may not be our favorite of the Vista Class ships (Zuiderdam has that honor), but she is in the top 4 of them. ;)

 

Have nothing to add to what has already been commented on concerning the Signature/Neptune Suites on Noordam.