patrick401ca Posted April 22, 2016 #51 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Welcome to you and your husband. You will have an interesting opportunity to compare and contrast Atlantis and RSVP. I would love to hear more about your Tahiti cruise, as yesterday I booked a South Pacific Crossing cruise on Noordam for April 2018. It doesn't go to Tahiti, but it visits two islands in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, two islands in Fiji, and Pago Pago in Samoa. It sails from Australia and ends in Hawaii. Did you visit any of those? (I'm just a bit excited. :o) Cheers. And just curious, how did you book? Lots of folks are anxious for the cruise to open to bookings for folks who weren't on Nieuw A in February, and it appears you were not. Thanks. To book with RSVP I just called them and booked. No questions asked! Tahiti was amazing. The islands were really beautiful and not commercialized with tacky little shops. I snorkelled and it was great - lots of brightly coloured fish, kissed a stingray and saw a few too many sharks. Also the people on the cruise were great - older and less buff than your typical Atlantis cruise and no attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpole Posted April 27, 2016 #52 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Found this thread loaded with lots of great pictures of the beautiful K http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2347682 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted April 27, 2016 #53 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Found this thread loaded with lots of great pictures of the beautiful Khttp://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2347682 I'm so glad the "other Brad" has been generous with sharing his photos. HAL just killed it with their new aesthetic. Modern, yet warm. I absolutely love the carpets, especially in the Crow's Nest. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpole Posted May 2, 2016 #54 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I'm so glad the "other Brad" has been generous with sharing his photos. HAL just killed it with their new aesthetic. Modern, yet warm. I absolutely love the carpets, especially in the Crow's Nest. ;) I agree, she really looks great! Nothing like any HAL ship before her. The only negative I can see right now is the theatre, or World Stage as they are calling it, looks awfully small! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monumax Posted May 20, 2016 #55 Share Posted May 20, 2016 If you haven't checked it out yet, here is a site with many pictures from past RSVP cruises: http://www.gaycruisepictures.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandRCruiser Posted May 21, 2016 #56 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Hey Guys (and Gals?) - I'm going to be back with you on the Koningsdam after a 3 year hiatus. I am so happy that we'll be sailing on a brand new ship with HAL. The Feb, 2014 cruise on the Divina really was less than spectacular. I bit the bullet and booked single occupancy in an interior, since I've never spent time in the cabin - and I didn't feel like playing roulette with the room-mate share program again. See you all in 260 days! Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monumax Posted May 21, 2016 #57 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Welcome Jeff, We, also, have not cruised since the Divina and are happy to back on board with RSVP. We have an Alaska cruise scheduled for August, but we find we are more excited fo!r the February RSVP cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted May 21, 2016 #58 Share Posted May 21, 2016 All of the good bits from Queen Maxima's dedication of Koningsdam: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted May 21, 2016 #59 Share Posted May 21, 2016 (edited) I agree, she really looks great! Nothing like any HAL ship before her. The only negative I can see right now is the theatre, or World Stage as they are calling it, looks awfully small! From what I'm reading, HAL is staggering all of the start times for evening entertainment so that folks are forced to make choices. That's likely to shrink the audience. I'm guessing they've also done research that indicates a lot of their core (i.e. old) passengers don't attend shows in the Showroom at Sea/World Stage so they felt like they could get away with a smaller space. I'm guessing RSVP will be sailing Nieuw Statendam in 2019. ;) We can see then what HAL decided to modify from Koningsdam. In the meantime, I'm hoping Koningsdam's new-ship smell will still be lingering in February. Edited May 21, 2016 by Cruiser Bruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted May 21, 2016 #60 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Hey Guys (and Gals?) -I'm going to be back with you on the Koningsdam after a 3 year hiatus. I am so happy that we'll be sailing on a brand new ship with HAL. The Feb, 2014 cruise on the Divina really was less than spectacular. I bit the bullet and booked single occupancy in an interior, since I've never spent time in the cabin - and I didn't feel like playing roulette with the room-mate share program again. See you all in 260 days! Jeff Welcome to the roll call, Jeff. We met on NA way back in 2012. If I remember correctly the roommate program worked to your advantage that year because you ended up not having a roommate, right? I did the share last year and counted myself as very lucky because my roommate was as good as I could have reasonably expected. I'm booked in one of the new single outside cabins on Koningsdam. They were booked shockingly fast. I had booking form #168 aboard NA, and I took the 10th out of 12 OO-category staterooms. Let me know if you want to see the cabin when we're aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandRCruiser Posted May 21, 2016 #61 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Welcome to the roll call, Jeff. We met on NA way back in 2012. If I remember correctly the roommate program worked to your advantage that year because you ended up not having a roommate, right? I did the share last year and counted myself as very lucky because my roommate was as good as I could have reasonably expected. I'm booked in one of the new single outside cabins on Koningsdam. They were booked shockingly fast. I had booking form #168 aboard NA, and I took the 10th out of 12 OO-category staterooms. Let me know if you want to see the cabin when we're aboard. Hey John! Yes, I had the room to myself starting the 3rd day after the medical issue with another guest that opened a cabin for my roommate to pay single supplement to get by himself, which left me by myself too. The 2nd roommate share on Oosterdaam wasn't quite as lucky. He was a good guy, but I found out I kinda would prefer to be in my own space. I'd love to visit your room when we are on board. I'll be in 8012. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted May 24, 2016 Author #62 Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) From what I'm reading, HAL is staggering all of the start times for evening entertainment so that folks are forced to make choices. That's likely to shrink the audience. I'm guessing they've also done research that indicates a lot of their core (i.e. old) passengers don't attend shows in the Showroom at Sea/World Stage so they felt like they could get away with a smaller space. That may work for regular cruises but not so much for Church Bingo! :eek: Or Amy and Freddie. Edited May 24, 2016 by Boytjie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted May 24, 2016 #63 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Hey John! Yes, I had the room to myself starting the 3rd day after the medical issue with another guest that opened a cabin for my roommate to pay single supplement to get by himself, which left me by myself too. The 2nd roommate share on Oosterdaam wasn't quite as lucky. He was a good guy, but I found out I kinda would prefer to be in my own space. I'd love to visit your room when we are on board. I'll be in 8012. Jeff I'm in 1003, the second smallest of the OO-category. But still bigger than a studio on NCL, and there's a picture window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted May 24, 2016 #64 Share Posted May 24, 2016 That may work for regular cruises but not so much for Church Bingo! :eek: Or Amy and Freddie. Valid points. They may just have to have more performances of the above. I'm going to be very curious how RSVP works their entertainment into the new spaces. With Billboard Onboard, for example, there's no longer a real piano bar. So is RSVP going to hire two pianists to do dueling pianos, or are they going to leave one without a player? For myself, I would like to see a good sampling of the HAL entertainment just so I can say I saw it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted May 25, 2016 Author #65 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Valid points. They may just have to have more performances of the above. I'm going to be very curious how RSVP works their entertainment into the new spaces. With Billboard Onboard, for example, there's no longer a real piano bar. So is RSVP going to hire two pianists to do dueling pianos, or are they going to leave one without a player? For myself, I would like to see a good sampling of the HAL entertainment just so I can say I saw it. When RSVP does an onboard site visit in a few months they will evaluate all the options. Usage of the Queens Lounge would be interesting and also the video at the LidopPool. I think they have interesting options that are different from previous dam ships. Just because there are two pianos doesn't mean they must have both playing but I don't see an issue with dueling pianists. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell6t Posted May 29, 2016 #66 Share Posted May 29, 2016 I am just back from the Atlantis Anthem of the Seas, which is an amazing ship. One of the shows was Snuggling Pianos, with two pianos and two guys doing the playing. So they don't have to have a duel. Just put on a show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-kc Posted June 1, 2016 #67 Share Posted June 1, 2016 My husband and I are looking forward to our first RSVP cruise! We've done Atlantis and Aquafest, but really excited about the new ship and meeting new friends on RSVP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted June 1, 2016 #68 Share Posted June 1, 2016 I am just back from the Atlantis Anthem of the Seas, which is an amazing ship. One of the shows was Snuggling Pianos, with two pianos and two guys doing the playing. So they don't have to have a duel. Just put on a show. Thanks for the heads-up. That show seems like a natural fit for Koningsdam. I'm glad you liked Anthem OTS; with 9 (nine! :eek:) solo cabins, that class of ship is on my to-do list. The only problem is there are never any solo cabins available. :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted June 1, 2016 #69 Share Posted June 1, 2016 My husband and I are looking forward to our first RSVP cruise! We've done Atlantis and Aquafest, but really excited about the new ship and meeting new friends on RSVP. Welcome to the roll call. And welcome to Cruise Critic--your first post. RSVP is a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kollegekreed Posted June 8, 2016 #70 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Booked today! 11th cruise, but first RSVP/all gay one! Totally stoked and looking forward already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted June 8, 2016 Author #71 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Booked today! 11th cruise, but first RSVP/all gay one! Totally stoked and looking forward already! Welcome onboard! You are in for an experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpole Posted June 8, 2016 #72 Share Posted June 8, 2016 That may work for regular cruises but not so much for Church Bingo! :eek: Or Amy and Freddie. Exactly our concern. Too bad RSVP can't charter the MSC Divina, just the ship, and staff it with HAL and Princess crew :):). Physically that ship was perfect for RSVP...especially the theatre...it was huge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rojjodc Posted June 13, 2016 #73 Share Posted June 13, 2016 (edited) Exactly our concern. Too bad RSVP can't charter the MSC Divina, just the ship, and staff it with HAL and Princess crew :):). Physically that ship was perfect for RSVP...especially the theatre...it was huge! Sorry, but it was far from 'perfect'. You must not remember the main restaurant layouts and the pain in getting to one main restaurant when the other was full - a lot of people were unhappy about that. And I could never understand why they did not put urinals in men's public bathrooms but only stalls, which caused excessive bathroom lines. The food was not that great either. But I do agree that the theater was although oddly decorated. Edited June 13, 2016 by rojjodc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted June 13, 2016 #74 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Discussion about the Divina is just slightly off topic. The title of this thread is 2017 Koningsdam. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted June 16, 2016 Author #75 Share Posted June 16, 2016 (edited) Very few topics are off-topic here. We are a tolerant people. ;) Just keep it somewhat about discussing RSVP cruises and the Koningsdam cruise principally! :D Edited June 16, 2016 by Boytjie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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