holland-noordam4

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Candy and Jim Brock
Email: cbrock@g-net.net
Age: 50+
Occupation: Finance
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: 3/21-28/98
Itinerary: Tampa, Grand Cayman, Santo Tomas Guatemala, Cozume
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService:
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 99
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 99
Casino: 99
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Mar 1999
Time: 12:31:46
Remote Name: dial-23.r2.gapmbr.infoave.net
Remote User:

Comments

Ship: HAL ms Noordam Dates: Saturday, March 21 ~ 28, 1998 Ports: Tampa, Grand Cayman, Santo Tomas
Guatemala, Cozumel

Prior to embarkation: HAL booked our flights for $299 pp, but we drove another 150 miles and flew USAir for
$87.50 pp. HAL gave us a full credit for the air fare when we got home (nice surprise). We flew the night before
and stayed in the Airport Days Inn. We had to pay for the hotel and transfers but still saved over $300. Arrived at
the port at about noon.

Embarkation: Check-in went very fast. As HAL alumni we expected priority boarding, but were given a regular
boarding call number. Our friends arrived later and experienced the same thing...no apparent priorities, even
with the badges and bag tags. Even so, the boarding procedure was fast and painless, and our luggage was
already delivered.

Cabin: I knew I would be disappointed with our cabin from the beginning, so I did not expect much. It really was
not a typical HAL cabin. It was a large outside cabin (category E), #459 on A-deck, amidships. It had one bed
across the porthole and one along the side wall, but no little couch & coffee table. There were six large drawers
(2 with locks), one night stand, a concealed dry bar compartment, two large closets, large counter area with an
outlet and one chair. The bathroom was equipped with a decent shower and surprisingly roomy medicine chest
and shelves. The mirror covered the whole wall above the sink and the lighting was very good. No hair dryer, one
outlet. The TV ran Port and Shopping Talks, Cruise Travelogues, View from the Bridge, CNN and The Movie
Channel.

Ship facilities: The spacious common areas, lounges and freshwater pool were very conveniently located on the
Promenade deck; the casino one flight up, the dining room one flight down. Can't comment on the other pool,
spa, beauty shop or ball courts. The entire ship is tastefully decorated with fine art and many fresh flowers. The
Piet Hein and the panoramic Crow's Nest offered wonderful views.

Deck: Most of the outdoor activities like poolside games and horse races were held by the Lido deck pool, which
wasn't large enough for a crowd. I had no trouble getting a deck chair due to the unpredictable intermittent
sprinkles. There was a problem with soot one afternoon in port...no way to avoid that. The Upper Promenade
deck had the wraparound promenade.

Theater: The Princess Theater showed 'Out to Sea' (filmed partly on the Westerdam), 'Mrs. Brown', 'Red
Corner', 'L.A. Confidential', 'Rainmaker',

Pools: The freshwater pool on the Lido deck was of adequate size, but too cold for me. I never got to the
saltwater pool or whirlpool on the Navigation deck.

Steiner of London: Informative seminars, prizes and discounts were given daily for the Salon and Spa services.

Dining Room: The Amsterdam Dining Room was a little crowded but not stuffy. Our table was off in a corner near
the private dining area. The traffic area seemed to go right through the center where the service areas are, and
we bumped a few tray-carrying waiters while being seated. after that we used the other entrance. The tables
were beautifully set and always had fresh flowers. The menus were varied and interesting, tasty and beautifully
presented. Andrei arranged to serve us those jumbo jumbo shrimp cocktails one evening. I couldn't resist double
appetizers and desserts (I guess I ordered an extra four pounds' worth).

Buffets: The food at the Lido Restaurant was plentiful and tasty (nice variety of beverages, and sodas available
for purchase). We did not experience any long lines or hang-ups, and it was always easy to find a table, as the
wait staff promptly cleared off vacated tables. There was a menu available at the end of the line, and they had
the main dining room menu posted for comparison. We had trouble with some of the attendants' not being able
to understand or speak English, and a few seemed to have and attitude problem. Jim asked for two hard-cooked
eggs, which were on the menu. The attendant replied, 'NO!'. Then Jim asked for one hard-cooked egg, and was
answered, 'NO EGGS'. Then he asked if the attendant would go get him some eggs, to which he replied, 'NO
EGGS FOR YOU...NEXT'. I was next in line and pretended not to be with Jim. We call him the Egg Nazi (Can you
tell we're big Seinfeld fans?).

Showroom: The Admiral's Lounge seemed to be roomy enough, but many of the first sitting guests showed up for
the second sitting show, so it was a little crowded. The only bad seats were upstairs, along the wall in the
Tasman Lounge (balcony area). This room was also used for the larger indoor activities like bingo, excursion
talks, etc. We always got a pretty good seat, and did not see any seat-saving.

Shops: The Noordam has three boutiques, one for clothing, one for jewelry and one for sundries, small
souvenirs, liquor and cigars. All were well-stocked and had tables of special merchandise and markdowns in the
hall. Paula, the ship jewelry expert, gave a very informative talk about gemstones, and had some beautiful
samples from the Oceaan Jewelry Boutique.

Casino: The casino was fully equipped, but not very busy this week. Numerous gambling contests were run to
create interest, even a fleet-wide slots contest. I had a wonderful time at the craps table and met a terrific lady
who taught me all there is to know about roulette (and getting the center chair is a big plus).

Entertainment: Cruise Director Dave Shermet and the Cruise Staff opened the ship's entertainment program with
music, comedy and more about cruising. It was almost more like a talk than a show. The best act was Mark
Merchant and his three buddies and a stool. Don't miss him. He is a most talented 'Voice Manipulator with
Multiple Personalities' whose carefully adjusted (for the young'ns) routine kept us in stiches the whole time.
Comedy juggler David Deeble was funny, but I missed Doug Mattocks' Humor with Strings Attached. The
Noordam cast did 'Birth of the Blues' and 'Broadway Bound' which I also missed but heard were good. In lieu of a
show, one night there was a 'Tropical Deck Party' with music, fun, games and dancing under the stars. Some of
the less inhibited passengers got together a great group and gave us 'The Rockin' Rolldies Lip Sync Show'.

Excursions: The Noordam offered 29 tours from 1 to 10 hours in length, ranging from $24.00 to $429.00 per
person. In Guatemala there were only 4 tours, and only 1 under $100.00. You can see the list on my excursions
page. The bad news was that the first stop at Grand Cayman was cancelled due to bad weather, but the good
news was...Three full days at sea.

Grand Cayman: Due to rough seas the Noordam was denied an anchorage and this port was skipped.

Santo Tomas, Guatemala: Not a memorable port. As you step off the ship you walk past open trash bins as they
are picked over by some of the inhabitants. You pass the armed guards, are approached by small children
begging for dollars, and arrive at a small square where the locals sell craft items of limited variety. No water, food
or phones are available. The excursions offered are very expensive, but on shore you can boat a short distance
over to the Best Western Hotel for a change of pace. There is also some kind of hike offered, but I have no
details.

Cozumel: Our Tulum trip was quite long, and when we arrived back at the Noordam we had dinner at the Lido
and had about an hour or so to get into town and shop. I'd recommend eating in town next time. I did discover
Los Cinco Soles, a variety shop that had truly cheap prices and wonderful goods. This is a port with wonderful
things to do, and you'd need a couple of days in port to really see it all. It's worth going back for the
snorkeling/diving alone!

Ship Activities: The usual shipboard activities were organized; Snowball Bingo (cash only), horseraces, golf
tourney (Jim won again), shuffleboard, volleyball, ping pong (too wet on deck), pool games, Scattergories, Team
Trivia (our team, The Smokers, did not do too well, but had great fun!), The Match Game, Not So Newlywed
Game, Sherlock Holmes Musical Murder Mystery and more. There were also Excursion and Shopping talks,
which I found informative (Debbie really knows her shops!) Captain Leo van Lanschot Hubrecht hosted a
Welcome Aboard Champagne reception on the first night at sea (formal, of course). Ed Sheldrake, The Manila
Quartet, and The Champagne Strings entertained us with music and Michael Deejayed the night away. After
dinner we enjoyed Cognac & Cigars Under the Stars. You certainly can't do it all, but there's no excuse for being
bored.

Staff: Generally the staff was courteous and always available. Some of the stewards/servers did not speak
English very well, but I just heard Holland America has stepped up English language training for its Indonesian
and Filipino staffs. Our Cruise Director, Dave Shermet, did a fine job, even though he was down with the flu for
several days. His staff was very energetic and covered all the bases like troopers. Our cabin steward, Eddie,
kept the cabin neat & clean always, and met every request promptly. In the dining room, Yan, our waiter and his
assistant were very efficient and personable. Andrei, our charming dining room supervisor, spent a lot of time
with us, and was very informative about HAL in general, the different ports and other things, and made a mean
flambé. Rocky, the wine steward was funny. He was always smiling and had some interesting comment to make.
(He is the first wine steward that did not turn his nose up at us because we drink non-alcoholic stuff...big tip!)

Motion: Even though we were haunted by El Niño, we had relatively calm seas. The stabilizers made the entire
trip smooth and comfortable. The slightly perceptible motion was just enough to rock you to sleep at night The
ferry ride from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen is where some people got sick.

Disembarkation: We left the cabin by 9:00 am and had plenty of time for breakfast in the Lido. Disembarkation
numbers were issued according to flight time, and was organized in HAL's usually efficient way, and luggage was
very easily found. Since we made our own air arrangements, we didn't have to wait for HAL's transfers or
anything...just grabbed a cab and were outtathere.

Final Thoughts: Despite the little cabin, the missed port and the awful port, HAL really did give us a nice cruise.
Everything else was as expected. We were pampered and spoiled by a wonderful crew, and really did have a
terrific time. Our next cruise will probably be on the new Volendam if it's ready on time (I've already chosen the
perfect cabin).

Name: Kitty Park
Email: rpark@neo.rr.com
Age: 57
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: April 18-May 4, 1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal Transit
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 93
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 69
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 93
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 93
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 May 1999
Time: 10:42:30
Remote Name: c3-1e164.neo.rr.com
Remote User:

Comments

Holland America – Noordam April 18 – May 4, 1999 Panama Canal Transit (Ft. Lauderdale-San Francisco)

Preface

I am an over-55 widowed female. I have cruised before, but this was my first experience traveling solo. In order to
trim expenses, I booked as a single in HAL’s share program wherein I would be paired with another single female to
share a cabin or, if none were available, I’d have a cabin to myself but at a lower-than-single fare.

This 16-day cruise was port intensive. Although many people take a cruise to rest, it was to be my opportunity to
visit several Mexican/Central American communities I may not otherwise see.

HAL is reputed to have a broad base of “older” clients. Now I can confirm that, at least on this particular cruise, that
statement is true. I attribute the preponderance of senior cruisers to the fact that our itinerary (the Panama Canal
vs. a destination with more “fun stuff” to do; i.e., Caribbean islands), length of the cruise (over 7 days) and time of
year (schools were in session) would not meet the younger cruisers’ criteria. I estimate that 80% of the passengers
were between 60 and 85 years old. I have never, ever seen so many canes, walkers and wheelchairs in one place! I
admire these folks who don’t let the infirmities of age disrupt their enjoyment of life. Although there were a few who
early on established reputations as being cranky, most were carefree and enjoyable to be with.

Cabin Share Program

I have found very little written about cabin sharing, which should be done for one reason only: to trim expenses.
Generally speaking, sharers are comfortable being alone and enjoy their travel freedom. They are “put off” by
well-meaning people who feel compelled to include the single in their activities. There were a number of singles on
this cruise. In fact, four of us were assigned to the same first-seating dinner table.

I was fortunate in that I was paired with Betty, an active, enthusiastic 81 year old. Even though she has walked with a
cane since her knee surgery, she was active throughout the cruise. Although we often found ourselves attending
the same activity, we never planned ahead to meet there nor did we continue on together after the event was
finished. But each morning we’d talk for a few minutes after awaking. And generally we’d talk again as we got ready
for bed. I truly enjoyed my first share experience and won’t hesitate to share again if I am unable to recruit a friend
as a travel companion.

Pre- and Post-Cruise Transportation

The flight from Ohio to Ft. Lauderdale was routine. The Noordam was scheduled to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale about
8:00 the morning of our afternoon sailing. Unfortunately she was 4 hours late. Before we could board, the ship had
to clear customs, have baggage off-loaded, and passengers disbursed. The ship also had to be prepared for 1,200
or so new passengers. There was also a surprise health inspection which delayed boarding.

Several hundred of us were "entertained" at a nearby hotel while the ship was readied. Shortly before 3:00, buses
began shuttling us to the pier for processing. Then, like cattle, we milled around in the terminal. The upstairs waiting
area was filled beyond capacity; so the overflow stood elbow to elbow, belly to butt waiting for permission to proceed
to the second floor. I was finally in my cabin at 5:30. We began our cruise around 8:00 that evening.

Thankfully, our arrival in San Francisco 16 days later was on time and, outside of the normal delay in disembarking
until we were approved by customs, etc., uneventful. The shuttle to the airport and flight home were equally ho-hum.

The Ship

The Noordam is 15 years old and her age occasionally shows. Many windows are no longer clear and some window
trim is corroded. However, the décor was tasteful. Furniture and carpeting did not show wear. Pads on the deck
chairs and lounges pool-side were new. Cabin curtains and bedspreads were fresh. The ship was clean and the
crew was always working to maintain this shine.

The Cabin

Our cabin (#300, Main Deck) had twin beds, a chair, long vanity counter, two closets and sufficient drawer space.
The bathroom was small but adequate. Our steward, as I’ve grown to expect on HAL, changed our towels frequently.
Iwa was efficient, polite and always cheerful.

Our cabin was the first one forward, port side. It was very spacious. But as the days passed, I regretted this
assignment. Right outside our door were two “staff only” doors. In a matter of hours I found that nearly every person
to use those doors also allowed them to slam shut. Also, the ice machine for our corridor was across the hall from
our cabin. Fortunately, silence fell in the hallway by midnight and lasted until 6 AM or so. Even the crew had to
sleep!

I have also gained first-hand experience regarding why midship cabins are preferred. We had two rough evenings at
sea. Planning the route from one side of the cabin to the other (and timing the move) was a necessity as the
Noordam pitched up and down. The exhilaration of feeling like I was on a roller coaster became the miserable
actuality of seasickness. NOTE: The Noordam provided Meclizine at the front desk at no cost.

Our cabin location also seemed to be immediately over a thruster. As I understand it, the thrusters maneuver the
ship sideways, to move up to or away from dock. When in use, sleep is impossible. Conversation is difficult.

I do not recall hearing excessive noise in the public areas of the ship. Vibration seemed to be continual, but it was
not irritating, just a part of the cruise experience.

Dining: Food, Service, Tablemates

Menu choices were abundant and described in such a way that making a decision required thought. Presentation
was interesting and the food was prepared to most of our table’s liking. (I confess that I overindulged in the rich food
and desserts at dinner the first week and was reduced to eating clear broth, rice and dry toast by the end of the
cruise.)

Our wait staff supervisor, Johnny, was attentive without being intrusive. He frequently helped bus when clearing for
the next course slowed. Our waiter, Permanen, and assistant waiter, Tamba, were capable and friendly. Poor Eddy,
the wine steward, was pleasant enough, but he seemed somewhat befuddled.

We had a mixed group at our table for ten: 3 couples, 3 single women, and a single man. We got along well, and
conversation was always lively and enjoyable.

I visited the Lido Restaurant or grille for midday 'snacks.' Food here, too, was tasty. Although several entrees were
available, I usually had only a cup of soup and a few bites of the prepared salads. (Okay, I occasionally sampled a
small dessert, too. They were 'simply irresistible.')

On-Board Activities and Entertainment

Even when the entire day was spent at sea, there were more activities than a person could participate in. There was
bingo, bridge, pool-side activities, demonstrations, and group games such as scattergories and trivia.

Nightly entertainment in the Admiral’s Lounge during the cruise included five shows by the ship’s talented cast of
singers/dancers. Yvette, the cruise director, and her staff occasionally treated us to short, humorous pre-show
programs. Guest entertainers were Ian Finkel, Renato Pagiliari, Richie Minervini, Bruce Block, Ken and Casey, Peter
Mezoian, Kirby St. Romain and Jan Downs. And, of course, as is the HAL custom, we were also entertained on two
evenings by the Indonesian and Filipino staffs. Sight lines in the Admiral’s Lounge are much better than in some of
HAL’s newer ships, and the seats, which were very comfortable, were always filled for the shows.

Shore Excursions

Since excursion options are presented in a booklet that comes with the cruise documents, it is possible to make
selections before sailing and simply complete the excursion form on board once it’s available. Rarely was an activity
sold out since the most popular venues had several time slots available. The Shore Excursion Presentation and Port
Lectures that I attended were very informative.

Port of Call 1 – Half Moon Cay

This is HAL’s private island and passengers were tendered to the island to snorkel or enjoy the white sand beach. I
stayed on board to admire the scenery from a deck chair.

Port of Call 2 – Cartegena, Colombia

The trip to La Popa (monastery) presents the best view of the city. The swarms of street vendors can be turned
away with the firm but polite words, 'No, gracias.' A sense of humor will aid immeasurably in tolerating their
persistence. Caveats: If you intend to purchase emeralds while in Cartegena, be sure to research costs at home
before your cruise. Second, in some instances those T-shirts sold by the street vendors will shrink to the size of a
teabag when washed. (Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point.)

Panama Canal

The Canal seemed so benign as we passed through it. I had read 'The Path Between the Seas' by David G.
McCullough so I was aware of the tremendous problems that were overcome to build the Canal. It is truly an
engineering wonder.

Port of Call 3 – Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

I selected the Tikal excursion. We were taken by school bus to the army’s airfield where we boarded a 737 for a
one-hour flight followed by a one-hour bus ride to Tikal. This was the most memorable excursion of the cruise. Most
ruins have been restored (and some left half-restored so the visitor can imagine what the area must have looked
like before reclaimation). If you have the stamina, climb Temple II, if for no other reason than to say you did!
CAVEAT: The walk is published as 5K. Although it’s relatively flat ground, it is not a 'walk in the park.' We were
fortunate to have a breeze. But the sun was directly overhead, and as midday approached, I was happy that our
trek was about to end and not just beginning. Although long sleeves and trousers are suggested (insects), I was
comfortable in shorts and a short-sleeved top. A hat would also be beneficial. Need I mention sturdy walking shoes?
There were no bugs.

Port of Call 4 – Huatulco, Mexico

This town is becoming a popular tourist resort because of its several secluded beaches. Since the seas were
choppy and passengers had to be tendered ashore, I elected to stay on the ship and found a deck chair in which to
take a nap.

Port of Call 5 – Acapulco

Acapulco is definitely a 'get up and go' city. For me, one visit was enough.

The day’s excursion began with a stop to see the cliff divers at La Quebrada. In order to entertain tourists outside
the regular scheduled dive times, men are hired to perform. As a result there were at least 4 dives – 2 or 3 single
divers, two divers together and finally, three together. Chairs were placed along the walls so that each of us had a
seat and unobstructed view. We had a few minutes to shop for silver at a Taxco shop and then we headed out of
town on a scenic drive. The bus stopped at Senor Frog’s for a view of the bay, refreshments and an(other)
opportunity to buy souvenirs. Then we reboarded the bus to continue our drive and to stop for a short walk at the
Princess Hotel before returning to the ship.

Port of Call 6 – Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Zihuatanejo is a sleepy fishing village. Tours to Ixtapa, a resort town being developed 5 miles up the road, were
available, but I was more interested in seeing the 'town square' I had read about. As expected, some fellows were
shooting hoops. I also visited shops along the cobblestone walkway and then ambled to the flea market where I
walked through an unbelievable number of stalls selling Mexican memorabilia. I gave bargaining a try, and I think the
vendor and I both came away pleased. I enjoyed the day spent at a leisurely pace.

Port of Call 7 – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta is a pretty, unpretentious town. I recall the typically narrow, one-way, cobblestone streets. Sidewalks
are often elevated two to three feet to make walking possible on days torrential rains turn the streets into rivers.
Today’s excursion included the Church of Guadelupe; a drive out past Los Arcos, the rocks popular with snorklers;
Mismaloya Beach vista; a stop for refreshments and a return to town. I was disgruntled that the tour included three
stops for shopping, none of which was mentioned in the tour description.

Port of Call 8 – Cabo San Lucas

This was a most beautiful, unspoiled location if you find beauty in desert scenery. The ship anchored in the Bay and
tenders took passengers to shore. I took the 'Land’s End' excursion which included a glass-bottom boat ride out to
see the famous arch as well as to view colorful fish and visit the pelican rocks and sea lion colony. The rock
formations are striking. We then shuttled to a new condo development where we had refreshments and were able to
sit on terraces and look back across the bay. For those passengers who didn’t care to visit the town which is only a
10-minute walk from the tender dock, there was a large flea market at the pier.

Weather

Weather on this late-April cruise was sunny on all but one sea day when we had an afternoon rain. Seas were rough
on two evenings. Air temperatures between Cartagena and Cabo San Lucas were in the 80’s and humidity was low.
As we cruised north from Cabo toward San Francisco, winds picked up and the weather became quite chilly. I doubt
many people spent much time in deck chairs!

Summary

Although many people would feel there were too many ports of call, it was that fact alone which lured me to this
cruise at this time on this particular ship. Would I do this cruise again? Yes, for it met my expectations. Would I
recommend HAL? Yes. The food is well prepared and generous in portions, standards of service remain high,
several shore excursions are offered in each port, and the activities available on board are numerous and
entertaining.

Questions? Feel free to e-mail me at rpark@neo.rr.com

Kitty Park

Name: John Fales
Email: Whale001@aol.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Self
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: 4/18/99
Itinerary: Ft Lauderdale to San Fran
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 89
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 99
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 89
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 94
ShoreExcValue: 81
GoodForHoneymoon: 30
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 78
LoungeService: 91
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 91
OverallPortsofCall: 89
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 89
CruiseActivities: 87
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 96
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Jun 1999
Time: 10:02:26
Remote Name: spider-tf014.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

We have travel on all the major Cruise Lines until we came upon HAL. This was our 3rd trip on the Noordam and the
best. Unfortunately, we are still smokers and this ship accomdates us well and also the non-smokers. 3-cheers for
HAL.

The ship is very well maintained and continues maintance daily. The staff is friendly and helpful, but most important
they do not harass you and stay away until asked to do otherwise. Then they never forget what you want!

The ship layout is excellent, the promanade deck for viewing and walking off those meals, the design of the
Noordam, the decorations are fabulous. The food is fantastic, better each cruise. I have never had better food in
any resturant, never mind other ships. Both the dinning room and the Lido are equal, with the Lido having a lunch
buffet that is unequalled.

The rooms are clean and adequate. We were in a lower catagory and calm during rough seas.

I would recommend this iternary to all. 16 day, so relaxing, the ports are so varied, even Guatamalla was better,
Mexico was fun.

Name: Doug Stark
Email: dstark@img.net
Age: 51
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: July 2, 1999
Itinerary: Vancouver-Seward-Vancouver
Cabin: 446/Outside, Cat. E
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 75
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Jul 1999
Time: 18:13:43
Remote Name: 207.102.213.36
Remote User:

Comments

Ours was a double cruise, Vancouver-Seward-back to Vancouver, 14 days instead of the usual one-way 7 day
cruises. We had the time, the price was right, so why not? We cruised Vancouver to Seward last summer on Sky
Princess so we have a good basis for comparison. What follows is partly a comparison between Princess and HAL.
The Noordam is the same age as Sky Princess, both launched in 1984. Sky Princess is a much better ship.
Noordam has the annoying vibration that I read of in other reviews. It is most noticed in calm waters and is
strongest aft.

The ship shows its age. The carpet in our cabin was stained as was the carpet outside our cabin. A
plumbing problem wiped-out the inside cabin just across from us. The shower and bathroom area has mildew on
the grouting. Our cabin was not what I would consider a large cabin. The beds were at right angles to each other,
a space saver. Sky Princess has much larger standard cabins. There was only one chair in the cabin so if my wife
and I wanted to watch TV one of us had to sit on the bed. As all HAL ships, the Noordam has a walk-around
promenade deck. This is a good and well-used feature. Sky does not. Deck space was always plentiful, even when
people crowded outside to see the glaciers.

The ship has several other strengths. The food and its presentation
was excellent. The dining room was also good for breakfast and lunch even though the waiters would not be
tipped. By the way, HAL's tipping not required policy is a crock. The service staff certainly expect it. I prefer
Princess' policy of adding 15% to the bar and wine bill. That way each individual waiter gets tipped. On a HAL ship
I felt obligated to go to the same waiter each time as I was not about to run around tipping each and every person
who had served us a drink (hoping not to forget someone). The entertainment was okay. The production numbers
were done with energy but did not compare to Princess. All the comedians stuck to safe routines without using
crude jokes or foul language. Not quite the Vegas style and yet probably a good thing considering the older
crowd. Another plus was almost no kids.

I'm a teacher and the last thing I want on a cruise is a hord of the critters I
spend 10 months with. This was a big plus with HAL and better than Princess. The library was poor. It was also
hard to find a quiet place to curl-up with a book. The ship is only 33,000 tons so something had to give. Sky has a
beautiful and much bigger reading area. The Lido gets special mention. On Sky Princess the buffet lines are
outside. Noordam's buffets are inside. Since we had only 3 days out of 14 with good weather, Noordam has the
advantage here. The eating area on Noordam is also much bigger with a larger variety of food than Sky. It did not
have an omlette bar for breakfast as Sky does. Score one more for Princess. The overall winner on Noordam,
hovever, was the casino (and me). The casino is much, much better on Noordam than Sky Princess. The dealers
are young, attractive, and personable. I am a gambler so this was very important to me. I played many hours of
blackjack and had good success. Dealer stays on all 17's and splittin and resplitting up to 4 times is permitted. A
standard 6-deck shoe is used but that was no surprise. I also won their slot tournament which increased my profits
by $500 USD. This was the best feature on the ship. In summary we had many good experiences and an overall
good time. I said in my opinion survey to HAL that I would certainly travel HAL again but not on this ship. It's old
and does not compare to the more modern ships. There is not excuse for the carpet and mildew problems.
Although Sky Princess is the same age it is much better maintained. Our next cruise looks like the Panama Canal
and Princess.

Name: D. K. (Dave) Van Wagenen
Email: dvanwagenen@email.com
Age: 57
Occupation: Computer Programmer / Anaylst
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: 11-20-1999
Itinerary: Westbound Panama Canal
Cabin: 893
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 30
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 25
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 70
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 70
TenderService: 50
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 75
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 50
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 70
EmbarkDisembark: 50
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 50
OverallCruiseValue: 50
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Feb 2000
Time: 12:33:26
Remote Name: 1cust41.tnt5.tacoma.wa.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was my second cruise on the MS Noordam and it was nothing like the first. I would have given
the first cruise, a 7-day to Alaska an overall rating between 85 and 95; while this one gets between
a 50 and 70. It started badly when the ground staff in Ft. Lauderdale took us 45 minutes out of the
way to deliver a single passenger to a different hotel. It ended with the on-board airline
representative changed our confirmed seat assignments from adjoining seats to different rows and
seats. The cabin & dining room stewards were outstanding; but during this 10-day cruise I was told
at least four times ‘it is not my job’. I heard this from the Air Conditioning Supervisor, the Shore
Excursion staff, the Purser’s office and the ‘Food & Beverage Manager’, see attached letter. The
hotel staff worked very hard to correct the room problems. They found us a fan and extension cord
to use it. They had housekeeping shampoo the carpet in the cabin a couple of times, to remove the
smell. I enjoyed our shore excursions with a couple of exceptions. Thanks to the intervention of the
Hotel Manager Mr. David Quibell our shore excursion in Costa Rica wasn’t a disaster. Our Corobici
River Float Tour was cancelled because of weather problems and the shore excursion staff refused
to add us to the waiting lists for any of the other excursions at the same date and time we originally
signed up. Mr. Quibell’s intervention allowed us to get on the Tropical Mangrove Cruise. The shore
excursion in Santa Cruz Hautulco was delayed so long by the tender service that we didn’t have time
to visit La Crucesita. The selection of food in the main dining room was good, and even better in the
Lido Restaurant. I will cruise again in the near future, but it will be some time before I earn my
membership in Holland America’s Admirals Club.

Mr. David Quibell Hotel Manager MS Noordam

Sir;

This is my version of an incident with your Food & Beverage Manager, Gerald Zagler on November
22, 1999. First. I apologize for rising, my voice to, Mr. Zagler in public area. That said he was
completely out of line, and I expect a written reprimand be added to his personnel file.

Our confrontation began when another passenger asked Mr. Zagler, “Who was responsible for us
standing in line to turn in our Passports”. This was after having our 11-21-99 appointments for this
farce cancelled. Mr. Zagler’s response was something to the affect I’m the Food & Beverage
Manager it’s not my job. At this point I asked Mr. Zagler what his job was if it wasn’t customer
service. Mr. Zagler then asked me, who I was to be questioning what and how he did his job. My
response was that I was a paying customer and I expected courtesy and service from all of the staff.
This exchange was repeated a couple of times escalating each time. Mr. Zagler then left the public
area and I followed to an office where I demanded his name and he called you.

A copy of this letter is going to my travel agent and will be posted on every Holland America Web
site I can find. I will also post your response.

D.K. (Dave) Van Wagenen Cabin 893

Back to Holland Noordam