New to Holland and first cruise to Europe on Osterdam

[marcyjane]

Hello everyone on the Holland board. I posted this to a link on the Oosterdam, but decided to post a new thread so maybe I'd get more answers and advice.

Hi everyone on the HAL Board, been on cruise critics since 2003, but just now starting to read and post to the HAL Board.

 

I will be here for a good long time reading and trying to get all the info, Photos, and reviews I can on the Oosterdam cause , I did it Today, Booked a D Outside Ocean View ( in hopes for a upgrade) for August 2009 for Europe!!!:)

 

So bear with me if I ask some crazy question over the next months or even year.

 

This will be my first cruise on a Holland America Line

I've always wanted to go to Europe and as a baby boomer I thought it best to go while I'm still in fair shape to enjoy it.

 

Thanks so much in advance for any links to any info or photo's of the ship, cabins and well just anything you have the time to share.

 

Marcy

[jhannah]

Welcome, Marcy! Pull up a deck chair and sit a spell. Glad to have you. The Oosterdam is a wonderful ship. You'll love being on her, and Europe is simply fantastic. Which itinerary will you be sailing?

[marcyjane]

Thanks Jim,

Will be getting on the Oosterdam in Barcelona to Venice.

then on to:

Monte Carlo

Florence/Pisa, Italy

Rome, Italy

Scenic crusing Strait of Messina, Sicily, Itlay

Navplion, Greece

Olympia, Greece

Corfu, Greece

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Venice Italy

I'll check back in later to read post, got to get to work for now.

Marcy

[Cruising-along]

Welcome to HAL Marcy! You will LOVE your European cruise, we did our first 2 years ago and will be leaving next month for another. You won't want to stop! :D

[marcyjane]

Don't tell anyone I jump online while on break at work.

Carolyn please tell me more about your first trip and do you have a link to your photos.

I just want to learn all I can about the ship, cabins, tours etc.

[sammiedawg]

We love the Oosterdam and your European itinerary is wonderful. Dont forget to check out the European port of call section under mediterranean. you will learn tons of info about the ports

[dakrewser]

It's been a while since we cruised the Med, but we did do some of those same ports. Here's a link to our Western Med pics (http://vquill.com/gallery/cruise.html) and one to the Eastern Med ones, (http://vquill.com/gallery/italy.html) & (http://vquill.com/gallery/greece.html).

[RuthC]

Hi, Marcy. I saw your post on the other thread before I saw this one. I don't suppose there's any harm in repeating what I said there, over here: :D

Welcome to the HAL corner of Cruise Critic, Marcy. You'll find lots of information here if you read through the various threads---especially those pertinent to your ship.cruise. Then feel free to ask away. There's lots of knowledgeable posters here.

[marcyjane]

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome.

dakrewser, your photos are wonderful thank you so much!:D

I'm reading and searching tonight as Ruth C said. It's going to be a looong + year, but will be worth the wait. At least I have time to be on the boards and study and pick tours etc.

Thanks

Marcy;)

[localady]

Welcome Marcy!:D

Don't forget to check out the Europe board(subsection "Meditterean") here at CC. There is a lot of good information on all the ports you are visiting there as well as hotel and shore excursion information on that board.

[marcyjane]

Thanks locallady I will sure do that.

I just can't get enought tonight reading and seaching about the ship and Europe.

I've got to get off here and get to bed. Morning comes too early.

Thanks again to everyone

Marcy:)

[marcyjane]

Just checking in on this post to see if there was anymore info or advice.

I have been reading my eyes out! on anything I can find out on Holland and Europe.

I would also like if anyone that has cruised on RCI, CCL, NCL could compare the service, cabin size, food, shows etc of the ships vs Holland's.

Thanks in advance for your time and trouble

Marcy

[jhannah]

The cabins on Holland America ships are about 25% larger than those on other lines. We really noticed the difference when we went from a standard balcony stateroom on the Sea Princess to one on the Rotterdam.

[Cruising-along]

Don't tell anyone I jump online while on break at work.

 

Carolyn please tell me more about your first trip and do you have a link to your photos.

 

I just want to learn all I can about the ship, cabins, tours etc.

 

Marcyjane I'm sorry, I didn't see this question until today :o But I see you have already gotten lots of help and picture links.

 

On our first Med cruise it covered Venice, Dubrovnik (my avatar shows me in Dubrovnik, sorry I don't have a link to our photos), Corfu (we took HAL excursion to Achillion Palace), Alexandria, Egypt, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Constanta, Odessa, Varna, and Athens.

 

So ours included 3 of the ports you will be visiting, Venice, Dubrovnik and Corfu. We did Dubrovnik on our own (so easy), and Venice was our embarkation port, so we were there a day ahead of the cruise and pretty much just walked all over, and did the HAL tour in Corfu. I see you'll be going to Rome too, we spent 4 days in Rome pre-cruise -- it's an amazing city!

 

You will love your cruise!

[Golfette]

We sailed on Oosterdam in December. It is a beautiful ship. We had an SC aft deluxe suite which was a corner suite with a huge balcony (going round the corner of the ship). The suite was nice sized with great beds and a separate tub and shower.

 

One of the best things, aside from the great veranda, was the perks of the Neptune Lounge which come with SC, SB and SA suites on the Oosterdam. If you are considering a suite, check out the advantages of the Neptune Lounge.

[off2ctheworld]

We were on the same cruise as Golfette (Hi!) and completely agree with her-beautiful ship! We had a VD cabin and really enjoyed the verandah. This board is great help and a wonderful source of information. Even though the wait is long enjoy the time spent here on the board and have a WONDERFUL European Cruise!

[marcyjane]

Thank you all so much.:D You all over here on the Holland Boards have been so super nice to welcome me as I start learning all about the HAL cruise experience.

Marcy

[Solo Cruiser]

Hey Marcy and welcome. My only cruises have been on Princess and HAL but I will tell you my major comparisons. HAL - best bed I ever slep in, including the one I have at home; Food - pretty much even but I loved the room service menu on HAL; Getting on and off the ship - About the same but HAL wins points for letting you stay in your cabin until your group is called for disembarcation; Shore excursions - Princess is a tad more organized with these but the content of them both are even; Staff - HAL wins hands down, the staff is very warm and helpful; Casino - I lost $$ in both :( ; Entertainment - I loved the production shows on Princess but the lounge acts on HAL were much better.

 

Do not miss getting a day pass at least for the hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite area of the spa on HAL. What a great way to relax after port intensive travel. Stop by the piano bar one evening to see if that is your cup of tea. Speaking of tea, hit the Royal Dutch or Indonesian tea or both while on board. Enjoy your tours in Europe, they are filled with opportunities for mind expansion. Have a super cruise.

[marcyjane]

Solocruiser,

Thank you for your comparisions.

The bed sounds great.

On the day pass is it free for one day or how much to they charge per day or for the total 12 day cruise.

Also I notice your email address. Would you mind if I email you with a few questions.

Thanks again to everyone.:)

Marcy

[Solo Cruiser]

Is the day pass free?? :D :D Silly Girl! All kidding aside, I think the day pass is like $40 but I went right up to the spa and bought one for the week for about $140 for one person. (I think they are in the $250 range for a week for a couple.) Feel free to email me any questions, just put Cruise Critic in the title somewhere so I won't think you are spam.

[marcyjane]

Solo cruiser,

Can't hurt a girl for wishing!!

Thanks, on my way to work will email you this evening and thanks so much.

Have a great day:D

Marcy

[travelasap]

We are on this same cruise on July 6th. My problem is finding a thread for this. Any suggestions?

 

travelasap

[Essiesmom]

Are you on the Oosterdam, or on a Mexican Riviera cruise? they are not the same this year, as Oosterdam is in Europe this year. Go to the roll call section, find HAL, find your ship, and the dates for your cruise. EM

[AZjohn]

We are on this same cruise on July 6th. My problem is finding a thread for this. Any suggestions?

 

travelasap

 

First of all wecome to Cruise Critic travelasap!

The thread you pulled up is over a year old. Please click the link belowe and you will find a roll call for your specific cruise:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=852643

Have a great cruise!

John