notyats
December 26th, 2004, 12:20 PM
Well this was an experience. Glad that we did it-Yes. Would we recommend it or do it again-NO. My Mom (Longtimer) and I did this trip, her 40th and my 14th on HAL. We had a delux verandah suite on deck 12. It was definately nice have the verandah. The laundry service that is complimentary to suite passengers was at best so-so. Most things had to be repressed to make them look presentable and more than once I repressed something I had sent out to be pressed. We spoke with the Housekeeping manager about it and he said to give them another try. Still the same. The real highlight of this cabin was having the best cabin stewart anyone could ever hope for. WONDERFUL is the only way to discribe him!
Check in at the pier as Penny said left much to be desired even in the suite line. New process and slow. My passport wouldn't read so had many trying to help there. It's a 1999 passport so that wasn't the problem.
The ship had problems with the water supply from the start. We stayed longer in two ports to take on water. Once in the Amazon it got only worse. They did lock the laundry rooms, ask everyone to recycle towels and take short showers. It took us several days to get back laundry that we had sent out so even suites were affected, no special treatment there.
Many that we spoke with said that they would never go on the Prinsendam again. HAL really needs to build a new elegent explorer. THe tenders are in terrible shape as are many areas. One rail that was being scraped for painting looked as if you leaned on it would break in half. They are sending alot of money on a ship that was built in 1988 and not taken the best of care of. The food was not what we were used to for HAL. Several were heard saying where are they getting these menu's from -SEATTLE- trying to streamline things we were told by the maitre-de. One note is that all on board were mariners. No newcomers on board. My Mom got her Platinum for over 700 days this trip.
The Caribbean ports for the most part were really good with the exception being Santa Barbara Dominican Republic. Dirty, smelly from exhaust fumes and unless you did a tour no one knew why we were there. We didn't feel safe walking in Kingstown and never made it totally to town. Went back to the ship. St. Barts was one of the most beautiful place in the Caribbean I have seen. Playground for the rich. All Paris stores and very pricey. I bought a bottle (8oz) of contact lense solution. Shell shock when I got home and found out I had paid $24.06 for the bottle. Euro and I didn't do good math while there. St. Lucia was beautiful. Georgetown was sad with the hurricane damage. It will take them years to have the spices again we were told. Did a tour with 6 other people. WONDERFUL and only $10. per person. 3 1/2 hours and great guide. The ships same tour was $49. Nice idea though to take up a collection on the ship to help the island out. They got quite a bit of money and sent the Captain a letter thanking him, staff and passengers.
The highlight of the Amazon portion of the trip was the little village of Boca De Vallerio. Truely an amazing little village filled with darling children. We took apples and gave them. Like giving them gold. They wanted $1.00 to take a picture, no big deal and worth it to most of us. I did hear some people say it was degrading or to take it from the rear to avoid paying. Talk about cheap IMO. The first port of Santarem was where we did the Tapajos and Jari Canal tour. $72.00 for pure HELL and was discribed on my Moms post. People that we talked to that went to town said it was really dirty. We did our shopping dockside which was very reasonable. Manaus is just a big dirty sticky and stinky city. Did the Opera House tour. I guess we were a little disappointed. It was not what we had expected but except for the stop at their market was ok. The market was awful IMO. Dirty smelly mess. I would not have touch anything. They throw all their trash and garbage in the streets. We did our shopping dock side again. A little more pricy but clean. Several friends that did the nighttime hunt tour and then the Jungle tour the following day said they were the same tour only one at night. Went to the same places but was ok. 90 minute boat ride again. We had cancelled this because of our experience in Santarem. The last port of Parintins was really a nothing unless you did the folk show which many did. A lot of folks also left their tickets at the tender point because of the extreme heat and humidity. They warned everyone before going ashore of the heat. It was almost unbearable. Nothing there except for the show. Two VERY SMALL shops with hardly anything in them and nothing else. We heard the tricycle tour was cancelled. No bugs was something we were surprised about. Went prepared for them and had none.
Back in the Caribbean Devils Island was the next port. It was truely a surprize. Really beautiful and well worth the stroll around the island which is easy to do. We sent postcards from there but haven't received them yet. No cards that were sent from the trip have made it yet. Did the rain forest tram in Dominica in the pouring rain but it was still worth it. Expensive for what it is but I'm glad we did it. St Thomas was just St Thomas. Shopping was easy if you went in really early but the later it got the more impossible to move around. Eight ships in port! To bad they can't be more scattered out.
I'm not sorry that we did this trip but I wouldn't recommend it or do it again. It's expensive, hot, very humid and very dirty in Brazil. Do your research if you are planning it for next year or save your money and go to Europe on a cruise. The river is icky looking and the smoke from burning the rain forest is so bad at times we thought the ship was on fire. You could see the flames the last night. Sad! Holland America should have done better homework on the Brazilian tours.
Only one really negative point on this trip was the shore excursion manager. She was a problem from day 1 with more than us and should not be working for HAL. Her personality or lack of were totally unprofessional.
Check in at the pier as Penny said left much to be desired even in the suite line. New process and slow. My passport wouldn't read so had many trying to help there. It's a 1999 passport so that wasn't the problem.
The ship had problems with the water supply from the start. We stayed longer in two ports to take on water. Once in the Amazon it got only worse. They did lock the laundry rooms, ask everyone to recycle towels and take short showers. It took us several days to get back laundry that we had sent out so even suites were affected, no special treatment there.
Many that we spoke with said that they would never go on the Prinsendam again. HAL really needs to build a new elegent explorer. THe tenders are in terrible shape as are many areas. One rail that was being scraped for painting looked as if you leaned on it would break in half. They are sending alot of money on a ship that was built in 1988 and not taken the best of care of. The food was not what we were used to for HAL. Several were heard saying where are they getting these menu's from -SEATTLE- trying to streamline things we were told by the maitre-de. One note is that all on board were mariners. No newcomers on board. My Mom got her Platinum for over 700 days this trip.
The Caribbean ports for the most part were really good with the exception being Santa Barbara Dominican Republic. Dirty, smelly from exhaust fumes and unless you did a tour no one knew why we were there. We didn't feel safe walking in Kingstown and never made it totally to town. Went back to the ship. St. Barts was one of the most beautiful place in the Caribbean I have seen. Playground for the rich. All Paris stores and very pricey. I bought a bottle (8oz) of contact lense solution. Shell shock when I got home and found out I had paid $24.06 for the bottle. Euro and I didn't do good math while there. St. Lucia was beautiful. Georgetown was sad with the hurricane damage. It will take them years to have the spices again we were told. Did a tour with 6 other people. WONDERFUL and only $10. per person. 3 1/2 hours and great guide. The ships same tour was $49. Nice idea though to take up a collection on the ship to help the island out. They got quite a bit of money and sent the Captain a letter thanking him, staff and passengers.
The highlight of the Amazon portion of the trip was the little village of Boca De Vallerio. Truely an amazing little village filled with darling children. We took apples and gave them. Like giving them gold. They wanted $1.00 to take a picture, no big deal and worth it to most of us. I did hear some people say it was degrading or to take it from the rear to avoid paying. Talk about cheap IMO. The first port of Santarem was where we did the Tapajos and Jari Canal tour. $72.00 for pure HELL and was discribed on my Moms post. People that we talked to that went to town said it was really dirty. We did our shopping dockside which was very reasonable. Manaus is just a big dirty sticky and stinky city. Did the Opera House tour. I guess we were a little disappointed. It was not what we had expected but except for the stop at their market was ok. The market was awful IMO. Dirty smelly mess. I would not have touch anything. They throw all their trash and garbage in the streets. We did our shopping dock side again. A little more pricy but clean. Several friends that did the nighttime hunt tour and then the Jungle tour the following day said they were the same tour only one at night. Went to the same places but was ok. 90 minute boat ride again. We had cancelled this because of our experience in Santarem. The last port of Parintins was really a nothing unless you did the folk show which many did. A lot of folks also left their tickets at the tender point because of the extreme heat and humidity. They warned everyone before going ashore of the heat. It was almost unbearable. Nothing there except for the show. Two VERY SMALL shops with hardly anything in them and nothing else. We heard the tricycle tour was cancelled. No bugs was something we were surprised about. Went prepared for them and had none.
Back in the Caribbean Devils Island was the next port. It was truely a surprize. Really beautiful and well worth the stroll around the island which is easy to do. We sent postcards from there but haven't received them yet. No cards that were sent from the trip have made it yet. Did the rain forest tram in Dominica in the pouring rain but it was still worth it. Expensive for what it is but I'm glad we did it. St Thomas was just St Thomas. Shopping was easy if you went in really early but the later it got the more impossible to move around. Eight ships in port! To bad they can't be more scattered out.
I'm not sorry that we did this trip but I wouldn't recommend it or do it again. It's expensive, hot, very humid and very dirty in Brazil. Do your research if you are planning it for next year or save your money and go to Europe on a cruise. The river is icky looking and the smoke from burning the rain forest is so bad at times we thought the ship was on fire. You could see the flames the last night. Sad! Holland America should have done better homework on the Brazilian tours.
Only one really negative point on this trip was the shore excursion manager. She was a problem from day 1 with more than us and should not be working for HAL. Her personality or lack of were totally unprofessional.