BIWOZ Posted June 15, 2005 #1 Share Posted June 15, 2005 I did a search on this topic and couldn't find anything, so I hope I'm not repeating something that's already been posted. :) Cruise: Alaska Inside Passage: 13 May - 20 May 2005 Ship: Statendam This cruise began literally the day after the ship left drydock in Victoria -- and it showed. The ship was dirty externally; mainly it was paint and rust chips etc, but also dirty handprints, footprints, spills etc. I was initially disappointed in its appearance, but when up early the next morning for a walk (like 5.30 am), found the crew was already hard at work scrubbing and washing literally everything. Within a couple of days, the ship shone. :) BEDS Are great, just as everyone has reported. I wrenched my back badly when I mistimed my footing and skidded off a sidewalk in Skagway. The bed supported me so well I had no pain at night and slept like a baby. FLAT-SCREEN TV Ours was defective. It would work OK for 20 minutes or so and then go off. It took 3 days to get it repaired/replaced. No big deal as far as I'm concerned, but others could see it differently. Never used the DVD player. LINEN Beautiful. Enough said. CROW'S NEST A wonderful vantage point to watch the (late evening) sun set. We were disappointed one evening to find it had been "booked" for exclusive use by a group onboard. When some people complained, they reluctantly let the general public share part of it. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FOOD Dining room food was excellent, as expected. Meals were perfectly sized so that you could enjoy the appetizer/soup, main course and dessert without feeling hopelessly bloated and uncomfortable. Choices were varied and each was a gourmet event. Amusingly, we heard one (American) lady proclaim loudly to friends after reading one evening's menu that it was "just as well there was a hamburger bar" or else she "would not have had anything decent to eat"! The wine selection was good and very reasonably priced. Lido Lounge food was OK but nothing to write home about; but, hey -- it IS a self-serve cafeteria after all!! Hamburger/taco/tortilla bar was great for a casual lunch. The salmon barbecue suffered somewhat because the fish was overcooked in many cases; our travelling companion found only half of hers edible. A shame. STAFF Generally, they were wonderful, and a credit to HAL. However, there was a run-in one night with one of the casino staff. When we left Skagway, a group of hardcore regulars went to the casino to wait until the ship was far enough from port for it to open. We were just sort of incidentally there (we used to have a drink at the casino bar after dinner). They wouldn't open the casino, saying it was still to close to port. After two hours (!), some people complained. The casino rep, named Dieter, said it wasn't his problem and if no-one was there at midnight, they wouldn't open at all, which would suit him. Some people were upset by his attitude and decided, come hell or high water, they were going to wait until it was opened. Dieter's response was abrupt and rude. As far as he was concerned, it wasn't going to open. However, it did, about 12.15 am, to cheers from the assembled passengers. Henry, the chief barman in the casino bar, is a treasure -- a lovely man who is genuinely interested in the passengers. He used to greet us by room number and preferred drink: "Hello Mr 575 MGD and Mr 164 Scotch rocks and water" :D GENERAL Embarkation was slick and professional, although the US Immigration woman was plain bloody rude :mad: Disembarkation at Vancouver was nightmarish -- there is no other word. We stood, along with hundreds of others, in a serpentine line for two-and-a-half hours to get a taxi!! The port authorities need a serious kick up the ... well, you know where. It is a total letdown after such a wonderful cruise. Any questions, please ask. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy Sue Posted June 15, 2005 #2 Share Posted June 15, 2005 Thanks for your review. We were on the Zaandam the week before you and we really enjoyed the SOE updates .. The ship was very clean and in excellent condition. How large was the private party that took up the crows nest? Did you have nice weather and did you enjoy the Alaska ports? When we arrived back in Vancouver we hired a limo back to the airport ... very quick and easy ...we did this when we arrived too. After US conversion cost was only $40. or so each way .. we had heard about the long lines for taxi's and with 3 of us we need a van taxi for all of our luggage, so we opted for the limo. When we arrived back in Vancouver there we were one of 2 ships .. how many were there with you that morning? We really enjoyed our Alaska cruise .. there will be a next time that will probably take us to Seward, with a land package before a cruise back to Vancouver. Welcome home and thanks for sharing your experiences Peggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.A.Lady Posted June 15, 2005 #3 Share Posted June 15, 2005 Thanks, BIWOZ, for the great review! I am so excited to be leaving on the Statendam on July 1 -- your report was a welcome sight this morning! I already told the BF we'll have to meet Henry...:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyofFourtoAlaska Posted June 15, 2005 #4 Share Posted June 15, 2005 I think Peggy Sue has the right idea about the town car service. Did you do the new US Direct process? We have a tight time frame between port and airport, and are thinking that UD Direct plus the town car will ease the anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIWOZ Posted June 16, 2005 Author #5 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Hi Peggy Sue You asked: How large was the private party that took up the crows nest? About 30 people I'd say. It didn't worry me all that much, but there were some mutterings ... Did you have nice weather and did you enjoy the Alaska ports? The weather was absolutely superb! In total we probably had no more than an hour's rain over the whole week -- and most of that was at sea. Even Ketchikan shone ... :D In Skagway, it was, quite frankly, hot! We wore short sleeves as we strolled the streets. When we arrived back in Vancouver we hired a limo back to the airport ... very quick and easy ...we did this when we arrived too. After US conversion cost was only $40. or so each way .. we had heard about the long lines for taxi's and with 3 of us we need a van taxi for all of our luggage, so we opted for the limo. Yes, we've since been told that's the only way to go ... When we arrived back in Vancouver there we were one of 2 ships .. how many were there with you that morning? There were two of us in port I believe ... We really enjoyed our Alaska cruise .. there will be a next time that will probably take us to Seward, with a land package before a cruise back to Vancouver. I hope I didn't give the impression I didn't enjoy the trip -- it was everything we had hoped and planned for and more. I would do it again in a heartbeat -- even including sitting in tiny aircraft seats for another 22 hours! :eek: We're also thinking of another, one-way cruise -- perhaps up from San Francisco next time. Who knows. But it will be on HAL. FamilyofFourtoAlaska -- people with connecting flights were given special consideration. I can't help with US Direct because I don't know what that is. ;) L.A. Lady -- You'll have a ball. Henry mixes a mean Margarita and is a "generous" spirits pourer too. :D Cheers Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frogso Posted June 16, 2005 #6 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Thanks so much. I read so little about the Statendam on these boards. Glad to hear that you had a great trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joal Posted June 23, 2005 #7 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Thanks BIWOZ for the review. We will be on the Statendam in October going to Hawaii. Glad to hear you enjoyed the food in the main dinig room. As a matter of fact, that was the only thing we did not like when we were on the Westerdam in March. So, it is reassuring to hear positive comments about the food. Joal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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