Mini Review Eurodam Sep 6-16th Canada/New England

[debsjc]

Here is a mini-review of our recent Insignia cruise. As a background I was travelling with my mother, we had cruised before with other companies such as Oceania, Seabourn, Star Clippers, NCL and RCCL, and once before with HAL on the Noordam.

If anyone would like any more information please ask, and I will try my best to help.

Pre-cruise

Stayed for 3 days in Quebec City at the Hotel des Coutellier. I would highly recommend this charming hotel if you are planning a visit to Quebec.

Embarkation

We took a taxi from the hotel to the cruise terminal, and arrived about 1115. There was no line to check-in and a short wait to board, I think we boarded around 1145. There was a desk outside the Lido, for making 'as you wish' dinner reservations, which we did before lunch. The cabins were available about 1.30pm

Cabin Assignment

Our reservation was for a VH guar, and 3 days before our cabin number appeared on the HAL website and it was a VQ spa veranda cabin on deck 10. Although I wouldn't pay a lot extra for these cabins it was a great upgrade from a VH. It had a plexiglass full size veranda, a bath tub as well as shower, and the extra 'spa amenities - complementary vitamin water, ipod docking system, Elemis bath salts, pedometer, yoga dvd, and table top water feature. Being up on deck 10 the view was fantastic, and we calm seas all trip so being high and forward wasn't a problem.

Eurodam

As this was such a port intensive itenary, with places we generally had not visited before, we were too busy ashore to make the most of the ship. Unfortunately we didn't attend any shows or entertainment activities.
We loved the Silk Den for an after-dinner drink, having a promenade deck that we could actually walk the whole way around and the large number of different outside seating areas making it easy to find a quiet spot. Also was very pleased with the cabin, not many ships have bath tubs without upgrading to a suite.
Not so keen on the cabans by the Lido pool, we thought that area felt crowded and never sat there.


Food

We had breakfast on cabin service or in the Lido, lunch in the Lido, and dinner in the main Dining Room. A couple of evenings we ate dinner in the Lido, and we had one lunch in the Tamarind.

Almost everything we ate was fantastic, and we were very impressed with the choice & quality of the menu items. I like the way the Lido had lots of little areas with different lines.
Another bonus was that if you missed lunch whilst ashore, there was still sandwiches and desserts available in the Lido until 5pm (as well as Pizza, salad, burgers etc)
Also must mention fresh squeezed OJ at breakfast - excellent.

The only exceptions on good quality were one evening the main courses in the Lido were not hot, and the cabin service breakfast wasn't good in terms of food or service (early delivery, missing items, cold items etc etc)



Service

Generally excellent, especially in the main dining room and at the front desk. Our cabin steward was OK, but not as helpful as we have usually come across - also our cabin stewards smoked in their little store room with the door ajar making the whole corridor smell of cigarette smoke


Ports

Our itinery was Quebec, Saguenay, Charlotttown, Sydney, Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, New York.

We didn't take any ships excursions, and we arranged rental cars in Saguenay, Charlotttown, Sydney, and Bar Harbor.
I will try and add a full port review in the next day ot two.


Few minor problems

I do believe that it's not worth getting too upset over little annoying things that happen - but I will mention them just to give a balanced view and because I would like to point out how well HAL usually try to make amends.

* Clearing US immigration - The day before we arrived in Bar Harbor, where we would be clearing US immigration, a letter was delivered to our cabins. This letter stated that they would call passengers to present themselves to immigration by the deck of their cabin number.
On the morning this did not happen, there was one general call, and therefore an enormous line for us 'non-us' nationals.
I understand that it's not HAL's fault we have to clear immigration. My problem is with them issuing a letter detailing a procedure, then not sticking to it, or giving any reason why they didn't do so.
Also on this morning the daily programme advised tender tickets would be given out from 1030am - when we arrived at the lounge at 0955am to wait in line they had already given out a lot of tender tickets, again starting before the advertised time.

* When we came back onto the ship at about the 4th port, the security guard scanning the cards called us back. He very aggressively shouted at us that the same photo, my mums, was coming up when he scanned both our cards. This was obviously not our fault, the check-in agent at Quebec must have allocated the photo incorrectly on the computer, but security definitely made it out to be our fault. Also this presents the question why did it take them 4 days to discover the problem, the previous days the photo obviously wasn't even checked - not good security.

We went to the front desk to have the photos retaken as directed and told the lady we were disappointed by the attitude of the person scanning the cards. She was absolutely lovely, totally agreed it was not our fault, and apologised. At the same time I happened to mentioned to her the flowers I had arranged to be in our cabin at embarkation had died already.
On returning to our cabin after dinner than night the front desk sent a lovely replacement flower arrangement, as an apology for the first lot dying, and the incident with security. The next day we received yet more flowers form the security department as an apology from them as well!

* Each day I called to make 'as you wish' dining reservations for the next day. The first day I asked the opening time for this, and was told 8am, so I called around 8 and booked a table for 7.45pm.
One day, towards the end of the cruise, I called and all the tables for two had gone. This was strange as it was just after 8am I queried this and was told reservations had actually opened at 7am. I spoke to a manager who apologised I had been given the wrong information about when reservations opened, and kindly managed to book a table for me.

* Spa- My mother went for a $99 port special of 3 treatments taking a total of 1 hour- The therapist was running late and only gave her 45 mins of treatment. My mother mentioned it to the spa manager, also saying how pleased she was with the quality of the treatments. The spa manager apologised for her treatment being cut short and offered her a complementary 30 min treatment the next day.

I was very impressed with the way HAL handled any problems. They really seem to care about their passengers and try to put things right. Not many companies do this, and it makes a refreshing change.

Conclusion

Overall we had a great vacation, the routing, service and food were excellent. I think HAL offers excellent value for money, and would cruise with them again any time.

[IRL_Joanie]

debsjc Awesome to read such a well ballanced review. And so glad yoour overall impression was a good one

Did you happen to take any photos of the stateroom and photos from the view you had?? If so, is it possible to get some of them to add to the HAL Staterooms/Cabins page for the ship?

Joanie

[aliaschief]

Good review; thanks for taking the time to do a review.

[Mary Ellen]

Thank you for the review.

One thing - it appears you had open seating for dinner. Everyone on the ship - ALL dining venues (even room service and the pool grill) - are part of AYWD.

[debsjc]

Joanie - My mum was the photographer, as soon as she sorts through what we have I'll email you the ones of the stateroom and the view

Mary Ellen - You are absolutely correct, we were open seating. I just got the terms confused.

[earl_m]

Thank you for taking time to write your review. Glad you had a great cruise!!

[trophy_23]

Thank you for the review, very good information. Sounds like you had a great trip. Makes me even more excited that in about 48hours and I'll be on the Eurodam. Cannot wait!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Enjoyed your review.

Glad you didn't let those minor things bother you.

[debsjc]

Here are a few pictures of the cabin

[debsjc]

The original flowers that I arranged. they were beautiful, but died quickly.



The lovely flowers HAL kindly gave as as a replacement, and after the incident with secuity

[IRL_Joanie]

debsjc, just grabbed the photos and have them ready to add to the Eurodam page, but need a cabin number please??

Joanie

[themerle]

Thanks for the review of your cruise. Sounds like you had a wonderful time even with a few problems. HAL does try to make things right.

[sail7seas]

Thank you for your review. I really enjoyed reading it and am happy the staff tried to correct glitches you encountered. We all make mistakes. It's how we handle them that makes all the difference.

Also appreciate your posting photo of your cabin. I had not seen that category. Nice room.

We really enjoyed Eurodam in March and are eagerly looking forward to returning in January. Your review made me feel we'll be just as happy on her this year as we were earlier this year.


Welcome back.