Just finished 3 weeks on the Westerdam

[Chatterbox]

Was on the Westerdam for 3 weeks doing the Southern Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean and the Western. The ship was well managed and could not ask for a better time by the entire crew. Our only complaint if there was one was the size of the ship with it's 1,900 passengers. We like a smaller ship. The second week the Norwalk virus hit and it was interesting to see the crew go into a sanitize mode which eradicated it in time for our 3rd week. Lucky for us we did not get the virus and stayed healthy. Hand sanitizers were available throughout the ship which was a big plus. Looking forward to our next trip. Chatterbox.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome home -- 3 weeks -- that's really great!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

What were your ports for each cruise?

[Chatterbox]

Thanks for the reply.

The Southern ports were Curacao & Aruba, The Eastern ports included Tortola, St Maarten and Grand Turks, and the Western ports were Grand Turks, Grand Cayman, and Costa Maya, Mexico. With H-A in the Caribbean you always make a stop at their private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay. I failed to mention that when the Westerdam goes into drydock next month it will have 30 additional cabins added by extending one of the decks out the rear of the ship making it even larger. Already to big for us

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for getting back to me. We sailed on the Westerdam a couple of years when she did only the western and eastern itineraries -- but no Grand Turks.

 

I know that she is getting more cabins once she gets over to Europe -- they want her to look like the Noordam.

[hammybee]

3 visits to HMC in three weeks. That sounds heavenly.

 

Glad you enjoyed your btbtb cruise.

[Chatterbox]

Thanks, the btbtb makes flying worth it.

[May4]

Welcome home. You'll have wonderful memories of the weeks you spent on the ocean:) I am glad you avoided the big bad virus.

 

Welcome to the HAL boards too.

[sanibelsandals]

Chatterbox - we were on the cruise with you - week two, the Eastern....we met a few folks doing btbtb's - we were traveling with daughter, son-in-law and 2 little grand daughters. Glad to hear all went well!

 

Very jealous you visited HMC 3 times on one trip....I want that 7 day cruise to HMC!

[Chatterbox]

Thanks for the reply, it was a nice trip for us after a long dry spell. If you attended the Mariner's awards we were one of the couples with 670 days with H-A and traveling with the other couple with same days which we met on a World Cruise. My only complaint was the size of the ship. We are looking forward to the Amsterdam in January. Happy Cruising!

[FloridaGram]

We were with you on the southern portion of your journey. We had such a lovely time and did not want to disembark after just one week. Which week did you enjoy the most? Were Joel Mason and Julie Barr on there all 3 weeks?

I thought they were alot of fun. Could you tell any difference in the activities after the new cruise director came on board?

 

Happy sailing in the future!

[Chatterbox]

Nice to hear from you and agree it was a nice cruise. Joel Mason & Julie Barr were with us the 3 weeks. After you left the CD was Dru and he was a lot of fun. The Southern and Western cruises were the most enjoyable since the Virus was with us for the Eastern cruise and things were different in the Lido & main dining room with everything being served to you down to the salt, pepper & sweetners. The casino offered gloves and ship was completely sanitized getting rid of the virus in time for our 3rd week. We were constantly using the hand sanitizers and were lucky that we did not have a problem.

[Chatterbox]

Nice to hear from you and agree it was a nice cruise. Joel Mason & Julie Barr were with us the 3 weeks. After you left the CD was Dru and he was a lot of fun. The Southern and Western cruises were the most enjoyable since the Virus was with us for the Eastern cruise and things were different in the Lido & main dining room with everything being served to you down to the salt, pepper & sweetners. The casino offered gloves and ship was completely sanitized getting rid of the virus in time for our 3rd week. We were constantly using the hand sanitizers and were lucky that we did not have a problem.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

We were on the Westerdam b2b for the Eastern & Western Caribbean March 11-25. We embarked to a code red for 3 days.

We had a fantastic time, no complaints (well, we didn't care for the jeans in the dining room and having to share Grand Turk the 2nd time with Costa). Joel Mason was wonderful! The staff amazing like usual! We attended both Cruise Critics roll call get togethers

(fun to put faces with names, everyone was so nice), the 2nd Mariner's Reception, and cocktails with the captain in the Explorer's Lounge.

[earl_m]

Will you be doing a review of your 3 week cruise

[jtl513]

I failed to mention that when the Westerdam goes into drydock next month it will have 30 additional cabins added by extending one of the decks out the rear of the ship making it even larger. Already to big for us

Actually, decks 5 through 9 will all be extended so that it will have the same layout and capacity as my favorite ship, the Noordam. :)

[Chatterbox]

Will you be doing a review of your 3 week cruise

 

Sorry earl_m, I won't be doing a review except that all 3 weeks were wonderful after a long dry spell. The entire crew was great, families were fine (I don't have kids) and smooth sailing all 3 locations of the Caribbean. We are not picky eaters but can say the Chef & his crew did a very nice job. We write a travel column once a month in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and you could catch a review in one of those columns. We do prefer the smaller ships of HAL. With 670 days have sailed most of them. :) :)

[Chatterbox]

We were on the Westerdam b2b for the Eastern & Western Caribbean March 11-25. We embarked to a code red for 3 days.

We had a fantastic time, no complaints (well, we didn't care for the jeans in the dining room and having to share Grand Turk the 2nd time with Costa). Joel Mason was wonderful! The staff amazing like usual! We attended both Cruise Critics roll call get togethers

(fun to put faces with names, everyone was so nice), the 2nd Mariner's Reception, and cocktails with the captain in the Explorer's Lounge.

 

 

:) :) Brown Eyed Gurl we totally agree with you about your b2b on the Westerdam. We are glad others enjoyed as much as we did with our b2b2b.