Thread: Eurodam Dec. 6-13 '09

Anyone on this Caribbean cruise out of Fort Lauderdale? I'm really excited about the brand new ship! This will be our first actual "romantic" cruise after cruising many many times as part of large groups. We keep saying "how strange that we won't know anyone except one another!" So I guess that's why I'd like to "meet" others who will be on our cruise - first in cyberspace - and then .. well, how about the Crow's Nest or aft pool at sail-away?

Already counting the days!

Moriah

Have you heard anything about the Grand Turks and if the ships will be able to go there this fall?

The reports That I saw this morning indicate that the pier is in tact.

But the buildings aren't.

Have to keep watching.


Saw a picture of the airport -- it is in shambles.

I read that it will reopen Oct. 8 2008 that is the pier area still need to get the island back Carnival line will be first and will need to check with HAL after that. i sail on Oct. 25

That is correct -- there was a thread about this somewhere a couple of weeks ago:

Grand Turk Cruise Center Scheduled to Re-Open in Early October


MIAMI, Sept. 11
The Grand Turk Cruise Center, which is operated by Miami-based
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), and located on
the island of Grand Turk, has scheduled an Oct. 8, 2008 re-opening
date, following the passage of Hurricane Ike.


An engineering survey has confirmed that no damage was sustained to
the cruise ship pier, which can accommodate up to two ships at one
time. Minimal damage occurred to the facility's retail and restaurant
complex.


"We believe we can complete repairs to the cruise center within a
30-day period and bring cruise ships back to Grand Turk," said Giora
Israel, Carnival's vice president of strategic planning and port
development. "We will be able to provide many of the wonderful, beach,
snorkeling and watersports experiences that Grand Turk is famous for,
along with the oversized pool and food and shopping opportunities at
the cruise center, including the extremely popular Margaritaville
restaurant."


Israel added that returning cruise ships quickly will provide
important economic benefits to Grand Turk while the island moves
forward with its recovery efforts. In addition to its existing staff
on the island, Carnival Corp. & plc will bring in a number of
additional skilled workers who will be housed and fed by the company.
Those individuals will not only repair the cruise center complex, but
also assist in the repair of some of the island's key attractions.


"We will be investing millions of dollars in the coming months to help
Grand Turk quickly re-build its cruise-focused tourism. Bringing
tourists back to the island as quickly as possible will play a major
role in driving the island's overall recovery," said Israel.


The Grand Turk Cruise Center is the largest private employer on the
island and the cruise center staff, combined with shore excursion
operators, comprises approximately 80 percent of non-government jobs
in Grand Turk.


Carnival Corporation & plc will also be providing financial and
logistical assistance to shore excursion operators to enable them to
resume their businesses. Cruise passengers and crew members will be
provided the opportunity to participate in volunteer-oriented
excursions for those who wish to assist in the island's recovery
effort.


The Grand Turk Cruise Center, which opened in 2006, has become one of
the cruise industry's most popular Caribbean cruise destinations. The
$60 million, 13-acre complex features an 800-foot-long private beach,
swimming pool and FlowRider attraction, which offers body boarding and
stand-up board surfing, in addition to multiple retail outlets. The
FlowRider, which was not damaged, will re-open pending the status of
power supply on the island. The cruise center's lush landscaping, much
of which was lost as a result of the storm, will be replaced on a
gradual basis over the next several months.


The Grand Turk Cruise Center serves as a gateway to the pristine
island of Grand Turk, which is world-renowned as a diving and
snorkeling jewel, and also features magnificent beaches, striking
aqua-blue waters, and a variety of fishing and watersports activities.


The first cruise ship scheduled to call at Grand Turk will be Carnival
Cruise Lines' Carnival Destiny on Oct. 8. Carnival Cruise Lines is the
largest cruise-line user of the Grand Turk facility. Several other
cruise lines, both from within the Carnival Corp. & plc family of
brands and from other cruise operators, also regularly call at Grand
Turk.

Hi:
We just took the Eurodam from December 13th to Dec 20th from Fort Lauderdale. While in my opinion, after being in 11 cruises with different cruise lines and the first time with Holland american, I can say that the ship is OK. It is pretty, but not exceptionally impressive. But where the ship lacks, the service, the food and the cabins take over. It is my very first ship where every single moment the food is an adventure in taste. The morning pastries are the best. Breakfast lunch and dinner were an experience. Our inside cabin was the biggest we have ever been. The regular complain of the shower of being small was not there. The service and professionalism of the staff, where in other cruise ships you always find staff members that looks like they don't want to be there, not at the Eurodam. After that ship, we took another 4 night cruise with another cruise line from Miami and we finished getting out of the ship looking for edible food that we liked. We saw the difference from a ship that attends to the masses (the other ones) to a ship that attends to the individuals (HAL). I will take Holland American again. Highly reccomended.

We spent 14 days on the Eurodam at the end of November and beginning of December.

Loved the ship.