Prinsendam Experience

[travelite]

I am aware this is a smaller ship with fewer passengers. My concern is how well this ship handles in rough seas and open ocean. How does the whole cruise experience compare to other HAL ships? How comfortable are the ocean view cabins on Dolphin and Main deck?

[Mary Ellen]

We've sailed this ship when she was still under Royal Viking. Their ships sailed all over the world and handled the seas well.

[Love Cruises]

We were on the msPRINSENDAM in Nov/Dec. on a roundtrip Fort Lauderdale trip down to the Amazon River and back. The shipped handled the seas nicely. We were on the main deck in a cabin towards the front of the ship with two portholes and the ocean view was fine. The PRINSENDAM is a lovely trip and we wouldn't mind cruising on her again in the future.

[Pettifogger]

We crossed the Atlantic on her late last November. My wife had a 20 minute twinge of uneasiness that may or may not have been seasickness. We wouldn't be the least bit concerned about her size.

[cccole]

The reports by Slinkie and Grumpy who are on the Prisendam now might be helpful. You might ask them this question also. Cherie

[iflyrc5]

The Prinsendam is GREAT!! If you want to see some photos go to the link below :

 

http://www.pbase.com/iflyrc5/prinsendam_images

 

We would sail on her again any time.

[travelite]

The Prinsendam is GREAT!! If you want to see some photos go to the link below :

 

http://www.pbase.com/iflyrc5/prinsendam_images

 

We would sail on her again any time.

 

Thanks for the photos. They helped to answer some of my questions.

[GarySuzy]

iflyrc5,

 

As we have recently booked the Prinsendam for the Holidays this year we would like to also thank you for the Photos they are great.:)

[ldog]

We were on the Prinsendam for the Amazon cruise last November.

 

It's a great ship and the crew and passengers are fantastice.... BUT there is more movement than the larger ships.

 

We had fairly rough seas on the first days out of FLL. It got worse towards evening and I had to retire to our cabin. Luckily they have very effective pills called "Sea Calm" which the front desk hands out in abundance and that cleared up my sick stomach. They made me a little bit drowsy but not as bad as Gravol etc.

 

You are on the ocean so you have to realise that there are bouncy seas.

[Harry1954]

We were on the Prinsendam for a trip from London up the coast of Norway, over to the northern part of Iceland, around Greenland, back to southern Iceland, Shetland Islands, Scotland, and finally Amsterdam - while the seas were a bit rough in some places, the ship handled quite nicely.

harry

[cle1]

We did the Fall Transatlantic on her this past year, a couple days were a little rough for some passengers, but IMHO she "rides the seas very well". We had an Oceanview cabin mid ship and did not get as much motion. Also, we prefer the bathtub cabins....to us they seemed a little larger. The Prinsendam has become our favorite ship.....to the point that we leave the end of next month for another Transatlantic. It has free laundry, and free "coffee cafe". If you enjoy getting to know your fellow passengers, having excellent service, very friendly crew and staff, small ship, longer itinerary, and don't mind sitting on a deck chair and watching the sea go by you need to try the Prinsendam.....she is a dying breed. I am just thankful to HAL for keeping her, and taking such goood care of her. To us she is special! Carol

[Willsot]

It depends on where you are sailing, weather and sea conditions. We sailed on the Prinsendam Rome to Amsterdam summer 2007 (14 days) and had some of the roughest seas of our cruising experiences. We were rocking and rolling on two or three different days and I am convinced that the newer, larger class ships have greater probability of smoother sailing through such swells.

 

That being said, the Prinsendam is our favorite of the 7 HAL ships we have sailed.

We were fortunate enough to have Captain Turner (with his lovely wife joining him for one week) and the cabin, crew and dining were all top-notch. The Prinsendam is a class act and deserves the "elegant explorer" title.

 

(we had a Large Outside cabin forward on the Main Deck, 321E)

[prescottbob]

...sailed on the "Elegant Explorer" twice (2007 & 2008). Both times we were down in the "bilge" (aka Dolphin Deck). We never had much problem however there can be 'those days' where the ship motion is, well, ship's motion.

 

Actually the heaviest seas we ever encountered on 'her' were in the Med. of all places. Going from Naples to Rome (June -'07) we were barely able to stand up during the night (you know those late visits to the head), glassware falling on the floor and all that sort of thing.

 

Here is a link to an old thread that has another link that has some Prinsendam ship pix from 2007 and after if got refurbished in 2008.

 

Needless to say, Ted has some fabulous pix in his album(s). We ('she' & moi) had the pleasure of meeting them and other good CC folks on the 2008 "Amazon Float"

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=917847&highlight=amazon

 

Not to worry. Your going to have wonderful cruise!

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

 

The "Search for Nellie Forbush Float" coming Jan. 2010

[travelite]

We were on the Prinsendam for a trip from London up the coast of Norway, over to the northern part of Iceland, around Greenland, back to southern Iceland, Shetland Islands, Scotland, and finally Amsterdam - while the seas were a bit rough in some places, the ship handled quite nicely.

harry

 

This is the itinerary we are considering. Were you pleased with the ports of call? Were pills enough to ward off motion sickness? We do love smaller ships, but they tend to roll about more than the newer larger ones. For a larger ship, the QM2 is a great experience. We'll be sailing her again soon.

[Copper10-8]

Been lucky enough to have sailed Prinsendam twice, both times in Europe and she handled the seas very nice. Different experience sailing her than the "S" and "R" classes, let alone the Vista's and Eurodam. Much more intimate on Prinsendam, the Lido experience is different and, depending on the duration, there is a possibility of not much in the way of night life (the Ocean Bar is the center of night life on Prinsendam as opposed to the Crow's Nest/Northern Lights on the other ships). Would sail Prinsendam again in a minute!

[DFD1]

If I remember correctly, Prinsendam took two 60 foot waves in succession (sp)down around the tip of South America a couple of years ago that broke every piece of glassware on the ship and caused some slight injuries, but she righted herself and continued on.

 

Sounds like she's pretty seaworthy.

 

I believe arzz was on board and reported the incident in her postings here.

[Harry1954]

This is the itinerary we are considering. Were you pleased with the ports of call? Were pills enough to ward off motion sickness? We do love smaller ships, but they tend to roll about more than the newer larger ones. For a larger ship, the QM2 is a great experience. We'll be sailing her again soon.

Yes, the port stops were fabulous. The excursions HAL provided were quite good - we took one in every port. The best was northern Iceland - Ackerya(sp?) and Isfjord .. and cruising the Prinz Williem Sound. There really was not that much of a problem with sea sickness onboard. The ship held the water well.

you will love it.

harry