 |
 |
|
Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Ann & Paul Eschenfelder
Email: eschenfelder@compuserve.com
Age: 49
Occupation: real estate broker/airline employee
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: Dec 27, 1998-Jan 3,1999
Itinerary: eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 96
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Jan 1999
Time: 17:20:40
Remote Name: 199.174.250.142
Remote User:
Comments
The instant impression of all Holland American ships is that someone is always cleaning
and the Veendam is
no exception. Of course with the upscale furnishings of the public rooms they would want
to keep it pristine and it
is. The Dutch are obsessed with punctuality - when they say lifeboat drill at 4:30, they
don't mean 4:35. Likewise
when they say we sail at 5:00, don't be pulling up on the pier at 4:55 because you will
have to jump for it. The
eastern Caribbean was our route of choice as it allows over three full days at sea. My
wife needed serious
relaxing time from her job and this did the trick. While there are plenty of onboard
activities, from a movie theater
to inroom movies, the usual cruise games of bingo, horseracing, etc., the casino, the two
pools, the spa, the
workout room, the library, the cardroom, all have activities. We did none of them. We
found a deck chair, hers by
the pool in the sun, his on the promenade deck in the shade, and did nothing. It was
wonderful. Just the facts:
There were over 180 children on board as this was a holiday cruise and there were numerous
families of 3
generations. The cruise staff had 4 staffers that did nothing but kids, and seemed to keep
them busy. This was a
younger crowd than usual on HAL, with more families. The usual HAL crowd is a little
older, but that doesn't
mean dead. Perhaps mature is a better word, they don't feel they have to 'party' from
sunrise to midnight. The
ports of call were: St. Martin, St. John's/St. Thomas, HAL's private island. About St.
Martin: the island infrastructure
has fairly well recovered from the 2 hurricanes back-to-back of 2 years ago (obvious by
the traffic jams) but many
of the smaller establishments have not yet rebuilt. Mullet Bay is a good example. A
perfect beach (the only one
usable during our visit due to high surf) but the storms absolutely wiped out the beach
bar and restaurant. The
golf resort condos are still boarded up but the course is open if somewhat rough(no pun
intended). St. Thomas
is pretty much its usual shopping bonanza self. Half Moon Cay, the private island, has a
pretty beach and a nice
setup for a day ashore. Unfortunately some of the locals hired by HAL as beach staff are
'undertrained' in
manners and customer relations.
The ship: our cabin was a lower deck, inside. It was great. Quiet and dark, it was a
wonderful retreat. Veendam's
cabins are large, with queen size bed and couch, dressing table, chair & table. They
are the same size as the
outside cabins but considerably cheaper. If you need to look outside, turn on the TV to
the bridge channel and the
bridge camera will show you the weather.\ The food,as usual, was excellent. The casual
afternoon meal by the
pool was always good, their hamburgers are top quality. Alternate evening dining on the
Veendam consists of a
7-8:30pm window in the Lido. The diner selects his salad & appetizer from the buffet
and orders an entree as in
the dining room. It is served to your table in the Lido. Hardly as intimate as some of the
bistros on NCL, but still
an alternate. It did not appear much used. The beauty salon and spa were staffed by
British girls who my wife
rated topnotch after her 3 massages during the week. The gym/workout area is extraordinary
with free weights,
exercycles, treadmills, stairsteppers, juice bar. Although the ship was booked absolutely
full, it never gave the
impression of being crowded, although you needed to get your deck chair by the pool fairly
early. Entertainment in
the show lounge has never been a HAL highlight and it still remains average at best. The
'star' acts don't have
much sizzle and the shows are only so-so. However, the lounge acts aim to please: mostly
Filipino musicians
know every song and aim to please: dance music from any era, singers, quiet piano bar. The
main bar received
ESPN at see so some fans were able to see bowl games and root for their team.
Our only real negative: the last night out our toilet quit. We called the desk and were
told it was 'a ship-wide
problem'. By morning it still wasn't fixed. The short story: it was only our area of
cabins and nobody wanted to do
anything as they were 'busy'. After a morning complaint to the guest relations manager,
the toilet suddenly
worked.
Our summation: we will be back. Been on 4 cruise lines and HAL is still the best.
Name: Rod Ellison
Email: rellison@gate.net
Age: 32
Occupation: Programmer Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: January 31st, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 70
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 50
CabinAmenities: 75
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 40
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 50
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Feb 1999
Time: 23:32:30
Remote Name: 199.227.5.196
Remote User:
Comments
On January 31st 1999, my family (2 parents ages 50+, 4 Brothers and sisters ages 21 - 31,
and myself/girlfriend
ages 32 and 33) embarked on MS Veendam's Western Caribbean cruise. As this cruise line is
listed as '5 star',
our expectations were high. While overall, most of us had fun on the trip, there was
degree of disappointment.
The Western Carribean's itinerary consists of Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Half Moon
Cay private
island, and 2 days at sea.
Our group (being fairly young by Cruise standards, but not immature) spent a decent amount
of time on the
LIDO deck where both pools are. While the decks and pool areas are clean and pleasant to
relax on, we noticed
it was next to IMPOSSIBLE to obtain any service (drinks, food, etc.) In addition, music is
almost non-existent past
3pm. Food is served in the LIDO hall at strict intervals, breakfast ending at 10:30 and
Lunch ending fairly
abruptly at 1pm. LIDO deck restaraunt breakfast and lunchs had a nice amount of variety.
We enjoyed the food
here but found ourselves racing to beat the clock. Because of the strict timeframes, a
long line was always
present. Our favorite Lunch spot was the burger shack located by the Indoor LIDO pool.
Also always crowded,
but they have great burgers and kabobs. This was the only spot with liberal hours usually
from 1-5pm for lunch.
Dinner is also served in the LIDO restaraunt with nice variety and we opted out of the
more formal Rotterdam
dining room on more than one occasion. The Rotterdam dining room was fantastic in
appearance. The menu
was also decent as well but had VERY limited choice for Vegetarians (my girlfriend's only
choice was a 1-option
unelegant veggie dinner). Food presentation was excellent, but many of the dinners were
very bland. Wine was
extremely overpriced ( our favorite $7 bottle was $20...). Deserts were exceptional and we
totally enjoyed the
flambee which seemed to be the specialty.
Food aside, the Ports of Call were exciting. Some of us took the (overpriced $64per
person) tour of the Tulum
ruins. They are a fantastic site. The rest opted for scooters in Cozumel. Those that took
the Tulum tour had to
'endure' a fairly grouling 30minute channel crossing between Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel.
This stop is
probably the best stop on the itinerary but was extremely too short (just 8am til 1pm).
Grand Cayman was next
with excellent snorkeling but we found it WAY OVERPRICED. Unfortunalty, the rate of
exchange hurts (we
purchased 3 6-packs of Bud light for $56 dollars, ouch!). Ocho Rios (Dunns River Falls) is
a fantastic site, but
DONT take the tour. Get off the ship and take the cab, its only 2 miles. The haggling for
cab fare (especially with
a group as large as ours was a little daunting, many of the older passengers don't opt to
get off the boat at this
port of call... We did, and haggling aside, found the Jamaicans generally friendly people.
Those at the FALLS
were extremely nice and happy for our tourism. Afterwords, our Cabbie took our group to
Jamaica Inn, a private
beach 5 miles from the port. We had a suprising amount of fun and relaxation here. Our
cabbie was PROMPT at
picking us up at the predetermined time as well. Half Moon Cay is Holland Americas stop
for a private island for
the day. The scenery is incredible with some of the best beach we've seen.
For each visit, the maximum stay did not extend past 4pm, a disappointment to our group.
Here's a breakdown of our groups review:
Positives: The itinerary was excellent, hitting all the best spots in the Western
Carribean Rooms are kept very
tidy. The stewards work magic while you are out. The shows are fun, not the best, but a
good diversion. The
Wajangg theater was showing some good movies and was always relaxing. Most of us had alot
of fun in the
casino.. no complaints here but it seemed like the times HAL offered better odds (slots
offering double payouts)
occured only during the hours allocated to excursions and ports of call where most get off
the boat. Usually no
problem to get a table outside for lunch. Chairs seemed always available.
Negatives: Our table in the Rotterdam dining room lacked sufficient Air conditioning for 3
nights!. Combined with
formal night in suits, many of us got seasick! My biggest complaint - due to seasickness,
some were forced to
retreat to our rooms at the beginning of dinner. When ordering room service (from the
ROtterdam menu, which is
valid while it's open), the front office person proceeded to ARGUE with us stating we
could'nt do that. We found
this most RUDE (definately not characteristic of a '5 star' cruiseline. The Veendam did
NOT provide any service
so we could order drinks. in most cases we had to walk 50-100yards to a bar ourselves.
This cruise is called a
no-tip cruise, but we found that this also equates to no-tip/no service) Very limited live
ship board music (if a
band was playing, it ended by 3pm..) The Veendam was lax in its environmental awareness -
on 3 occasions, we
saw stewards combining the divided recycled trash into 1 receptical. The TOILETS WERE
UNAVAILABLE for
almost 12 hours in MANY CABINS and throughout the ship. THIS WAS NOT FUN! The ELEVATORS (4
in the
front and 4 in the rear) were broken down almost half the trip. At best, during peak
dinner times, many nights
there was only 1 elevator available at each end. The cruise charged at least $1.50 for a
pop and $1.50 plus for
bottled water. We found this very nickle and diming for a so called 5-star cruise. Next
biggest complaint - our
cruise was besieged by a convention of MAGNET SELLING PYRAMID schemers. There was not a
single day
when you did not overhear annoying discussion of how Magnet technology cured this or that
ailment (talk about
a captive audience!). We were told there was nothing that could be done by officials, in
fact, the cruise line threw
them a private party!
We found the cruise fun, but the negatives seemed to seriously outway and interupt our
perception of the '5 star'
treatment. We give this cruise a '3 Star' at best. This cruise is definately aimed at age
60+ wanting a quiet,
uneventful, no-frills cruise. Those of us under 40 found the cruise frustrating (rushed
ports of call, little or no
drink service, and lack of extended hour entertainment).
Rod Ellison rellison@gate.net
Name: Ken Lovell
Email: klovell@oneok.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Oil & Gas Exploration
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: 2-7-99
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 50
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 80
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 50
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Feb 1999
Time: 11:32:28
Remote Name: 208.145.194.100
Remote User:
Comments
I should begin by saying that this was only our second cruise, our first being the
Carnival Inspiration two years
ago. We went on this cruise with family members who picked Holland America, so we can only
compare this
cruise experience with Carnival. However, it may surprise many to hear that after
comparing the two, we would
recommend Carnival over Holland America and it is unlikely that we would cruise HAL again.
Don't get me wrong, this was a fine cruise and we had a great time, but HAL is not for
everyone. The age group
of most passengers was in the sixty plus range. Not that there is anything wrong with
this, but it was wrong for us.
We brought our two daughters, ages 15 and 18, along and there were very few other youth on
board. As a
father though, I see that as a good thing. They were bored at times, but they were with
us. I like that.
My biggest complaints are: 1) the schedule is too regimented on HAL. Meals are served,
even on Lido, at very
limited times. The ice cream bar is great, but it is only open for a very narrow window.
Lemonade served from
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Come on, who schedules time for lemonade. It seemed on Carnival that you
could eat almost
anytime of the day and the ship worked around your schedule, not requiring you to conform
to it. When I'm on
vacation, I want to be flexible and not follow such a tight schedule. The schedule also
seemed to create a lot of
lines. Lines for the Lido cafeteria, the hamburgers at the pool area and lines for ice
cream. I don't remember
near the lines on Inspiration, and it was a larger ship. 2) While the ship was fairly
clean, I thought they did a poor
job of keeping the Lido pool area clean. Many of the tables had dirty dishes that would
sit for a very long time
and the tables were not wiped clean. A dirty spoon sat on the edge of the pool for an
entire afternoon. (Sorry, I
notice these kind of things.) And whoever decided that the jogging deck should be soaped
down and cleaned at
8:00 a.m. must have been crazy. 3) The no tip policy is bad new, bad news. Bad news first,
in that the
friendliness of service on this ship was mild compared to the service on Carnival. Our
room steward was friendly,
but not in the outgoing and personal service way that our Carnival steward was. The dining
room stewards were
nice, but questioned special order requests. My wife's request for a bowl of strawberries
caused quite a concern.
On Carnival, they would do anything to make sure you enjoyed your dinner. Perhaps it is
the tipping policy on
Carnival that makes everyone work so hard to help you enjoy the cruise. On HAL this was
lacking. Secondly, the
no tip policy disappears on Thursday, when the staff begins to put the hard sell on
tipping your room and dining
room stewards. The problem is, you end up tipping for service that was not up to par. By
the end of our Carnival
cruise, we were so grateful for the service and friendliness, that we were genuinely
anxious to tip generously. 4)
Except for the shows and casino, this ship goes to bed at 9:00 p.m. The Jacuzzi closes at
10:00 p.m. so we
weren't able to enjoy the stars and a relaxing soak before turning in. Often it was closed
by 9:00 p.m. After 9:00
the outside decks are empty. I mean there is nobody. This can be a good thing if you want
a romantic stroll with
your wife. It was nice, but there just didn't seem to be much going on. Even if I'm headed
off to bed, I like the
feeling that there is still a lot going on. Carnival seemed to be much more active, but
wasn't the crazy party barge
that many make it out to be. 5) The cruise staff was very friendly and seemed to be
interested in helping in any
way; however, the Lido serving staff were cool if not cold and rushed you through the
lines with never a smile. 6)
This ship is smaller than the Inspiration and we sure felt the motion a lot more. We ran
into some choppy seas
and our room (quad) was towards the back of the ship which I'm sure made matters worse.
But it was rough up
on the Lido as the pool splashed over the side. Many people got sick. If you sail this
ship, don't accept a room
towards the back. We were Main Deck #681. Not only do you feel the motion, but there is
also a lot of noise.
Every morning at any island stops, the noise was very, very loud. The room size was fine
and the bathroom is
very functional and efficient. Plenty of storage room but two of our bags wouldn't fit
under the beds so they set
up in the room. On Carnival they were taken to storage and returned at the end of the
cruise. Steward did a
good job of keeping it clean and picked up.
There were many positives however, and you should not hesitate to take this cruise if
these interest you: 1) The
spa area and workout room on this ship are great and hardly ever being used. The steam
room is wonderful and
there are showers with soap and shampoo. Having three girls (wife and two daughters in our
room) I made use of
this shower often. It was great to get up in the morning, put in my miles, sit in the
Jacuzzi, steam and then shower.
In the meantime, the girls were able to get ready in the room and make full use of the
bathroom and mirror. 2)
The entertainment was great and I couldn't say enough about the on-board entertainers as
well as the special
guests. The cruise staff also gets the passengers involved and our girls were able to
participate in one of the
productions and a fashion show. This was a highlight for them. 3) This ship seldom seems
crowded except in
lines for breakfast or ice cream. Otherwise, there are always chairs and lounge chairs to
be found. The Lower
Promenade deck is a beautiful place to walk and there are always vacant lounge chairs for
reading or catching a
nap. For sun, I recommend the back of the ship on the Lido or Promenade decks. The Lido
Pool area can get
crowded. For a quiet place, I recommend the Crow's Nest. A beautiful bar on the front, I
believe Navigation Deck.
There are usually only a few people in there and the views are great. 4) Embarkation was a
breeze!! We came in
a day early and stayed at the Sheraton Cypress Creek Hotel. We were able to pre-register
that Saturday
evening for the cruise and then a shuttle bus took us to the ship on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
All we had to do was
pass through Security, have our picture taken, and then we were on the ship.
Disembarkation was also painless,
but not so fun. Leaving the cruise is always the worst part.
The Islands: On Cozumel I did the one day Scuba for non-certified divers. It was great and
I would recommend it.
I then met the girls in town for shopping. The people of Cozumel are genuinely friendly
and my only complaint
was that the ship did not stay at the island long enough. HAL should stay at Cozumel until
late in the evening. On
Grand Cayman we all participated in the Snorkeling at Sting Ray City. What a great
experience and I recommend
this strongly to everyone. Shopping here is also nice and the city is so clean. Jamaica
should be passed in favor
of another island. I don't mind the difficulties because I view this as part of the
cultural adventure, but I could see
that many people were extremely uncomfortable with the cab drivers' hard sell tactics.
Just say no, then no again,
then again and again and again. If you are willing to endure the "gauntlet" of
taxi drivers at the pier, things are
generally interesting in town at Ocho Rios. To get to town, you can walk and don't need
the cab. The climb up
Dunn River Falls was fantastic. We didn't do a tour, we just grabbed a cab and he took
four of us to the River
and waited until we finished the climb. Round trip was $20 for the four and entrance into
Dunn River is $6 per
person. We went later in the afternoon to avoid the excursion crowds. It was beautiful.
However, at the end, you
have to pass through another "gauntlet" of sale kiosks. My main complaint is
that this island is very unfriendly,
unless you are buying something. We probably will never go back to Jamaica. Once was
enough. Half Moon
Cays is HAL's private island and we would have liked to spend two days here. The beach is
beautiful and chairs
and umbrellas are plentiful. The family all paragluided and this was a great experience.
Don't pass this up!!! I
consider it one of the best values for a great and memorable experience. Right up there
with Sting Ray City.
No doubt HAL is the perfect Cruise for many and we certainly enjoyed our trip. We want to
try Princess next.
Perhaps to Alaska. I would be happy to answer any questions anyone has.
Name: Cathy Hudak
Email: hudakc@firstenergycorp.com
Age: 42
Occupation: Secretary
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: 2/14/99
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 78
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 78
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 97
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 96
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Feb 1999
Time: 14:33:18
Remote Name: 209.143.18.50
Remote User:
Comments
My husband and I, both 42, took this cruise with my parents, late 60's, and had a very
enjoyable vacation. We
embarked on Valentines Day in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We did'nt get onto the ship until
approx. 3 p.m. as we had a
late flight, so embarkation procedures were very rapid. No waiting whatsoever. The
lifeboat drill was held at 4:15
p.m. and we set sail at 5:30 p.m. Our first day at sea was beauiful. We participated in
lots of activities and also in
the Passport for Fitness Program which is a lot of fun, informative, and good for you. You
have to do something
to work off all of that fabulous food you consume. I still gained 6 lbs., but my husband
only gained 3. Good for
him!! I'm 'back on the plan today' to get that 6lbs, plus a few extra, off.
Anyway, the Veendam is a very beautiful ship. We sailed on the Ryndam, the Veendam's
sister ship in 97 to
Alaska (see my cruise opinion on that too) so we were already familiar with the layout.
(exactly the same)- we
even had the exact same cabin. The layout is pretty easy to learn - you'll feel
comfortable with it after your first
day at sea.
Make sure you visit the 'Ocean Bar' and enjoy the beautiful music of the 'City Lights
Trio'. They are fantastic -
music for all to enjoy and dance to. If they had had a CD available, I would have bought
it. The cocktails are
good and prices are comparable to those in any fine dining establishment and the service
was good here.
Crows Nest - We only visited this lounge (our favorite while on the Ryndam), but
unfortunately, the windows were
so filthy you could hardly see out of them. They didn't get washed to whole week either -
we checked.
Room Steward - We weren't impressed with this fellow. The bathroom floor was dirty - and
we did bring this to the
attention of the 'Guest Relations Manager', but it was still dirty when we left. Had to
ask for more shampoo. And,
unfortunately, as I stated in my opinion of the Ryndam, there does tend to be a slight
urine smell in the
bathroom. My parents noticed it in there bathroom too.
Dining Room and Food - The food was very good. All of us enjoyed our dinners and the
desserts were excellent.
Order a couple of your favorite, don't be shy, they expect it. However, Gary, my husband,
and I felt the service
was quite slow. But, we were in no hurry, so I guess it didn't really matter. Our dining
room steward, busboy, and
wine steward, were all very nice.
Activities - Participate, participate, participate!! I was the women's shuffelboard
champion twice and the women's
ping pong champion once. You win some fun 'Cheap Ship Stuff', like cameras, key chains,
mugs, videos,
calculators... The cruise staff is excellent. Really know how to make things fun. Great
personalities. Make sure
you do Seaquest too. Don't want to spoil the fun of this so I won't say much about it, but
it is good for a lot of
laughs.
Entertainment - The cruise entertainers were so-so. Only went to one show and left in the
middle of it. That alone
says something. But, Max Winfrey, the juggler and the comedian/ventrilloquist are Great,
true professionals.
Cozumel - We took the 'Beach Party and Snorkeling cruise on board a Catamaran and it was
so much fun. The
snorkeling was beautiful and the beach you go to afterwards is beautiful as well. Hope you
enjoy margaritas, and
DosEquis Beer, cause they have lots of it. We all thought this was a good excursion,
believe it was
$49.00/person. Well worth it.
Grand Cayman - Went for a Catamaran ride to Stingray City here. Make sure you do this.
What an experience.
One you won't soon forget. Gary also did some snorkeling and said it was excellent.
Shopped a bit, but no deals
to be found here. It was also Ash Wednesday, and quite a few shops were closed. Bummer.
Ocho Rios - A Beautiful Port! - and that's about all. We went to the 'Taj Mahl' shopping
center - about a 1/4 mile
walk from the ship. Typical tourist stuff. Lots of tee shirts, jewelry, cuban and jamacan
cigar and Blue Mountain
Coffee (it is good too). Guess Jamaca is pretty poor and we heard not too safe, so we
didn't venture far and
stayed with the crowds. Didn't talk to anybody that went to Dunns River Falls so I can't
comment on this.
Half Moon Cay - Unfortunately the ocean was choppy so the captain canceled this port. I
was disappointed as my
Dad and I were going to parasail. But they did refund our port charges of $25.00/person
and gave everybody
champaige at dinner. We spent an extra day at sea and it was quite enjoyable. Lots of
stuff to do. I understand
though that this is a beautiful island and some even think Ocho Rios should be cancelled
and spend 2 days at
Half Moon Cay. Oh Well, maybe next time.
Please feel feel to write me at the above internet address with any questions you may
have.
Summary - Gary and I will cruise HAL again, but next we are going to try either Celebrity,
Princess, or RCCL,
because we believe the passengers will be geared more to our age group. You wonder how
some of them even
made it on board ship as some are quite feable. Holland America overall does an excellent
job and we had a
terrific vacation.
Name: William Knoderer
Email: knoderer@ix.netcom.com
Age: 50
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: 14 March 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 94
CruiseDirector: 94
CabinComfort: 88
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 96
DiningRoomService: 96
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 94
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 92
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon: 88
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 94
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Mar 1999
Time: 21:00:25
Remote Name: dal-tx46-11.ix.netcom.com
Remote User:
Comments
This is cruise number two for us in the past year and our first aboard Holland America.
Since there are only so
many places to visit in the Caribbean and most ships get to those places, I will emphasis
the ship rather than the
itinerary. I will also compare the Veendam to the Sun Princess from our last cruise.
This cruise was over the traditional spring break for many students and as such, there
were a fair amount of
children present. This did not detract from the cruise. Boarding was easy and our bags
appeared in short order.
We booked this trip in September and requested a suite, however the ship was all but full
and we received the last
mini-suite on the Veranda deck (105). We were placed on the waiting list for an upgrade
but it never materialized.
We also booked and inside cabin for the kids on the same deck.
The Veendam had all the cabins filled but there were only about 1300 passengers on the
ship. The mini-suite was
slightly larger that the ones on the Sun Princess, but the arrangement of the beds near
the closets required
planning when two were dressing for dinner. Everything was clean and worked well. The beds
(mattresses)
themselves rate right up there with a piece of plywood. I am not sure where they got these
but they REALLY need
to be replaced. The tub/shower arrangement is cute but the only way you could enjoy the
'Jacuzzi' was to be 4' tall.
Overall, the quality comparison of the rooms was about the same.
Let me put an aside here. HAL is building two new ships right now, the Volendam and the
Zeendam, and they are
sisters to the Veendam. HAL is using the same layout on all her new ships so that repeat
cruisers can move from
ship to ship and feel at home. I think that is a good idea. That said, however, I will
express my preference for the
layout of the cabin selection of the Sun. Personally, I like a cabin at the rear of the
ship. The nonsense of cabin
vibration is greatly overrated and the view you have is without comparison. I realize HAL
likes the traditional dining
in the rear of the ship but hey we each have our likes.
The 20,000-ton weight difference did not seem to make any difference to me. Our first day
at sea we ran into
rough seas with a gale wind. The combination of the pitch from the seas and the roll from
the wind did a great
number of people in. The best spot to be was the rear of the ship. Ah-ha another argument
for the cabins in the
rear.
Since neither of our cruises was bad, let me note the differences:
With HAL you get a smaller ship with fewer passengers and crew. While this means they know
you better there are
somewhat fewer choices of onboard activities. Not that one is worse than the other - just
different. HAL is more
subdued and refined- Princess has more glitz and glamour. The food was slightly better on
HAL. The entertainment
was much less grand (and that may not be a bad thing)
The one area that HAL was ahead on was personal service. The cabin staff was outstanding
and the joke about
getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and coming back to find your
bed make is not far off the
mark. The stewards on Princess use those trolley carts as in hotels and they are forever
in the halls- not so on
HAL, the halls are always clear. With the smaller capacity, the stewards get to know you
and it shows- by the end of
the week a raised eyebrow or nod gets whatever you are requesting. We also had the
pleasure of a senior crew
member at our table two nights. We did not see this on Princess and I think it is a great
idea- we learned lots from
him and he was a gracious host.
One thing the cruise lines do in the Caribbean is have a private leased island in the
Bahamas. HAL's was called
Half Moon Cay (after one of the original HAL ships) and was one of the most beautiful
beach places I have ever
been too. HAL gets many kudos for this idea. I could have spent two or three days just
there.
Overall, I would have to agree with our travel agents assessment of the two lines- the
differences are small
because it is like a Buick and an Oldsmobile. So what would I choose when I go again- well
I like the cabins on one
and the crew on the other soooooooo- we're doing something completely different- the
Mediterranean this summer
on the Grand. I'll let you know!
Name: Ann Pecota
Email: ann@jnb.com
Age: 67
Occupation: retired nurse
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: March 14, 1999
Itinerary: Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Mar 1999
Time: 20:22:29
Remote Name: ts-28.jnb.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise on a Holland America Ship the Veendam although we have cruised
many times on other
ships. Starting right off with our flight from the west coast to Florida we were brought
in the day before, met and
bussed to our lovely hotel. The next day we were picked up exactly on time and taken to
the pier. The people were
friendly and helpful and we were on board very quickly. We were escorted to our stateroom
and were pleasantly
surprised to find it roomy with plenty of closets and drawers. The only negative was that
the decor was very bland.
It had wood walls and beige bedspread and sofa. It proved to be very comfortable. The bon
voyage party was very
nice and this cruise had the Tommy Dorsey Band and the music was great. We enjoyed the
beautiful two story
dining room with the beautiful staircase. The food was good but not exceptional. It seemed
like one night they had
5 entrees that sounded good and another night nothing was appealing. The Lido buffet was
always the same for
breakfast and lunch and we chose the dining room several days and they had a good
selection. The public areas
such as the show theater and lounges were all beautiful and spacious. We found everyone
friendly and helpful. We
did not care too much for the shows but I'm sure they had more appeal to the younger
crowd, but we did enjoy the
big band music. Getting off the ship was handled easily and we were at the airport in
plenty of time for a good trip
home.
Name: Sue Eldridge
Email: sue.eldridge@ubc.ca
Age: 54
Occupation: University Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: June 14, 1999
Itinerary: Alaska, Inside Passage, 7 days
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 89
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 89
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 89
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 89
EntertShowLounge: 91
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 89
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 94
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Jun 1999
Time: 13:33:38
Remote Name: wise.regi.ubc.ca
Remote User:
Comments
Embarkation and Disembarkation We live in Vancouver, and the Veendam sailed from
Vancouver, so I
cannot speak for cruisers who had other travel arrangements to undergo before they
arrived/left. We were
a taxi ride away from the cruise terminal. However, even though we received later numbers
for both
processes, we were pleasantly surprised at how easily everything went. Luggage handling
was smooth
and efficient both times. While waiting to board we were able to put together our 6 days
of dinner wine for
$99.00 deal (do try this if you like a bottle of wine each night with dinner), and when we
arrived at our
stateroom (main deck, midships, outside cabin) our champagne was waiting. This was our
30th wedding
anniversary. Our luggage came within 40 minutes of our boarding. I would have to say that
boarding and
disembarking went fantastically well, and that the ground crew should be commended.
Food We have a 5-star restaurant in Vancouver (Bishops), and I'd have to say that the food
at lunch and
dinner in the dining room was like dining there every night. Excellent quality, variety
and service. The
appetizers in particular were always interesting and extremely well-presented. The portion
size of the food
was moderate, both for eye appeal, and for the fact that you could then manage the whole 5
courses
should you so desire.
Gala Nights Loved these. Loved dressing up, and I loved the Captain's champagne and
appetizer shindig
in the show lounge. This was at the beginning of the cruise and this is when we all
started to feel very
special. We all turned into fine ladies and gentlemen, and I think that event brings out
the best in
everyone. Keep on doing it HAL.
Cabin Steward Amri was the best. My goodness the man worked like crazy to keep our cabin
clean and
fresh, and to get the turndown done while we were are dinner. 5 star hotels on land could
take a lesson
from the type of cleaning service our cabin received. It was spotless and efficient and
gracious. Ice bucket
always replenished. Bathrooms double cleaned.
General Ship comments. Art work, flowers and cleanliness were all top rate. The art is
spectacular and the
flower arrangements are graceful and elegant. The brass gleams and the marble shines. The
Dutch
cleanliness ethic is surely at work on Veendam.
Negatives Fellow passengers at dinner time: A couple of things did not impress us, but
these are personal
views, rather than anything HAL can do anything about, although they are marketing their
product to
appeal to a certain type of cruiser, and perhaps might be occasionally missing that mark.
The diners who
immediately surrounded us in the Rotterdam dining room were, on the whole, completely
unused to any
food other than salad, steak and baked potatoes. In fact that is what they ate all the
time. None of my
business you might say, and you'd be right. However, what is my business is that they
tended to make an
infantile fuss out of not knowing what many of the dishes were, and behaving like loud
small children about
some of the food (yuck to pate, when they learned it was liver, and generally making
ignorant comments
which could be overhead by the stewards, and leaving the somewhat bigoted impression that
any food
which was not American was up for denigration). This did tend to change the tone of the
dining experience
if one could hear all this, and we personally thought it insulting to those who had gone
to so much effort to
provide consistently fine dining day after day. Perhaps passengers wanting a steak and
baked potato
cruise, would be better served elsewhere if they are reading this review, or if meat and
potatoes is their
thing, then please allow others to enjoy variety in peace. Buffet stressful: We are not
buffet lovers, so we
did not use the Lido very often, preferring to be served in the dining room. However, I
did find that the
atmosphere in the Lido tended to be somewhat stressful, since lining up for food doesn't
seem all that
relaxing a thing from our point of view. It seemed to me that even the buffet lovers
looked a little stressed,
especially when you've got a full tray, can't find a table, and need to courteously make
way for the
stewards who are rushing around trying to keep up with clean-up and replenishment. Again,
if you want
fine service and to be completely relaxed and still get a consistently fine quality and
quantity of food and
be waited on, then by all means do the dining room for all three meals. Occasional
incidents of staff
churlishness: Navigation deck coffee service at Glacier Bay: I did not want alcohol in my
coffee. This
caused the steward to act in quite a rude way, since alcohol meant a charge to our tab,
whereas coffee
was free. I really did not care to know what he thought about my spending habits - he
seemed to think I
was cheap, and I'm not, but that is besides the point.
Lido buffet staff member got annoyed when I changed my mind and wanted a bagel instead of
toast once I
realized they had bagels (which were hidden). He said - are you sure you want this now -
and not with any
humour.
Crows Nest bartender listed the choice of beers very quickly and in an impatient way and
with an accent
which we found difficult to understand. When my husband asked him to repeat it, he shouted
it as if to an
imbecile, and it was so loud that I and several other passengers turned to see what could
possibly have
caused such impatience.
So those were the only 3 minor negatives (I am an optimistic and polite person). As I say,
the staff
churlishness was extremely isolated and uncharacteristic, and as to the behaviour of the
steak and potato
passengers, I can only once again remind readers to be aware that many other passengers
are on a
cruise to enjoy the sophistication and variety of the food and to let them do so without
infringing on their
enjoyment. Some consideration of diversity would be nice.
Great work HAL. I'd highly recommend a cruise on the Veendam to anyone who asked me.
Name: Craig Harmon
Email: farstar@juno.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Appraiser
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: 8/8/99 through 8/16/99
Itinerary: Alaska Cruise
Cabin: 19/ Navigation Deck
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 99
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Aug 1999
Time: 22:00:59
Remote Name: pool-207-205-181-107.phnx.grid.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was my first cruise and my first time to Alaska. My only complaint is I wish I was
still on that beautiful ship and still
letting my eyes melt at the beautiful scenerey of Alaska. The staff, food and service was
impeccible! The port calls in
Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan were alot of fun though quite touristy. The cruise was very
romantic for my wife and
I. We even had drama on the high seas on our last night at sea. Cruising from Ketchikan
back to Vancouver B.C. the
capitan announced over the intercom system that a woman had fallen over board another boat
at about 8:00 PM
wearing just a wet suit. At about 10:00 PM one of the passengers was out on the deck and
heard her screams for
help as we cruised past her. Upon hearing the report the capitan tuned the ship around and
contacted the
authorities (Coast Guard I think) and they pulled the woman from the sea. She was
suffering hypotheria but was ok.
It was a miracle that heard screams because this all happened at night and the water was
very cold. I felt it was
incredible that this story did not make world news. I can't wait until we can take another
cruise. Holland America & the
MS Veendam were fantastic. My parents have cruised with Holland America 3 times and have
always had nothing but
praise to say about each of the ships they were on.
Want to book your cruise at a great rate?
Click here.
Questions or comments? Mail to webmaster@cruiseopinion.com.
Copyright ©1996-2001 CruiseOpinion.com. Last modified: March 22, 2000.