Thread: Noordam: September 28, 2006-Rome to NYC!

We booked this transatlantic cruise yesterday!

The itinerary includes port calls at Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Cadiz, Azores and Bermuda!

Anyone else going?

Good for you Bill, I had seen that you dropped out of another cruise and wondered if you replaced with another. How many days is this cruise? I was just looking at the Deck Plans for the new Noordam. It looks like they have done some changes on the Aft with all the cabins.

Lisa: yep, looks like the new Noordam will be a bit different than the other Vistas. We are not wild about the Vista class but when we saw this itinerary that included Monte Carlo and Bermuda, we were intrigued and decided to go for it!

It is a 16-day cruise with 7 sea days, 4 of which are in a row--heaven!!!! We'll just keep our fingers crossed that nex October will be a quiet hurricane month in the Atlantic.

Australia/New Zealand will have to wait until we are retired and have the time to really do that one right!

Ruth wants to do this one but the only problem is how do we get home without flying :headbang2 :headbang2 :headbang2

Jim

Jim: that would be GREAT if you and Ruth can join us!!!! We would like to see those slippers in person!!

Well, you either have to cruise or fly to Italy but you can take Amtrak home from NYC!

I forgot to add in the original post, that this is a Big Band cruise, as well. Let me know how this shakes out for you.

Count us in too Bill!!! Not too sure about the size of the ship but the itinerary and company seem wonderful!!


Jim- It would be great if you and Ruth would join us....we will bring our slippers with us!!

BillS-
Wanted to let you know that thanks to your pictures of the shockingly small veranda balconys on the standard "V" cabins, we went ahead and booked a VA on the back of the ship. It appears to be a bit larger room and has a larger, albeit non-covered Balcony. Your pictures were a lifesaver, thanks soo much!

Bob and I have decided to stay 3 nights in Rome pre-cruise and would like to try to arrange a private driver to stop at Ostia Antica on our way to Cittechveccia from Rome. Not sure what you and DH are doing, but wanted to mention it

I know you are thinking tulips at this point, I can't wait till you share those pictures with us!!

Sher: I'm glad that the photos were helpful for you and Bob! I hope we can get to see the aft verandah first hand--hint, hint!

We are at the other end of the ship-port side-I forget which cabin but it is an SS, the one most forward on the Navigation deck. We'll get some exercise just walking from one end to the other. The Vistas ARE big, long ships!

Great on your pre-cruise! My TA called today with prices for 1, 2 & 3 night stays for 1st Class and Deluxe hotels booked through HAL, including transfers. MY OH MY! We are going to look at HAL's 4-day pre-cruise package and compare. Right now, the latter is what we are favoring. I think we will also go with HAL-air and transfers. I will let you know how we end up.

Originally Posted by Bill S

Sher: I'm glad that the photos were helpful for you and Bob! I hope we can get to see the aft verandah first hand--hint, hint!

We are at the other end of the ship-port side-I forget which cabin but it is an SS, the one most forward on the Navigation deck. We'll get some exercise just walking from one end to the other. The Vistas ARE big, long ships!

Great on your pre-cruise! My TA called today with prices for 1, 2 & 3 night stays for 1st Class and Deluxe hotels booked through HAL, including transfers. MY OH MY! We are going to look at HAL's 4-day pre-cruise package and compare. Right now, the latter is what we are favoring. I think we will also go with HAL-air and transfers. I will let you know how we end up.

You and DW are always welcome !!! We of course would love to see an SS cabin (nudge, nudge), which I am sure is going to be fabulous!!!

The price of HAL's prepackage scared me, and after reading Tripadvisor and Steve Rick's Rome book we (okay....I actually, being the cruise director) convinced ourselves to fly to Rome and spend 3 nights/3 days soaking in Rome and losing our jet lag. The more I read of Rome, I am not sure we can cover it all in 3 days, but we will be able to walk to everything once we get to the hotel. I am sure that HAL's precruise will be wonderful!

We have pretty much decided to go with HAL's pre-cruise package because of the transfers and the day up in Tuscany. I am going to purchase Rick Steves' book on Rome, too to see what we can do on our own the day we arrive and the next day and half of the 4th day. I have read a lot of positive reports regarding using a personal guide in Rome, so once we see what Rick has to say, we will be in a better position to decide how we want to manage the "free" time in the package.


BTW, I found out the the band for the big band theme on our cruise will be the Nick Ross Orchestra--haven't heard of them before, but I have learned this is a British orchestra that does a lot of Glenn Miller music. Here is a link to their web site:

http://www.nick-ross-orchestra.com/index.html


You and Bob are welcome to see our cabin, but pack a lunch for the hike!