Poor review of Amsterdam

[btobey]

Just read this recently posted review of Amsterdam, which we are going to be sailing next spring:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=32635

Please, someone say something to make me feel better, quick!

[AirGorilla]

It's a very articulate, well-written article. Very objective. The same complaints have been made on this board about more than one HAL ship.

On the positive side, you will probably get good value for your $$.

[KAKcruiser]

I was on the Amsterdam in January, loved the ship and crew, and had a great time. It is my favorite HAL ship.

[agabbymama]

DON'T PANIC. I don't know about the Amsterdam, I've never sailed her.

But another poster posted a bad review re: the Zuiderdam, and I just returned from her and thought she was lovely. We saw nothing to take away from our cruise experience, but good memories. We loved the furnishings, decorations, bed linens, bathrooms, etc. The other posters were complaining of floors falling apart, furniture in need of repair, etc. Maybe those things were present, but not in our area of the ship. Or the dining room, or the main atrium, or the Lido, or anywhere we went. There was a spot in the Crows Nest that was uneven, but overall, we loved the whole ship.

Even back in '99, we sailed the "old" Noordam and thought she was absolutely lovely and she was definitely showing her age. But they are sailing ships, they aren't brand new vessels either. The cruiselines do the best they can with the numbers of people that walk, run, trample through those ships, it's a wonder any of them can pass scrutiny.

Wait for others to post before you take this one review too seriously. Or go to the review section and look up Amsterdam and see what others have to say.

[btobey]

AirGorilla, I thought it was well-written too, which is what bummed me out. :( I'm not sure what you mean about getting a good value for our money--we are paying good money for this and were expecting a more upscale ship, not one that is falling apart.

KAKcruiser, glad you had a good time on your trip! Did you agree with the reviewer's comments about the ship looking very old?

[btobey]

Thanks agabbymama; I have read other Amsterdam reviews, and most are fairly glowing, which is why this one stuck out. But you're right, it's probably just an outlier...

[KAKcruiser]

I thought the Amsterdam was in excellent condition. I didn't notice any wear and tear. Of course, I can't comment on an individual cabin but mine was in wonderful shape. Maybe it was a problem with the cabin steward. The reviewer should have asked for better service.

[AirGorilla]

AirGorilla, I thought it was well-written too, which is what bummed me out. :( I'm not sure what you mean about getting a good value for our money--we are paying good money for this and were expecting a more upscale ship, not one that is falling apart.

KAKcruiser, glad you had a good time on your trip! Did you agree with the reviewer's comments about the ship looking very old?

My perspective on value is that, with the exception of the Prisendam, most HAL cruises are heavily promoted as "deals", with low prices being emphasized.

[O2B@C]

I thought the Amsterdam was in excellent condition. I didn't notice any wear and tear. Of course, I can't comment on an individual cabin but mine was in wonderful shape. Maybe it was a problem with the cabin steward. The reviewer should have asked for better service.

Good point! If the cabin was really that filthy, why didn't the reviewer ask the steward to do a thorough cleaning? And if satisfaction not received that way, escalate to Hotel Manager? What struck me about the review was that there were a lot of positives, if you looked closely, and no indication that the reviewer ever brought any of the correctable defects to the attention of anyone on board. This doesn't make me doubt his/her word - I'm willing to believe that he/she experienced what was reported - but it does make me wonder whether his/her overall satisfaction would have been higher if he/she had spoken up at the time about the problems, and gotten at least some of them corrected.

[rkacruiser]

I was aboard the Amsterdam in April and found the ship to be in typical HAL fashion: spotless. From sailors on deck to the General Purpose Attendants in the public areas, cleaning, painting, and general maintainence was constantly going on. The ships have a Guest Relations Manager. I believe that would be the person one would direct problems to first. That person would work with the other officers, such as the Chief Housekeeper, to get the problems solved. If that procedure failed to solve the problem, then contacting the Hotel Manager would probably be appropriate.

[maxout]

Note the user name, wingsrcl :rolleyes: perhaps a built-in bias?

[DFD1]

It seems to me an honest, well written report. I'm not surprised about the bland food. Was a bit surprised about the unkept stateroom and the writer's impression that the ship was tired and old.

I believe HAL is in a state of uncertian transition. I'm just not sure where it is going. I'm also uneasy about current top management.

JMO

[takemewithyou]

Btobey - Pat just posted live from the Amsterdam under thread "what happened to Wednesday". She said she'd be happy to respond to questions. Why don't you ask her what her impressions are re: the Amsterdam? Get an answer from somone who's aboard her right now....

[dimidgi]

I've never posted before, we're sailing in December on the Amsterdam. This will be my third HAL cruise and I've never been disappointed. Nothing is perfect of course, and there were a few glitches. I read the gentleman's post, and I wonder if there is more to the story than he is letting on. I wonder if the poster had other issues and was taking it out on the Amsterdam, kind of like kicking the cat. My gut feeling is that the ship is fine, and you'll have a great time.

[kakalina]

We have spent some time on the Amsterdam and have found her to be exceedingly clean, neat and in good order. We saw no problems with the carpet, the upholstery or other housekeeping details. She is a beautiful ship with a wonderful and caring staff and you should have a marvelous cruise on her.

[burlingtoncruiser]

We were on the Amsterdam on a 10 day Panama Canal cruise Nov. 06 and loved it - it was spotless and the service the best we've received anywhere. I would sail again tomorrow on it.

I particularly liked the furnishings, the Explorers lounge and afternoon tea. The beds were very comfortable. We did not notice anything untoward. This has been my favourite ship up until now.

[jayjaycan]

Don't take this review too seriously. Poster sounds like a chronic complainer. I doubt things are as bad as they state. Everybody can find something wrong if we all look close enough.
If the cabin was as dirty as they say why didn't they report it to the hotel manager. I bet things would have ben set right immediately.
Read other recent reviews of this ship and you will find many with positive comments.

[Stevesan]

Once, and only once, I had an incompetent cabin steward on a HAL ship. The steward was hard working and personable, but completely disorganized.

On day three I talked with his supervisor. The very next day and the following he was accompanied full time by two white coat supervisors advising and directing him in his chores.

That did the trick. After only two days of supervision he made a turnaround from hopeless to accomplished.

There are two points here:

1) When there's a problem do something about it on the spot. If you do nothing and accept subpar performance, then don't b**tch about it later.

2) Reporting the steward did NOT get him in trouble. The steward's supervisors handled it professionally: Retraining, not discipline, was the solution.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I don't think the reviewer seems like a chronic complainer at all! Funny how people can read the same review, sail the same ship, and see it all entirely differently.

It seemed to me the reviewer was trying to be positive and made many positive comments about the cruise ... that is not what chronic complainers do.

However, it's still just the reviewer's opinion and since you've read many other rave reviews and seen many positive comments right here, I wouldn't worry. Go on your cruise with a positive attitude that it's going to be amazing and it probably will be.

As to the cleanliness of the cabin, I really don't think we should be required to go after the Steward or take it to a higher level to get the cabin clean. The cabin should be spotless upon arrival. I have never arrived in a dirty cabin and I would be upset if I did.

I do agree with the reviewer about HAL as far as food and service is concerned. I know I'm in the minority here, but the staff is overworked particularly in the dining room. And I find the food sort of ho hum but I am extremely fussy about how food is prepared.

But in no way has any experience on HAL taken away from us having a fantastic time. So it couldn't have been that bad.

Have an amazing cruise and don't forget to come back and write a review!:)

[hammybee]

About 24,000 passengers sailed the Amsterdam this past season.

Of them, 9 wrote and posted a review. The median rating is 4 stars.

[SDHALFAN]

I have spent 52 days (or thereabouts) on the ms Amsterdam this year (can you tell it's my favorite HAL ship?) and I have to admit that I saw none of the worn carpets, furniture, etc. that the reviewer did. Then it occurred to me that I am not one to go looking for things like that. I don't expect the ship to look as though she was just commissioned and if there is a little wear and tear then it makes me feel more "at home" since my own home is exhibiting more than just a little wear and tear:D .

I don't understand why the cabin was not taken care of until 2:00 or 3:00 p.m., but then the reviewer didn't mention what time he/she/they? left the cabin in the morning (or early afternoon). I always try to leave my cabin by 9:00 a.m. for the convenience of the cabin steward and usually come back around 11:30 a.m. to find it "shipshape and Bristol fashion". I have never yet found a cabin on a HAL ship to be filthy despite having sailed with HAL for more than 325 days over a period of 20 years.

I can't disagree with the reviewer about the food. The quality has certainly been downgraded over these past 20 years and my dining experience is more for my enjoyment (or not;) ) of my dinner companions. All in all, the food in The Lido or from room service is usually much more palatable, but doesn't allow you the interaction with those seated at your allocated table. I have had some dinner companions who were fun; some who were both fun and fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and never even noticed what I was eating; and some I would just as soon forget.

I'm glad that the reviewer enjoyed the shows in The Queen's Lounge because I usually find them dreadful and am "forced" to go to the Casino for my after-dinner entertainment;) .

Okay to sum up, and to set future Amsterdam cruisers' minds at rest: she is a great ship, with a terrific complement of officers and crew who are all dedicated to making your particular cruise a fun vacation (and of course they all hope that you will come back to visit). She is beautiful, as are all women of "a certain age' (as the French so delicately put it), she is not without her faults, but then who amongst us is? You will have a wonderful time aboard the glorious ms Amsterdam if you go with a positive attitude.

A reviewer's opinion is simply that and my review would be quite different from the one referenced.

Have a great cruise, no matter which cruiseline or ship you choose.

Valerie:)

[eh2zed]

I think the reviewer was obviously well balanced in his/her comments. Never been on the Amsterdam but have been on several others. I have to believe the state of the cabin is anomaly and certainly anomalies always exist. Food is a subjective matter but there are some variations from ship to ship. You have to take the good with the bad.

[dmlee1990]

btobey.....My family and I sailed the Amsterdam to Alaska in August. We had a wonderful time. Our cabin was in great condition, cleaned twice a day. We loved the food.....even my daughters, 14 & 9, who are picky eaters but enjoyed the adult meals. Our only disappointment was that escargot was not offered on the menu during the week. The crew was OUTSTANDING! Everyone worked extremely hard to make sure that all the passengers were happy.

Please don't let one or two negative reviews scare you. Everyone has their own opinion. Have a great time and judge for yourself.

[Copper10-8]

There are two points here:

1) When there's a problem do something about it on the spot. If you do nothing and accept subpar performance, then don't b**tch about it later.

2) Reporting the steward did NOT get him in trouble. The steward's supervisors handled it professionally: Retraining, not discipline, was the solution.
Awesome!! Couldn't agree more!

Wonder if the reviewer was addressing the ship's photographers on formal night(s) when he referred to power cords being "taped down". That would be the only time I've ever seen that (saw it last week) and it's being done to prevent pax from tripping over said cords specifically in the area outside the casino bar and around the atrium.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We did a 15 day Hawaiian cruise on the Amsterdam in 2006 - Loved Her!!

[gizmo]

I don't understand why the cabin was not taken care of until 2:00 or 3:00 p.m., but then the reviewer didn't mention what time he/she/they?
Valerie:)

I had this happen only once and the ship happened to be the Amsterdam. This was close to 4 years ago.

We left the majority of the time for breakfast about 8:00-8:30. I think we might have had room service 2 out 10 days but we left the cabin after breakfast to go on shore. I recall going on shore and returning around 2:30 - 3:00 and the cabin was still not cleaned.

I think the review was honest and well written. IMO the writer did not come off as a chrontic complainer. He wrote about the good and the bad.

[btobey]

Hi everyone,

I agree that food is a very subjective thing; I wasn't all that concerned about the reviewer's comments in that area. The main thing that concerned me was the idea that the ship was in shabby condition and in desperate need of refurbishing (or whatever the reviewer's exact words). However, seems like plenty of others here have had a different impression, which I'm very glad to hear. :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

It's funny how our perception can vary so much because I must be either the most non-observant person on the face of the earth (which I'm not;) ) or about the most low maintenance person on-board because I have never noticed ANY HAL ship is any disrepair at all.

I have read right here on these boards that this or that ship had worn carpets, worn furniture. frayed this or that and I have NEVER seen it once on-board:) .

So I really do think that some people are just looking for it. I think considering the thousands of people who are using every square inch of every ship every day of the week that they keep their ships in remarkable repair and tip top condition. Might there be the occasional slip? Sure, but overall I don't think anyone should worry about it affecting their cruise in any way, shape or form.

[hammybee]

I had this happen only once and the ship happened to be the Amsterdam. This was close to 4 years ago.

We left the majority of the time for breakfast about 8:00-8:30. I think we might have had room service 2 out 10 days but we left the cabin after breakfast to go on shore. I recall going on shore and returning around 2:30 - 3:00 and the cabin was still not cleaned.

We too have had this happen although it was not on HAL. I am a low maintenance cruiser and one of the few things that matters to me is that the cabin gets made up ealier rather than later. When I pursued why my cabin was not being made up until mid afternoon, I learned that in the scheme of things, my cabin was the last of a long line of cabins that needed to be made up every day by the cabin steward.

This is when it dawned on me (duh) that someone is always last and this cruise, was my turn.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I wouldn't take any review to heart. Everyone has such different opinions. Even if aspects of your cruise aren't so hot, focus on the positive, nothing is perfect.
I have seen wear spots, ripped carpeting, outdated decor, bland Lido food, and some not so clean areas on the Zaandam, but nothing that was horrible or that would stop me from sticking with HAL, and I'd even sail the Zaandam again! If something is wrong, let someone onboard know and give them the chance to correct it.
HAL has fantastic service and the best dining room food (although we order most everything made to order off the Vegetarian menu). We will be on the Amsterdam in May, I expect she will be similar to the Zaandam, since they are both smaller and older. I am confident the positives will outweigh any minor negatives.

[btobey]

So for those of you who have sailed the Amsterdam, I would love to hear what you LOVED about her! :)

[gizmo]

We too have had this happen although it was not on HAL. I am a low maintenance cruiser and one of the few things that matters to me is that the cabin gets made up ealier rather than later. When I pursued why my cabin was not being made up until mid afternoon, I learned that in the scheme of things, my cabin was the last of a long line of cabins that needed to be made up every day by the cabin steward.

This is when it dawned on me (duh) that someone is always last and this cruise, was my turn.

Exactly. I now ask the cabin steward to do my cabin early in the morning. :)

[kryos]

I was on the Amsterdam in January, loved the ship and crew, and had a great time. It is my favorite HAL ship.
I've sailed her twice ... once in January 2006 and again in the fall of 2006. No problems here either.

Reviews are very, very subjective. Two people can be on the same cruise, but both have different expectations and different tastes. One can love the cruise, while the other absolutely hates it.

Unless I see googles of bad reviews on the same ship, I don't worry too much about a bad review. Unless I see googles of great reviews on a ship, I don't assume everything is necessarily going to be good sailing. I just read the reviews, take note of certain things that could affect my perceptions and then go on the cruise with an open mind. I'll make my own evaluations according to my own tastes when I get back.

So ... go ... and enjoy your cruise!

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Boytjie]

We were on the Amsterdam on an RSVP charter at the beginning of September and did not see or experience most of what the reviewer mentioned as negatives.

The condition of the ship looked fine and clean - even in areas more heavily used during this charter. If that is what retirement homes look like, it aint that bad! We were told that our charter's average age for passengers was much lower that the usual HAL average and it was hopping till the early morning hours so it did not resemble a retirement home.

Our cabin was spotless and Andy - our steward - somehow always knew when we were out and did what he had to do while we were away even though we had an irregular schedule and one of us slept later than the other.

I did not find the food in the dining room to be bland or luke warm. The only complaint we had was that on the first few evenings the wine stewards took to long to taek our orders (but that could also be due to the nature of the charter, the RSVP charters keep them very busy :) )

We had an outside cabin so no refrigerator so cannot comment on wires taped down - but did see that on formal night where photographers were working.

The charter had its own entertainment, so I could not comment on the HAL Entertainment.

We had a great cruise on the Amsterdam. But I have seen comments from others on that same cruise that had somewhat different opinions and you almost want to ask: were we on the same cruise? :confused:

[finally66]

Zaandam twice, Amsterdam once, two Carnival. Both HALs were great , both Carnivals were good! Staff has always been excellent. Food is always good, sometimes excellent. These ships have periodic refurbishment and as such will show some wear and tear as they approach their time. Have never seen one dirty or frayed however.

[jtl513]

We have been on five HAL cruises and have booked two more, including the SAME Amsterdam cruise as you, 4/27/08. The only HAL dining room meals that I would ever rate as "poor" were on the Amsterdam in '02: I had a steak that was badly overcooked and some crab legs that were mushy and flavorless. Since that was my first cruise and I didn't know any better, I just ate them and said nothing. Now, of course, I would send them back and order something else.

I checked the posting history for "wingsrcl" and it appears that her/his cruising experience has mostly been on Cunard and RCCL. Perhaps s/he simply went on the Amsterdam expecting perfection on the basis of others' reviews. I wouldn't worry at all about the condition of the Amsterdam! :D

[CaliJohn]

At least he liked the Queen's Lounge show. Since my daughter was the production singer on that cruise I feel a little better...

[scottydawg]

I hope this encourages more folks to write reviews when they return from their cruise(s). It will give everyone more information to digest instead of just the very few reviews per year found here.

[Grammakel]

Funny, we were on the Amsterdam, Alaska cruise 8-31 thru 9-7, and were REALLY happy with the ship. Not too much signs of wear and tear, but maybe we were a little more rowdy than we thought!!;)

Our cabin, and everywhere else, was spotless...Like Copper stated, the only time we saw cords taped down was on formal night photos so that no-one could trip on them. We did not have a frig in our room, but my Sis and BIL did, and theirs was just fine...looked pretty new.

My sister has cruised a lot, and she was thrilled with the Amsterdam...she usually cruises Carnival or Princess. She stated that the ship seemed a little small, but larger rooms than she expected, and the food was many times better. We all four just loved it. We thought the atrium was very pretty, and good prices in the shops, I was expecting lots higher prices. Staff was very nice, could not do enough for us. We enjoyed the library, LOTS of books, movies, and never any trouble getting to a computer.

Only problem, not really a problem, was that if you don't drink alcohol, you have a hard time getting anything else to drink in the dining room, except water or coffee. And I loves me diet coke!

I really think you are going to LOVE your cruise! Go in with a positive attitude, and you will do just great.:D

[arabrab]

It's funny how our perception can vary so much because I must be either the most non-observant person on the face of the earth (which I'm not;) ) or about the most low maintenance person on-board because I have never noticed ANY HAL ship is any disrepair at all.

I have read right here on these boards that this or that ship had worn carpets, worn furniture. frayed this or that and I have NEVER seen it once on-board:) .


We sailed on the Maasdam a few years ago, a trip and ship which we VERY much enjoyed. However, we did notice that there was rust on a number of railings, the carpet was stained in a number of places in the cabin and in the halls, the bathroom showed significant wear (but was nice and clean), there were gouges in some of the wall material, and our sheets had been darned to repair a tear. None of this ruined our cruise -- it was still wonderful, but people posted trip reports rather regularly before and after our cruise noting that the Maasdam was in fabulous shape. Maybe people's expectations of what constitutes great shape differ -- or maybe some people are having such a good time on a cruise that they simply never notice defects like these unless they (literally) trip over something. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the dirt experience inside the cabin sensitized the OP to the other wear and tear issues that otherwise might have escaped notice.

I thought that the OP wrote an excellent review, and I don't have any reason to believe that it wasn't his (her) experience.

[HeatherInFlorida]

............... None of this ruined our cruise -- it was still wonderful, but people posted trip reports rather regularly before and after our cruise noting that the Maasdam was in fabulous shape. Maybe people's expectations of what constitutes great shape differ -- or maybe some people are having such a good time on a cruise that they simply never notice defects like these unless they (literally) trip over something. I........................
I thought that the OP wrote an excellent review, and I don't have any reason to believe that it wasn't his (her) experience.

I think my post might have been a little unclear. This is basically what I was actually suggesting .... that I didn't notice any disrepair because the ship was clean and we had such a wonderful time we didn't have time to pick apart every little thing.

Also, I recognize these are all ships at sea and there will be a little rust here and there, salt spray clouding some windows, etc. I discount minor wear and tear.

I agree that OP's review was very well written and more than fair.:)

[iancal]

Cruise reviews are based on opinions, perceptions, past experiences, expectations, etc. They are seldom wrong per sae, it is just that each passenger has a different view. One of our all time favorite ships/cruise lines, Mercury, has had some bad reviews. We would jump at the chance to get back on that ship. Others would jump ship. To each his own.

[Copper10-8]

Cruise reviews are based on opinions, perceptions, past experiences, expectations, etc. They are seldom wrong per sae, it is just that each passenger has a different view. One of our all time favorite ships/cruise lines, Mercury, has had some bad reviews. We would jump at the chance to get back on that ship. Others would jump ship. To each his own.

That's a good post! Sometimes it is hard to believe one has been on the same cruise and ship as someone else! We all have different priorities and values. Reviews are subjective! You called it........to each his own!

[HeatherInFlorida]

Cruise reviews are based on opinions, perceptions, past experiences, expectations, etc. They are seldom wrong per sae, it is just that each passenger has a different view. ..................

This is true. However, some reviews are fairer than others and I differentiate between reviews that are written 100% fantastic or 100% "horrific". I ignore reviews on either end. No cruise, no matter how great or how bad, is 100% anything.

This review was fair.

[iancal]

The problem with posting a review is that there are some folks who think that their favorite cruise line is like the holy grail or some deity. They worship it and fend off all criticism with evangelistic zeal and utter disbelief.

[misterdrew]

I've just returned from an Alaskan cruise aboard the ms Amsterdam

The only ship I can compare her to, is the msc opera, which I sailed transatlantic in April.

The msc opera was without doubt the most spotless ship EVER!, so clean it was clinical. This ship is almost new of course, so you expect it. Also, they have the antibacterial soap machines everywhere on this ship.

The Amsterdam is more traditionally furnished, and is also very clean - just not clinically so, like the Opera. I didn't see anything of disrepair etc. The fitting is more traditional with darker furnishings than the more modern Opera - this is down to each person's individual taste as to which you prefer.

You will have no issue with the Amsterdam - it's a lovely ship!

I found the colours used in the corriders of the lower decks and of the bathrooms made the areas look dated - colours are beige's and browns - very odd. Cabins are comfortable and well furnishied - I would go back on board again, in a heart beat !

Drew

[boards]

We were on the Amsterdam in May/June thru the Panama Canal and we enjoyed everything about the ship. We did see one spotted rug going into the Exporation Lounge area that was not too nice, but other than that we found it to be very good.

[HeatherInFlorida]

The problem with posting a review is that there are some folks who think that their favorite cruise line is like the holy grail or some deity. They worship it and fend off all criticism with evangelistic zeal and utter disbelief.

You noticed!!!!!:D :D :D ;)

[Roz]

Iancal,

Your post is priceless. Do I like HAL? Yes, of course. Is it the holy grail? Heck, no.

Heather,

I agree with you that no one cruise can be 100% fantastic, nor 100% horrific. I toss out the A++ grades and the Fs, and look at the inbetweens and try to discern patterns. For instance, are numerous reviewers commenting on slow dining service or lukewarm food.

Roz

[FlorenceItaly]

The problem with posting a review is that there are some folks who think that their favorite cruise line is like the holy grail or some deity. They worship it and fend off all criticism with evangelistic zeal and utter disbelief.


Especially some folks who have never tried another cruiseline. Don't get me wrong, I love Holland America. It is probably my favorite, mainly due to the crew. They are very special. I just returned from a Carnival cruise earlier this month(yes, Carnival) and imo, the service in the dining room, and the food in the dining room, was so much better than HAL. The casual dining really lacked in comparison, but the service was flawless and the food wonderful.

Marie

[ministocking]

My review of the Aug 3 Alaska Cruise on Amsterdam sums up my experience (and that of my DH). You may choose to toss mine out for being too much on the positive end of the spectrum and therefore not to be believed as well!! :p Since this was an Alaska itinerary at peak season (and with a verandah) it was not inexpensive...and because of that my expectations were high. As you can tell from my zealous review:D we were not disapointed!

Try not to worry too much....I tended to do the same thing as I counted the months for "my turn". The great comments made me feel so excited and the negatives made me wonder if we'd made a big mistake. It also made me all the more determined to post my own review after the cruise (which I did within a week of returning home). I tend to have a pretty positive outlook on life and I'm usually pretty grateful for the opportunities I have. A cruise, to me, rates up there pretty high in terms of special.

Plan to have a wonderful time on a fantastic ship with a great crew...I don't think you will be disappointed!

Holly

PS To the dad of the singer---sorry but I forgot your name--you should try to go on a cruise your daughter is performing on. I think the entertainers are top notch. You'd be proud!

[btobey]

We were on the Amsterdam in May/June thru the Panama Canal and we enjoyed everything about the ship. We did see one spotted rug going into the Exporation Lounge area that was not too nice, but other than that we found it to be very good.
Sounds like you went on the same trip we are going on next year; I would love to hear more about your experience!!! Feel free to email me directly...

Thanks to everyone else for your comments. I don't think we have ridiculous high expectations (although from everything we're heard about HAL, were are expecting a somewhat above average, elegant sailing experience), and we'ver never sailed HAL before, so we don't have a person bias; I just wanted to make sure that there was still general agreement that Amsterdam is a quality ship. :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Iancal,

Your post is priceless. Do I like HAL? Yes, of course. Is it the holy grail? Heck, no.

Heather,

I agree with you that no one cruise can be 100% fantastic, nor 100% horrific. I toss out the A++ grades and the Fs, and look at the inbetweens and try to discern patterns. For instance, are numerous reviewers commenting on slow dining service or lukewarm food.

Roz

Roz, exactly right. When I see a pattern over and over of the same concerns from many different people, I pay attention. On the other hand, I also know there are people who will never find fault with HAL no matter what so I don't really count that extreme either.

Reviews are important, but in the end I can't remember a cruise I didn't have a wonderful time. Were they all perfect? Absolutely not. I love the people I meet on HAL, I love the itineraries and the staff are generally warm and friendly. We honestly don't need much more than that. Maybe because we cruised before Love Boat days and it was a very different experience.

For me just not having to make our bed or cook our food is pure heaven:) ... I don't need people grovelling at my feet, wouldn't even want it. And I have a little wear and tear on my furniture and rugs, too ............. it's okay:D .

[Pam in CA]

I just read the review of the Amsterdam and have to admit that it mirrored my recent experience on the Prinsendam. (However, the Prinsendam is going in for a make-over so all worn out stuff is being torn out and replaced.)

Let me just say that the negatives did nothing to affect my enjoyment of the Prinsendam, or HAL, and I've booked two more cruises on HAL, including another one on the Prinsendam.

However, my cabin steward was one of the worst I've ever encountered. My bathroom was filthy with mildow pretty much on all of the tile; not just spots but entire sections. My hairdryer was being held together with a rubber band. I don't know about you but I don't handle anything held with rubber bands, particularly when wet. So, I went to the Pursar's Desk one night while I thought of it and requested a new hair dryer. This was at about 10:30PM. I was on the john at 11:30PM and being a single in the cabin, didn't bother to close the door when the cabin steward walked right into my cabin, hairdryer in hand. I did what any woman would do: I screamed and told him to get out. He kept on walking in, saying he was only there to replace the dryer, so I screamed some more and in no uncertain terms, told him to get out. I don't care what cruiseline you're on or if the steward knocks and doesn't get an answer but he doesn't walk in (unless it's an emergency) at that time of night without getting a positive response that it's OK to come in. This incident really shook me up and I reported it to the Pursar's Desk.

I also felt that the food wasn't that good. When you have a table of 8 with people from different places and ages, and NO ONE orders anything on the night's menu -- all ordering the steak or salmon -- you know that there's something wrong.

One other thing that happened is that we sailed from Amsterdam and I'd say that 70 - 75% of the passengers were Dutch. A lot of them. One of the first nights, they had herring on the appetizer menu. Our table was one of the last to be served and 5 people had ordered the herring (not me). We were told that the chef had miscalculated and that there wasn't enough herring but they'd make some up and serve it "shortly." Almost an HOUR later, when the tables around us were getting or finishing their entrees, we finally got our appetizers. No apology other than from the waiter. Then, as we were finishing our entree, the Maitre D came by and said that they would make a special herring dish for our table for the next night. Hello! What about those who didn't order the herring? There was no apology given at all. Just to those who ordered the herring.

I'm fully aware that there is no perfect cruise or cruiseline and I take the bad with the good. I crab but can really enjoy myself on any cruise. It's a matter of attitude.

[Charliesmom]

I'm curious, Pam. Did you report the filthy room to the Purser's desk? Also, what category were you in? Does category make a difference?

We were in a mini-suite on the Royal Princess during a "Round the Horn" cruise in 2000 and had a filthy room. I asked for the curtains to be removed to be washed (they were). Our bathroom was mildewed, but I do not remember asking that it be cleaned. I never complained to the Purser's Desk (I was younger and less critical then).

What I did make a fuss about was being teased by a waiter because of my food allergies.

It was the worst cruise we have ever been on. If it happened today, the cruise line president would get a blistering letter about all of the things that were wrong. I feel that would be doing them a favor. It is important that people in high places know about poor upkeep of their expensive properties and bad service which will turn away customers. Nobody can afford to have a bad reputation.

Roberta

[jtl513]

I just found a post this morning that will ease your fears about the Amsterdam: on Sep 22nd Foxpaw said:

WOW, what a grand ship!!! :D :D :D The ms Amsterdam is everything one would expect, and much more. She is, in my humble opinion, the finest of the Holland America ships; clean, elegant, rich, warm, cozy; the staff is stunningly helpful and friendly; the food has been PERFECT.

Doesn't that make you feel better?

I've started a Roll Call (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=634941) for our cruise, and so far there's just us from FL and a couple from CT on it. Come join us!

[xeena]

we sailed the amsterdam last dec thru the panama canal and loved it. we are on her again this dec 11 for a southern caribbean itinerary....

we had a great time last year, found the atmpshere and cleanliness of the ship just fine....and anything i dont have to prepare and clean up after usually tastes good, some better than others of course !

we ordered a fridge for the room.....and the only problem was that it took up the only outlet ! we prepared for this by bringing a power surge strip so the camera could get plugged in.....to recharge

we are looking forward to this year's cruise in Dec !!

[btobey]

Thanks John!