NickCDN

I cant stop thinking about the sauce used on the spaghetti in the Lido. Does anyone have the recipe for this sauce. I would be forever thankful.

If you shop around we find that the mass market cruise lines, including HAL, provide excellent value for money. Yes, they are all cutting corners but the value remains high. They still offer good products but lack some of the attributes of the past. And yes, we would be willing to pay a little more for less corner cutting but that does not seem to be what this particular market segment wants.

 

The one thing that we will not do is pay premium dollars for a mass market line-any line. Our attitude is that if we have to pay premium prices then we should select a cruise line that truly offers a premium product.

 

A premium 'environment' without the attributes of a premium cruise line does not cut it for us. But we can travel any time-we do not have a requirement to book months in advance and we can take advantage of specials within the cancellation window. This can make a significant difference

I agree 100%. We have now paid a 'premium' for HAL twice. the first cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam is what I would consider a 'premium' experience. My recent cruise on the Zuiderdam.... not so.

Staffing cuts are evident just upon observation.

We always sit at the same table on various ships and have for years.

We know how many dining stewards and service areas used to be busily serving in past years. The same section, same tables today have fewer people doing the work. They work as hard as they can but there are not enough of them.

 

I agree they work their ass off. I really feel bad for them actually.

I am just bitter I paid for a premium cruise and received a carnival cruise.

Interesting FACT

The Zuiderdam is supposed to have 815 staff for 1900 passengers (based on 2 in each room). On my recent sailing, the cruise log that they distribute at the end of cruise confirmed staff cutting as only 650 were aboard for this cruise even though all cabins (as per the captain) were sold and filled. This also does not account for the fact that some cabins had more than 2 people in them (as our groups did as we had kids with us).

Nick

Thank you Eroller for the review. I have been watching reviews and they have seemed to tend to the negative side recently. This really lifted my spirits for my time about the N.A this January.

NickCDN

By far, the most entertaining cruise report I have ever read!