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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Jeff Chidester
Email: chidester@mansell.net
Age: 45
Occupation: Real Estate
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: 3/14/98
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 88
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 88
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 92
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 97
OverallPortsofCall: 88
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 85
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 88
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Mar 1998
Time: 12:48:39
Remote Name: 206.71.88.14
Remote User:
Comments
As this was our first cruise, we looked forward to it. We had excellent weather and lots
of fun. We will definitely go on
another HAL cruise. The food was good, we did not have a bad meal all week. However, we
were expecting it to be
spectacular, so we were slightly disappointed. My wife could not get enough of the vanilla
ice cream.
Cruise Director Dave has a lot of enthusiasm and we swear he must never sleep. He seems to
be going at it from early
morning to late at night. The entertainment was much better than we had anticipated.
Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach is one of the nicest beaches I have been to. I did
experience curt salespeople in
Georgetown, however. Also, prices are very high.
Our stop in Guatemala was interesting. It is a very poor and dirty port. We hired a local
taxi to take us to the Mayan
ruins. The drivers in Guatemala seem to have a death wish.
Cozumel was the best stop of the cruise. The water was as nice as Grand Cayman and the
shopping was better. The
people were much nicer and prices were more reasonable.
The staff and the crew were all extremely polite and very helpful. We did experience quite
a bit of movement on the ship,
but since we have not been on another cruise, we have nothing to compare it to.
Overall, this was one of our best vacations. Not perfect, but we had a wonderful time.
Name: Jan A. Fulks
Email: jfulks@aol.com
Age: 45
Occupation: IT Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: 10/16/98
Itinerary: Grand Cayman, Guatemala, Cozumel
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Oct 1998
Time: 20:05:11
Remote Name: 152.163.205.62
Remote User:
Comments
All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise, with Holland America, on the Noordam.
Although
we had one very rough day at sea, the week went by much too quickly. The service and food
aboard was top-notch, with the dining room staff especially good. They truly seemed to
take an
interest in making sure that everything was right the first time. The ship itself was kept
immaculate. The only question that we have is whether Santa Tomas de Castillo should be
included on the iternary. The port itself is ugly, with literally nothing except a local
market for
those who wish to stay close to the ship. The shore excursions to Tikal and Copan were
unfortunately tied to air travel and therefore prohibatively pricey 350 - 450 per person.
My
suggestion is that if you wish to see these sites find some other means of getting there.
We are already planning our next cruise, and chances are it will be with Holland America.
Name: John Morgan
Email: JMorgan742@aol.com
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: Oct 31, 1998
Itinerary: Tampa/Grand Cayman/Jamica/Mexico
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall:
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 89
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 89
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 91
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Nov 1998
Time: 16:52:59
Remote Name: 171.208.48.147
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise on HAL, but our fourth cruise in total. We consider it to have
been the
best so far. We had read previous passengers comments before we departed and found them to
be valuable. It was our experience that the vibration refereed to in the previous comments
exists
at all times and must be connected to one of the ships mechanical systems in some way.
Seated
in the explorer lounge while in port you can clearly feel a steady vibration reoccurring
every
second. Previous comments about the taste of the Lido coffee has been corrected. Quality
was
good and we didn’t notice any taste difference between the Lido and the Main Dinning
Room.
The Captain communicated information over the PA system on a regular and as needed basis.
CNN World News is on the cabin TV’s. As we were in the area of Hurricane Mitch we
kept a close
watch on it’s movement and encountered some of it’s thunderstorms and sea
conditions. It was
reassuring to know the Captain’s plans and how the conditions were expected to effect
us. The
ship provided us a very stable ride, much smoother than we’ve had on other vessels
under similar
sea conditions. We encountered 20-25 foot sea’s one night. Our cabin was on the Sun
deck.
Later we found others on lower decks described a better ride. The ships movements tend to
be
greater the higher up you are.
While cruising we discussed the previous passengers observations and decided we
hadn’t found
anything to actually complain about. Our biggest inconvenience was getting to our cabin.
Sun
Deck is served by one elevator forward and a bank of 2 in mid-ship. One of the 2 was being
repaired and did not operate the entire trip. At times of peak usage such as meals and/or
shore
departures/arrivals the one mid-ship elevator tended to be tied up shuttling between lower
decks
causing us to either walk to the forward elevator or take another elevator to the
Navigation Deck
and walk up the remaining flight of stairs to the Sun Deck.
We found the ships Photographer to be intrusive. Just about everything was a photo
opportunity.
You were expected to stop and pose for his picture when ever he was working. This included
trivial things like stepping ashore in Grand Cayman, touring the ships kitchen, and
waiting in line
for the Captains reception.
Our Cabin Steward kept the room in great condition the whole trip. He would make up the
room
while we were at breakfast and freshen it again when we went out in the evening. In
between
these times however he was not present. We located the ice machine and helped ourselves as
needed and his absence was not a problem, just different than our prior cruising
experience.
We were impressed with the open space to play cards, etc. Some of these were in lounge
areas.
The staff acknowledged us and offered drinks. After their first visit to our table they
didn’t
reappear unless they were asked to and didn’t make you feel uncomfortable being in
the room.
We found all staff members to be helpful and courteous. They all seemed to be in good
sprits and
happy with what they were doing.
As with all cruises dinning was an experience. The food was very good, prepared to your
desire.
It seemed that each evening there was at least two of our favorites on the menu.
Decisions,
decisions, decisions. It’s hard to decide when you have the choice between Prime Rib
or Crab
Legs. Service was very good. Sample or extra portions were provided gladly.
We had two formal dress evenings, one informal, and the rest were leisure attire. Some
people
enjoyed the formal evenings and wore Tux, White Coats, Gowns, etc. While this standard of
attire went with this ship we’d preferred a more casual attire.
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