Holland America Line

Last week I was able to visit the Holland America Line ship, Maasdam, in Southampton. It is the second HAL ship I have visited, the other being Prinsendam when she visited Avonmouth, Bristol, last year.

I have to say I do like the HAL product, even though I have not yet sailed with them. The two ships I have seen have been a nice size (54,000 tons in the case of Maasdam), but seemed very spacious inside, with lots of places to sit and huge libraries. the lunch in the main restaurant was excellent (three courses with wine) and service good. When we asked if coffee was served the waiter said no, but he would go and get some for us. 

The decor is elegant and restrained, with lots of antiques and art work around. I particularly like the large libraries, with internet access and coffee bars. The observatory bar or Crowsnest, has some leather reclining seats facing forward in the centre which looked exceedingly inviting. As Southampton was a way port and the ship was sailing full, we were not able to see cabins, but a lovely American couple invited us in to see their suite.  Again, this looked very comfortable with a huge balcony, but I especially fancy the Lanai cabins. These are on the promenade deck and have french windows out to the deck and two reserved steamer chairs per cabin. the glass is mirrored so totally private. Personally I think I would prefer this to a balcony as it is quick to nip out onto the deck for photos, and you have the whole length of the prom deck, rather than be confined to a small balcony area.

Needless to say, a HAL cruise has been added to the bucket list!

More photos of the ship may be seen here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharonsshiptravels/sets/72157630874681022/with/7700983598/

Another cruise booked!

It’s been a busy week or two, ship wise.  Attracted by the offers on at present, I booked a short cruise on Ocean Countess for next year.  The big plus, as far as I was concerned, was the attraction of sailing to and from Bristol, or to be more precise, Avonmouth, I visited Holland America Line’s Prinsendam when she called there last year and although cruise facilities are basic – to say the least – the opportunity to sail down the Bristol Channel was too good to pass up. This Channel has the second highest tidal rise and fall in the world, second only to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. It is dotted with dangerous sand banks, as well as the islands of Steep Holm, Flat Holm and Lundy.  It used to be at the centre of a thriving paddle steamer trade in summers past, as they would carry holidaymakers between the Victorian and Edward piers of Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, Penarth Minehead and Ilfracombe. I remember sailing these waters on the Bristol Queen and Glen Usk  - getting splashed by the spray from the paddle wheels.  It was a huge treat to go down to watch the engines – pounding away like beam engines and exuding that distinctive smell of hot oil. Sadly all these boats are now gone. The last surviving sea-going paddle steamer, the Waverley makes a few visits each summer though . My last steamer trip was on the Balmoral, up the River Avon to Bristol proper in the 1970s.

Anyway – back to Ocean Countess.  Built in 1976 as Cunard Countess, at 17,000 tons, she will be smallest ship I have sailed on.  To berth at Royal Portbury dock, Avonmouth, ships need to be able to fit through the locks so it is only the smaller cruise ships that can call there.  The ship had many mixed and often poor reviews, but I am going with an open mind and will report in due course on this blog.