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Name: Fran Ollweiler
Email: frano@aol.com
Age: 70
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Westerdam
SailingDate: August 31, 1997
Itinerary: New York to Montreal
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 97
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 50
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 50
EmbarkDisembark: 60
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 50
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Sep 1997
Time: 15:31:08
Remote Name: 207.124.188.107
Remote User:
Comments
We were really looking forward to this our third cruise on a Holland America ship, and
were extremely disappointed. We checked in at New
York, and had a very disinterested young man look over our documents, and direct us to the
ship. Then....we boarded the ship and were
escorted to our suite. We don't mind paying extra to have the room and amenities that a
suite affords. We knew that this suite would not have
a verandah like the newer ships, but did not know that it would be dark, with worn out
furniture, and had the most uncomfortable couch one
could possibly have in a room. Bummer.
The elevators are very small and so crowded it's a good thing that my husband and I like
to walk up and down the stairs. There were always
long lines at the elevators that I think held about 8 people, if they were thin.
The crew from the Philippines and Indonesia were very good, and went out of their way to
be helpful.
We thought the showroom had pretty boring shows with young dancers and singers who changed
costume often, but the routines seemed
pretty much the same.
Okay on to something we did like....We liked the ports of call very much. After leaving
New York late so we couldn't see the Statue of Liberty
during the daylight hours because we had an early sitting for dinner we stopped at
Newport, Rhode Island. Then at Boston, Mass. And then at
Bar Harbour, Maine. We took a tour to Adadia National Park, and if the weather had been
better I am sure we would have enjoyed it more. Did
learn a lot about Bar Harbour, and found that very interesting. The next stop was Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and we thought that was great. Visited
the Citadel there, and walked around the city a lot. After that the next stop was to be
Prince Edward Island, but because of high winds, and
having to use tenders we bypassed that stop. Sailed in the St. Lawrence Seaway, but saw no
whales. Then we spent two days in Quebec which
we both enjoyed a lot. Took two tours there. One was a city tour, and the next day took a
tour to the Bascillica of St. Anne de Dupres. They
also drove us aound an island across from Quebec, and I thought both tours were worth
while. Those tours can be taken as one grand tour,
but we would rather split it up. Then we disembarked in Montreal. And then our troubles
started in earnest.
Did I mention that we had a suite? Well, a suite has a bathtub, and one morning I noticed
that the water running in the tub was not very clear. I
took my bath anyway. The next morning that was not possible since the water was now dark
brown. My husband called the front desk, and they
told us to let the water run, and it would clear up. It was called by chemicals being
placed in the water. Hummmmm...I wonder in view of later
developments.
Our last stop was Montreal, and usually suites have priority disembarking. Well, not on
the Westerdam on this trip. When we disembarked we
noticed that there were six ambulances on the dockside, and people were being loaded on to
them. That should have been a hint. My husband
and I arrived home, Dover, Delaware on the evening of September 10th, and both of us
became very ill. We have both been to the doctor
more than once. He says we have some kind of upper respiratory infection. It is very
difficult to clear up. I discovered yesterday that the ship
was quarantined in Montreal for two days since they thought it might be a break out of
Legionnaires Disease. They later discovered it was a
type of influenza Type A, and have had difficulties with people getting sick when the ship
was finally able to return to it's schedule.
Holland America has not gotten in touch with us, but you can be sure we will get in touch
with them. I don't remember ever being this sick in my
life. That is not what I came on vacation for.
What a disappointment!!!
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