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Name: Jeffrey Glaser
Email: DRGLASER@POL.NET
Age: 28
Occupation: Anesthesiologist
NumberOfCruises: 24
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Veendam
SailingDate: May 2, 1998
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 60
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 70
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 20
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff: 100
EntertainmentLounges: 60
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 60
OverallPortsofCall: 70
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 100
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 May 1998
Time: 18:10:53
Remote Name: 128.97.80.24
Remote User:
Comments
This was my 24th cruise and my wife's 14th. This was our first
cruise with Holland America Line. We are seasoned veterans of
lines such as Carnival, Royal
Caribbean, Princess, Premier, Royal (now defunct), Celebrity,
NCL, and Sitmar (merged with Princess). Overall this cruise
experience on board the Veendam was
by far the most excellent we have experienced.
Before commenting on various aspects of this cruise let me
preface those comments by explaining what my wife and I were
looking to get out of our cruise
experience. We are both young professionals who are fed up with
the 'mardi gras' like atmosphere offered on most of todays modern
lines. For example, most
lines rudely interrupt your dinner with a course of 'O Solo Mio'
or 'God Bless America' as sung by those 'proud' waiters,
requiring obligatory applause half way
through your meal for a hoaky performance. Many of today's cruise
lines have waiters who badger you about marking nothing less than
excellent on your
comment card. Another area suffering on many of todays lines is
good old fashioned bar service without some obnoxious waiting
pushing whatever melted drink
happens to be in the souvenir glass he is carrying. How many of
those glasses can you collect anyway? Most lines also push their
casinos to no end. It really
bothers me to turn on my tv and have a choice of CNN or watching
casino advertising. In essence our experience on most major lines
today has made us feel
like a number rather than a passenger. Service prior to our
Holland America Cruise seemed to be a thing of days gone by.
Holland America provided a fantastic 'low key' cruise experience
just as promised minus all of the 'hooplah' vomited up at you by
other lines.
EMBARKATION: This process was by far the smoothest I have ever
experienced. Lines were short and the embarkation itself was very
organized with each
passenger being given a number depending on when they check in.
SHIP/ROOM: The Veendam was absolutely immaculate with great
attention paid to detail. I have never seen so many fresh
flowers, which seemed to change
daily, on a ship. My wife joked that they had a nursery on board
where they grew these gorgeous tropical flowers. All of the
public rooms were spacious and
decorated with class much like a Four Seasons hotel as opposed to
other ships that look like a cheesy Vegas hotel. Because of the
passenger space ratio of 44
the ship never seemed crowded and flow throughout was excellent.
STATEROOM: My wife and I splurged for a mini suite (284 square
feet) and are glad we did. A very deluxe cabin with a whirlpool
tub, TV, VCR, mini-bar,
refrigerator, safe, and oh yes...who can forget the
balcony...wonderful! We did see the suites which were nice, but I
did not think they were worth the extra
money. Furthermore, the standard cabins (including the insides)
were the most spacious I've seen afloat. Cabin service was fair
with the food being excellent.
One must not forget the basket of fresh fruit in the cabin
refilled daily.
FOOD: Food in the beautiful Rotterdam Dining Room ranged from
good to excellent depending on the meal. Service was very
unobtrusive, much like in a fine
restaurant. Most elegant was the dual staircase on which one
could make a grand entrance with the Rosario strings playing on
the balcony. This is quite possibly
one of the most beautiful rooms afloat! Food in the Lido Cafe was
consistently excellent with a wide variety to choose from and a
breakfast and lunch menu
which rotated daily. Additionally, a full salad bar was offered.
The dessert selection was spectacular daily! My favorite dessert
buffet ever is the one at the Four
Seasons Santa Barbara...this one on the Veendam beat the Four
Seasons every day. Poolside we enjoyed delicous hamburgers, hot
dogs, taco bar, pasta bar,
and a satay barbeque. We usually don't eat beef, but could not
resist the delicous burgers. The nice thing about the poolside
grill was that it stayed open until
6pm daily. Somehow we found some room every afternoon to indulge
in the ice cream bar where they offered no less than 6 flavors
daily with make your own
sundae toppings. Each evening before dinner we had cocktails with
new found friends in the Crows Nest where complimentary hot
appetizers were served to us
by gracious stewards. This menu also changed daily. Hot
appetizers were also available before dinner in the Ocean Bar.
POOL: The pool area on the Veendam is spectacular with a fresh
water pool and spas in the mid section and a salt water pool aft.
In the mid section a sliding
magro-dome can cover the pool area at night or in bad weather.
Another nice feature was that the pools and spas were open 24
hours. We frequently visited
the spas at around 11:00pm. Especially nice were the soft
cushions placed on the lounges and extra large beach towels
provided. Every afternoon waiters
walked around with complimentary iced tea and lemonade. The pool
area also boasts a beautiful dolphin sculpture. Going with
tradition Holland America Line
uses only teakwood decking for its outdoor areas.
ENTERTAINMENT: My wife and I did not take this cruise to be
entertained and had an understanding before booking this trip
that Holland America was not known
for its entertainment. We did not go to any of the shows, but
instead watched movies, went to the hot tub, and danced until the
wee hours in the Crow's Nest.
The cruise director had the personality of a door knob and the
rest of the staff was not much better. A nice touch was that
public announcements were kept to a
bare minimum. There was no loud announcement at 6am from the
cruise director reminding everyone to go on the polar bear swim
as other lines have.
In conclusion, for the person looking for a subdued cruise
experienced laced with elegance, class, and great food Holland
America is the line to try. My wife and
I will have a hard time cruising on any line other than HAL in
the future as we would always be comparing to HAL's high
standards.
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