kikiwik
May 14th, 2006, 06:43 PM
Lets start off by saying this is a review from both Kikiwik and Atomica (aka kim and aaron)
This was Kim's first cruise EVER (a huge occasion), and Aaron's 7th, 4th with HAL. We had booked a BB Guarantee and were more than suprise (read: speechless) to find we'd been put in an S-Suite, cabin 007 on the Starboard side.
We started by driving at 7am from Vancouver to Seattle - it was a very beautiful drive, but at times we thought the road was going to go on forever! Fortunately, the huge semi-trucks whizzing past us kept us alert.
The Veendam was docked at Pier 66. Our docs said Terminal 30; Seattle's Port Authority website said 66. We drove around and managed to figure it out when we saw the Veendam coming into 66, but we heard it created a lot of confusion, with people ending up at the Zaandam by mistake.
Check in was almost a breeze - they couldn't take our picture or do our credit card info because "their systems were down". We were told to line up at the front office to do this.
But! Suite Perks to the rescue! After boarding and being whisked to our "James Bond Suite" (lol :) ) we went to the Neptune Lounge, where Ellry, our concierge, took care of everything for us. He and Kristin, at the front desk, were always happy to see us! We also met our room steward, Mifta, who has to be THE BEST STEWARD EVER - Aaron agrees too! He made me 3 towel animals because I told him how much I liked the first one, and he always made sure to stop and talk to us, even running after Aaron down the stairs with an extra Holland America bag as we were going ashore in Victoria. The stewards in the Ocean bar were really nice too and always laughing and joking with us.
What we found out when we visited the Spa though was very disappointing: the Veendam had been stricken with a Norwalk outbreak since San Blas, and was in Code Red. No hot tubs. No Thermal Beds or Hydro pool. No Casino. Shops open for 5 hours only. Limited lido hours, according to Aaron. Frequently only one side of the lido was open. A little disappointing - I was looking forward to the Hot tubs & Thermal Beds!
We were also surprised to not have a sailaway party from Seattle, or a disembarkation talk. Aaron found out that the disembarkation talk was held before we even got on in Seattle, and not repeated. Those of us boarding in Seattle had to figure it out for ourselves by watching it on TV. A little disappointing. Hardly ever saw the cruise director or his staff. We both weren't very impressed with him - the few times we did see him, it looked like he didn't want to be there. Maybe that's always why he had a drink in his hand ;)
None of this ruined our cruise - we both had a fantastic time (I got sunburned REALLY good in Victoria - and still feeling it!!), and we loved our S-Suite - but we found it was TOO big:eek: . We'll book another verandah guarantee again, but won't be heartbroken if we don't get an S-suite out of it.
It was too short (I didn't want to leave!!). But I am hooked and we're looking at Alaska now!
Aaron and I will be posting pictures later :)
This was Kim's first cruise EVER (a huge occasion), and Aaron's 7th, 4th with HAL. We had booked a BB Guarantee and were more than suprise (read: speechless) to find we'd been put in an S-Suite, cabin 007 on the Starboard side.
We started by driving at 7am from Vancouver to Seattle - it was a very beautiful drive, but at times we thought the road was going to go on forever! Fortunately, the huge semi-trucks whizzing past us kept us alert.
The Veendam was docked at Pier 66. Our docs said Terminal 30; Seattle's Port Authority website said 66. We drove around and managed to figure it out when we saw the Veendam coming into 66, but we heard it created a lot of confusion, with people ending up at the Zaandam by mistake.
Check in was almost a breeze - they couldn't take our picture or do our credit card info because "their systems were down". We were told to line up at the front office to do this.
But! Suite Perks to the rescue! After boarding and being whisked to our "James Bond Suite" (lol :) ) we went to the Neptune Lounge, where Ellry, our concierge, took care of everything for us. He and Kristin, at the front desk, were always happy to see us! We also met our room steward, Mifta, who has to be THE BEST STEWARD EVER - Aaron agrees too! He made me 3 towel animals because I told him how much I liked the first one, and he always made sure to stop and talk to us, even running after Aaron down the stairs with an extra Holland America bag as we were going ashore in Victoria. The stewards in the Ocean bar were really nice too and always laughing and joking with us.
What we found out when we visited the Spa though was very disappointing: the Veendam had been stricken with a Norwalk outbreak since San Blas, and was in Code Red. No hot tubs. No Thermal Beds or Hydro pool. No Casino. Shops open for 5 hours only. Limited lido hours, according to Aaron. Frequently only one side of the lido was open. A little disappointing - I was looking forward to the Hot tubs & Thermal Beds!
We were also surprised to not have a sailaway party from Seattle, or a disembarkation talk. Aaron found out that the disembarkation talk was held before we even got on in Seattle, and not repeated. Those of us boarding in Seattle had to figure it out for ourselves by watching it on TV. A little disappointing. Hardly ever saw the cruise director or his staff. We both weren't very impressed with him - the few times we did see him, it looked like he didn't want to be there. Maybe that's always why he had a drink in his hand ;)
None of this ruined our cruise - we both had a fantastic time (I got sunburned REALLY good in Victoria - and still feeling it!!), and we loved our S-Suite - but we found it was TOO big:eek: . We'll book another verandah guarantee again, but won't be heartbroken if we don't get an S-suite out of it.
It was too short (I didn't want to leave!!). But I am hooked and we're looking at Alaska now!
Aaron and I will be posting pictures later :)