HAL NO!

We just got home after B2B on Noordam for 21 miserable days. We were shocked
at the lack of quality of food. Macaroni and cheese is not my idea of a
suitable cruise ship dinner menu item. It reminded me of my early years of
marriage when I had to make my food budget last from payday to payday.
Activities on the ship were almost non-existent for those of us in our
senior years. Entertainment was mediocre at best. The "as you wish dining"
was less than successful. IMO
Yes, there were some lovely guests.
The one and only bright spot of the entire cruise as provided by HAL was our
"suite" steward. I believe "suite" is misnamed since about the only 'perk'
was a phone call to the concierge. The line was almost always busy and after
5 to 15 minutes wait for an answer, we gave up.
The soda card is a joke. 18$ + 15% you get 20, 6 oz fountain drinks.
We will never cruise on another 'dam' ship.
Splenda

On 11/24/2007 2:02 PM Splenda plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and
said:
> We just got home after B2B on Noordam for 21 miserable days. We were shocked
> at the lack of quality of food. Macaroni and cheese is not my idea of a
> suitable cruise ship dinner menu item. It reminded me of my early years of
> marriage when I had to make my food budget last from payday to payday.
> Activities on the ship were almost non-existent for those of us in our
> senior years. Entertainment was mediocre at best. The "as you wish dining"
> was less than successful. IMO
> Yes, there were some lovely guests.
> The one and only bright spot of the entire cruise as provided by HAL was our
> "suite" steward. I believe "suite" is misnamed since about the only 'perk'
> was a phone call to the concierge. The line was almost always busy and after
> 5 to 15 minutes wait for an answer, we gave up.
> The soda card is a joke. 18$ + 15% you get 20, 6 oz fountain drinks.
> We will never cruise on another 'dam' ship.
> Splenda
>
>
>
>
>
This post might get more responses at rec.travel.cruising. I've sailed
HAL frequently. My guess is that "Splenda" got into some bad LSD. This
cruise report in no way resembles my experience.

1) Mac and Cheese may have been an option at the Lido Buffet during
lunchtime but not in the main dining room.
2) There are lots of activities for seniors. In fact seniors are the
primary passenger on most HAL cruises.
3) The fountain (soda) card is a great deal. For $20 you get unlimited
fountain drinks in any size container. This card is good in all
restaurants, pool side bars, and lounges. In most cases you only need
to show it once to a server.
4.) HAL goes beyond requirements to accommodate people with disabilities.
5.) True the concierge line may be busy. It's a popular line. All you
need do is look in the shipboard phone guide and activate auto-redial.
Place the phone on the receiver. The phone will continue to redial the
number. When it gets through it will make short rings. You pick-up the
hand piece and are connected to the party.

6.) If you'd like something that isn't on the menu all you have to do is
call the main dining room or restaurant. If they have the ingredients,
they will make it for you special.

That's the Holland America Line that I know.

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Brian M. Kochera
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