Saying goodbye to Holland...Veendam A/C problems

[Jade13]

S

 

 

JMHO, the OP has no obligation to disclose what HAL's offer was -- that is between her and HAL, and IMHO is really none of our business.

 

I agree, however, if OP posted the offer they may find out that many agree with them. If not, well, they have this "final" offer in writing so it is not going away.

 

If OP would be so kind to answer this basic question - if I had to guess I would say they are looking for cash back and HAL is offering OBC for a future cruise. I could be wrong but most complaints posted here have resulted in OBC for the future.

[luvs2travl]

Because of the many posts that have been circulating about the air conditioning in the Veendam there must be a problem.

In several posts I have read comments that calls and comments to HAL went unanswered or thought of as trivial, so it seems that HAL is perhaps not taking it too seriously; that is sad for I have always had a high regard for HAL and it has always been one of my top choices, because of its perceived professionalism.

I am booked on the Rio-Ft Lauderdale trip for next year and am seriously concerned whether I should cancel and look elsewhere, I e- mailed HAL and hope to have some comments from them but will certainly keep an eye on the Veendam before final payment.

 

We looked at booking that cruise as well (April of 2011) but because of all the A/C problems reported here, (and I DO believe there is a problem on the Veendam), we did not. We really wanted to do that itinerary and may do so at a later time on a different ship, or maybe even a different cruise line, although I would love to go on HAL.

 

We decided to do the "Circle Hawaii" cruise instead. It is such a shame that HAL is ignoring this obvious problem. There is certainly enough posters who have reported this, not only on CC, but directly to HAL itself. It is quite disappointing that, so far, nothing seems to be happening to correct the situation.

 

I would be cancelling if I were booked on a cruise on the Veendam. Maybe if enough passengers cancel, that will get HAL's attention. Sporadic A/C on a cruise ship, cruise after cruise, is just not acceptable, nor should it be! Especially not with HAL's "Commitment to Excellence" motto.

[SwissMyst]

Should be and must be and may be .......are their contractual baselines here.

 

Should you be not charged for the food you ate and the transportation to the different destinations, the entertainment you watched, the time you took up deck chairs or public spaces because the individual cabin A/C was (1) defective, (2) not to your expectations and/or (3) not to your liking. This is where I think there needs to be the concept of a sliding scale, and not a demand HAL reimburses you 100% for certainly (2 and (3), and even perhaps for (1).

 

Should HAL have immediately sent you home, at their expense is another option. I wonder what the contract you signed said about all of this and what their reimbursement policy is, if any. Was this presented as an option? Certainly if this was a clear breach of contract, you could fly home on your own and then sue them in your contracting state of jurisdiction. (fine print in your contract). I wonder now what the cruise contract did say. Usually they disclaim a whole lot of stuff we think are reasonable expectations.

 

Unless someone wants to turn this into some sort of dubious subjective shakedown, you are on the right course to not choose HAL again. And read your next cruise line documents very carefully before you decide on your next cruise. You know what the problems can be. You have an idea of what you want as a remedy. Contract for it next time.

 

You have warned us all to think about a lot of this. This has not been a wasted exercise. And I think HAL also needs to think about this too and set out clearer expectations, liabilities and disclaimers in the future with all of this in mind. Maintaining these unique older, smaller ships is part of the HAL experience and carries with it these unique complications. They do need to be addressed ahead of time.

 

However, I also think the time to take care of this including an early departure from the ship is in the very beginning and not after you have enjoyed all the other benefits from the rest of the experience. Seems only fair.

 

Too hot rooms are terrible. No one is discounting this. And agree, our last Vista ship had excellent room temperature controls.

 

But on our MV Discovery ship which is far older than any current HAL ship, the A/C was really inadequate when we got to hotter areas. But it never crossed our mind to demand reimbursement. It seemed like this was just a part of the whole package - old ship, hot climates, and individual sensitivities. So that is a warning to not choose MV Discovery either unless it stay around Iceland or Alaska.

[luvs2travl]

My bold above. Generally I would side with HAL on this one because the truth is you shouldn't believe everything you read on CC. There's a lot of nonsense (in both directions) posted here. Half the time HAL can do no wrong which is just nutty and then there's the nonsense about how horrific it is ... not true either.

 

But in this case, believe everything you read. This goes back years. It's ongoing (our cruise was November 2007). It's all different people posting the same thing over and over. You may be lucky and get a comfortable cabin, but you also may not. And the entire ship runs either too hot or too cold.

 

Seriously, book on Veendam at your own peril.

 

 

 

Are you serious????!!!! You can't be. There can be no offer that is sufficient for 99.9% of the population that will be worth being in a hot cabin for any amount of time ... one hour, two hours, whatever.

 

I expect full use of my cabin 100% of the time I am on the cruise. I may or may not use it, but I expect full use. I don't know what you can possibly mean by "sliding scales" and "subjective temperature requirements". Hot is hot.

 

One expects A/C in their cabin. One expects to be able to sleep at night. We brought a thermometer with us because we had heard about the problems and if we had one of the cabins without A/C I wanted to be able to prove it. We were lucky ... putting it all the way to the coldest setting made our cabin bearable at night, but during the day we had to black out the cabin to even bring it down to 79 degrees which was bearable most of the time, but not what it should be.

 

No amount of money will ever get me on the Veendam again and I'd think twice about booking one of her sister ships because the clock is probably ticking.

 

You said it better than anyone could have! Way to go, girl! We didn't book this ship because of this issue. Totally, 100% unacceptable - 100% of the time!

[buddycat]

this was the worst cruise we have taken out of 32 cruises then they offer 2 upgrades on the same inside cabins big deal!!! they are sooo gererous WE WILL NEVER GO ON A HOLLAND AMERICA AGAIN UNLESS THEY OFFER A MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN A UPGRADE

[Jade13]

 

 

Are you serious????!!!! You can't be. There can be no offer that is sufficient for 99.9% of the population that will be worth being in a hot cabin for any amount of time ... one hour, two hours, whatever.

 

One expects A/C in their cabin.

 

I must be that .1%. And, I can think of some future offers that would make me happy. We don't have central A/C in our home, but we do have lots of fans.

[Jade13]

this was the worst cruise we have taken out of 32 cruises then they offer 2 upgrades on the same inside cabins big deal!!! they are sooo gererous WE WILL NEVER GO ON A HOLLAND AMERICA AGAIN UNLESS THEY OFFER A MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN A UPGRADE

 

Does this have to do with an A/C issue? If not, this should be a new thread.

[cruisin'girl]

66 degrees? I'm glad I'm not paying your electricity bill in the summer :D

LOL. No, we don't keep it that low during the summer. But some people like it really cool for sleeping especially and as long as they are fixing it, they might as well have the air get down to what the most hot-blooded pax might require. (-:

[buddycat]

I agree, however, if OP posted the offer they may find out that many agree with them. If not, well, they have this "final" offer in writing so it is not going away.

 

If OP would be so kind to answer this basic question - if I had to guess I would say they are looking for cash back and HAL is offering OBC for a future cruise. I could be wrong but most complaints posted here have resulted in OBC for the future.

i WOULD LIKE A CRUISE IN THE FUTURE OR SOMETHING BETTER THAN THE OFFER OF A 2 UPGRADE ON THE SAME INSIDE CABIN:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

[cruisin'girl]

If OP would be so kind to answer this basic question - if I had to guess I would say they are looking for cash back and HAL is offering OBC for a future cruise. I could be wrong but most complaints posted here have resulted in OBC for the future.

Sure they offer OBC. It costs the cruiseline next to nothing. $100 OBC and you use it in the PG. How much do you think $100 retail costs them in food wholesale? $100 OBC used in the casino- probably costs them nothing except your use of the chair you sat in to lose it. Plus you have to purchase another cruise to use any OBC which you may not have been ever going to do again anyway. OBC for a future cruise is totally unacceptable compensation.

[IRL_Joanie]

this was the worst cruise we have taken out of 32 cruises then they offer 2 upgrades on the same inside cabins big deal!!! they are sooo gererous WE WILL NEVER GO ON A HOLLAND AMERICA AGAIN UNLESS THEY OFFER A MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN A UPGRADE

 

buddycat, can you tell us why your Zaandam cruise was the worst please???

 

What happened? Just saying it was the worst does not warn us what to watch out for....

 

Please come back and tell us why you feel this way??

 

Joanie

[inverted1]

If it is a group of cabins in the very least isn't there a way to have temporary air conditioning systems in case something like this happens, which could happen on any ship.

 

 

Window ac unit (odds are though, there won't be an electrical outlet nearby).

;)

[CanWeGoYet?]

I too expect to have my cabin at a comfortable temperature 24/7. If I can't sleep because it is hot and miserable, that is going to spoil my entire cruise. Makes no difference to me if I don't spend all my time in the cabin.

 

If the a/c was needed on the whole cruise & was not repaired quickly (let alone not repaired for the duration of the cruise) that right there is completely unacceptable. Most of us would not book their cruise on a ship knowing they would be sleeping in a veritable oven. Vacation budget & vacation days are a finite & limited for most of us. Of course the OP would have booked on another cruise ship had she known what she was getting into. Not a shake down to expect a major refund of dollars spent in a situation like that.

[inverted1]

this was the worst cruise we have taken out of 32 cruises then they offer 2 upgrades on the same inside cabins big deal!!! they are sooo gererous WE WILL NEVER GO ON A HOLLAND AMERICA AGAIN UNLESS THEY OFFER A MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN A UPGRADE

 

i WOULD LIKE A CRUISE IN THE FUTURE OR SOMETHING BETTER THAN THE OFFER OF A 2 UPGRADE ON THE SAME INSIDE CABIN:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

 

 

 

Sorry Bud, but ya lost me.

[Jade13]

Sorry Bud, but ya lost me.

 

Me too. The OP was Karen.

[Jade13]

i WOULD LIKE A CRUISE IN THE FUTURE OR SOMETHING BETTER THAN THE OFFER OF A 2 UPGRADE ON THE SAME INSIDE CABIN:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

 

I don't know why you are confused. Karen, the OP, has not posted her offer, and she never stated she was offered a two grade upgrade on another cruise.

[luvs2travl]

Sorry Bud, but ya lost me.

 

Me, too! I have NO idea what that poster is talking about. Unless the Zaandam has the same A/C problems as the Veendam, we are on our way. I don't want to hear complaints about the quality of the food, or the poor entertainment, or the poor cabin steward/dining service either, because those are all subjective. We're booked in a Deluxe Suite and if it is cool when it's supposed to be and warm when it's supposed to be, and the plumbing works, that's all I want to know.

 

SO: Does the plumbing work? Does the A/C work? Does the ship float? Is there food and drink? Then - we're good! :) :)

[luvs2travl]

I don't know why you are confused. Karen, the OP, has not posted her offer, and she never stated she was offered a two grade upgrade on another cruise.

 

Buddycat (the poster that is confusing everyone) is referring to the Zaandam - NOT the OP and the Veendam. Hence - the confusion. He just said the Zaandam was his worst cruise E-V-E-R in all his 32 cruises, but doesn't say why - just that he wants a better "offer" from HAL in compensation for this "worst cruise ever.."

[SwissMyst]

I too expect to have my cabin at a comfortable temperature 24/7. If I can't sleep because it is hot and miserable, that is going to spoil my entire cruise.......

veritable oven.

 

How should HAL make subjective conclusions contractual promises? Should they guarantee a range of temperatures and people can decide if this range meets their criteria of "comfortable" or if they are "hot and miserable" and a "veritable oven".

 

Real ovens usually start at 200 degrees. Not sure where veritable ovens start.

[TracieABD]

Buddycat (the poster that is confusing everyone) is referring to the Zaandam - NOT the OP and the Veendam. Hence - the confusion. He just said the Zaandam was his worst cruise E-V-E-R in all his 32 cruises, but doesn't say why - just that he wants a better "offer" from HAL in compensation for this "worst cruise ever.."

But now he has disappeared?!?:confused:

[Himself]

Before saying good by to Holland try and "R" Class or a Vista Class or Signature Class ship.

[bplazo]

I would not be able to stay in a cabin that was hot and also would be sleeping somewhere else.

[luvs2travl]

But now he has disappeared?!?:confused:

 

Yeah - imagine that! ;) :)

[SwissMyst]

You said it better than anyone could have! Way to go, girl! We didn't book this ship because of this issue. Totally, 100% unacceptable - 100% of the time!

 

I think HAL has a good future passenger filter in operation right now. Not sure they want to change this. Those that demand 100% satisfaction 100% of the time are on notice and are best served elsewhere.

 

I don't want my HAL prices to go up to satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. I like sailing with those who can roll with the punches, and not demand HAL pay through the nose to make them subjectively happy. Because we are still discussing this in the most subjective of terms.

 

When is someone going to contract with HAL for a specific, objective range of cabin temperatures that is acceptable with the assurance HAL will be fully 100% responsible financially for the full and entire price paid, if even for a minute the cabin temperature exceeds that bargained for range?

 

Objective proof required for cabin temperature measurements, naturally.

[luvs2travl]

I think HAL has a good future passenger filter in operation right now. Not sure they want to change this. Those that demand 100% satisfaction 100% of the time are on notice and are best served elsewhere.

 

I don't want my HAL prices to go up to satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. I like sailing with those who can roll with the punches, and not demand HAL pay through the nose to make them subjectively happy. Because we are still discussing this in the most subjective of terms.

 

When is someone going to contract with HAL for a specific, objective range of cabin temperatures that is acceptable with the assurance HAL will be fully 100% responsible financially for the full and entire price paid, if even for a minute the cabin temperature exceeds that bargained for range?

 

Objective proof required for cabin temperature measurements, naturally.

 

 

Let me guess.... you're a lawyer, right? ;)