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Name: Marie Berntsen
Email: MBERNTSEN@prodigy.net
Age: 38
Occupation: rn
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Noordam
SailingDate: 3/7/98
Itinerary: grand cayman, guatemala, cozumel
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Mar 1998
Time: 12:36:53
Remote Name: 129.37.89.177
Remote User:
Comments
We were reluctant to cruise HAL because of their reputation for catering to the 'older'
generation. Granted the majority of the passengers were
older but it was a very good mix of age groups. Several families with infants, maybe a
dozen or so preteens, strong showing of baby boomers
without children. Unlike other cruise lines where the twenty-something group takes over
the whole pool deck, there was ample space to find a piece
of sun most of the time.
The dining room staff was unobtrusive, friendly enough but did not try to become our 'best
friends' for seven days,-- perhaps because of the
no-tipping required policy? Food variety was adequate although it appears that some of the
same foods were recycled in different forms. The Lido
deck provided adequate lunchtime fare, burgers,franks,etc.
The cabin walls were very thin, conversations can easily be heard. We had an inside cabin
for the first time and it sounded as if there were a bowling
alley (or conveyor belt) on the other side of our inside wall. It was also difficult to
regulate the temperature in our cabin. Sizewise, the cabin was
more than adequate, plentiful storage space, lots of mirrors. Bathroom was a typical ship
bathroom, very clean and new looking.
As far as the itinerary goes, I agree with previous opinions....what the heck are they
doing in Guatemala?? The port is poor, rundown unattractive.
Was the Guatemala Naval Base off to the side? Pity if it was. I observed some poor
unfortunate souls rummaging through a dumptruck load of
kitchen waste from the ship. It was almost embarrassing to be there. The shore excursions
are expensive, it was recommended that passengers not
explore independently. We heard reports of soldiers with machine guns on the street
corners. As it was a cool rainy day, we opted to stay aboard
and enjoy the ship. Is HAL working with the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce to bring in
some tourism? If so, what's in it for them? I don't
recommend this itinerary.
Entertainment--as with most ships there is not enough seating in the lounge for the
audience. Lots of obstructed or absent view. The cruise
entertainment staff is typical..lots of energy. The guest entertainers were okay.
We had very rough seas and high winds courtesy of 'el nino' I suppose. But all in all a
very enjoyable cruise.
Embarkation-Disembarkation--the smoothest I have ever encountered. Port of Tampa has a
large comfortable waiting area, a numerical process that
eliminates all those long lines like those in Miami. The disembarkation was run about the
same way. Everyone off the ship by 10 am. A word of
caution--if you need to rent a car in Tampa don't do it at the shore excursion desk. You
save no money. We were lucky we got a car, some folks
reserved the car but when they got to the rental agency the lines were 2 hours plus long!
The agency already had the money so they were stuck!
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