Veendam confirmed for South America 2010

[chees]

I just got an email from my TA - we were on the Oosterdam cat D for South America/Antarctica on 1/10/2010. Just got an email flipping us to the Veendam Cat D with a $317pp price drop. YAY!!!! A smaller ship AND a price drop--does not get better than that!

 

Plus confirmed late dining, etc. The new deck plans after the refurb show a laundromat nearby (but on the other side so no noise/traffic), which will come in very handy for a 20-day cruise.

 

I went on the HAL site and did not see this cruise listed yet (wanted to confirm identical itinerary), but it should appear soon for those who are waiting for it.

 

Tina

[Cruzman]

It has been reported that the Ryndam will be replacing Veendam in Tampa. We wanted to book a spring cruise for 2010 out of Tampa while on board the Eurodam but could not do so because HAL's website is still showing the Veendam sailings from Tampa in 2010. We told the future cruise consultant that this ship can't be in two places at the same time and he of course, agreed. We ended up putting a deposit on an open booking while we wait for HAL to update their website. Have a great time on the V! We really enjoy sailing on the S Class ships.

[Tampa Girl]

I just got an email from my TA - we were on the Oosterdam cat D for South America/Antarctica on 1/10/2010. Just got an email flipping us to the Veendam Cat D with a $317pp price drop. YAY!!!! A smaller ship AND a price drop--does not get better than that!

 

Plus confirmed late dining, etc. The new deck plans after the refurb show a laundromat nearby (but on the other side so no noise/traffic), which will come in very handy for a 20-day cruise.

 

I went on the HAL site and did not see this cruise listed yet (wanted to confirm identical itinerary), but it should appear soon for those who are waiting for it.

 

Tina

 

What great news! Since we are booked on the 1/30/2010 sailing, I expect that we will be hearing very shortly. Thanks so much for the news!

 

Virginia

[Oca]

We are really happy to hear your good news, Chees!! Congratulations.

 

As I have mentioned before we are on the December 21, 2010 Santiago to Rio cruise -- we were first booked on the Amsterdam, then the Oosterdam and now apparently the Veendam. I say 'apparently' because we have not heard anything from HAL yet. We booked directly with them (when we were onboard the Statendam earlier this year) and not through a travel agent. I am getting nervous as I thought I should have heard by now but still nothing.

 

I hope the same good news that came your way will also come our way shortly. I guess there is not much we can do at this point but wait -- while biting our fingernails. ;)

[debsea]

Still waiting to hear from our TA. Our booking on Oosterdam was in an SY, so hoping they'll offer a reasonable deal for an upgrade to an SC. Fingers crossed.

[Cruzman]

Today we are happy! HAL has updated it's website and we have booked the Ryndam 4/11/2010 sailing out of Tampa. Life is good!

[mezza]

we're 3 months after you so still waiting, waiting and trying to remain calm and optismistic !!! hoping to go from :( to :D too !!

[Tampa Girl]

Am I missing something? I don't see any postings yet for Veendam's January, 2010 cruises?

[chees]

But they have apparently posted the itineraries for the new ship out of Tampa in 2010.

 

Tina

[Tampa Girl]

Yes, I was relieved to see that. At first I was afraid they were going to cut Tampa from their ports. What is interesting, though, is that it appears that the Veendam is going out every two weeks - on a 7-day cruise? Is there another ship taking up the slack, I wonder. Sorry, this is off the thread, I think. Getting back to SA, I expect that the SA 2010 itineraries will be posted shortly. So glad to hear that HAL is gradually getting around to transferring all of us from the Oosterdam.

[Tampa Girl]

We just got our reservations transferred from the Oosterdam to the Veendam - We were in an SY category but are in a B category verandah on the Veendam. This is fine because it is the same location on the ship as we had on the Oosterdan - Verandah deck, port side, midship. Same price, but with a $200 OBC. We are satisfied and glad that it has finally been confirmed. Now . . . are one of you going to say HAL put you in suite from an outside cabin???? Don't tell me, please . . . . .

[Oca]

We just got our reservations transferred from the Oosterdam to the Veendam - ]

 

Good for you, Tampa Girl. Did you hear the news from your travel agent (do you have a travel agent?) or did you get contacted directly by HAL.

 

Still nothing here and we are leaivng on 12/21/09 before your cruise is scheduled. Maybe I should give them a call?

[Oca]

Sachiboo, are you out there?

 

I know from the other thread that you are/were booked on the December 21, 2009 cruise as are we. Have you heard anything at all from your TA or HAL about the change of bookings from the Oosterdam to the Veendam?

 

Cruises that are apparently scheduled for after ours have been notified.

[sachiboo]

Hi Oca,

 

I still have not heard from my travel agent. When I spoke to her last week, she claimed that she has been working with HAL regarding my cabin allocation. I do not know why it is taking so long since other cruisers have been given cabin allocations already. I do hope that we will hear within a few days(fingers crossed). I was wondering about you too. Please advise if you hear from HAL.

[Tampa Girl]

We just got our reservations transferred from the Oosterdam to the Veendam - ]

 

Good for you, Tampa Girl. Did you hear the news from your travel agent (do you have a travel agent?) or did you get contacted directly by HAL.

 

Still nothing here and we are leaivng on 12/21/09 before your cruise is scheduled. Maybe I should give them a call?

 

 

 

Oca, I initiated the request through our online TA, advising her that the HAL website has finally recognized the cruise. She contacted HAL and got back to me within a couple of hours. I guess the key is putting pressure on your TA and have her/him put pressure on the company. BTW, HAL was first going to put us in a BA category, which are in the front and in the aft ends of the ship. I held out for a B category, which is midships. So . . be sure to hold out for at least the same approximate location in the ship.

 

Virginia

[Oca]

Hi All!

 

We are happy campers (sailors) today. I called HAL and have now officially changed our booking from the Oosterdam December 21, 2009 cruise to the Veendam -- same cruise, same date. We had a VF verandah on the Oosterdam and are now booked in a B category verandah on the Veendam. The cost is about $375 less!!! We also got an additional onboard credit and were able to keep our late dining confirmation and our mid-ship port side cabin.

 

We are delighted! We are definitely loyal customers as long as this kind of service continues on HAL!

 

I hope that everyone else who needs to rebook gets such wonderful results as well.

[sachiboo]

Oca,

 

It's good to hear that you are a happy camper because I am not.:mad: I'm very please for you. My TA is still negotiating with HAL regarding my 'S' stateroom. HAL is charging me more to go to a 'B' stateroom and I am not impressed. To top it, HAL cancelled our April 2010 booking on the Rotterdam - Asia/Transpacific cruise due to lack of interest.:( At the moment, HAL is not my favorite cruise line.

[Oca]

Sachiboo -- I certainly can understand why HAL is not your favorite cruise line at the moment. I can't understand how they can be so accommodating in regard to some reservations/passengers and not accommodating to others, such as yourself. My question is -- have you used the particular TA you are currently using before? If so, have you been happy with his/her efforts in the past? It seems as if no one else is running into the problems you are having right now -- that is the reason I ask.

 

I did not use a travel agent so I was able to handle it all directly with HAL and the woman who helped me was excellent.

 

As far as an April 2010 cruise -- 16 months out seems rather early to say that there is a 'lack of interest'. You are really running into a bad run of luck. I'm sorry. There is still a year before the SA Veendam cruise and I hope that things will turn around for you. In the meantime, I certainly can understand your frustration.

[curlee381]

I just got off the Veendam today and I really hope that when that ship gets out of dry dock a lot of things improves. It was a very disappointing trip.

 

It is very run down, there is very little help where it is needed. The quality of food has declined. The cleaniness of the public areas (restrooms) is horrible. The casino cashiers and some shop employees were extremely rude on several occassions.

 

I seriously hope alot of things change for the better for you trip.

[Konarina]

I've been thinking about booking the Veendam for an April, 2009 cruise through the Panama Canal from Ft. Lauderdale.

 

When is the ship due to go into dry dock for refurbishment? I really don't want to go on one that's due for an upgrade, as we did that once with the Maasdam and they even skipped a port call so they could get into dry dock on time. Not a happy cruiser about that, as it was a port call that I had been looking forward to seeing.

[Oca]

It looks as if you are thinking of booking the April 27 Panama Canal cruise which is the first cruise post refit. So, on one hand, the ship should be in great shape; on the other, they say that perhaps being on the first cruise after refit is not ideal as there may be some 'bugs' to iron out and a whole new crew who is not yet used to working together.

 

But you are in a unique place of being someone who was on one HAL ship (Maasdam) on the last cruise before dry dock and being someone who will be on another HAL ship (Veendam) the first cruise after dry dock. Stories to tell your grandchildren! :D

[sachiboo]

Oca,

 

Yes, I have not used this travel agent before. Its the first time that I have gone with them. I still waiting for an answer. I'm really disappointed with HAL cancelling the Asia cruise because its still quite a long way yet. It was a very good itinerary too. I thought so anyway. Here's hoping that I hear from the agent sometime this week. I need some good news.