Just off the Nieuw Amsterdam...

[asebastian]

Finished our cruise from FLL to San Diego full transit thru the Panama Canal and off the ship this morning. Just wanted to share a couple of things:

 

• HAL is negotiating a new contract with the Lincoln Center group which may see them return "soon" on the Dam ships.
• While America's Test Kitchen may not reappear, we had three live cooking demonstrations, one by the Executive Chef, one by the Tamarind Chef and the other by the Captain himself. Tasting portions and recipe cards also given at the end. Emphasis was on that these would be more frequent especially on longer cruises.
• The Library is back!!! We had the official opening of the spanking new library on Deck 3 on April 10th. Photos below. Pretty good selection of books, mostly N Y Times best sellers, across a broad range of genres. A book exchange shelf was also provided for guests wanting to drop off their books and not take them back home. Works on honor system, no check-in or check-out.
• We didn't have the Internet package, but friends bought the package and complained of very slow speeds and drop-outs. On one day in Costa Rica the Internet dropped out completely for 24hrs (and some guests had money refunded for just 1 day).

 

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

Thank you for posting this. So much good news!!

 

I hope HAL can negotiate a good deal with LC. They're a highlight of my cruise.

 

I don't care if ATK comes back, as long as there's some kind of cooking class or demo. I'd actually prefer to see demos by the ship's chefs. Cunard does that, and some of their chefs are very funny as well as informative. 

[Giggleypuff]

The library looks beautiful! I might spend the week there

[Sea42]

I like the chairs facing the window in the library! An ottoman would make it perfect😉

[albingirl]

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

Thank you for posting this. So much good news!!

 

I hope HAL can negotiate a good deal with LC. They're a highlight of my cruise.

 

I don't care if ATK comes back, as long as there's some kind of cooking class or demo. I'd actually prefer to see demos by the ship's chefs. Cunard does that, and some of their chefs are very funny as well as informative. 

Agree. Loved it when HALs chefs were onstage with a culinary hostess. Very funny presentations! And great info for guests. They did this all the time in the past...easy to resurrect.

[JennysUncle]

15 hours ago, Giggleypuff said:

The library looks beautiful! I might spend the week there

Where is the library relative to other rooms? I can't figure that out from the obsolete deck plan online. 

[asebastian]

1 hour ago, JennysUncle said:

Where is the library relative to other rooms? I can't figure that out from the obsolete deck plan online. 

Just across the Hudson room

[MISTER 67]

18 hours ago, asebastian said:

Finished our cruise from FLL to San Diego full transit thru the Panama Canal and off the ship this morning. Just wanted to share a couple of things:

 

• HAL is negotiating a new contract with the Lincoln Center group which may see them return "soon" on the Dam ships.
• While America's Test Kitchen may not reappear, we had three live cooking demonstrations, one by the Executive Chef, one by the Tamarind Chef and the other by the Captain himself. Tasting portions and recipe cards also given at the end. Emphasis was on that these would be more frequent especially on longer cruises.
• The Library is back!!! We had the official opening of the spanking new library on Deck 3 on April 10th. Photos below. Pretty good selection of books, mostly N Y Times best sellers, across a broad range of genres. A book exchange shelf was also provided for guests wanting to drop off their books and not take them back home. Works on honor system, no check-in or check-out.
• We didn't have the Internet package, but friends bought the package and complained of very slow speeds and drop-outs. On one day in Costa Rica the Internet dropped out completely for 24hrs (and some guests had money refunded for just 1 day).

 

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by MISTER 67

[MISTER 67]

40 minutes ago, asebastian said:

Just across the Hudson room

Has to be where the movie theater once was. Good move by HAL.

[Ineke]

Great news! The library looks wonderful! And the cooking demos are happy news as well. Can’t wait -10 more days..

[HappyInVan]

3 hours ago, MISTER 67 said:

Has to be where the movie theater once was. Good move by HAL.

 

Right next to the shops. We can nip out and get some stuff. 👌

 

I've been strongly in favour of a separate library, because of the over-crowding in the Crows Nest.

[asebastian]

Here (marked Tasman Room):

 

[SeaSharp]

22 hours ago, albingirl said:

Agree. Loved it when HALs chefs were onstage with a culinary hostess. Very funny presentations! And great info for guests. They did this all the time in the past...easy to resurrect.

Anytime the crew is involved with demonstrations, etc., it's always good.  Never miss one!!  And we learn so much.  

[Copper10-8]

8 hours ago, JennysUncle said:

Where is the library relative to other rooms? I can't figure that out from the obsolete deck plan online. 

 

It's the old 36-seat (six rows of six theater-style reclining leather seats with small tables in between) home theater that used to be known as the "Screening Room" After that closed, the space was known as the Tasman Room, a kinda/sorta multi-purpose room. They haven't had time to change those Tasman Room signs yet. The new library looks real nice. I'll post some more pics of it soon

Edited April 27, 2023 by Copper10-8

[RMS Olympic]

How is the overall condition of the ship? I just booked her for a Nov 25th sailing and I hope she is looking fine. To think my first cruise on a Holland America ship was the same week in November on the previous Nieuw Amsterdam (111) in 1983.

 

[asebastian]

On 5/1/2023 at 11:06 AM, RMS Olympic said:

How is the overall condition of the ship?

Ship is good, clean, well maintained with crew painting constantly - lifeboats, railings, ship externals etc as well as balcony washing. Carpets were clean with several areas had changeover noticeable. And both azipods were working 😄

[RMS Olympic]

Thank you for this update.

Now all I have to do is get my T-shirt printed with the image of both Nieuw Amsterdam’s and my sailing dates of 24 Nov 1984 and 25 November 2023....what fun🤓

Thanks again.

[curtdesilets]

Yes Yes Yes to the Library!  I hope that rolls out system wide.

Oceania Cruises has a great library as well.

It is ESSENTIAL!   Bravo HAL for this decision.