Last sailing before (baby) drydock

[POA1]

We're looking at an abbreviated 6 day sailing on the Rotterdam next April. We normally like longer sailings, but a round trip Port Everglades voyage doesn't require anything but cab rides to and from the pier. Also, it's over my birthday which will save us from having plan anything.

 

It looks to be a 2 week layup and the Rotterdam is quite new. Anything to be concerned about?

Edited May 21, 2023 by POA1

[Hlitner]

Yes and no.  When we have been on cruises (with HAL and other lines) right before drydock, the crew is often doing a lot of work, around the ship, in preparation for the drydock.  Some of these projects have nothing to do with the drydock, but it just seems that many deferred projects suddenly become a priority.  A great example was when we were on a Prinsendam cruise, right before a normal drydock, and the crew was refinishing that aft pool deck (which meant we had varnish fumes) and a lot of other painting.  It is also not uncommon to have more than the usual supply shortages as they try to empty out a lot of the freezers, coolers, etc..of perishables.    But otherwise, we have had no more issues than normal on those cruises.

 

Hank

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

We're looking at an abbreviated 6 day sailing on the Rotterdam next April. We normally like longer sailings, but a round trip Port Everglades voyage doesn't require anything but cab rides to and from the pier. Also, it's over my birthday which will save us from having plan anything.

 

It looks to be a 2 week layup and the Rotterdam is quite new. Anything to be concerned about?

Where are you seeing  a two week layup?  I am seeing (I presume?) your cruise on April 7th to 13th, and then she sails to Europe on 13th arriving in Rotterdam on 27th April.

 

[POA1]

5 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Where are you seeing  a two week layup?  I am seeing (I presume?) your cruise on April 7th to 13th, and then she sails to Europe on 13th arriving in Rotterdam on 27th April.

 

Thanks. My bad. I didn't see a sailing because I had the Find a Sailing filter set. (Apparently I'm not as good as this computer thing as I thought.)

[VMax1700]

Just now, POA1 said:

Thanks. My bad. I didn't see a sailing because I had the Find a Sailing filter set. (Apparently I'm not as good as this computer thing as I thought.)

👍  When it comes to choice between your computer skill and the HAL website, I know where I would be placing my OBC! 😉

[Florida_gal_50]

Hal also has a 12 day Caribbean (a partial Panama really) listed for the 7th as well.  I’d be interested in that but you click on it and it takes you nowhere.  It’s been like that for months.

[CruiserBruce]

A two week drydock is normal. Most of the work is below the waterline and not in public spaces. HAL has always been very good about drydocks about every 30 months, but Covid messed that up. Rotterdam was launched in October 2021, so a drydock probably wouldn't be planned until the early part of 2024.

[rafinmd]

45 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

A two week drydock is normal. Most of the work is below the waterline and not in public spaces. HAL has always been very good about drydocks about every 30 months, but Covid messed that up. Rotterdam was launched in October 2021, so a drydock probably wouldn't be planned until the early part of 2024.

I think for the first 5 or 10 years drydocks are only required every 5 years so with an inspection by divers at the halfway point so there may not be a drydock until 2027.

 

Roy

[RuthC]

Whether you need the answer to the question now or not, I will answer it in case someone else does. 

I have been on a couple of final cruises before a major drydock when all sorts of physical changes to the ship were to be made. I will say, I would rather be on the last cruise before drydock than the first one afterwards. 

There were workmen already on the ship, doing preliminary work, yet there was no interference with the enjoyment of the cruises. Until dinner time the last night. The elevators were padded, to prevent damage when supplies/tools/etc. were transported the next day. Some of the decorations on the walls had been removed. And the shops were all packed up. No last-minute spending on-board credit. 

All in all, not bad. 

[CruiserBruce]

3 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

I think for the first 5 or 10 years drydocks are only required every 5 years so with an inspection by divers at the halfway point so there may not be a drydock until 2027.

 

Roy

HAL has always exceeded the requirements. 

[AFNavigator]

20 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

HAL has always exceeded the requirements. 

The Nieuw Statendam's planned drydock this fall looks to fall right at the 5 year point so a 3 year input for the Rotterdam does seem a bit early. 

[DCThunder]

From the title, I thought the OP was having a last cruise before she went into drydock to have a baby.😉

[CruiserBruce]

12 minutes ago, AFNavigator said:

The Nieuw Statendam's planned drydock this fall looks to fall right at the 5 year point so a 3 year input for the Rotterdam does seem a bit early. 

Again, Covid messed their regular schedule up. They probably abandoned the 30 month rotation to save money during the shutdown. 

[cruiserchuck]

We were on the last cruise before a dry dock about 6 years ago.  The cruise ended in Singapore, and we took a shore excursion that ended up back at the port.  When we arrived back at the port, the area was deserted, since no one was there to board the next cruise, and it was difficult to get a taxi to our hotel.  We did not notice any work beginning on the ship during the cruise.