Prisendam Library, Oak Room, Coffee Bar Question

[Cruising Boomer]

When we were on the Prisendam in November 2005, we were told that the ship was going to have some remodeling done. This included combining the library, coffee bar, and Oak Room into one large area. I have seen other threads where there are comments that the Prisendam has not changed. Has anyone sailed on the Prisendam recently to know if there are changes? We are sailing on back-to-back cruises on the Prisendam this summer. Thanks.

[slotl]

We were on the Prinsendam in November 2006 after "some" of the changes were made. There was no major changes like walls being torn down, just some shelves and racks being added to the Oak Room to store the books and periodicals.

 

My husband LOVED the Oak room because it used to be a "cigar bar". After dinner (we do late seating) he would go down there and have a cigar and a glass of port wine and I would go to the casino to loose money.

 

The Oak Room has been converted into the library, so now there are two libraries (the old one being a reading/writing room). The coffee bar outside the Oak room is now "no smoking" which is strange since the Oak Room, bar, and casino are all next to each other and smoking is permitted in the casino.

 

The cappachinos and lattes were FREE when we were on the ship, but I had heard that starting Jan 1, 2007 there would be a charge for the coffee.

 

So, bottom line, as of Nov 2006 there were no structural changes made to that area.

[tjcox9]

After this fall's transatlantic crossing which ends 11/24, I understand the Prinsendam is going into drydock. The next scheduled cruise begins in 12/17. I have no idea what, if any, changes are to be made at this time, but this does seem to be a relatively long drydock.

[Copper10-8]

Slotl, was the Erasmus Room (see pic) unchanged? That used to be the library on Prinsendam

[Cruising Boomer]

Thanks for the updates. We heard rumors about the major drydock work during out Fall 2006 cruise on the Veendam. Sure hope they do not make too many changes to the Prisendam - our favorite ship so far!

 

slotl - Sorry your husband lost his cigar room but I have to be honest - we loved the Oak Room but did not like the tobacco odor! It will make a great library! Apologies to your husband!

[slotl]

Slotl, was the Erasmus Room (see pic) unchanged? That used to be the library on Prinsendam

 

The Erasmus Room is now used as a reading/writing room. Absolutely no changes have been made (except to maybe move some of the book racks) No crew staffs this room any further. On our 23 day cruise in Nov 2006, very few passengers used that room. The "new" library (old Oak Room) is now staffed daily and has the daily quiz (questions put out at 9AM and answers put out at 3PM).

 

Are you sure the drydock (refitting) is scheduled for this year? When our cruise from Cape Town SA to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl ended Dec 2nd 2006, there were one or two more Caribbean cruises scheduled THEN the Prinsendam was supposed to go into drydock for 2 weeks before it's next "long" voyage beginning in Jan, 2007.

 

We were told about the new charges for coffee from the coffee bar beginning in January 2007, so maybe the 2 week drydock in December, 2006 did alter the wall definitions of the bar, Oak Room, and casino area. I don't know

[Copper10-8]

The Erasmus Room is now used as a reading/writing room. Absolutely no changes have been made (except to maybe move some of the book racks) No crew staffs this room any further. On our 23 day cruise in Nov 2006, very few passengers used that room. The "new" library (old Oak Room) is now staffed daily and has the daily quiz (questions put out at 9AM and answers put out at 3PM).

 

Are you sure the drydock (refitting) is scheduled for this year? When our cruise from Cape Town SA to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl ended Dec 2nd 2006, there were one or two more Caribbean cruises scheduled THEN the Prinsendam was supposed to go into drydock for 2 weeks before it's next "long" voyage beginning in Jan, 2007.

 

We were told about the new charges for coffee from the coffee bar beginning in January 2007, so maybe the 2 week drydock in December, 2006 did alter the wall definitions of the bar, Oak Room, and casino area. I don't know

 

That was the way last August when we were on her. Almost nobody using that room since you already have the "new" library in the Oak room as well as the Internet cente. The Erasmus Room kinda has become a waste of space. I remember when that was the library and the Oak room, the Oak room. Hope they do something with it during dry-dock but the problem is its location (few options). Capt Gundersen also mentioned that dry dock was scheduled for 2007 .

[dakrewser]

That was the way last August when we were on her. Almost nobody using that room since you already have the "new" library in the Oak room as well as the Internet cente. The Erasmus Room kinda has become a waste of space. I remember when that was the library and the Oak room, the Oak room. Hope they do something with it during dry-dock but the problem is its location (few options). Capt Gundersen also mentioned that dry dock was scheduled for 2007 .

 

Actually, it was a great place to bring the laptop (and plug it in) to surf the net, handle email, and watch the sea go by out the large window!

[arzz]

We were on board the Prinsendam from January 17, 2007 - February 13, 2007.

 

There was still no charge for coffees -- and the coffee bar was a great place to find cookies during the day, wonderful chocolates after dinner, and snacks late at night. We really enjoyed the coffee bar many times.

 

The Erasmus room is a lovely place to bring your laptop to compose or to get on line -- it is an internet "hot spot" and was well used during our cruise. Only late at night was I ever there alone and even then there was often at least one other person at work -- there were times when every available seat was taken. It is a great quiet space from which I sent my daily e-mails and cruise critic posts.

 

The Oak room was also very nice but it was closed off and a bit off "the beaten track" so I only went there when I was looking for something in one of the books. The Erasmus room still has a few reference texts available.

 

I love the Explorations Cafes on the ships that have undergone their SOE enhancements, but I think that on the Prinsendam, if I were to sail her again, I would truly miss the old coffee bar and the free cappucinos.

[Cruising Boomer]

Arzz,

 

You made my day! Can't wait for another cruise on the Prisendam! We'll be on for 31 days but I think we may want to move there permanently! :D A condo on the Prisendam - hmmmm!

[Copper10-8]

Thanks Dave and Arzz; I guess I didn't see that much useage there last August

Boomer, just wondering: Are you calling her Prisendam for a reason? You know it's PriNsendam, right?;)

[Cruising Boomer]

Cna't tpye!

[Copper10-8]

Cna't tpye!

 

Knoew houw yuu feal;)

[dakrewser]

Knoew houw yuu feal;)

 

Yew knead a bedder speel chucker....;)

[serendipity1499]

That was the way last August when we were on her. Almost nobody using that room since you already have the "new" library in the Oak room as well as the Internet cente. The Erasmus Room kinda has become a waste of space. I remember when that was the library and the Oak room, the Oak room. Hope they do something with it during dry-dock but the problem is its location (few options). Capt Gundersen also mentioned that dry dock was scheduled for 2007 .

 

Capt. Turner was the Master last April, & during his interview with Peter he also said the Prinsendam was not going into drydock until 2007..

[lira]

How extensive is the book selection in the library? Is it mostly reference, or can one find a good, fairly current novel?

 

Lira

[slotl]

When we were on the ship for a 23 day'er, there was plenty of variety on the "Stacks". There was also a "swap" area for recycling completed books.

 

I know that I "donated" the book I was reading to the library at the conclusion of the cruise. I read Devil's on the Deep Blue Sea, It was the history of Carnival Cruise Lines. I (and the staff member) felt, it would be a good book to share with future cruisers.

 

So......I believe the library is well stocked and the fellow passengers are also bringing aboard popular authors and topics of shared interest.

 

We also had the daily newspapers: USA Today, NY Times, and Wall Street Journal (as well as popular non- U.S. newspapers matching the origin of the ship's other passengers). There were no magazines.