Oosterdam Diverts to avoid Big Seas

Just one week to go before we sail down Sydney Harbour and across the Pacific Ocean. Holland America has opted to abandon the planned itinerary which included rounding the South Island and visiting the Fiordland National Park and has opted to set out for Australia via the Cook Strait.

Oosterdam's Position at 17:00 Saturday, 11 April 2015 AEST

The most likely reason for the change is the massive swell and strong winds (up to 60 knots) in the Tasman Sea which would have made negotiating the narrow entrance to Milford Sound impossible.

Swell in the Tasman Sea

For those who are a little interested in some of the details about the ship we will call home for just over three weeks, MS Oosterdam is one of four ‘compass-point’ Holland America Line (HAL) ships.

Until mid-April 2015 she has been based in Sydney, Australia circling New Zealand and many islands of the South Pacific, with 2- and 4-week cruises. Once we reach Vancouver, Oosterdam then sails the 7-night Alaskan fjord coast run. Cruises operate in alternate directions between Seward (the port for Anchorage) and Vancouver. From October 2015 onwards she sails out of Fort Lauderdale with 11- and 21-night cruises of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

Oosterdam is a Vista class vessel - a class of Panamax-type cruise ships, built by Fincantieri Marghera shipyard, in Italy. Vista class cruise ships are also operated by P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, and Costa Cruises. The ships are equipped with a diesel-electric power plant and an Azipod propulsion system. They've been designed so that eighty-five percent of the staterooms have ocean views and sixty-seven percent have verandas; the extensive use of glass in the superstructure of Vista class ships is also reflected in the class name.

ms Oosterdam

The ship has seven formal to casual dining areas. The two-deck main Dining Room serves open-seating breakfast and lunch. For dinner guests can chose between set-seating at first or second servings, or open seating on the upper deck.

Dining Room

There are two alternative restaurants: The Pinnacle Grill for steaks and seafood, and the Italian-American-influenced Canaletto.

Pinnacle Grill

At night the two-deck Vista Show Lounge offers (twice nightly) musical productions, cabaret, and live variety performances. Other entertainment offered throughout the ship includes musical recitals, dancing to the backing of a band ensemble, televised live sport in the multi-screen sports bar and my favorite - the pianist (or the guitarist earlier in the evening) in the Piano Bar.

Piano Bar

Recent movies are shown in the Screening Room. Through the evening the disco and nightclub happens on the top deck into the early hours of the morning. Though not my cup of tea, the casino has lots of playing options.

Interior Stateroom

Our planning is nearly complete. Books, movies and TV shows all safely stored on HDD. Documents all printed and stored electronically, Google calendar updated with the detailed itinerary including the local time zone. Cameras checked and luggage labels sorted. Banks and DFAT (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/) notified. Even filled in our Customs and Border Protection outgoing passenger cards.

If you'd like to follow our little adventure leave your email address in the Follow by Email box on this page (on the right) and you'll get a message whenever I post something.

Another post coming soon.