Maasdam gone by 2018

[dogo88]

We just got off an 11 day cruise on the Maasdam. Ships needs some repairs. Air was out in a number of cabins and others were very warm. Many of us received compensation for this. Other areas are lacking. Cruise was good but clearly this continues to be less in quality and service compared to past years.

 

We also learned that the ship is sold. The new buyers were onboard and finalized the offer. From we were told it's going to the Baltics. Scheduled to go in early 2018. So current sets of cruises are ok.

 

Dan

[kazu]

We just got off an 11 day cruise on the Maasdam. Ships needs some repairs. Air was out in a number of cabins and others were very warm. Many of us received compensation for this. Other areas are lacking. Cruise was good but clearly this continues to be less in quality and service compared to past years.

 

We also learned that the ship is sold. The new buyers were onboard and finalized the offer. From we were told it's going to the Baltics. Scheduled to go in early 2018. So current sets of cruises are ok.

 

Dan

 

Sorry to hear this Dan....both the issues and the sale.

 

I'll miss the Maasdam as she was one of the ships we enjoyed.

[KirkNC]

Well glad we got one cruise on her to the Amazon before she moves on. She did need some plumbing and AC work when we were on her last year.

[RMLincoln]

Maasdam was my first HAL ship. I've spent over 60 nights on her and she's taken me to many wonderful places I never dreamed I'd ever see in this world, and very good care of me with gracious service. I'll carry my fond memories of her on other cruises and adventures but apparently the time has come for HAL to move forward. May others enjoy her wherever she sails, under whatever flag. m--

[Slarty]

ster barge. Not up to curent HA standards.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We all knew it was going to happen -- her being sold. It was just a matter of time.

She was our first HAL ship and we did sail on her quite a bit. She was not our favorite -- Ryndam was.

Sorry to hear that she has gone downhill. It is going to be rough if people have to suffer with little or no air and various other repairs for the next number of months.

[Topsham]

Guarantee. Maintenance will continue right up to the handover to the new owner. Perhaps the carpets may not get renewed every five minute but important work will continue. The owners will want to know what they are getting and they will want a ship will be satisfactory condition and she won't be a rust bucket.

 

If not they had better just get rid of the ship right now.

[rkacruiser]

May I offer another perspective?

 

Unless, I am incorrect, which is of course very possible, Maasdam is scheduled for a series of Down Under cruises. Why would HAL inject a ship into this important market if the ship is as deficient as the OP described? Would not one expect repairs/upgrades to be made before such a deployment takes place?

 

2018 does sound like the proper time for one or more of the current vessels to be sold, retired, or whatever. The TBA-Dam will enter service in the Fall of 2018.

 

Where does the Prinsendam fit into this picture? I have been told that she is the most expensive ship in the fleet to operate. With the amount of water that has past under her keel, how much longer will the financial gurus in Seattle and Miami allow her to sail as a HAL vessel?

 

Personally, when I see a HAL PR notice that the Maasdam will be leaving, I will then believe it.

[sppunk]

Makes sense, that'll be when she and Veendam and/or Prinsendam leave the fleet as the 2nd Pinnacle-class ship comes online.

 

Prinsendam is actively being promoted for moving.

[Sir PMP]

Makes sense, that'll be when she and Veendam and/or Prinsendam leave the fleet as the 2nd Pinnacle-class ship comes online.

 

Prinsendam is actively being promoted for moving.

 

The Prinsendam is the biggest money maker in the fleet, she'll be in dock in May, undergoing major changes especially in the Lido, the ship is still in great shape for an old timer. As far as the Maasdam is concerned going to Australia, what's the problem with that? The old Rijndam and Statendam are there already...

[Topsham]

May I offer another perspective?

 

Unless, I am incorrect, which is of course very possible, Maasdam is scheduled for a series of Down Under cruises. Why would HAL inject a ship into this important market if the ship is as deficient as the OP described? Would not one expect repairs/upgrades to be made before such a deployment takes place?

 

2018 does sound like the proper time for one or more of the current vessels to be sold, retired, or whatever. The TBA-Dam will enter service in the Fall of 2018.

 

Where does the Prinsendam fit into this picture? I have been told that she is the most expensive ship in the fleet to operate. With the amount of water that has past under her keel, how much longer will the financial gurus in Seattle and Miami allow her to sail as a HAL vessel?

 

Personally, when I see a HAL PR notice that the Maasdam will be leaving, I will then believe it.

 

Your first comments re MAASDAM seem quite likely. The thing is we don't know who the buyer is. Says for Baltic. Possible, possibly not. Also a possible that P&O Australia might have an eye on her to match up with ARIA and EDEN.

 

PRINSENDAM... not the most costly for the ships... more like least revenue per passenger/per ship. I agree. I can't see her passing 2018 or 19. Just won't the mark by then. Then someone will buy her for cheap.

[sppunk]

The Prinsendam is the biggest money maker in the fleet, she'll be in dock in May, undergoing major changes especially in the Lido, the ship is still in great shape for an old timer. As far as the Maasdam is concerned going to Australia, what's the problem with that? The old Rijndam and Statendam are there already...

 

No, not by far. She has no future HAL Group plans.

[sppunk]

Your first comments re MAASDAM seem quite likely. The thing is we don't know who the buyer is. Says for Baltic. Possible, possibly not. Also a possible that P&O Australia might have an eye on her to match up with ARIA and EDEN.

 

PRINSENDAM... not the most costly for the ships... more like least revenue per passenger/per ship. I agree. I can't see her passing 2018 or 19. Just won't the mark by then. Then someone will buy her for cheap.

 

P&O just had a newbuild announcement, id think Thad saturate themselves too much. No?

[KirkNC]

Your first comments re MAASDAM seem quite likely. The thing is we don't know who the buyer is. Says for Baltic. Possible, possibly not. Also a possible that P&O Australia might have an eye on her to match up with ARIA and EDEN.

 

PRINSENDAM... not the most costly for the ships... more like least revenue per passenger/per ship. I agree. I can't see her passing 2018 or 19. Just won't the mark by then. Then someone will buy her for cheap.

 

Not sure why you would think the Prinsendam would have the least revenue per person? She gets a 25-50% premium over other HAL ships for similar itineraries. Look at the price of an inside cabin for her South America cruise, $14k for 67 days versus $17k for the world cruise of 111 days.

[dogo88]

May I offer another perspective?

 

Unless, I am incorrect, which is of course very possible, Maasdam is scheduled for a series of Down Under cruises. Why would HAL inject a ship into this important market if the ship is as deficient as the OP described? Would not one expect repairs/upgrades to be made before such a deployment takes place?

 

2018 does sound like the proper time for one or more of the current vessels to be sold, retired, or whatever. The TBA-Dam will enter service in the Fall of 2018.

 

Where does the Prinsendam fit into this picture? I have been told that she is the most expensive ship in the fleet to operate. With the amount of water that has past under her keel, how much longer will the financial gurus in Seattle and Miami allow her to sail as a HAL vessel?

 

Personally, when I see a HAL PR notice that the Maasdam will be leaving, I will then believe it.

 

I can only pass on information we received from the staff on the ship as far as it being sold.

 

I will say there was, and still is an air conditioning problem in many staterooms. Initially there were 54 cabins, mostly upper, rear balcony cabins that lost air. It took them most of a day to get it back working.

 

I was at the front desk with a dozen other passengers listening to the hotel mgr and complaining passengers at midnight.The passengers were respectful, but pointed out that they all take many HAL cruises and this was not acceptable, especially since they indicated it was an ongoing issue on this ship. They also pointed out that HAL wasn't the big boy on the cruise circuit anymore, that there was much more competition.

 

We received a $600 OBC for our troubles listed as "customer goodwill". I can't say that all 54 cabins got it, but we never officially complained.

Our traveling companions who were in a lower deck, inside cabin had air issues too. They got a $200 OBC after they complained many times.

 

We actually had a good time. But the constant repairs seemed more than we have experienced on prior HAL cruises. Plus the food selection and quality just was lower than past cruises.

 

Dan

[sppunk]

Not sure why you would think the Prinsendam would have the least revenue per person? She gets a 25-50% premium over other HAL ships for similar itineraries. Look at the price of an inside cabin for her South America cruise, $14k for 67 days versus $17k for the world cruise of 111 days.

 

I can't comment on Captain's comment but her operating costs are extremely high.

[igraf]

Economy of scale favors larger ships. Take a simple example: the salary of the captain is divided among fewer passengers on the Prinsendam. The per passenger costs apparently exceed the higher fares.

 

This is why most new cruise ships are larger and larger.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

Not sure why you would think the Prinsendam would have the least revenue per person? She gets a 25-50% premium over other HAL ships for similar itineraries. Look at the price of an inside cabin for her South America cruise, $14k for 67 days versus $17k for the world cruise of 111 days.

Edited April 12, 2016 by igraf

[freestyling]

We have fond memories of the Maasdam. Looking forward to being on her next month in Alaska.

[OlsSalt]

Love the small ships. Maasdam was our first HAL ship too. We shall be "practicing" on the Zuiderdam on our next cruise to get used to larger ships since this is the obvious future for HAL.

 

Already I notice we will get the out of the way commercial berths, because the Zuiderdam is just too big to get close to a lot of downtown ports.

 

But glad we also discovered Voyages of Discovery - no casino, great itineraries, high enrichment, excellent passenger mix, very basic accommodations and small. Our "other cruise line".

Edited April 12, 2016 by OlsSalt

[Btimmer]

We sailed the last voyage of the Statendam, and we're booked on the Maasdam to and around Australia in the fall. The Statendam was kept up until we disembarked in Singapore. We did have a problem with a wet stateroom, but that was fixed by moving us and we also received a credit for our trouble. We'll let everyone know how the Maasdam appears for our cruise.

[Topsham]

I made the maiden voyages in STATENDAM, MAASDAM, RYNDAM and VEEDAM. I like them all. Very elegant ships and were very good ships Over the years the decorators have played around with things and not always for the best. Rebuilt up and over. Sometime too many extra passengers. Some things were changed and yes, for good reasons and some not so good.

 

The area of the shops at port side of the atrium? Originally it was all open with seating. You could enjoy the Oceaan Bar from one side to the other. The Mix was an enclosed and raised bar within the casino. Never mind the casino, it was a very popular watering hole. The old Piano Bar... WOW!!!!

 

Good ships.

[cruiserzoid]

I do not think it was a cost-efficient move to replace those seats with that shop. Passengers sitting enjoying the view purchase drinks. That shop only sold a few knick-knacks and CDs of the entertainment. Would have been wiser to keep the status quo.

[Topsham]

I agree. Tried many things. First time it was a 'deli' shop. A flop.

 

Like the coffee bar near at the Cinema. Coffee Bar.... then wine bar.... art shop. A dead end area. No one every went there.

[cruiserzoid]

About the Maasdam, I asked and never got an answer what happened to the cannon that was in front of the Casino. When they made The Mix the cannon was removed. It is pictured in the book " The Art of Cruising".

[Topsham]

About the Maasdam, I asked and never got an answer what happened to the cannon that was in front of the Casino. When they made The Mix the cannon was removed. It is pictured in the book " The Art of Cruising".

 

 

 

Good question!