We are currently on the Noordam. We have sailed for the first time since COVID on a 14 day Auckland to Sydney, and are now on the trans Pacific from Sydney to Vancouver, a back to back.
When we first boarded in Auckland, we felt the service was excellent, especially our cabin stewards, who we think have at least 40 cabins to take care of. They are running from one to the other. The first few days the food was pretty good. But, by day five or so, it was easy to see that, especially in the Lido, the emphasis is on quantify, not so much on quality. The soups are all broth, with a little bit of meat/veggies at the end. Last week we had chicken noodle soup without noodles. The beef in the Asian area is the same every day, a different sauce, the same veggies, but it is tough and fatty. When my husband gives up on a dish, saying the meat has a huge piece of fat in it, I know things have changed,
We had a Mariner’s reception on the 14 day. We expected to go to the dining room for the traditional Mariner lunch afterwards, but no such thing. When we inquired, we were told the lunch is now only for 15 day and longer cruises.
The dining room unfortunately has also declined. The service is very good. Portions are bigger, but, the choices have become limited Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner? Turkey with sweet potatoes without the sweet potatoes? Now we are on a “legendary voyage “, but the food doesn’t seem legendary.
I really used to look forward to the little treats in the Neptune. I always felt we could make a little lunch out of their food, if we weren’t doing lunch at the Lido. Now, the poor little sandwiches are just that. The nice little appetizers before dinner have given way to pita triangles and hummus, with an occasional bowl of shrimp.
On the plus side, we had no classical music on the 14 day, but there is a classical trio on board now, and they are doing three short concerts per day. They are very good, and each concert is very well attended. Everyone in the service area is very good, and some seem almost desperate to please.
I anticipated these situations, after following the HAL boards closely, but it’s one thing to read about it, and another to experience it. While the trans pacific cruise was definitely a bargain, the 14 day was not. We will have to reevaluate if we want to do the Westerdam’s 28 day Japan trip in the fall of 2025.