Maasdam in Canada

[3rdGenCunarder]

EVERYONE on the ship is unhappy...

 

Or so the woman next to us at dinner last night says. We were running late, and the second occupants of the table next to us arrived. Good evening, how are you, etc. She said that they only booked this for the itinerary and time of year, implying that she’d never sail HAL for any other reason.

They have sailed Princess, RCCL, and Celebrity. She said that if we like HAL, we’d like Celebrity, but gave us the advice to take some sort of special package. I said that I find it annoying that you have to pay extra on some lines to get good service. The only good things I’ve heard about NCL seem to come from the upper suite pax, not the general population. She assured me that this Celeb package is available to some ocean view and inside cabins. I guess she thinks we’re too poor or cheap to go for a suite. Then she went on to say that it’s terrible what HAL calls a “suite.” True, my verandah “suite” isn’t a suite. But I knew that going in. HAL inflates the names of most of their cabin/stateroom grades. (Don’t get me started on the confusing deluxe vs superior names) Most lines inflate the names. heaven forbid they should list a cabin as “ordinary!!!” I think she’s in a deluxe suite (or maybe the PH) and is annoyed that there are some of those low-class veranda suite-that-isn’t-really-a-suite on her deck.

When she mentioned Princess we shuddered. I said that it was the worst service I’ve encountered. The front desk was playing Liar’s Club, competing to see who could get away with telling the biggest, most ridiculous lie. She implied that the service is better if you’re a higher-status passenger (I guess we’re obviously low-class passengers). Like that made it OK that a first-timer was treated badly? As long as you suck up to the platinum and diamond people, things are OK? I briefly described our problems with the MDR. She asked how many HAL cruises we’d done. I said 5, and she replied, “Then they should be treating you better than that.” I do believe that there should be extra perks for past passengers. but basic good service should be given to all, not just to the lofty status and suite passengers. Apparently, Mrs. I’m-too-good-for-this-line didn’t think so.

Hmm, what else? She didn’t have hot water one day. Sounds like she had a lot of back and forth with the front desk over that. She said the hot water was back on for several hours before anyone called her. She hadn’t checked her water for herself because “It isn’t my job to check on such things.” If I didn’t have hot water and wanted to know if it was back, I’d just run a little water now and then, not wait for someone to come to the door or call and say that the hot water was back. Ohhhh, I would not like to be this woman’s steward. She seems VERY high maintenance.

She doesn’t like the food. Not enough variety. Every day, lunch is the same. Doesn’t like the Lido layout. Celebrity has “stations” with different kinds of food. Much better. (Celeb ships are larger, so I would think that they can support a more varied Lido.) I didn’t say anything, because I eat the same lunch at Lido every day. Salad and bread pudding. With a big breakfast and dinner, that’s plenty for lunch. So I have no idea what the hot selections are. Except for the very bad Yorkshire pudding, everything I have eaten on the ship has been good.

EVERYONE this woman has met is unhappy (to hear her tell it). She met a woman who booked her tours online, but never got confirming emails and never double checked. This passenger got to her cabin, no tix. Went to the shorex office and had to wait 45 minutes (with only one person in front of her) to get to talk to someone, and then there was no record of her tour purchases. If there was no confirming email, sounds to me like the passenger in question messed up the booking. Can’t blame HAL for that. I said that we checked our tour reservations the first day because we had a late upgrade, and they found our account and printed our tickets, whole thing took under 5 minutes. And we stopped by twice after tours to say how great they were, didn’t have to wait more than a minute. Well, Mrs I Hate Everything sniffed and said “You must have gone at the right time.”

Fortunately, we were done eating at that point and could escape. We will NOT dawdle over our meal again!!!

Everyone else we’ve talked to seems happy. Now that we’ve sorted out our MDR problems, we’re happy. Everyone this unhappy woman has talked to is unhappy. So, do unhappy passengers find each other? Is there some secret wave so they can identify each other?

[3rdGenCunarder]

Please don’t flame or be upset at this post. If you don’t want to know about smoking and formal night on the current Maasdam cruise, stop reading NOW.

People ask, I'm reporting what I've seen.

Smoking—people ask how much smoke there is, so here’s what I’ve noticed. Not a lot that I can see/smell. Maybe there aren’t a lot of smokers on this cruise, or at least not near me. Although I’ve often said that I haven’t encountered a hallway that smells of smoke, this time I have. But here’s the strange thing. The smoke smell is where our hallway meets the stairwell, and is stronger in the stairwell than in the hallway. I have a good “sniffer,” but I have no idea where the smoke smell is coming from. One day, the crew were painting the outside of the ship and I could smell the paint in that same area. Must be something about the airflow patterns.

There is a smoking area aft on deck 10. I’ve wandered out there a few times and I have seen a few people sitting at one table. I noticed the ashtrays on those tables, so I guess they were smoking. Haven’t noticed other smoking areas. Yes, I smoke smell in the casino, but I don’t go in there anyhow. (I prefer to “donate” money to HAL at the bars)

We went up to the Crowsnest for happy hour yesterday. We sat in the pink chairs in the section near, but slightly above, the smoking tables. I could smell smoke, but it wasn’t overwhelming—no haze in the air, etc. Couldn’t see how many people were smoking, but it didn’t seem to be many.

People want to know about formal night, so here’s what I could see based on open seating early time and early show. I wasn’t being Fashion Police, just compiling info for people who have asked.

First formal night was the second night of the cruise. Saw a sprinkling of tuxes, most men wore suits. Ladies seemed to be well dressed, but when they’re sitting down at a dining table, they could be wearing just nice blouses with everyday pants for all I could tell. Where I could see women walking around, I could see that some women wore long skirts, some short skirts or short dresses. Some wore very dressy pants. I did see a man get seated near us not dressed for formal night (dress pants, dress shirt, but no jacket or tie). Saw another man sitting sans jacket, but he might have put his jacket over the back of his chair. Saw two men lent jackets at the podium, and a man in khakis and polo shirt was turned away. So the dining room staff appeared to be enforcing formal night dress code.

I don’t know why they had a formal night after a full day in port. It may have had to do with the show—Bob Mackie on Broadway. No, he never dressed a b’way show, but the combination of great clothes (Sequin City!!) and show tunes makes for a nice show, appropriate for formal night. Same show as on Veendam, down to the short chubby comedian. Why must the comedian be short and chubby??? The only difference from before is that they had only one useless dancer. I don’t blame the girl. The show designer didn’t know what to do with her, so she mostly prances around and holds poses. Singers were excellent.

Most people at the show were dressed according to “code.” One couple I saw in jeans had been in the dining room, and I could see that they had changed after dinner. I think it’s easier to stay in what you’re wearing than to go back and do battle with the closets (narrow space in front, making it hard to open more than one door at a time). Plus, if we go back to the room, odds are we’ll sit down and not get up again.

Second formal night was last night, after a 4 PM departure. Again, most people dressed according to “code.” Saw one man in the MDR sans tie. The man who had been sans tie and jacket (a few tables away from where we sit) wore a suit last night. We sat in the atrium listening to the Neptunes for a while after dinner, and we could see that the photogs were doing a pretty good business doing portraits. We didn’t go to the showroom last night, so I don’t know what it was like as far as clothing goes.

Most people seem to be dressed according to the dress code for casual nights. Of course, you’re not likely to see shorts in Canada in October. A few guys in jeans and dress shirts, but most men in khakis or Dockers with dress shirts or polo shirts. I didn’t see any t-shirts. Women vary a bit more, most in nice slacks or skirt and sweaters. I don’t recall seeing any women in jeans. I haven’t paid a lot of attention to casual nights. I guess nobody stuck out as way out of line

I have seen a few odd outfits during the day. Best so far was at Lido breakfast a few days ago. A man in lightweight tropical flowered shorts, black sneakers without socks, long-sleeved gray plaid flannel shirt. The shirt was not tucked in, but was belted with a small black fanny pack. I can only guess that his wife was sleeping late and he dressed without supervision.

Bathrobes at Lido pool. yes, I’ve seen them, but they didn’t bother me, The roof was closed, and it gave the place a spa look. Better than looking at mr Speedo (every cruise has one). And one morning I saw a woman at the Lido breakfast in her robe.

[Opinions]

The only good things I’ve heard about NCL seem to come from the upper suite pax, not the general population

 

I have sailed NCL in a inside room...Found the service and the entertaiment excellent...Never ate in the extra charge restaurants...Found the food in the MDR to be good but perhaps not up to HAL's MDR.

[Y's Owl]

My comment on Mariner embarkation lunch: Two weeks ago on the Oosterdam we did not receive an invitation at the check-in counter. When we boarded we were told that the Lido was open for lunch. We were in a suite so we went to the Neptune Lounge (it was now about 12 noon) and asked. We were told the M lunch had started at 11:30 a.m. in the dining room and to just go. We went and we were seated immediately, nobody checked to see if we were Mariners.

 

The two couples at our table expressed astonishment at how empty the dining room was, and I thought is it because we're half an hour after it started? Or maybe people don't think it's available because they aren't handing out invitations. I'd suggest to anyone taking a future cruise as a Mariner to head for the dining room first to check things out.

 

As for your dining reservations, my heartfelt sympathy. That's no way to start a cruise!

 

That's good advice. On my November 2009 Maasdam cruise I had a similar experience as the poster. No one seemed to know about the Mariner Lunch in the MDR....I think it's supposed to be an insider thing to know about while those not-in-the-know follow the unwashed masses into the Lido.

 

I took my cruise mate on a tour of the ship he had not been on before, and made it so the last stop was at the MDR. When we arrived, we were seated at a window seat and had a very nice quiet lunch with two other passengers. The meal was more like a dinner actually. No one asked if I was a Mariner, because if they had, I would have confirmed I was. My cruise mate was not and he was never asked either. We had our carry on bags with us piled nearby in the corner of the dining room. By the time we were done, our room was ready and our checked bags were already waiting for us in the room. My guess is if anyone, Mariner or not, knows the secret of going to the MDR, you will get a very nice quiet lunch and you get to avoid all of those unpleasant crowds that have to happen when a ship of a twelve hundred or more passengers all go through one gangway at the same time. Think of it as a Cruise Critic secret, only we get to know.

[RuthC]

I have seen a few odd outfits during the day. Best so far was at Lido breakfast a few days ago. A man in lightweight tropical flowered shorts, black sneakers without socks, long-sleeved gray plaid flannel shirt. The shirt was not tucked in, but was belted with a small black fanny pack. I can only guess that his wife was sleeping late and he dressed without supervision.

How considerate of him, though, that he didn't turn on the light so as not to wake her. ;)

 

Thanks for the word on Yorkshire pudding. I had understood it to be made right in the roast beef pan, then cut into squares. I thought the texture was different from popovers, but I guess not.

I use Crisco, not butter, in the muffin pans when I make popovers. Cast iron muffin pans---preheat them first and the popovers start cooking before you can even get the pan in the oven.

[sapper1]

It was so nice to see the Maasdam in Saint John for the day. We made a point of driving by around suppertime for a look. We then parked for a minute on the street that looks down on the pier and thought about the wonderful cruises we have had on her. She is looking good.

 

We have three ships in on Wednesday and then that is the end of the cruise season. It is sad to see the season end because that means winter is not far behind.

 

Next year we will have another new terminal right next to the new one that opened a couple of years ago. It will replace the incredibly ugly shed that the third ship in port always had to use. Disney will be coming here next summer for the first time.

[buckirj1]

Next year we will have another new terminal right next to the new one that opened a couple of years ago.

 

Looking forward to it--I always enjoy coming to Saint John.

[jklc123]

Regarding embarcation in Montreal, we had a very smooth experience on Oct. 1. Arrived about 1 PM, went through the paperwork quickly, on board & to stateroom quickly & off to the Lido for lunch. Couldn't have been better. Maybe arriving later than 11 AM helped.

[3rdGenCunarder]

How considerate of him, though, that he didn't turn on the light so as not to wake her. ;)

 

Thanks for the word on Yorkshire pudding. I had understood it to be made right in the roast beef pan, then cut into squares. I thought the texture was different from popovers, but I guess not.

I use Crisco, not butter, in the muffin pans when I make popovers. Cast iron muffin pans---preheat them first and the popovers start cooking before you can even get the pan in the oven.

 

That is the traditional way to make Yorkshire pudding. I have special Yorkshire pudding pans, courtesy of my Yorkshire cousins. They produce a broader, less high version of a popover. Using the beef fat/drippings gives them the taste of the roast. And like popovers, the pan should be preheated.

 

Oh jeez, I had dinner a few hours ago and this is making me hungry!!!

 

This is a strange cruise. Tomorrow night is lobster and filet mignon night. But, although it's a sea day, it isn't formal. The day after that is formal. Seems odd that the fancy meal doesn't go with fancy dress.

 

I had good lobster roll today in Bar Harbor, and great local beer. Had good local beer in St John, too. Between the brews ashore and the bread pudding at lunch, I'm going to be trundled off the ship in a hand cart with the luggage!

[3rdGenCunarder]

Regarding embarcation in Montreal, we had a very smooth experience on Oct. 1. Arrived about 1 PM, went through the paperwork quickly, on board & to stateroom quickly & off to the Lido for lunch. Couldn't have been better. Maybe arriving later than 11 AM helped.

 

Probably so. One of the few positive things Mrs I-hate-everything said was that embarkation at 1 PM was easy. But if you want to get on board in time for the Mariner lunch, that's too late.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We were rockin and rollin on Tuesday. Wednesday was calm, and today looks calm, but cloudy.

 

One more observation to pass along. There have been questions about lobster night and the lido. No surf and turf at the lido last night. We wandered around the ship after dinner and saw two couples in the lido around 7:30 PM. I guesss people were eating later or everyone went to MDR.

 

MCD tonight. We're dining in the pinnacle.

[sail7seas]

Enjoy your last day aboard, Kathy. Thank you for taking us along with you. If I can't be on the beautiful Maasdam, I love reading about her. :)

 

Tomorrow will be a busy day for Maasdam's crew as they must be doing a huge load of stores and will embark for their 45 day Transatlantic/Europe cruise.

 

Travel home safely.

 

[Divi]

Kathy,

I'm enjoying all of your posts. Informative and entertaining.

We'll be on the Maasdam for the first time next summer. Yay!!

Have you figured out the wave/sign that lets people know you are a chartered member of the " There is nothing good about HAL/this cruise Club"?:rolleyes:

Deen