Cindy Posted April 29, 2017 #1 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Hi all! I am currently on the Westerdam on the first post drydock cruise. Parts of the ship look great, including our suite, the Pinnacle Grill, and the updated area by the casino. As expected, the casino is now completely non-smoking due to the openness of the area. The new state rooms on deck 10 are not done, nor is the Crow's Nest. They do not anticipate that area of the ship being ready until May 24, and access to that part of the ship is not possible. We knew about the delay before we got on the ship, and they have given each passenger a refundable $200 onboard credit for the inconvenience. They are trying very hard to be proactive and minimize passenger frustration. This cruise is extremely port intensive with only one day, so for us the impact is minimal. I will take and share some pictures soon. In the meantime, I am blogging the trip. I haven't caught up to real-time yet, but I will get there eventually! Here is a link: https://theworldthroughmylens.blog/ Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted April 29, 2017 #2 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Have a great cruise. Looking forward to reading all about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ski ww Posted April 29, 2017 #3 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Have a great cruise. Looking forward to seeing your pictures. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bnxshs Posted April 29, 2017 #4 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Thanks for the look at Westie post dry dock. :D We'll be on her in Oct 2017. Looking forward to your continuing reports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted April 29, 2017 #5 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Hi Cindy, great to see your thread here. Thanks for taking the time to share your cruise with us, and for the link to your excellent blog. We're booked on our first HAL cruise next year, on the Zuiderdam. She'll be in dry dock later this year, so I'm particularly interested in your comments about what's been done to the Westerdam. Have a fabulous trip! Judith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 29, 2017 #6 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Looking forward to your blog and pictures. Have a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted April 29, 2017 #7 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Signed up and ready to see your photos of the renos. Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSLibrarian Posted April 29, 2017 #8 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Thanks for posting!! Subscribed. Are the retreat cabanas finished or is that area not expected to be done until later in May? Reserved a family cabana for December. Hoping to see some pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbs Posted April 29, 2017 #9 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Looking forward to your blog, sailing Westerdam in November, interested in the inside cabins on deck 10. Enjoy! Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgeonetta Posted April 29, 2017 #10 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Awesome! Looking forward to more updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CORealtor Posted April 29, 2017 #11 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Look forward to reading your blog and posts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3ssn Posted April 29, 2017 #12 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Looking forward to reading your blog. May I ask: dit they update the regular staterooms as well, or just the suites? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Posted April 29, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Thanks for posting!! Subscribed. Are the retreat cabanas finished or is that area not expected to be done until later in May? Reserved a family cabana for December. Hoping to see some pictures. That whole section of Dock 10 is a construction zone. The stairs leading up there are blocked off and the elevator to 10 are disabled. I have some pictures I took from above this afternoon, but I will need to resize them before I can post them. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Posted April 29, 2017 Author #14 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Looking forward to reading your blog. May I ask: dit they update the regular staterooms as well, or just the suites? Sent from my iPad using Forums I think they redid some of them, but it isn't consistent like the suite upgrades. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAD2005 Posted April 29, 2017 #15 Share Posted April 29, 2017 As many CC members will advise, NEVER book a cruise immediately before or after a dry-dock refurbishment. Many times, crews will board a week or so before dry-dock and start work in some areas. And cruise lines rarely schedule enough down-time in dry-dock, so they keep crews onboard to continue the upgrades after the ship leaves dry-dock on a cruise with paying passengers. The same has happened this time with the Westerdam, but it appears they won't be totally completed until May 24, which is outrageous. They usually end up giving OBC for the disruption and loss of access to certain public areas of the ship. Good rule of thumb.... check CC for dry-dock schedules, charters, and groups on-board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 30, 2017 #16 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Thanks Cindy for the updated report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Posted April 30, 2017 Author #17 Share Posted April 30, 2017 As many CC members will advise, NEVER book a cruise immediately before or after a dry-dock refurbishment. Many times, crews will board a week or so before dry-dock and start work in some areas. And cruise lines rarely schedule enough down-time in dry-dock, so they keep crews onboard to continue the upgrades after the ship leaves dry-dock on a cruise with paying passengers. The same has happened this time with the Westerdam, but it appears they won't be totally completed until May 24, which is outrageous. They usually end up giving OBC for the disruption and loss of access to certain public areas of the ship. Good rule of thumb.... check CC for dry-dock schedules, charters, and groups on-board. We booked this cruise fully aware the ship would be coming out of dry dock and there was a good possibility (probability) the work wouldn't be done. The itinerary and time of year were exactly what we wanted, and that was the most important thing to us. I think the drydock was way too short for the scope of the work, but the closures have had no impact on our cruise at all. With only one sea day on a 12 night cruise the ship facilities aren't as important as they would be otherwise. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted April 30, 2017 #18 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Thanks for posting live from the Westerdam. Great photos on your blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bnxshs Posted April 30, 2017 #19 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Cindy, is there any "scuttlebutt" about the dry dock fire that you've heard? Simply curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Posted April 30, 2017 Author #20 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Cindy, is there any "scuttlebutt" about the dry dock fire that you've heard? Simply curious. Not that I've heard, but honestly we've been so busy off the ship I haven't had time to "snoop" or stick my nose in where it doesn't belong![emoji23] The only scuttlebutt I've heard so far is the contractors stole a lot of gym equipment, including a rowing machine![emoji15] They also liked the Bose speakers and the Nespresso machines! Tomorrow is our only sea day, and I plan to walk around with my camera and take some ship pics. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 30, 2017 #21 Share Posted April 30, 2017 It wouldn't be the first time that workers took items that didn't belong to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted April 30, 2017 #22 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Not that I've heard, but honestly we've been so busy off the ship I haven't had time to "snoop" or stick my nose in where it doesn't belong![emoji23] The only scuttlebutt I've heard so far is the contractors stole a lot of gym equipment, including a rowing machine![emoji15] They also liked the Bose speakers and the Nespresso machines! Tomorrow is our only sea day, and I plan to walk around with my camera and take some ship pics. Sent from my iPhone using Forums That's horrible they would steal so much. Really enjoying your blog and the photos are fabulous! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Posted April 30, 2017 Author #23 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Here's Wednesday...https://theworldthroughmylens.blog/2017/04/30/ancient-technology-old-neighborhoods-and-traditional-food/ Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old As Dirt Mom Posted April 30, 2017 #24 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Wow, Cindy, you are one fantastic photographer! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stpatsirish Posted April 30, 2017 #25 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Hi Cindy, Would you mind sharing the name of the restaurant where you had the calzones? We are in Rome at the end of our cruise in October and would like to eat somewhere off the tourist path! Thanks, Joanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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