westerdam review may14, 2006

[lorenweeks]

we just got home from the alaska cruise on the westerdam, may 14-21

i had some issues, and some nice comments as well

the route was changed from hubbard glacier to glacier bay, no one could tell me why. hubbard looked on the net to be much more senic, the brochures and web site was never changed, its still the old way

i guess they needed to save some fuel and cut the trip short

the first thing when i opened the room door, was a nice form letter to tell me that i was being charged more due to some bs port tax charge

of course by there own contract, they need to give you 7 days notice to be able to cancel, and they didnt--and yes i would have cancelled --i read numerous horror stories about last minute charges, its a matter of principal for me

ill be fighting that forever, since the- read it off the card -front desk supervisor was sorry--not of any help--but sorry

well then of course we take the best of juneau tour, paid through the web site

too bad we didnt follow the write up on the web site, we werent allowed the 1 hour as advertised, we got 30 minutes, we werent allowed access to the visitor crnter as advertised, the grayline bus driver said thta wa sa seperate admission, instead of spending the time at the glacier, we took a 15 minute bus tour of some lame college on the way to the whale boat

and also the whale boat didnt deploy the adverstised hydraphone so we could hear the whales sing

i spoke with the lame head of tours and got the old, ill look into it and call you asap, i guess ill be waiting forever for that call

room service, we tried it three times, first two times it was delivered cold, and the third time we wanted breakfast before leaving the boat, and they never even picked the card up, so it never was delivered, i give room service a absolute ZERO

main didning room--food was fine--the vibration and noise was unreal, we had a table of 8, and it was extremely hard to hear people sitting across the table from you

vista buffet--very crowded, very slow, food was ok, but always half warm, the serveing line was always very long, and seating was hard to find

entertainment--lets just say when they say vegas style shows, they refer to the fact that at one time these folks rode a bus through vegas

the singer was the typical holiday inn louge type, the magician was pretty good, the commedy lady was fat and had purple hair, and thats all she talked about, and there were some dancers and singers that were also t-shirt sales people that were far less than good,there were very few shows avaible. i gave the entertainment a very low grade

the photo clowns were obnoxious all the time trying to hawk a $20 photo op, i was pestered 300 times to buy overpriced drinks, i surely didnt enjoy the fact that almost every employee was tring to drain your wallet at every turn

internet was 75 cents a minute--what a rip off

the cabin stewart was great, always clean room and all,

the dinner stewart was very good as well

we had a nice cabin

there were lots of nice seating areas indoors to pook out at the scenery going by

ill never ever spend another cent on a hal anything

customer service was zero when it came to their problems, i dont dig the brush off,

[minniegirl]

My husband and I are going on the July 2nd trip and I hope that all of these issues are resolved. We are really looking forward to this trip and I have booked several excursions through the HAL website.:(

[patwell]

Thank you for sharing this info...a tad un-nerving as I'm about to book Westerdam for a Caribbean next year and I've read so many other good things about her and HAL. This will be my first HAL cruise so I'm trying to get as much info as I can.

Could you tell me where you sat in the dining room to have so much vibration and noise? I haven't read that elsewhere and perhaps it will help us choose a sitting.

Thank you, Penny

[nanashirl]

Hope this was just a fluke. All the posts that I have read have stated how good the crew was and that the room service was excellent.
Haven't heard of any extra charges from anyone else cruising now. I think I will call HA and see if the route has been changed from Hubbard to Glacier Bay.
We leave on June 4 on Westerdam and have really been looking forward to it.

[gwenmarie]

We also just returned from this cruise on the Westerdam. The best part of the cruise to me was Glacier Bay. Perfect weather and lots of wildlife,probably our favorite cruise day of 9 cruises,5 on HAL. Our SY suite was wonderful as well, large balcony and room,hugh bathroom as well. Great service in dining room and perfect room service every day not 5 minutes off time requested. As for the disappointments- the dining room was noisy we had table 22 in the back upper,but not noisy every night. The photo gallery ouside the dining room was a very poor plan as the congestion of people leaving the DR or trying to get in was a nightmare. The drinks as always were very light for the price,bring your own, if is not hard to do. The movie theater is terrible and setup only for the new culinary theater they are promoting. The viewing is terrible except straight on in the front row. Waste of space now and did not ever see the free popcorn. MIssed the Java Cafe and do not feel $l for a cup of tea or $1.75 for coffee is a good move on HAL's part,did not see anyone using this new cafe or the Pinnacle Grill. WE learned on our last 33 day cruise from Seattle to Tampa via the Amazon that shore excursions thru HAL is a total waste of money and good luck getting a refund on tours that you are notsatisfied with or do not provide what has been advertised. All in all we enjoyed this cruise and would take it again but on the S type ships, the Veendam was in port with us one day and we longed to trade places. In fairness, the balcony value is much better on the Westerdam but the ship layout is better on the Veendam. Best cabin B205.

[karen2cruz]

Wow - I hope we see some more positive reviews of the ship -This makes me nervous for our first HAL cruise.

[Desdemona01]

Wow - I hope we see some more positive reviews of the ship -This makes me nervous for our first HAL cruise.

Karen, we've been on 5 previous Holland America cruises and have never had any of the problems mentioned above. While we prefer the smaller ships we've sailed on 2 of the vista-class and had a wonderful time on each

[WindyCity]

We sailed on the Westerdam last year and did not experience any of the problems noted by OP. We had lower aft dining and did not hear lots of noise - there was slight vibration, but nothing that would inhibit dining room conversation.

We were on the Zaandam in Alaska and, because of some miscommunication with the forest service, our visit to Mendenhall glacier was cut short, so HAL reimbursed us for the entire shore excursion - it was noted on our Final Bill before leaving the ship. Hard to believe they would not do that on the Westerdam.

[lorenweeks]

Thank you for sharing this info...a tad un-nerving as I'm about to book Westerdam for a Caribbean next year and I've read so many other good things about her and HAL. This will be my first HAL cruise so I'm trying to get as much info as I can.

Could you tell me where you sat in the dining room to have so much vibration and noise? I haven't read that elsewhere and perhaps it will help us choose a sitting.

Thank you, Penny

our normal dinner seat was deck 3 table 45

we also had lunch on deck two just inside the door, so 1/3 of the way to the front of the ship

also very noisy

one couple at our normal dinner table passed on going after the second day, due to the noise

[shipcafe]

Wow doesn't sound like much really COULD have gone right even were it given the chance.

I mean, come on, if the comedian was fat AND had purple hair?? That ALWAYS means trouble . . .

Weren't the "photo clowns" funny enough?

[middle-aged mom]

"i had some issues, and some nice comments as well"

You didn't have very many nice comments at all. I assume you read your cruise documents and passenger contract (http://www.hollandamerica.com/policies/cruise.do), including terms and conditions and money matters (http://www.hollandamerica.com/guests/category.do?category=money&topic=portCharges), prior to final payment and embarkation? It is helpful to avail oneself of this public and easily accessible information at the time of booking.

I'm sorry, but to quote back at you: I give your very lame review an absolute zero.

[gwenmarie]

I think all his issues are valid and he did try to talk to the tour director etc. Unless the entire tour is cancelled, any further discussions are mute. The noise in the DR was very loud at times and I hope the problem has been seen to by now. I know these things happen but when you have other cruise issues this is just another one to add to. We very much enjoyed our cruise due to the daylight cruising and excellent service, but HAL has changed in the last few years with new charges for what was at one time added to the cruise cost. I will still cruise with HAL again but pick my ship carefully. Being able to take Amtrak from Portland to Seattle port was wonderful and I would do the same cruise again next year, so nice to eliminate the airport experience.

[lorenweeks]

"i had some issues, and some nice comments as well"

You didn't have very many nice comments at all. I assume you read your cruise documents and passenger contract (http://www.hollandamerica.com/policies/cruise.do), including terms and conditions and money matters (http://www.hollandamerica.com/guests/category.do?category=money&topic=portCharges), prior to final payment and embarkation? It is helpful to avail oneself of this public and easily accessible information at the time of booking.

I'm sorry, but to quote back at you: I give your very lame review an absolute zero.

do you work for the hal line

or just wish you did

read the contract, why yes i did

it states

i must be given 7 days notice to give me a chance to cancel, if they add any fees on

the notice was on my cabin bed after i was on the ship about 3 hours, and couldnt get to the cabin due to they werent cleaned yet


wheres my 7 day notice mr hal employee?????????

i should have had my notice well before sail day---I WOULD HAVE CANCELLED ON THE SPOT


and i have plenty more truths about the cruise as well

i just didnt mention a majority of them

like for example the closest elevator to my cabin was out of order until the last day---very nice to wait like forever for the extra busy other ones

or for example the smell from the public rest room down the hall from our cabin

or like the other person said it wasnt nosiy every nite in the dinning room, yes but those two nights we were in port and the boat was TIED UP AND NO PROPS WERE TURNING

[sonocruiser]

i recently sailed on the westerdam to alaska on may 7th and had a wonderful time:) . cabin exceeded expectations (4051), room steward awesome, ship very clean. room service was always on time and hot. i had even dropped a set of silverware on the floor and called to request more and it was at my door in less than 2 minutes. we had rough seas on somedays but dining room service was good and i never had any trouble with too much noise. we were seated upper table 93. entertainment was okay but i don't expect vegas quality unless in vegas. my traveling companions and i enjoyed it so much we are looking to possibly to the caribbean on this ship early next year. hope this helps anyone worried about their booking:) .

[RuthC]

Wow. So much anger! And it all starts with an additional fee. How much was the fee? And what was it for?

Could it have been a charge because the ship went to Glacier Bay instead of Hubbard Glacier? And could the ship have skipped Hubbard Glacier because it's so early in the season, and there was too much ice to sail up Yakutat Bay? That's as valid a speculation as to save some fuel and to cut the trip short.
After all, there are only so many permits into Glacier Bay. A cruiseline does not switch to Glacier Bay lightly.

[spendalot]

I was also on this cruise and some of what was posted is accurate. We booked different shore excursions but were also sadly disappointed. On the photo safari we paid around $180.00 pp and were told we would be instructed by a professional photographer. Well we were with one who had been married to a professional photographer, since divorced..... and (quite into themselves). Learned one new trick about taking pictures into the sun. that was it on the instructions.

In addition our boat driver appeared and smelled hung-over as he brought on two of his friends to ride along on the excursions and every time a whale sighting was made his friend and his girlfriend would jump in making it impossible to see the whale. I was wondering if they had paid for the tour, my guess was no. There was a terrible lack of professionalism on our Juneau tour.

Another tour was $197.00pp and slightly better but hal changed planned excursion time. not a big problem but it would have been nice to be notified since we had made other choices that day as well.

My spa reservation was made because I liked the paticular masseause and she sold me on booking another, however her manager took the new reservation away from her and told her I had made the change. ( Probably wanted the xtra nice tip) That is unexcusable. I cancelled all together and choose not to have any additinal services through the spa which I had been considering.

I love Hal and I had a great cruise.The Westerdam and her crew are great, I mean really great. There is no reason for someone to not book Westerdam, people should book and be happy. We will book again.

I have learned that on my next cruise I will avoid the Hal sponsered tours and I will be very careful when it comes to any arrangements made at the spa.

PS the lido was very congested and why dont they do something different with the toast making system? Every person in line has to be held up because one person wants toast so the entire downline stands there waiting for the one persons toast to pop up so the line could move again.

Also we were informed that the new beverage manager Fernandos who I wants his wait staff to push drinks and that after each cruise he commends them if they sold alot or reprimands them if they did not sell very much. ( Like those studid drink cards and mugs). Kinda scary for the wait staff because he determines thier fate on the ship and requires that they get in the guests face to sell sell sell. So in that respect I dont feel it is the wait staffs fault. I would hate to see some of them get kicked off the ship based on his approach.

Hal and Westerdam are good.

[nodumblond]

We also just returned from the Westerdam May 14th sailing. (Hi, Spendalot! ;) )

Our trip itinerary had always stated we were going to Glacier Bay, unlike the brochure. I just assumed that it was too early for Hubbard Bay.

And unless I read my detailed shipcard account printout incorrectly (yes, I'm one of those people who goes through it line by line!), unless they made a mistake on mine, they actually CREDITED us the $12.25 per person for the difference in port charges. Regardless, it was a relatively small amount, and understandable given how sometimes governments add surcharges, or delay setting fees, at the drop of a hat.

We were on the lower level of the Vista Dining Room, at a table directly by a window facing aft, and did not find the noise or vibration an issue. The Lido buffet was often busy, especially right after embarkation from a port, but a wee bit of walking often yielded seats.

I can't speak to the Queen's Lounge; the internet (why surf the 'net when you can look at the spectacular scenery?); or room service. The entertainment, with the exception of the comedienne, who we found hilarious, was unremarkable; we often 'skipped' from one venue to another. If this was your first cruise, lorenweeks, then you should know that often the dancers and singers do double duty in retail or other entertainment venues (bingo, for example); many times, they are recent college graduates from performing arts programs throughout the US (the cruise lines routinely audition for students throughout the school year). I believe that "Vegas-style" refers to the revue-type of show, not the resume of the performers.

As for the ever-present photographers, we found that they always respected our requests to not have our pictures taken if we expressed that. And you are never required to purchase the pictures they take.

As for the HAL-sponsored shore excursions, as we did our own research on cruisecritic and went out on our own, I can't comment. The one HAL excursion I booked with my mon when we were in Alaska five years ago was quite pleasant and satisfactory.

I'm sorry that you found your week in the spectacular world that is Alaska so unpleasant. While there are some elements of our sailing that could have used improvement (the glacial speed of the ketchup spickets in the Lido, the lack of time to properly explore Ketchikan and Victoria), we had a wonderful time enjoying the cuisine, people, and experiences of our ports of call, and wouldn't have missed it for the world. Remember that things can always be better -- but always be worse, too . Consider the sailing the week before ours had 20-foot seas sailing north to Glacier Bay, whereupon they encountered 30 degree weather and rain turning to snow!

May I suggest for those who were dissatisfied with the description versus delivery of the shore excursions that you share your dissatisfaction in writing (not by email) to HAL's headquarters? Believe it or not, when companies get politely but clearly worded letters expressing understandable disappointment with an element of an experience, they actually do read them. The more they receive, the more they can learn that such excursions may need 'review.'

Best wishes for happy sailing in the future.

[patwell]

Thank you Lorenweeks for your response to my question. I'm sorry your experience wasn't what you hoped it would be.

I'm just curious from you experienced HAL cruisers, is this the norm for shore excursions booked through HAL? Specifically the Caribbean as that's where we plan to go next year. I'd be inclined to take the ship sponsored trips in the event of a problem so the ship wouldn't leave. But if they are less than professional then that's an issue and I'd have to rethink my plan.

The entertainment isn't a big item with us...we tend to enjoy quiet evenings and aren't into reviews or comics. And if the waiters are being told to push drinks, I'm going to be a huge disappointment to some poor person...I don't drink at all!

thank you all for your comments...it's helpful to a new HAL person like me to get different perspectives and even though Alaska is not in our plans, the Westerdam is and I appreciate information about her. Cheers, Penny

[sonocruiser]

And unless I read my detailed shipcard account printout incorrectly (yes, I'm one of those people who goes through it line by line!), unless they made a mistake on mine, they actually CREDITED us the $12.25 per person for the difference in port charges. Regardless, it was a relatively small amount, and understandable given how sometimes governments add surcharges, or delay setting fees, at the drop of a hat.

i was also credited 12.25 per person, not charged.

[sonocruiser]

quote
Remember that things can always be better -- but always be worse, too . Consider the sailing the week before ours had 20-foot seas sailing north to Glacier Bay, whereupon they encountered 30 degree weather and rain turning to snow!

this was the sailing i was on and as i said earlier we had a great time. we just considered it part of the adventure. although two of my friends may not consider their trips to the restroom a highlight of the trip:D .

[karen2cruz]

Nodumblond-thank you for your reasonable response. We always hope for the best but expect there to be changes, or glitches, on every cruise (or vacation, for that matter).

We too have learned to book our own independent excursions, where possible. I am a little hesitant, being our first time to Alaska, and our first HAL cruise, to know what to expect.

Looking forward to our Westerdam August cruise.

[arzz]

Spendalot -- I would like to know more about the photosafari -- this is the only HAL excursion that we have booked for the June 11 Westerdam cruise and we still have time to cancel -- besides the lack of the promised professional photographer, how was the experience? Did they produce, as promised, many great photographic vistas? Was the group really limited to 14? Did you see anything spectacular? Or was that also oversold. Any forthcoming advice would be welcome and thanks in advance.

[arzz]

If the OP is to be belived that they are putting on the pressure on the Westerdam to sell drinks I will be VERY disappointed. One of the characteristics of HAL that has caused us to continually return is their lack of pressure, as well as their fine service -- reminiscent of some of the more classic cruises that we took years ago. We only sailed NCL and Royal Caribbean once each because of the constant pressure to buy. On Royal Caribbean if we wanted a beverage other than the melting, overpriced "drink of the day" in the freebie glass we had to approach a bar ourselves and get it ourselves -- such was the pressure to purchase expensive alcohol concoctions. I will be on the Westerdam on June 11 and if I feel the pressure, you can be sure that it will be duly noted on my comment card -- and I suggest the same to others. If it is true that the waiters are being pressured to behave this way, if HAL reads from MANY cruisers that this in particular was a turn off I would suspect that the behavior will disappear.

[lorenweeks]

And unless I read my detailed shipcard account printout incorrectly (yes, I'm one of those people who goes through it line by line!), unless they made a mistake on mine, they actually CREDITED us the $12.25 per person for the difference in port charges. Regardless, it was a relatively small amount, and understandable given how sometimes governments add surcharges, or delay setting fees, at the drop of a hat.

i was also credited 12.25 per person, not charged.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

sorry folks

the accounting blunder that hal uses fooled a lot of people

do the math again

you will see a credit of minus $12 something

thats a charge folks

they stole $25 from each cabin, and you never even saw it

yes they are slick

when i went to the front desk to protest about it, they had a laminated platic card with the rule on it

i showed them my contract with the proper info about the 7 days notice

that got me the sorry sayings

and the same ignorant stare as the head of shore excursions gave me


hey anyone

whats a las vegas style show as the hal brochure shows


and anyone who has a hal brochure also look at the sail dates and notice hubbard glacier for may 7 and 14

maybe youall can pass it off that they do these things

i will not

i have lots of places to spend my vacation money

hal will never get another cent

if you enjoy this treatment, thats up to you

i just wish someone would have posted the truth about hal and their tactics, so i woudlnt get involved with them

why use internet on a boat

well some of us like to check in on line and print boarding passes to aviod missing a plane due to schedule changes, and alos long lines at the ticket counter

[arzz]

lorenweeks -- I am truly sorry that your cruise was not what you wished it to be -- and that you were disappointed by various occurences

Your extreme anger is VERY apparent -- I hope I do not get flamed for this -- but after many years of traveling I have learned that if I do not allow for some flexibility in the ebb and flow of a vacation I end up having had no vacation at all as I have been angry the whole time. Possibly, cruising is not for you as there are many unpredictable things that can happen on a ship.

[RedmondCruiser]

Wow -- So Much Hostility ?? Though I prefer the Hubbard Glacier -- Glacier Bay is spectacular and should be appreciated. For those who are about to take their first HAL or Westerdam cruise, HAL and the crew of the Westerdam do a fantasic job. We have taken 26 HAL cruises and just got off the Westerdam on a 21 day Panama Canal Cruise and the crew did a GREAT JOB.

I'm sorry that you did not enjoy your cruise but other people do have a great time. Possibly you should spend three times the money on SeaBorn and have "possibly" a better time.

I do wish you well.

[refman]

it`s amazing that so many negative problems can happen to one person, i think there`s alot of overreaction here. it`s almost impossible for all that to happen to one person, i`ll bet there are many pax and staff will be alot happier knowing some people won`t spend any money on HAL again. let`s make the bet 12 dollars.way to much anger over such a small amount of money.

[hawkette64]

I was also on the May 14 sailing, hi spendalot and nodumblond!! I'm sorry the OP did not enjoy their cruise. I knew we were headed to Glacier Bay and I also received the $12.25 additional charge per person, it was confusing on the bill. Glacier Bay was amazing, the highlight of our cruise. We ordered room service once and it was hot and on time. The waiters would ask once, but if you refused drinks as we often did, they did not ask again. Our room steward was awesome. We had late dinner seating, and the four hour time difference did not work for us, so we often ate at the Lido buffet. Lines could get long at times, at other times there would be no one there. If you don't drink coffee or tea, I suggest you take your own juice or soft drinks ;). I did not notice the noise in the dining room, we had upper dining at the back of the ship. We did not book any HAL excursions....was very easy to get around each town on the city buses or pick up city tours at the dock. Because I was still on MI time and up at 4 am every day, we did not see much of the entertainment...but did enjoy the dancers and singers. I booked Alaska to see the scenery and was not disappointed. The staff was all very friendly and efficient, and we would not hesitate to book the Westerdam again.

[Msmlo]

I was on the 5/14 sailing as well. Hi Spendalot, Nodumblonde, and Hawkette. First let me say that we had the best time on this cruise. Glacier Bay was the an incredible site to see. I was never under the impression we were going to Hubbard Glacier.:rolleyes: The weather was great, a little rainy here and there.

I will agree with the lines being too long at the Lido. We took a couple laps around to look for a table and eventually went back to our cabin. It was frustrating. The dining room wasn't loud for us. Food was good. Room service was always on time if not a bit early.

As for excursions, we booked our own. I don't think anyone had worse luck than I did on their excursion. We booked a floatplane ride out of Ketchikan. The ride was great, until we landed on the lake. We all got out to take pictures of the beautiful waterfall when... my brand new camcorder fell out of my pocket and into the lake. $350 down the drain. The extra $12 charge isn't something I'm going to cry over. $350, I did.:(

All in all, we had a great trip. Westerdam is a great ship.

Michelle

[Crazy]

I will be going on the Westerdam on the June 11 cruise. It will be my first time on the Westerdam and am looking forward to it. I prefer Holland America and am looking forward to this trip. I am somewhat concerned at the the "tours" booked thru Holland America (as the op points out) -- I have nevered had this problem with the tours and like I said I have been on many Holland America cruises.

I will most certainly post my review of my trip when I return.

Emily

[Williebill]

I have to agree with everything Sonocruiser said. I too was on the 5/7/06 cruise and had a wonderful time. I'm glad Sonocruiser chimed in because after reading some of the other comments, I thought that I must have been on a different ship named the Westerdam. As far as room service, my DW and I enjoyed it each and every morning; plus, breakfast was brought at the time I designated on the card and was never late. We took our dinner in the dining room lower aft and never had any problems communicating with others at our table. I agree that the Lido does get crowded but I really was never in a hurry since I knew I was on vacation. I did have a problem with the small tea glasses as I have stated in another thread on this board; I consider that very minor. As for the waiters hawking drinks, I certainly didn't think they were in my face;as a matter of fact, I've been on other cruises where you couldn't take more than a few steps without being asked if you wanted a drink. I never had any problem with the wait staff on this cruise.

I have tried to take an Alaskan voyage three previous times and everytime something would prevent my wife and I from going. This trip health problems almost prevented us from going a fourth time. After all that, I felt this trip was fantastic and I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I'm glad that I can enjoy a trip like this and not be critical about anything that may not be perfect. I just relax and enjoy my time at sea. Isn't that the reason we go on these trips?

[Williebill]

By the way, the additional charge that HAL added was for added port charges that the state of Alaska began charging this season. I would imagine that HAL would have been happier if the Alaskan powers-that-be had given them this information earlier; I'm sure it's embarrassing for HAL to place a notice in each stateroom telling passengers of the additional moneys they will have to charge pay these additional port charges. I'm sure they would rather charge all port charges at the time of booking.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Soory to hear that your cruise didn't turn out very well.

[DenNJill]

I too am sorry to hear that the OP's cruise did not turn out as they had hoped. The OP seemed exasperated from the moment the extra charges were added - perhaps that is what set off the negative feelings throughout the entire cruise?...

We will be sailing on June 11 on the Westerdam and did quite a bit of homework prior to booking the Westerdam ~ our choice was based on great reviews. I am planning on enjoying the cruise ... am sure nothing will be 100% as planned or perfect, but since vacations are so few and far between I'm going to enjoy it ~ period!

[sarahjane]

We were on the same cruise Westerdam 5/14-21, and came away feeling exactly as Lorenweeks did. I was waiting for someone else to post the review because I wasn't sure how to approach it.
We experienced ALL of the negative things he reported, plus a few more. All requests and/or complaints were met with indifference. Never once did ANYONE go "beyond the call" to make the experience better.
We have cruised many times on RCI and once on Windstar. From what we had heard and read, we expected HAL to be a step above our previous cruise experiences, but we were sorely disappointed.

Some of the things that are NOT better on HAL compared to RCI:

The food (both in the dining room and the buffet area) The first night my DH had the salmon and it was FULL of bones -- he couldn't even eat it. When he brought it up, the person said "well, it comes that way." No offer for another entree, nothing!
The buffet was disappointing, unless you like eating basically the same thing every day. The choices were very limited and not much variation from day to day. Plus, they ran out of everything HOURS before the buffet was supposed to close, and they would not re-stock. I mean, if they were to be open from 11:30 to 5:00 (the deli area) they would be out of half the items by 1:00 and too bad for you! Others have already posted about the long slow lines in this area. That is never an issue on RCI. You don't have to wait in a 20 minute line to get one item at the end of that line. You just go directly to the thing you want and get it.

The service (RCI staff are way more friendly and acommodating) You always got the feeling that you were being a pain in their butt if you asked for anything that was not already on your plate or on your table. Or else they would just say "it doesn't come with that" -- RCI bends over backward to bring you ANYTHING you want - sometimes before you even think of wanting it!

The ship -- Westerdam was not nicer or better than any RCI ship we have been on. The general staff all over the ship did not seem to like their jobs very much. Nor did they try to hide it.

The ONLY thing we found about HAL that is perhaps better than RCI was the beds...yes they are truly wonderful.

Of course, it's impossible to NOT have fun in Alaska! Alaska is a fabulous itinerary, even though we also prefer Hubbard to Glacier Bay. And ANY cruise is better than NO cruise! We just found we were not happy or impressed with HAL or Westerdam, it did not live up to the reputation of being better than RCI, so we will be going back to RCI.

If anyone has specific questions about anything, I'll try to answer.

happy wednesday!
sarahjane

[lorenweeks]

thats funny, we also had the boney salmon and sent it back to get another item

i love the thats the way it came excuse

im a diabetic, so i didnt gloom down 38 deserts like most of the rest

i ordered a cheese and cracker plate for desert, of cousre it was contain cheese, crackers and assorted dried fruit

of cousre no crackers but i was offered dinner rolls

and no dried fruit, it wasnt unpacked yet i was told

but then by the 5th day, they had crackers

all graham crackers of course

does anyone in the world eat cheese on graham crackers??

yes i was put off big time by the extra bs charge at that was laid on the bed, like a thief in the night

but we all paid top dollar for this experience, and i think it fell well short of the mark

[gaunerdog]

And unless I read my detailed shipcard account printout incorrectly (yes, I'm one of those people who goes through it line by line!), unless they made a mistake on mine, they actually CREDITED us the $12.25 per person for the difference in port charges. Regardless, it was a relatively small amount, and understandable given how sometimes governments add surcharges, or delay setting fees, at the drop of a hat.

I was also credited 12.25 per person, not charged.


I think that if you look at your stateroom charges,you will see a credit of -12.25 which in fact charges you this amount rather than a debit as other charges were listed.
I also sailed this cruise and was expecting to travel to Glacier Bay rather than Hubbard Glacier. Some of the brochures did list Hubbard but I had this clarified before the trip. There were several negatives that I am in agreement. I also disdained the Cruise Director. He had the personality of an old leather wallet. We did stand in line for 3 different photographs on the first formal nite and there was no way to avoid them other than saying "no"and passing through to the dining room. Also I had responded to another post that the Goldrush Baked Alaska was a joke. Food overall was less than experienced previously and the Lido was much too crowded for lines and seating. Due to late excursions in Victoria,HAL should be better prepared for the larger crowds. Also, the food quality suffered greatly on the last evening in the Lido and Late night snack(no silverware). Overall you can't beat Alaska for an itinerary, though. I will however go back to RCCL and Celebrity before attempting to book another HAL cruise.

[HALOnlyCruiser]

I am really sorry for lorenweeks et. al. bad cruise experience. There are folks who love cruising, and those who try it once and decide it's not for them. As my dad always said, "Difference of opinion makes horse races." And someone's review of a cruise...good or bad...is only that...their opinion. Input is valuable and forewarned is forearmed, but I wouldn't let it color my expectations of the experience.
P. S. My daughter will attend the "lame college" in the fall. It really is a beautiful campus, and a great school for its size.

[sonocruiser]

I think that if you look at your stateroom charges,you will see a credit of -12.25 which in fact charges you this amount rather than a debit as other charges were listed.
I also sailed this cruise and was expecting to travel to Glacier Bay rather than Hubbard Glacier. Some of the brochures did list Hubbard but I had this clarified before the trip. There were several negatives that I am in agreement. I also disdained the Cruise Director. He had the personality of an old leather wallet. We did stand in line for 3 different photographs on the first formal nite and there was no way to avoid them other than saying "no"and passing through to the dining room. Also I had responded to another post that the Goldrush Baked Alaska was a joke. Food overall was less than experienced previously and the Lido was much too crowded for lines and seating. Due to late excursions in Victoria,HAL should be better prepared for the larger crowds. Also, the food quality suffered greatly on the last evening in the Lido and Late night snack(no silverware). Overall you can't beat Alaska for an itinerary, though. I will however go back to RCCL and Celebrity before attempting to book another HAL cruise.

i may be wrong about the 12.25 and i no longer have the paper to check. so i will retract what i said about being credited since i can no longer be 100% sure. either way a small surcharge like that wouldn't upset me. i got to know many of the activites staff and they all seemed to enjoy their jobs-my opinion. i can't comment on any baked alaska dessert beccause i don't care for those kinds of desserts. i do agree that the lido can get very crowded. our group just kept circling until a table was found and one of us would sit down till someone else from our group came back. i think some of the problem with the lido is that during the busy times, after people are done eating, they continue to sit and visit. i'm not saying people should eat and run but when others are waiting to sit down it would be considerate to move your conversation to a different loung area.

[Grumpy1]

The OP made a big thing of the $12.25 additional charge and the "fact" that according to the contract, he should have been notified before the cruise and could have cancelled. The OP is basing that claim on the terms of section B.1. of the contract that deals with additions to the FARE. There was no addition to the fare. Read the next paragraph, B.1.b. "your Cruise fare includes a "Non-Discountable Amount"" It states:

In addition to your cruise fare, you will also be charged an amount for Taxes. That term, as used by us,includes certain taxes, fees and charges imposed by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, including port authorities, relating to any aspect of your cruise or tour. If governmental action results in ANY element of Taxes exceeding the estimates used by us for purposes of computing the quoted amount, we reserve the right to pass through the extra amount. Similarly, we reserve the right to pass through fuel surcharges, security surcharges or similar incidental surcharges. NO RIGHT OF CANCELLATION EXISTS UNDER EITHER OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

It seems to me that OP owes those hardworking people at the front desk an apology for harrassing them over a fee that was clearly within the right of HAL to impose.

You can't just pick and choose the terms of the contract that you want to apply to you and ignore the others.

[lorenweeks]

The OP made a big thing of the $12.25 additional charge and the "fact" that according to the contract, he should have been notified before the cruise and could have cancelled. The OP is basing that claim on the terms of section B.1. of the contract that deals with additions to the FARE. There was no addition to the fare. Read the next paragraph, B.1.b. "your Cruise fare includes a "Non-Discountable Amount"" It states:

In addition to your cruise fare, you will also be charged an amount for Taxes. That term, as used by us,includes certain taxes, fees and charges imposed by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, including port authorities, relating to any aspect of your cruise or tour. If governmental action results in ANY element of Taxes exceeding the estimates used by us for purposes of computing the quoted amount, we reserve the right to pass through the extra amount. Similarly, we reserve the right to pass through fuel surcharges, security surcharges or similar incidental surcharges. NO RIGHT OF CANCELLATION EXISTS UNDER EITHER OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

It seems to me that OP owes those hardworking people at the front desk an apology for harrassing them over a fee that was clearly within the right of HAL to impose.

You can't just pick and choose the terms of the contract that you want to apply to you and ignore the others.

but i gaurentee that i can paick ans choose where my next vacation $$ will go, and it will enver be hal again

and as for the charge

my credit card company will help me with that one

i will win, i am correct

had hal been above board and notified people of the change, that would be different, then drop a note on your bed after your on the ship, is purely underhanded and dishonest at best

and yes i wrote disputed bill on the statement at the front desk

i also disputed the charge for the tour that they didnt come through on as advertised

tyhe rest of youall may just lay down and take a screwing in the wallet, i will not

[sarahjane]

Wow, lorenweeks! Are you SURE you're not my DH in disguise??!:D Believe me when I say he was as disgusted as you sound. I am not as easily disturbed, but I have to agree with most of what you (and he) have objected to. As we both stated (from virtually the first day of the trip) HAL is not the "upgrade" from RCI as represented in their image.
Hopefully for everyone else, our experience is a "one-time thing" but one time was enough for us!

sarahjane

[watchdiva]

maybe the OP boarded AFTER a change of crew. We sailed March 06 on the Westerdam and felt that the crew was in our opinion top notch. The only area we have no experience with was the Lido (we don't "do" buffet on vacation - I like to be served;) ). In all other areas, photographers, front desk people, cabin stewards, etc., we had no complaints. I remember my mother telling me more than 50 years ago, if you treat people with kindness and respect YOU will be treated that way in return. I try to live by that *****. It's the opinion of DH and I that whatever cruise line we're sailing is that the staff wants us to enjoy our experience and will do what they can to make that happen.

I'm sorry that the OP didn't enjoy her trip - but I'm glad that I wasn't standing behind her in line at the Front Desk since (if she was as angry then as her posts come across now) - it would have been upsetting to us to hear her exchanges with the various individuals.

Maybe their next cruise will go smoother............

[funcorn]

I was on the May 7 sailing on Westerdam (my first time on HAL, but my 8th cruise). It was one of my favorite cruises. Nothing is perfect, but I wouldn't hesitate AT ALL booking this cruise. Yes, the Lido restaurant was crowded, but this is not unusual for ANY ship during meal times. I can't really speak about the ship-sponsored excursions. I usually book independently because of the higher cost on the ships. The "fat, purple-haired comedian" was Julie Barr and I thought she was hilarious. She was a very interesting lady, talking to her when she wasn't "on". Some people just see the glass half full instead of half empty. Glacier Bay was great! and since I hadn't seen either Hubbard or Glacier Bay, I can't really make a comparision of the two. It's a shame that the OP's trip was ruined because of those things mentioned. We used room service several times and had no complaints--even when they told us there would be a 45 minute delivery time because of the large numbers of passengers who were seasick the 2nd night (Monday)--and I don't blame HAL for this because sometimes seas are rough. We only ate in the DR 3 times but the meals were very good. They even have a separate vegetarian menu if you ask for it. The DR was a bit noisy, but then there were a lot of people in there at once (except Monday when they were all in their cabins eating green apples and tea:))

[Grumpy1]

but i gaurentee that i can paick ans choose where my next vacation $$ will go, and it will enver be hal again
and that is your right. Considering that you would go into any future HAL cruise with a big chip on your shoulder, it's probably best for you and HAL that you take your dollars elsewhere.

and as for the charge

my credit card company will help me with that one

i will win, i am correct

The only way you will "win" is if HAL decides it isn't worth the effort to enforce the contract. By the terms of the contract, HAL is correct. Personally, I do not care for people that pursue trivial complaints when clearly they are wrong but just want to prove a point.

had hal been above board and notified people of the change, that would be different, then drop a note on your bed after your on the ship, is purely underhanded and dishonest at best

It may not have been handled in the best possible manner, but dishonest? No, I would call your attempt to violate the terms of the conrtract dishonest.

and yes i wrote disputed bill on the statement at the front desk

i also disputed the charge for the tour that they didnt come through on as advertised

I actually agree with you there. Although HAL subcontracts the tours and does not have control over many aspects of the tour, they do have a responsibility to see that you receive what you paid for. I know people that have received refunds for tours that were far less than advertised. whether yours falls into that category is between you and HAL, but I would probably complain too, if it was as bad as you say it was.

tyhe rest of youall may just lay down and take a screwing in the wallet, i will not.
You will never see me lay down and take a screwing in my wallet, either. But I will know whereof I speak before I make a scene. You may be 100% correct about all of the other issues, but the fact that you chose to make such an issue of something where you are clearly wrong destroys any chance of sympathy from me.


I hope your next cruise, on whatever line, meets all of your expectations.

[refman]

it`s truly amazing how somebody can let something like a few bucks ruin what could of been a great experience. sometimes admitting you made a mistake is ok. it sounds as though somebody might need a nap or a pacifier!

[nodumblond]

and as for the charge

my credit card company will help me with that one

i will win, i am correct <snip>

tyhe rest of youall may just lay down and take a screwing in the wallet, i will not

With all due respect:

First, I truly hope your credit card company DOESN"T support your dispute of the additional port fees. It was clearly within the rights of the line to add it to the bill, as your contract of carriage states. If you wish to NEVER experience this again, perhaps you should find a differentl way to vacation.

Second, the aggressively impolite language and attitude towards those of us who may not have shared your experience is neither necessary nor appreciated. This is meant to be an open forum of polite discourse and information sharing; scatalogical comments reflect badly on you, and you alone.

In addition, if that is the attitude with which you approached the front office staff (or anyone else, for that matter), it might explain the (perceived or real) lack of response you may have received in return. When I have had a problem needing to be addressed, I have always found my results greatly improved by using a polite but firm manner -- and when having been approached to solve problems by unhappy customers, I always was more receptive to someone who was professional and respectful of me as a human being. (And yes, I have been on both sides of that particular fence.)

Again, I am sorry that you did not find HAL or the cruise up to your expectations and hope that you find the vacation expereience you seek in the future. Clearly, the trip was not perfect, but we respect your experiences and opinions and your right to express them; please respect everyone else's as well.

[refman]

nodumblond,
perfectly worded!

[kletskop]

I was on theWesterdam May 7th cruise and although this was my first cruise ever and can't compare we had a great time. Yes the $12.50 per person was a bit confusing, when we got the statement credit vs debit, so what! A whopping 25 bucks did not spoil our vacation. The room service was great every morning delivered right on time. Everything was cold and hot that should have been with the exeption of the toast the frist morning.

The lady with the purple hair, Julie Barr, was helerious and fun and nice to talk to when we would see her after hours. The cruise director was pretty funny also and had a great personality.

The dining room service was outstanding!! Especially Ms Michels, from Holland, who is one of the diningroom managers. She made sure that everything was taken care off and stopped by for a small chat every night. One of the nights we missed, decided to eat at the Lido, the traditional Dutch Night and I was kind off bumbed that we missed it. I love Indonesion food since I am from Holland. Ms. Michels said no problem I will make sure that you will get Nasi Goreng tommorrow. Well guess what? The next night I was served Nasi Goreng complete with Sate and Kroepoek shrimp chips I never asked fro it and never had to remind them. How is that for service. Every night we had our drink or wine wating for us and it was not noisy to us in the dining room. We had first seatin 5.30 upper level table 53 in the back on port side.

Some of you might have noticed me I am 6ft 6 since I was wearing my bright orange and blak "Holland" soccer jacket.

The Lido was indeed a bit crowded , but what do you expect for a buffet restaurant. The regular diningroom was also available for luch and b'fast if I am not msistaken.

The only disapointment for me was the desert extravaganza night. To me all the desert were extremely dry for my taste.

Some of the tours were not what we expected like the Sitka bike and hike was a major diapointment and I don't recommend this excursion to anyone! Unless you like to hop on a bike, ride it for 20 minutes on a strecth of road that is under comnstruction and walk for another 30 miutes and then, well thats all. Oh yah they give you a chocalate candy bar.

Also we did the Best of Juneau tour that includes the whale and wildlfe watching, Salmon Bake and Mendehall Glaicie. The disapointment is the Mendehall Glacier portion where you get at the most 30 minutes. I recommend do not got to the visitor center first, because you will not have enough time to take the walk to the galcier.

We had a great cruise, but can't personally compare to others since this was our first.

[lorenweeks]

I

Also we did the Best of Juneau tour that includes the whale and wildlfe watching, Salmon Bake and Mendehall Glaicie. The disapointment is the Mendehall Glacier portion where you get at the most 30 minutes. I recommend do not got to the visitor center first, because you will not have enough time to take the walk to the galcier.

im sure if you read the ad for the best of juneau it clearly states one hour at the mendehall glacier, followed by the whale boat and then the salmon lunch

and also the ad states you get to enjoy the visitor center

the bus driver told us, 30 minutes and the visitor center was a seperate admission

well we didnt get the glacier tour we paid for, but we definately got to ride around in the parking lot of some alaksa college

i suppose you didnt complain either

i know for a fact 5 people on my bus did go to the shore desk and express concerns

and they got the same dumb blank stre and the same promise i got to look into it and call the cabin

well that call never came

hal took the money for the shore excursions, they are responsible for its content

they owe everyone somw type of refund


also did your whale boat out the hydraphone down to listen to whales as the ad says

ours sure didnt

i guess thatw as an extra charge as well

[zelker]

Rather than waste time and energy re: your additional port charge or whatever it was due to the change in itinerary (which I have to agree is well within HAL's rights per the contract), what you CAN do is dispute what you paid for your shore excursion (if in fact that was paid for with your card). If you did not get the services you paid for, I know at least VISA will let you dispute those charges.

Sorry you didn't enjoy your Westerdam experience. We are leaving this coming Sunday and are very excited. We sailed on her second voyage (May 2004) in Europe, our first cruise ever, and it was a stellar trip in every sense of the word. We chose HAL for this trip specifically because of that first experience and anticipate it will be repeated.

Our cruise on Celebrity this past Thanksgiving, however, left some things to be desired and I wasn't terribly impressed with their customer service on board or at the home office. So your experience isn't limited to HAL by any means. I bet if you poll enough people, you will find someone to complain about every ship/company out there. It's not a perfect world (and this from a perfectionist!).

[kryos]

MIssed the Java Cafe and do not feel $l for a cup of tea or $1.75 for coffee is a good move on HAL's part,did not see anyone using this new cafe or the Pinnacle Grill. WE learned on our last 33 day cruise from Seattle to Tampa via the Amazon that shore excursions thru HAL is a total waste of money and good luck getting a refund on tours that you are notsatisfied with or do not provide what has been advertised.
I agree to some degree with your evaluation of HAL shore excursions. In some cases, they are way too high priced for what you get. In Raiteria I took a bus tour to a marae. Paid something like $79. On the buses, all you could hear were comments like "I paid $79 for this?" It was an open air bus ... hard wooden bench seats ... no air conditioning ... the buses were actually the same ones used to transport the children to school during the week. Once at the marae, we got an informative talk and some fruit and water. That's it. I think that tour would have been a good one priced at maybe $39 ... but $79? For what we got? Of course, as was your experience, no refunds were issued. "The brochure says open air bus," the shore excursion lady advised us ... when there was this huge line at the shore excursion desk asking for a refund.

But then ... on the other hand ... some people attended a luau in Honolulu and got royally ripped off. The place was packed ... they clearly overbooked this event ... and some people had absolutely no view of the stage from where they sat. The food was supposedly horrible and barely edible, probably because it took so long to get everyone served that it got cold sitting out. The show, which was why many people booked ... they could have probably dealt with the crappy food ... had to be cut short because it rained. All in all, a lot of complaining passengers when those buses returned to the ship. I believe everyone was given a 25% refund on that excursion ... though if the trip was that bad, I don't think I would have been satisfied with anything less than 50%.

After my trip this past January on the Amsterdam, and having booked mostly HAL shore excursions for the entire 30-day voyage, I think in the future I will be a bit more adventuresome and book my own independently. I think in most cases you get far more value for your dollar than you do when you go "cattle car" with 200 of your closest friends. However, I will say that in some cases booking on your own is not really possible ... at least not for popular activities like snorkling or very popular sightseeing tours. If a tour provider has two boats for snorkling trips, frequently the cruise line will actually charter those boats for its tour participants. Therefore, even if the cost to book independently would be cheaper, you won't be able to get a reservation for the day your ship is in port because the cruise line will have the boats locked up. You either book through them, or you don't go at all. This is what we encountered in Maui with a snorkling excursion. A few of the people onboard the Pacific Whale Foundation boat were grousing about how much they paid for the trip ... compared to what it normally sold for. But, they said that when they went to book it independently, they found that they could only book the whale watching tour ... no snorkling on that trip. Why? Because the two boats they used for the snorkling trip were chartered out to HAL for that day. Gotcha!

As for the Explorations Cafe and the coffee drinks, my experience on the Amsterdam was much different. Lots of people, including myself, were patronizing that bar. The specialty coffees were not the same thing you could get say up in the Lido ... they were clearly premium drinks ... and lots of people were buying them. The price, at least to me, was very, very reasonable.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kletskop]

im sure if you read the ad for the best of juneau it clearly states one hour at the mendehall glacier, followed by the whale boat and then the salmon lunch

and also the ad states you get to enjoy the visitor center

the bus driver told us, 30 minutes and the visitor center was a seperate admission Ours was not a seperate admission. We got a ticket stub on the bus fron the guide and this was the admisson in. No extra charge. I guess you got screwed.

well we didnt get the glacier tour we paid for, but we definately got to ride around in the parking lot of some alaksa college

i suppose you didnt complain either
Of course I complained to the tour director, but got the same blow of answer like everyone else I assume gets. Did not let it ruin my trip however.

i know for a fact 5 people on my bus did go to the shore desk and express concerns

and they got the same dumb blank stre and the same promise i got to look into it and call the cabin

well that call never came

hal took the money for the shore excursions, they are responsible for its content

they owe everyone somw type of refund


also did your whale boat out the hydraphone down to listen to whales as the ad says
No it did not, but actually did not remember until you reminded me on this board. Mabe the bad weather had something to do with it. Did enjoy the tour however

ours sure didnt

i guess thatw as an extra charge as well

Our trip started with the boat tour, Mendehall Glacier, Salmon bake. Slighty different order than yours.

[InvestiGator]

My wife and I sailed on the 5/7 Westerdam. It was without question the best of our combined 12 cruises on several cruiselines despite the cold and rough seas. It amazes me how some cruisers expect perfection and allow relatively petty issues ruin their vacations. A meltdown over $12.50 reminds me of Captain Queeg's strawberries. Sheesh.

[Williebill]

We were on the same cruise Westerdam 5/14-21, and came away feeling exactly as Lorenweeks did. I was waiting for someone else to post the review because I wasn't sure how to approach it.
We experienced ALL of the negative things he reported, plus a few more. All requests and/or complaints were met with indifference. Never once did ANYONE go "beyond the call" to make the experience better.
We have cruised many times on RCI and once on Windstar. From what we had heard and read, we expected HAL to be a step above our previous cruise experiences, but we were sorely disappointed.

Some of the things that are NOT better on HAL compared to RCI:

The food (both in the dining room and the buffet area) The first night my DH had the salmon and it was FULL of bones -- he couldn't even eat it. When he brought it up, the person said "well, it comes that way." No offer for another entree, nothing!
The buffet was disappointing, unless you like eating basically the same thing every day. The choices were very limited and not much variation from day to day. Plus, they ran out of everything HOURS before the buffet was supposed to close, and they would not re-stock. I mean, if they were to be open from 11:30 to 5:00 (the deli area) they would be out of half the items by 1:00 and too bad for you! Others have already posted about the long slow lines in this area. That is never an issue on RCI. You don't have to wait in a 20 minute line to get one item at the end of that line. You just go directly to the thing you want and get it.

The service (RCI staff are way more friendly and acommodating) You always got the feeling that you were being a pain in their butt if you asked for anything that was not already on your plate or on your table. Or else they would just say "it doesn't come with that" -- RCI bends over backward to bring you ANYTHING you want - sometimes before you even think of wanting it!

The ship -- Westerdam was not nicer or better than any RCI ship we have been on. The general staff all over the ship did not seem to like their jobs very much. Nor did they try to hide it.

The ONLY thing we found about HAL that is perhaps better than RCI was the beds...yes they are truly wonderful.

Of course, it's impossible to NOT have fun in Alaska! Alaska is a fabulous itinerary, even though we also prefer Hubbard to Glacier Bay. And ANY cruise is better than NO cruise! We just found we were not happy or impressed with HAL or Westerdam, it did not live up to the reputation of being better than RCI, so we will be going back to RCI.

If anyone has specific questions about anything, I'll try to answer.

happy wednesday!
sarahjane

sarahjane,

I am very sorry about your bad experience aboard the Westerdam. After reading your comments on the roll call for your cruise, I was certain that you and your DH would have the time of your life. My DW and I sailed aboard the Westerdam the week prior to your sailing and had a wonderful time. I noticed that you were comparing HAL with RCI: if you prefer RCI, then that is the cruise line that you should stick with. No one should be miserable, especially on a cruise. Certainly, no one cruise line will ever be able to please everyone. I've sailed with RCI myself and while I wasn't pleased with everything, I wasn't critical about everything either; I simply have never cruised with RCI since. I certainly hope your next cruise will be more to your liking.

[crafter315]

Heh heh...you guys who didn't like your Alaska cruise should do like we are.....visiting our daughter who lives in Alaska! We're doing all the stuff the cruiselines offer and then some. Of course, we love cruising and were all set to book an Alaska one when she announced 2 yrs ago that she was moving up there.
We've been on 3 Holland cruises to the Caribbean and have never had a problem with any shore excursions booked through them. When weather became an issue, the excursion we had booked was cancelled. We were refunded every dime. I don't think a ride in a submarine that is pitching back & forth would be much fun anyway! I couldn't believe how many people were at the front desk complaining about their disappointment and wanting MORE back to compensate for it. I mean, how exactly is Holland supposed to control the weather?
As for being pressured to buy drinks, we were on the Veendam last month and they would come to our dinner table, ask if anyone wanted drinks and if you said "No", they didn't bother you again. I love my hot tea with dinner and it was promptly provided every night.
My husband and I love Holland cruises and will probably cruise our next trip with them too.

[longhorngrandma]

My friend and I just got back from the 5/14/06 Westerdam sailing. We had a fabulous time. Our travel agent gave us a gift of the Pinnacle Grill, and the food was great, as was the service! Our room steward also gave us a bottle of wine, and he always greeted us by name every time he saw us, he kept our room exceptionally clean, and always left us a cute towel animal, along with a piece of delicious chocolate on our beds. We had room service every day for breakfast, and it always arrived about 15 minutes early, and it was always perfect. We even had milk and cookies at night, and it wasn't a problem for them to bring such a small order. We also ordered a cheese tray, and we got real crackers with it -- not graham crackers. We had the early upper sitting in the Vista dining room. We had no problem with vibration or noise. Our waiters always had our drinks waiting for us when we arrived, and they sang to us in their native tongue. They seemed to really love their jobs! We were never pressured to buy drinks. In fact, one time I bought one drink and got charged for two. I went to the front desk, and they took both drinks off my charge. They had also gone down on their prices after we made final payment. We were told that we would get a shipboard credit. I got the credit on my bill, but my traveling partner didn't. I mentioned it to them at the front desk, and it was on her final bill. Also, my friend had cruised with Holland America before, but this was my first Holland America cruise. We both got the HAL bags, and we both got the HAL tiles. I was surprised! We did go to the Lido, but it was only crowded when so many people got back on the boat after being in port, and they all wanted to eat as soon as they got back on. We didn't have to stand in line very long, but we did have trouble getting silverware one night. I loved being able to wear jeans on casual night. Jeans were not listed as a no-no for casual night. As for the singer, magician, and the comedianne -- we really liked the comedianne. She was really funny. I'm just sorry that Lorenweeks doesn't like fat people. As for Drew, the Cruise Director, we thought he was really funny and had a great personality. As for Glacier Bay, we booked in November 2005, and it was always stated that we would be going there. The one thing I really like about Holland America is their beds. I honestly think that it was the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in. We booked only two excursions through HAL -- the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan and the Horse-Drawn Carriage in Victoria. We loved the Lumberjack Show, but the Horse-Drawn Carriage wasn't great, but I am sure that some people probably liked it. People have different tastes. We did book Captain Larry through Orca Enterprises in Juneau. We saw lots of whales, sea lions, and bald eagles. It was a fantastic excursion. I hope this helps some people on their decision to use Holland America. I can't help but think that Lorenweeks must have had a bad week!

[Firefighters Mom]

I almost booked this but instead booked the Oosterdam for the day before. You said to check the brochure, that you were right , so I did. According to mine, you are incorrect. We almost booked the Westerdam because it was going to Glacier Bay. We picked the Oosterdam because it spent more time in the inland passage. On page 93 of the 2006 Alaska brochure it has two columns; the left side for Glacier Bay and the right side for Hubbard Glacier. Top left is the Zaandam and top right is the Oosterdam. Bottom left and right are both for the Westerdam. On the left it shows the Westerdam going to Glacier Bay on May 7, 14, 28. On the right it shows the Westerdam going to Hubbard Glacier on May 21. I also checked the website and it shows the same thing. If you show something different, please let me know on what page or where on the website you are seeing this. I personally think you got the better deal going to Glacier Bay.
It's too bad you weren't on the Oosterdam. I had great service, especially with the Shore Excursions Office. They bent over backwards to get me the excursions I wanted, even calling the local tour operator for the Historic Gold Mine tour and getting me on a tour with Princess ships (they even stopped by to pick me up) because I wanted to go so badly and HAL's tour left before my other HAL tour got back. And after doing that for me, I realized I wouldn't have time to use our Tramway tickets so the SO office refunded them for me. My only complaint on the trip was that I'd heard so much about the waiters learning right away what you liked and had it there for you. I tried three nights getting icedtea with dinner and had to ask three times each night. I finally gave up and drank water. If that was my biggest complaint, then I guess I had a pretty good cruise.

[thomasale]

For those that would make a decision based on lorenweeks experience. Read all and then decide. I have got to believe that attitude equals perception equals reality.

[RockinDBoat]

Just received my docs for Westerdam 6/25.

My contract says the cruise line can increase the fare at any time up to the initial departure. I have the right to cancel within 7 days up to the time of initial departure, and they will refund my fare with no cancellation fees. Once the ship departs, no cancellation. And, as was pointed out in a previous post, if taxes or fees increase, they can be passed on to me with no right of cancellation.

If the OP's contract is the same as mine, the 7-day rule applies only up to the time of the ship's departure.

A couple of years ago I read a couple of grumbling comments about the Oosterdam right before I sailed on her maiden canal crossing. I was a little bit concerned, but then the cruise turned out to be fantastic.

So much depends on attitude. I was on the Celebration some years ago when the A/C in the stateroom stopped working (in the hot Caribbean), and Carnival's food reminded me of Country Buffet, but my friends and I still managed to have a great time on the cruise anyway. (The Celebration caught fire the following week and sat adrift for several days. Glad I missed that one!)

I'm still looking forward to my upcoming Westerdam cruise. I keep the salt shaker handy as I read online.

[7continentKaren]

We will be on the Westerdam tomorrow so I hope I experience a different dining room than some of you apparently did. No Lido for us. I also like to be served. We have been on 2 RCI ships and both had really marginal food. Had fabulous food on several Carnival ships. Worst ever on MSC Lirica in Jan. Pretty awful on Oceania's Insignia. However, the food is not everything and we had a great time on the Lirica anyway. I am just hoping for some decent weather. Otherwise, I plan to have a ball.

[sarasmile]

We just returned from the westerdam (today)- and I just posted my review. ITA with other posters who had somthing other than the vacation of a lifetime (and echo every comment on the food). The 12.50 surcharge was hardly a blip on my screen... however a week filled with little variety, and barely edible food- across the board- will. Sorry HAL, we'll probably book elsewhere (or skip the cruise all together) next time. Had high hopes and they were not met.

[shg]

Our family is on the 6/4 sailing. We have never been to Alaska but have been on many cruises in the Caribbean and the Greek Isles. How difficult was it to get tours at the docks? We usually do this in the Caribbean but thought we would book tours through the ship. After reading these posts, we are having second thoughts about booking on board.

Did anyone try the kayaking excursion? That looked like lost of fun. We also though we would take the tram in Juneau and see the Totem pole show in Sitka.

It sounds like the weather can be unpredicatable. Any good tips for clothing we should be sure to include would be terrific. The only thing our travel agent told us was to be sure to pack bug spray.

[nanashirl]

shg - It is gettng close isn't it.
I hadn't heard that about the bug spray. One more thing I need to add to my list. Did you have a guarantee cabin or selected one? We are still waiting to hear what cabin we got on our SZ guarantee.
We have got our tours booked. Some local and some with HA.
Really surprised to hear on this post that the weather was so warm. When I look at their weather forecast for that area it looks like around 60. Thought that would be pretty cool on the water.
Sure looking forward to next weekend. Arrive in Seattle on the 3rd.
Hope to see some of the ones who posted on CC.
Shirl

[Firefighters Mom]

We just got back from the Oosterdam on the 20th. Our first cruise. Everything I'd read on the boards said bring something like a fleece line waterproof jacket and sweaters, shirts, etc. for layering - layering was the key. Thats ok for in the ports but on the ship I wish I'd had a heavy jacket (maybe my winter jacket). I did bring wool gloves and hat which I wore all the time on deck. I liked walking the promenade deck and when th ship is going 24 knots it gets pretty windy, so the 50's can feel pretty cold. I ended up wearing two medium jackets with a windbreaker over it plus hat and gloves. I was ok just layering in ports. Hope you have as much fun as we did.

[tortugas]

we were on westerdam may 7th cruise... we had the later seating (8:15) so i think we were upper... I can't remember!!! At any rate, we were seated way in the back near the windows, and the noise and vibrations were significant, constant and yes, pretty annoying!! I've experienced this on other ships in that location, so i wasn't surprised. Our dining table I think was a last minute addition, because our number didn't correlate to the location of other numbers... meaning all the other tables in the 70s were in the front, and we were waaaaaaay in the back. And we were right in front of the server station. It was not a big deal for us as we usually prefer the casual dining options... just chiming in to say that those who complain of this issue areen't exaggarating!!!