HAL to Add New High End Staterooms to ms Prinsendam in Early 2010 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Krazy Kruizers · 07-14-2009, 07:27 AM

Holland America Line to Add New High-End Staterooms to ms Prinsendam in Early 2010

Seattle, July 10, 2009 – As part of the continuing Signature of Excellence enhancement program, Holland America Line has announced the addition of 22 new staterooms to ms Prinsendam, the Elegant Explorer, in early 2010. The drydock will occur in Freeport, Bahamas, from January 4 through 13, 2010.
“Prinsendam continues to be a ship with one of our most loyal followings,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “The new staterooms will mostly be verandah cabins. This will also allow us to create some other very special additions.”
With the addition of staterooms aft, the pool deck will expand with more space and many more deck chairs for guests to enjoy. A new sea-view bar will be created to enhance the ambiance further.
Sixteen of the new staterooms will be deluxe verandahs and two will be slightly smaller verandahs. Four will be standard inside staterooms. As customary with all Prinsendam staterooms, appointments will feature elegant bathrooms and recently redesigned closet space. Amenities feature Mariner Dream Beds, 250-count linens, Elemis spa bathroom amenities, large vanity mirror, stainless steel fruit basket, flat panel television and DVD player, quality shower head, and more. Guest capacity of the Elegant Explorer will increase from 793 to 837.
New staterooms will be fully finished while under way and ready to book for the 54-day Quest of the Argonauts voyage, sailing March 24 roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to the Mediterranean, Black Sea and back. The ship sails a leisurely eastbound course across the Atlantic for an extensive Mediterranean exploration with calls at ports in more than 10 countries, including Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Russia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey. The cruise includes overnight stays in Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal and Istanbul, Turkey, as well as late-night departures in Athens and Santorini, Greece, and Lisbon, Portugal. Prinsendam will visit Bermuda and New York City before returning to Fort Lauderdale.
Other standard maintenance and technical service will take place along with upgrading laundry and galley equipment.
Signature of Excellence Defines the HAL Experience
Prinsendam’s enhancements are part of the comprehensive Signature of Excellence upgrade program now totaling more than $525 million. Signature of Excellence features and amenities are inherent in every aspect of the Holland America Line premium cruise experience.
For a cruise brochure or for more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit Cruises to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and the world on Holland America, one of the best cruise lines.

Char · 07-14-2009, 09:28 AM

Sounds like the new additions will make a good ship a great ship!

Krazy Kruizers · 07-14-2009, 01:44 PM

The only problem is -- HAL is not filling their ships!!

All summer is HAL has been discounting nearly every cruise -- upgrading some people for free and asking little of others for upsales. And the ships are still not sailing full.

So why add more cabins when you can't fill the ones you already have?

Char · 07-14-2009, 02:43 PM

Forward looking thinking. They have a popular ship that they can make more popular by adding balcony cabins.

The economy will be picking up and they need to be ready for it with a "new & improved" product.

This has probably been in the works for a long time, too......before the recent downturn in the economy.

Krazy Kruizers · 07-17-2009, 06:38 AM

Trouble with the Prinsendam -- she is a small ship -- adding more cabins -- things will be crowded everywhere. Dining room can't be expanded -- Lido can't be expanded.

And on her cruises last summer and the summer before -- none of the itineraries were sold out.

nealberk · 07-19-2009, 12:40 PM

Yonnie, when I first saw this article, I thought that they were enlarging and enhancing the existing cabins (Prinsendam is, after all, a luxury cruise ship) but I can see your point about adding cabins. The ship is a success because of its intimate size and I don't think crowding it will make it any better.

Krazy Kruizers · 07-19-2009, 05:54 PM

Neal

You got that right!!

Neither the dining room or the Lido can be enlarged to hold more people.

Especially the dinning room -- thus some people are going to be forced to eat dinner in the Lido.

HAL has reduced prices drastically this year for her European cruises -- she does have some sold out cruises for a change.

nealberk · 07-19-2009, 06:11 PM

With the prices as low as they are, I would be tempted to grab one of the Alaska cruises (also at a big discount) if I was not boycotting HAL right now.