Veendam Sept. 19 Alaska review

[Tinknock50]

This may be in bits and pieces as thoughts come to me about the cruise.

This was my first solo cruise and I really would have liked someone to enjoy it with me. At the same time I was excited at the different experience it would present.

I spent the night before the cruise at The Victorian Hotel. A beautifully restored Hotel built in the 1890s. The bath was down the hall, but very nice. I had a room with a nice bay window and when I looked to the right, I could see the harbour.
I walked to the dock, only a couple of blocks away, sometime after 11 am.
I only brought a rolling carryon and a medium sized knapsack. There were 4 ships there and everything was pretty disorganized. While I was waiting in the long security line, someone from HAL said the Veendam was cleared and I should move to the head of the line. When I got up there, the plan was changed, but since I was already there, they said go on through.
Check-in went quickly, but there was a long wait for immigration to start.
Well atleast this gave me a chnce to meet a couple of my fellow passengers.
I think I was on the ship around 12:15.
We waited for the 1:00 announcement for our rooms to be ready, but I went down a little early and it was all set for me. It was a good thing I already knew exactly where it was, because an earlier pax had pried the number off the door along with the brail number next to it. It was not replaced while I was on board.
My cabin was 420 on the Lower Promenade deck. I loved it because there was a door to the outside deck next to my door. I also liked that the cabin was wider than normal so that the entry hall seemed spacious by the closets and the room seemed bigger overall. It was actually the same square feet overall being that it was also shorter than the others. The best part was the window faced out the back of the ship offering a great view.

To be continued.......

[RuthC]

Thank you for what you've posted so far. I enjoyed reading it.

I have spent many happy days (and nights!) on the Veendam, and absolutely LOVE Alaska!

Looking for the next installment.

[FlorenceItaly]

Sean - Thanks so much for taking the time to post a review and share your thoughts....also looking forward to the next installment :).

Marie

[FlorenceItaly]

:).

Marie

[Tinknock50]

Review continued....

I can't say enough about how comfortable the new bedding and sheets HAL uses now. Very comfy! A fruit bowel and and a soft fleece lined robe were provided.
I also noticed that HAL has switched from the cheap plastic ice buckets to nice chrome ones with a chrome tray and ice tongs. (Like you will find on Celebrity) They also provide a strong blowdryer that you can plug in at the dresser.

Due to a mix-up, I was put at a table for 2 by myself. I think it was because I originally was going to sail with a friend, but due to ill health he was unable to sail. Just before I left , my TA requested a large table. I think the FAXes got jumbled. By the second night, I was put with 6 others...all Canadians.
Judging by the number of people I met on this cruise, I would say half the ship were Canadians. They were all nice and good tablemates. One couple wasn't comfortable with the formality of the dining room and I would often talk them in the Lido at dinner time. I think they really enjoyed the great view from up there.

more later......please excuse the broken up review

[RuthC]

Thanks for the on-going review. Take all the time necessary to finish it.

When you do write some more, though, would you include how it went traveling solo?
I started cruising as a solo, and now as a widow I do it that way again. It's always nice to read the experiences of others, too.

[FlorenceItaly]

Thanks for the on-going review. Take all the time necessary to finish it.

When you do write some more, though, would you include how it went traveling solo?
I started cruising as a solo, and now as a widow I do it that way again. It's always nice to read the experiences of others, too.

Yes, take your time...I was just ribbing you. Ruth, I consider Sean a friend, and I was just ribbing him, LOL. I too am interested in your point of view as a solo cruiser, as I have cruised solo twice with HAL. Both times, I was seated at dinner with other solo cruisers, and it greatly enhanced my trip.

Marie

[Tinknock50]

Yes, take your time...I was just ribbing you. Ruth, I consider Sean a friend, and I was just ribbing him, LOL. I too am interested in your point of view as a solo cruiser, as I have cruised solo twice with HAL. Both times, I was seated at dinner with other solo cruisers, and it greatly enhanced my trip.

Marie

Yeah.....and Marie is really PUSHY......lol (just kidding)

[Tinknock50]

Thanks for the on-going review. Take all the time necessary to finish it.

When you do write some more, though, would you include how it went traveling solo?
I started cruising as a solo, and now as a widow I do it that way again. It's always nice to read the experiences of others, too. It wasn't too much different travelling alone, really just that you did what you wanted when you wanted. I think you also tend to talk to others more .

[FlorenceItaly]

Yeah.....and Marie is really PUSHY......lol (just kidding)

I prefer to think of myself as VERY FRIENDLY, lol.

Oh, I love solo cruising. Love doing what I want, when I want...also having the room to myself. I cruised with my sis last week, and we had a ball, but boy did I miss having the room to myself, and doing what I want, when I want. Also, I think I have been very fortunate to have two outstanding solo cruisers, both meeting friends, in which I am still in touch with.

Although, I am cruising with dh next weekend, and am looking forward to sharing a room with him, of course ;).

Marie

[RuthC]

It wasn't too much different travelling alone, really just that you did what you wanted when you wanted. I think you also tend to talk to others more .Oh, I agree! When I cruised with my husband we tended to lean on each other for company. By myself I have to be so much more outgoing if I want to spend time with others. I was a bit timid at first, but it has gotten so much easier over time.
Now I relish being able to do what I want when I want without consulting someone else, or compromising what I want to do!
I still miss my husband, but I've also certainly found the "up-side" to solo cruising.

[Tinknock50]

more.........


Everthing I had to eat on this cruise was very good. About the only thing that wasn't great was the creme brullet (spelling?). Instead of a light crusty topping it was a little hard and sticky.
The pizza was very good...had it for a late lunch a couple of times. Also took advantage of the good ice cream bar many times...:)
The beef was very good, although sometimes it was a little more rare than requested. I also liked the roasted potatoes a lot. The surf and turf was tender and delicious!

I packed light this trip, but the handy laundromat worked great for me and I actually went home with mostly clean clothes.

I met many nice people on this cruise. A lot of the people were first timers, and I enjoyed helping them with info about Alaska that I have collected from my many cruises there. For example, I told them about always spotting whales as you cruise toward Juneau and that outside of Glacier Bay is another great spot to see them.
I really love the size of the S class ships. I have been on bigger ships and you definitely get closer to things in this size ship. The wrap around promenade is a great asset and went around it many times and it was great to just pop into my convenient cabin if I got cold.



I saw many orcas on this trip.....but not so many humpbacks as I usually see. They were good about making announcements when whales were spotted...even if you didn't catch a glimpse, you knew they were in the area and you could be alert to looking for them.

Speaking of wildlife, one of the highlights of this trip was my only excursion...the Neets Bay bearwatching. I have tried on past trips to take something like this, but one thing or another got in the way of my plans.
I initially tried some private carriers to take me, but they all said it was too late in the season to see bears feeding on salmon. Plus, online posters said it was too late. So, I ended up booking one on the ship. I thought at least it would be cool plane trip (which it was!) and would gamble on seeing wildlife....no guarantee on these trips. The guy at the excusion desk said they saw 2 the week before. There were about nine passengers on our floatplane.
We saw 8 bears including a cub and mother, who caught a salmon with her claws as we watched....too cool! it was also fun to watch the cub scale a tree and then come back down. I still feel very fortunate that I finally got the chnace to do this.

Glacier Bay was a cloudy day, but no rain. The blue colors of the ice were amazing. We went to John Hopkins glacier this cruise which was a bonus for
me because I had only been there once before and not nearly as close to the glacier as this time. So close it seemed like we could reach out and touch it ( an illusion of course:) ). We saw some fantastic calving and I told the people around me that they were very fortunate, because it isn't always this good. As many times as I have been to Glacier Bay, I still loved going back (and want to go again!).

Overall, this trip had mainly light rain and generally overcast, but not enough to keep us from enjoying it.

Oh gee....I am beginning to ramble.....perhaps I will add more if I think of anything else and you are not already asleep.

[FlorenceItaly]

I love hearing all about your trip, especially your bear excursion. I did not do it on the last trip(my first trip to Alaska), but have vowed to do it on my next trip.

I also enjoyed cruising College Fjord....did you?

I loved my room on the lower promenade too.....it is definitely my deck of choice now.

Marie

[Tinknock50]

I love hearing all about your trip, especially your bear excursion. I did not do it on the last trip(my first trip to Alaska), but have vowed to do it on my next trip.

I also enjoyed cruising College Fjord....did you?

I loved my room on the lower promenade too.....it is definitely my deck of choice now.

Marie
The Veendam was doing the roundtrip Vancouver when I was on her so we didn't go as far as College Fjord. But having seen it before, I agree it is beautiful. Especially on the Statendam, as it get very close to the Glaciers.

[Tinknock50]

Some more random thoughts......

I hope I don't get anyone in trouble for this, but when I asked about the non-working Steamroom, someone who would know said he had been bugging the main office for the go-ahead to repair it. It never came so he went ahead and took out all the old tile (it had been falling off, he said) and retiled it. It was completely retiled, but not open by the time I left the ship.

I went to one show early on in the cruise......a broadway review which I thought was very good.

They had a fantastic string trio called the Moonlight Strings. I was so relieved
that it wasn't the Champagne Strings as I had on other HAL ships because I didn't like them at all. The Moonlight Strings played a medley from Showboat and My Fair Lady which were wonderfully performed. My biggest regret was not getting a Dining Room table close enough to hear them at dinner time.
I believe they had just been hired , so you Veendam cruisers to come are in for a treat. I was about to think they had given up on the homemade chocolates that they generally serve in the Explorers Lounge. But I subsequently saw them bring out the tray on 2 occasions after that...MMMMM
I seem to recall on other HAL cruises that they used to leave the tray on a table and you could help yourself after she brought the tray around to everyone. This time, after she made the rounds, out of the room they went.

One more thought....I wish they would change the sheets midweek in the cruise. I put this on my comment card.

I think thats all. I guess I will never make a living writing reviews , will I?...lol

[FlorenceItaly]

Sean - I have really enjoyed your random thoughts. Thanks so much. Also, I was thrilled to hear you were happy with the String Trio, as I know you were very much looking forward to that aspect of the cruise.

Marie

[KBC]

Sean

You really should afford yourself more praise than you do for your reviews. They are very informative and friendly. I really enjoy reading your posts. I've not ventured up to Alaska as yet, however, it is certainly on my 'list'. :)

[Tinknock50]

Sean - I have really enjoyed your random thoughts. Thanks so much. Also, I was thrilled to hear you were happy with the String Trio, as I know you were very much looking forward to that aspect of the cruise.

Marie
Marie,
Yes, it is a very important part of the cruise experience for me.....feeling the ship move through the water while listening to beautiful music.

Speaking of ship movement.....we had 50 knot winds one evening making for fun walking...pick up your feet one side of the aisle and land on the otherside of the aisle. :) I loved it! But we did all kind of look like drunks.....lol
People on lower decks had water splash against their stateroom windows. Wish I could have seen that! On the promenade on my side there was a healthy amount of spray on deck.

[riverqueen]

:eek: They don't change the sheets?????:eek:

Sorry if I sound foolish, but i really thought the sheets would be changed daily.
Like a hotel. Silly Me !!

nancy

[Tinknock50]

Sean

You really should afford yourself more praise than you do for your reviews. They are very informative and friendly. I really enjoy reading your posts. I've not ventured up to Alaska as yet, however, it is certainly on my 'list'. :)
Thanks for the kind words ,Katie.
Say, why don't you come on the Zaandam September 10th?
I am looking into going solo on it now.

[Tinknock50]

:eek: They don't change the sheets?????:eek:

Sorry if I sound foolish, but i really thought the sheets would be changed daily.
Like a hotel. Silly Me !!

nancy
Pretty sure they used too.....don't know why they stopped.

[FlorenceItaly]

Thanks for the kind words ,Katie.
Say, why don't you come on the Zaandam September 10th?
I am looking into going solo on it now.

Oh, Sean, I couldn't help it....I peeked at the itinerary you are considering and it looks fabulous. I assume you are staying on the Lower Promenade again. Are you working with Amber? She typically is available 24/7, and gets back to you asap. She was having some email situations so she didn't receive my email about you right away. I am confident you will NOT regret it, if you use her.

Marie

[riverqueen]

Pretty sure they used too.....don't know why they stopped.
Hmmmm.
Thanks for the info.

Nancy

[Tinknock50]

One other glitch I had was I never recieved my Mariner Tile. I asked my Steward about it ( by the way, he did a great job and he always asked how I was doing ,"Mr Hennigan") He said I wasn't on his list and that I should go down to the front desk and ask.
Got just a little annoyed when she patiently explained to me that you have to have sailed with them before to get that. Had to urge her to check and see that I AM a Mariner.
After she figured it out that I was, she asked if I got an invitation to the Mariners Party and my Mariner pin. I said no,and she gave me both.
After I returned to my room, there was a knock on the door and there was the Steward with my tile.
I know I am being silly, but I really enjoy coming back to my Stateroom after dinner one of the last evenings of the cruise and being "suprised" by the tile laying on the bed. I missed out on that this time and hate having to ask for it.

I know.....nit picky :)

[Tinknock50]

Oh, Sean, I couldn't help it....I peeked at the itinerary you are considering and it looks fabulous. I assume you are staying on the Lower Promenade again. Are you working with Amber? She typically is available 24/7, and gets back to you asap. She was having some email situations so she didn't receive my email about you right away. I am confident you will NOT regret it, if you use her.

Marie
Yes, she e-mailed me and apologized because she did not get back to me sooner.
I sent back my request and am now awaiting her reply. I am going to go guarantee again. I think it is fun to see what you wind up with. Also the Zaandam does not have an aft facing cabin as the S class does and I had on the Veendam.

Does it sound fabulous enough for you to take it too when I go?

[FlorenceItaly]

Not nit picky....I would have felt the same way. I did not attend the Mariner party, therefore, did not receive my pin :(. I wasn't exactly sure I would receive one, since it was my first Mariner party....didn't know what to expect...now I wish I would have gone...oh well.

Marie

[Tinknock50]

Not nit picky....I would have felt the same way. I did not attend the Mariner party, therefore, did not receive my pin :(. I wasn't exactly sure I would receive one, since it was my first Mariner party....didn't know what to expect...now I wish I would have gone...oh well.

MarieActually, the party is not a big deal. Think they were a little embarassed when the person with the largest number of days (500 or somthing like that) didn't show up for their medal presentation.
Did you get your tile?

[FlorenceItaly]

I wish I could, but I don't dare. I have told dh I am going to cut back on my cruising, LOL. Also, we already have a cruise booked Sept 17, on the Caribbean Princess, but may be cancelling it. Maybe the next time you go to Alaska, my dh and I will join you!

And, yes, I did receive my tile....love it.

Marie

[Faith77]

Thx for writing this review. I've thought about doing HAL to Alaska for my next Alaska cruise. So far I've cruised Alaska once on the Universe Explorer (a 50+ year old ship) and once on the Star Princess with some gal pals. Next time around I will definately do a smaller more intimate ship--especially if I'm cruising solo.

The Princess cruise was fun with the gals (we did the pc dining thing) and really enjoyed the shows and piano bar. I've heard good things about HALs piano bars--did you spend any time there?

Faith

[KBC]

Hi Sean

Zaandam September 10th certainly looks tempting.... We are probably going to do the Panama Canal again but who knows - a back to back might be nice and do both.....;)

BTW, the changing of bed linen which was mentioned earlier in this thread remains a mystery. I was a little disappointed on the Westerdam when the sheets were not changed until the end of the first week. During one of the shows it was joked about by the comedian who said that when they say that they have changed the linen, what actually happens is that it all moves down a deck until it gets to the bottom, then it is laundered.....:eek: Yes, he was joking!!

[Tinknock50]

Thx for writing this review. I've thought about doing HAL to Alaska for my next Alaska cruise. So far I've cruised Alaska once on the Universe Explorer (a 50+ year old ship) and once on the Star Princess with some gal pals. Next time around I will definately do a smaller more intimate ship--especially if I'm cruising solo.

The Princess cruise was fun with the gals (we did the pc dining thing) and really enjoyed the shows and piano bar. I've heard good things about HALs piano bars--did you spend any time there?

Faith
I didn't spend any time in the piano bar.....But heard the piano player in the crows nest and I thought she was good.....I believe that is the same voice I heard when I passed the piano bar.

[dakrewser]

:eek: They don't change the sheets?????:eek:

Sorry if I sound foolish, but i really thought the sheets would be changed daily.
Like a hotel. Silly Me !!

nancy
Umm, many hotels don't change your sheets daily any more, either. Do you change them at home every day?

[Tinknock50]

Umm, many hotels don't change your sheets daily any more, either. Do you change them at home every day?
True, I'd be happy just once midcruise.

[riverqueen]

Umm, many hotels don't change your sheets daily any more,
either. Do you change them at home every day? Dave,
Thank you for the comment/question. I often see your posts on these boards.
You are a very interesting fellow. Keep up the good work!
Yes I realise that a lot of hotels do not change the sheets every day. I try to avoid those. As for my sheets at home; I have to change them at least twice a week. I tend to "overheat" during the night and my sheets can get quite damp. Getting old is no fun:( but it sure beats the alternative;)

1st Cruise will be 11/13 on the Zuiderdam!!!!

I'm so excited.

Nancy

[dakrewser]

As for my sheets at home; I have to change them at least twice a week.
Nancy
I'm sure if you ask Stewart (the generic name for cabin attendents :rolleyes: ), you can get your sheets changed a couple of times during the week.....

Bon Voyage!

-dave

[kryos]

:eek: They don't change the sheets?????:eek:

Sorry if I sound foolish, but i really thought the sheets would be changed daily.
Like a hotel. Silly Me !!

Most hotels don't change the sheets daily either ... unless a new party is checking in.

I just today returned from a trip to Dallas for a stock trading convention. I stayed at a Wyndam. They put a card on the bed stating that the sheets are normally changed every three days if the same guest is staying in the room. They are only changed more often if either you specifically request it, or if there is a problem (i.e., child wets the bed, etc.). Of course, the sheets will be changed after you check out so that they will be clean for the next person using the room.

I know the sheets were changed mid-week on the Zuiderdam, though. During my cruise last month, I just happened to head back to the stateroom one morning to drop off some purchases I had made in one of the shops, and walked in as the cabin steward was changing the bedding. I'm surprised they didn't change them mid-week on this ship as well.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[riverqueen]

Thank you Rita!!

If they change my sheets once during my cruise...I'll be happy!!!

nancy