Disabled cruise on the Maasdam

[CaptData]

I'll starting writing shortly, just returned. Mostly good, some not so good. Late arrival, smeel bad air in room, Shore excursion Staff not helpful.

[cruisinjudy]

Welcome back! We will be looking forward to hearing about it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome Home!

We have found that the shore excursion staff on all HAL ships don't seem to know anything - can't answer questions. A couple of years ago we had a question about one of our ports - her reply: "I'm new here - have never been to any of these ports". When we asked to speak to the head honcho - we didn't know much other - had only taken a tour here and there on the ports.

[kaiemiascott2]

We have also just returned from the Massdam sailing of February 5th. This was our 22nd. cruise, but the first on Holland America.

Although, we were off to a bad start with the ship not arriving in Norfolk until a little after 1PM, I can honestly say it was not a problem for us. We did embark around 5PM, and found that for the most part it was very organized. They had a very nice Super Bowl Party that evening for all of the football fans.

The ship itself seems to be very tastefully decorated and pleasing to the eye. It does show some wear and tear, but that did not bother us. The oceanview stateroom on the Main Deck was very nice and the new bedding was wonderful. The best so far in all of the cruises we have taken. Service in both the dining room and the stateroom was excellent. Food was good in both the Lido Deck and in the Dining Room. Our tablemates were lots of fun.

This ship caters to a much older crowd and I hear that is the norm for this cruise. I was told on other HAL ships, the ages vary more. Casino was not very busy and most of the ship was very quiet after 9:30PM at night. Was not crazy about the entertainment in the lounges, but did like the entertainment in the theater each evening.

Cruise Director needs some improvement. I think someone with more enthusiam would be helpful.

Before leaving I read about all of the late arrivals in ports. The only time we were late was in Half Moon Cay, and that was only a hour. We arrived back in Norfolk on time. The Captain certainly did try hard to keep on schedule. Since we have been in all of the port of calls many times, we did not take any shore excursions.

All in all, I enjoyed the cruise , but would probably not sail on the Maasdam again. The ship at times could be a little boring. Would like to try one more HAL ship before I pass judgement. I am a Princess and Celebrity fan, although I have sailed on most other lines as well.

If anyone has any questions, I will try to answer them for you.

[CaptData]

Ok here is the first installment:


I'm early 50's and have MS. I use a little red scooter so if you seen that, you seen me. I'm from the middle of Canada and came with 159 other Manitobans. This is my first Hal trip but 4th cruise.

I took the Air Shuttle to Winnpeg and had a nice trip. I arrived at 6:00 am on the 5 Feb, for my flight at 7:30 at the Winnipeg Airport by staying over night at the Four Points Sheritan which is attached to the airport. When we arrived in Chicogo the plan there was delayed due to mechicancal problems. We were approx 30 mins late leaving but had a whole day to get there. Other members who had to take a diffirent flight fared far worst, their bags came on a differnt flight two hours later so they had dinner at the Norfolk airport.

We stayed over night at the Mariott Waterside hotel. My room was nice (normal room). It was a good thing we stayed here as the Maasdam was late in arriving (1 pm) due to very heavy seas (20-25 ft). We were informed that she would be late when we boarded the bus to the hotel. They set up a lunch area at the hotel for all guess who arrived before the ship did. It had cold cuts, salads, tea and coffee. They also provided freebuses around part of Norfolk, General MacAurther Memorial and a large mall. The ship was ready at 4 pm for boarding.

I arrived at the pier at approximatley 3:45 pm. I went in and was directed immediatley to the disabled line. They had to go find my card as it was in with the group. This took about 2 minutes. With card in hand I got my pic and joined the line to await boarding. We were looking down on the returning pax which looked a little green in some cases. They told us they had 6 days of gale force winds and 25 ft seas. They warned us it would be a very rough ride.

Due to the late arrival we were given tickets for the first dinner. I got early, which stated I could go for dinner anytime from 6-6:30 pm. It was open sitting. They also gave us a modified Daily as we were going to do the life boat drill the next day. I found my state room 709 A deck without any problems as they gave me an escort who turned out to be my Cabin Steward, Putu. When I returned from supper my bags were in my room.

This is where is first hurdle was, no frig in the cabin (asked For it before hand and told it would be there). When I contacted the front desk they told me my cabin was not allowed one. What to do with meds that require refrig? Go to the medical section on same deck (around the corner from my room). Yes, they would refrig it for free but must use it before 6:00 pm which is when the office is closed. Not a big deal for me as it is eye drops only not insulin which could be a bigger problem. Problem solved for now.

More to follow.

[CaptData]

After dinner, due to the late arrival, and not having a nap earlier in the day, I was very tired. I took a quick tour to find some areas that were mentioned. I layed down for 30 mins then went in serach of the Crow's Nest as that is where they were going to hold the single's party. I arrived in time to meet some of the cruise staff. Four are follow Canadians and the fifth was an America. They were a fun group but as Kaiemiascott stated not as energtic as others I have met.

I went to bed around 1 pm as there was only one single guy and he was a war vet. My father was a war vet too. I was very happy about the beds. They are very nice. I had two chocolates on my pillow.

My room was a disabled cabin. It has 4 port hole windows, starboard (right) side. This cabin is fully accessable, some of the ones list for the disalbed are not so be carefull which one you get, ask. I have made a film and taken pics but not sure how to put them up here. Will look into this shortly.

Room discription: As you walk/wheel in on the right is a closet with three shelfs with the room safe and a lower closet area with hangers. The other half is a full closet with moveable hanger bar. One life vest is on the top shelf ( ask steward to get it down and put it back). On the left is another closet with movable shelfing. You can make it into a full length closet or shelfs. The second lifejackt is located at the top of this closet. The tv is set on a high shelf but has a remote control. there is a bureau is six large drawers in it. I had a loveseat and table (adjustable to various highs to suit a wheelchair)with two chairs. My bed, with new linens, was made into a queen. Up by the head of the bed were two, two drawer cabinets that I was told could be removed so that the bed could be on side or the other for access. My bathroom had the rollin shower with moveable shower head but it only had one hold position and that was quite high up. My steward took it down for me to use. There was a shower chair there but it had some mildew on the legs and the seat and was not steady. I asked if there was another one available. Due to ship being full, no. I am glad I do not absolutly need this to have a shower. Made do without it. I wrote a note the the head of the hotel to tell him to remove this and get it replaced. I do not know if this was done as I got no response. There was also mold in the corners of the shower.

The night sailing was rough but I had taken Bonimine so had no problems with seasickness. The seas had calmed down a little only 2o ft waves. Some pax the next morning were a little green but some ginger and food took care of them.

The lifeboat drill was on the agenda this morning at 10 o'clock. I got my life jacket at 9:40 and headed up early to life boat three. When we were done with the drill, I return to my cabin. I would meet up with a friend for dinner and a tour of the spa.

More to follow.

[CaptData]

I enjoyed a hot tub the the steam room. Men and women have separtate steam and Sauna rooms. There are lockers here. The shower in this area is not accessable as there is a ledge but it is big. Sauna of course is not accessable. I managed both with a little help. I had a hot stone message for $169.00 todayu and a message for $65.00 on san Jaun day. Both were good.

Most places were accessable with the doors leading out to the Lido pool area been automatic double doors. The Rembrant Lounge is accessible when they open the door but you can open the door on your own with a little manuvering. When you have to clear customs if you are not American you go just past the Theater and they will let you through there (going through theater requires 3 steps in the back end). The Ocean Bar has ramps but be carefull where you go as the dance floor is accessible but the ends have a four inch drop on it (this is where they hold the art auctions and you may miss the edge due to art pieces all around). The aft pool can be accessible but you must open doors here and if you go to the starboard side they are angled and hard to deal with. There are steps to the pools. I found that the hot tub on the port side if I transfered to the shelf I could swing my legs and get in. I did not ask to see if they had a swing seat.

Most of the batrs have stools all around it so it is hard to get to the bar directly but they will bring whatever you want to a table. ost of the tables are welded in place but you can move the chairs to accomodate a wheelchair. Most of the chairs in the Casino on the tables can be moved. I only played one hand here and lost so I moved on immediately, gambling is not my strong suit (pun intended).

In the Lido whenever I went there a waiter came over and helped me out immediately with a tray. They would help me find a good table and take my scooter away. At dinner my waiter, Tony and his assistant Joesph would take turns with thescooter or playfully fight over it. They were good for our table of 10.

The Pinnicle was a little harder to get around as they orginally had my table at the back afterother diner's had sat down I could not get to it so we changed tables. So my suggestion here is make your dinner time and chose the table then. I chose one right by the entery to be able to get in and out without problems.

I could not do the Galley Tour as the area is to small with too many turns plus stairs.

Now somethings that were not good as far as I am concerned. I was sitting near one couple who were drinking martinis and beer, they were served twice before I got served once. I drink diet coke or sprite most of time. I do not use coke card so the waiter would get a tip. I sometimes have a drink, but most times I was ignored for the couples. There was one exception to this, a female waitress who always had a smile for me, Mia, Melee or something I don't remember her name (she got an extra tip at the end).

One other problem I had was with one shore Ex in St Thomas. I had booked the Turtle and snorkle tour. When we got on the boat the Capt said we were going to the ship wreck. I asked why. she said that is what paid for. when asking other pax, most said it was shipwreck. Only two others and myself paid for the turtles. The said that is what she was told. I asked if the water at Turtle cove was calm and she said that it was doable but she was told only the morning one was Turtle Cove. I had booked this while in advance, I do understand that weather may change it but that was not the casw here. When I got back I complained to Shore Ex, they gave me the speil that it is the Capt's desion. I told her what the Capt said, she still maintained that If I did not go to Turtle Cove that is not her problem. I explained that I paid for Turtle Cove and if they had informed me I would have cancelled prior to sailing or changed it to morning but my ticket said Turtle cove not ship wreck the others had shipwreck on theirs.

I ordered room service three times. The first time they did not give me utensils or my tea. The second time, the eggs were burnt. The third time, they gave me double of what ever I ordered.

My wheelchair was damaged on the way down, United Air lost one of my foot rests. The wheelchair is still usable but have to wait until Monday to contact the company to repair it.

Disembarkation, because of the group we met in the Ocean Bar and waited there. I would have preferred my room. We met there at 8:15 and did not leave till 9:30. We had arranged a tour of Norfolk to kill time until our 5:30 flight on NWA. When we got to Minnapolis, we were delayed while we waited for flight crew to show up out of Orlando. We arrived in Winnipeg at 11:20 pm. The Baggage Service area was closed so I had to wait until morining to report the damages.

Now some good things. Most of my tours went off very well and were very good. I know I did not get what I wanted but the tour was still good. I snorkle so it was still fun. The snorklers got to laugh at dominica because almost all the land tours got rain and on some heavy. We did not get to shop in San Jaun as we got caught in traffic. We did see the fort and Barrcardis. some of our entertainment staff got caught in the same traffic jam and did not make it back to the ship on time. They were left behind (a volinist and a bass player). They were in the Ocean Bar. The ship entertainment was ok but not as good as Princess or RCCL. This ship is on a low key for entertainment. Most things close early. Most of the action is in the Crow's Nest. They off one show or a movie. The movie is usually not available for late diner's. Sky Captain, King Aruther, Little Black Book.

Club HAL was fun for the handful of kids on board. We had four kids in our group. The parent's said that the Club was good and had a pj party one night for all the kids on board no matter the age (including the 18 month old in our group). I think there was 12 children on board, the youngest 18 months the oldest 12.

Now the burning question, will I do HAl again? Maybe, on a newer ship and a larger one. The Maasdam is not for me, sorry Sail 7 Seas, she's your ship not mine. If the itinary and price were right I might go again but not the Maasdam.

[etoile]

Would it be okay for me to post a thread over in the Disabled Cruise Travel forum directing people to this thread here? I think your review would benefit many people!

[CaptData]

Yes, Etoile. Please do.

[CaptData]

The bad smell was from a heat exchanger which they took off line to repair. This affected 5 cabins mine was the furthest from it. The two in front of my cabin and the two acroos from them. They put air purifiers in for the last two sea day. It set off the fire alarm in one of the rooms on my side (I slept through it). It smelt like burning elecrical things.

Some of theother problems that were fixed immedately were toilet would not flush when I first got in (took 30 mins to repair), The night of the electrical smell my lights kept flickering, They replaced the bulbs on to fixtures, again very fast. On the first night my bathroom light burnt out and it took an hour for someone to come and replace the tubes.

My Waiter (Tony), Asst Waiter (Joesph) and Room Steward (Putu) were all very good and had smiles most of the time. Putu does have trouble with english and gets upset when trying to say some words. But, I found if I smiled it helped him.

On the last night I retrived my eye drops and put them in the ice bucket before dinner. Putu told me that he replaced them in the bucket but they were not there in the evening when I went to put them in. Two hours later another pax, four doors down, brought them to me telling me that they were in his ice bucket. Him and his wife were about to have a night cap when they spotted them. I had already reported the missing eye drops and learned they they do not carry them on board. I told Putu in the morning about it. My advice here is check your ice bucket on the last day if you have not use it and see if there a meds in it.

I did enjoy the trip. I loved Barbados's Turtle Encounter. I snorkled in all stops except for San Jann. The tour of the Fort and Barcardis Factory were good and accessible with a little manuvering. Use of a folding wheelchair is required. You can go into the fort for some nice shots but there are areas that can't be entered (fort was built long before ADA and the US existed, dah). The Rum Factory was nice but you will feel a little tight here and add people it may be more difficult. I used canes here but a folding wheelchair will work. The Yum-Yum Man offered those walking a treat but did not see my bright red scooter, so I asked and received mints. I had to ask almost every night except one. When making my handy cam movie most of the staff smiled and said their names. I have to learn how to down load it first then I'll put it up for all to see. I also took stilss of the room which I will down load soon too. I give this ship a B rating. They are trying but a warning here check which HC you get as some have a lip into the bath area as it was a converted room.

The Maasdam is an older ship that is accessible in the most part. I usually recomend going on newer ships but if you only want a very slow pace and little entertainment then the Maasdam may be a choice for you. They do 10 -11 days itins. It is the Hal line. They sail out of Norfolk so the first and last days will be rough sailing as it is a small ship. Average age this trip 55+.

[Vic The Parrot]

Hi Capt

Sorry to hear of those things that marred your experience on board. Just don't give up on HAL, I'm sure these were only slight glitches on that ship.

Once she's out of drydock, things can only get better.
I'm thinking of doing Hawaii this year on Statendam. Noticed yer off on the Summit to the islands.

We have to share notes.


vic

:-D

[BigBarb]

CaptData a question. When you went snorkeling did you go from the shore or from a boat and if a boat how did you get back in the boat when it was time to leave? I can just jump into the water to get in but can't do anything that requires me to pull myself up and am too big for anybody else too. (Very Bad Knees). Are there any boats that you are aware of that would work for me or am I out of luck? Thanks for the help.BigBarb

[CaptData]

Hi Big Barb. There was one in st kitts where the back of the boat can be lowered in the water so you can get in if you can move your legs up with the water and almost roll in. My legs are weak due to MS (had to remove fins to swim). I was allowed to use a special set of ladders and the guys helped with their hands under my arms.