My Review Of The Beautiful Volendam

[PEFER33]

We'll be on the Volendam on the 23rd and I noticed that we pull in to Aruba on a Sunday. Were you on the same schedule and, if so, were the shops open? Also could you find anywhere in town for lunch? We've stopped in Aruba several times now and have done all the tours, so we thought we'd just check around town.

 

PS: Enjoyed your review.

 

Phil R.

[tlm]

When we sailed on the Volendam in January, we stopped in Aruba on a Sunday. They announced on the ship that the shops would be open from 10:00am till 2:00pm. We found very few shops open at all and those that were closed before 2:00pm.

 

We didn't stop anywhere for lunch so really didn't pay attention to whether or not the restaurants were open.

 

Toni

[doone]

Sorry, we were in Aruba on a Tuesday.

[joefromchicago]

PEFER33

 

I will also be on the Volendam for the March 23 cruise. We have started a thread on the roll call side of the board. Please feel free to join us.

 

Joe

[BobMartha]

Doone

 

I have to agree with the kids on your sailing - my two absolutely love club hal -for the same reasons - small ratio's!

 

How were the port and water temps at st thomas and half moon?

 

Bob

[doone]

Bob, I am glad your children enjoyed Club HAL, my nieces and nephews are still talking about it and can hardly wait to return to a HAL ship to enjoy Club HAL again. I agree about the smaller ratio's, they got individualized attention and loved every minute of it.

 

We found the water temperatures to be warm enough to swim in both St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay. I was in the water at HMC at 9 a.m., so it wasn't too cold!!!

[LHC]

Doone,

Thank you for your review. DD and I are taking the Christmas/NYE cruise on the Volendam Dec. 2006. I have ten months to read and study about this ship and the wonderful ports where we will stop.

LHC

[doone]

LHC, your going to really enjoy it.

[rucruizin]

I too wil be sailing on the Volendam March 23rd, with Verna, Joe and

PEFER33...whom I haven't met.

 

I'm wondering if they play caribbean, or any music for that matter, on deck? We like to dance, but have to do it where there is no smoke.

[days628]

I am currently a bit concerned. I am a very courteous smoker. I do not smoke all that much but I do admit to enjoying a cigarette with a glass of wine or port after dinner in the bar.

 

I am sailing on the Volendam, March 13th. I have been reading posts regarding smoking policy on Holland America Ships for the last month and I am aware of all the restricted smoking areas, which I sincerely will respect.

 

However I do believe that there is a smoking area in each lounge and at the rear Lido pool. I do hope that this is the case and I hope that other passengers do not ostracize a person who is smoking in the designated smoking area.

 

Thank you for your tolerance.

 

days628

[rucruizin]

I am currently a bit concerned. I am a very courteous smoker. I do not smoke all that much but I do admit to enjoying a cigarette with a glass of wine or port after dinner in the bar.

 

I am sailing on the Volendam, March 13th. I have been reading posts regarding smoking policy on Holland America Ships for the last month and I am aware of all the restricted smoking areas, which I sincerely will respect.

 

However I do believe that there is a smoking area in each lounge and at the rear Lido pool. I do hope that this is the case and I hope that other passengers do not ostracize a person who is smoking in the designated smoking area.

 

Thank you for your tolerance.

 

days628

 

 

Hi days,

 

I sure hope that it wasn't my post that made you ask that. If it came across that way I sincerely apologize as it was not my intent.

 

I recently suffered a pulmonary embolism and currently have a severe upper respiratory infection. I have reactive airway disease which has worsened over the past few years. My husband and I love to dance and so we do it out on deck. I'm not suggesting in any way that you or anyone else should not smoke. I just can't be around it.

 

I'm a mess, considering that I exercise regularly, don't drink, and don't smoke.:D

[days628]

I sure do hope that your upper respiratory infection clears up soon.

 

I am sure that the warm gently breezes and the warm caribbean sunshine will make you feel warm all over. Well that and a little Caribbean 'pick me up" drink, for medicinal purposes of course.

 

Seriously, I do try not to interfere with anyone's good time. And I most certainly would not smoke in an area that is posted. We have very strict smoking laws that are in force in Chicago, therefore also at work. So I am used to restriction (-:.

 

Days628

[rucruizin]

I really do want to know if they play music on deck during the day so we can dance????

[doone]

I am a smoker as well and have never had a problem finding a place to smoke. There is an area of the Crowe's Nest that is smoking, the Lido has a smoking area as well as at the Sports Bar. You can smoke outside, but I found ashtray's were hard to come by outside, so I took one from the bar area. Hope this helps and enjoy the Volendam.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have been to Aruba many times and a couple of times we were there on Sundays. Hardly any stores were open. A few opened from 10 - 2 while a couple of others opened from 11 - 1.

 

Hardly any decent place was open for lunch.

[gizmo]

[quote name='rucruizin']I really do want to know if they play music on deck during the day so we can dance????[/quote]

Sorry, not really. Often there is a band playing at the Lido pool around noon on sea days. This lasts maybe an hour. I might have seen 1 couple dance but that is about it. Since it is lunch time there is a lot of traffic in the area.

Have you ever looked into Oceania ? Smoking is VERY limited including no smoking in cabins or verandahs.

Do not sit at a bar. Bars allow smoking.

[tlm]

[quote name='rucruizin']Hi days,

I sure hope that it wasn't my post that made you ask that. If it came across that way I sincerely apologize as it was not my intent.

I recently suffered a pulmonary embolism and currently have a severe upper respiratory infection. I have reactive airway disease which has worsened over the past few years. My husband and I love to dance and so we do it out on deck. I'm not suggesting in any way that you or anyone else should not smoke. I just can't be around it.

I'm a mess, considering that I exercise regularly, don't drink, and don't smoke.:D[/QUOTE]

I have COPD and I am not supposed to be around smoke. The only place I found where the smoke was bad was the casino. Smoking is allowed in all the lounges yet it didn't bother me. We sat at the piano bar every night before dinner and the friends we were with smoked.

gizmo is correct as far as the band is concerned. Hardly saw them play at all and there really isn't anywhere to dance. The picture below shows where the band set up (right where the chess set is) and also shows there isn't any room to dance.