Is Maasdam really THAT bad???

[sgrissom]

We're booked on a 10 day cruise out of Norfolk in late Oct. I've been reading all the reviews and now I'm really scared!!! Has anyone got anything good to say about Maasdam?

We're used to Celebrity quality. When we sailed on Galaxy last year (twice) we loved her. We had read several reviews that said Galaxy was badly in need of refurbishment, but we didn't see any serious problems...at least nothing to lessen our enjoyment of the cruise. We're just not that picky I guess.

But now I'm reading review after review that makes Maasdam sound like an old broken down tub with terrible service and terrible food. Please tell me we haven't made a terrible mistake!!!

[CDRMark]

Howdy

 

I'm curious what reviews you've read. Aside from some not insignificant mechanical problems last year which have apparently been repaired, the reviews have been pretty great.

DW and I did that itinerary on Maasdam last year and loved it so much we are sailing her again in November.

The only advice I can give is: chill a little. If you have specific worries you would like addressed, please voice them and we'll give it a shot.

Cheers

MarkB

[TedC]

We disembarked Maasdam Aug. 20 after 35 wonderful days and wished we could have stayed longer.

 

There were a few plumbing glitches that were handled promptly, at least in our judgment.

 

Of the 35 dinners I ate on board there were two where I wished I had ordered something else. There was a wide choice of entrees and I could have ordered something else but didn't bother.

 

There's also a wide choice of Lunch and breakfast offerings in the Lido - seemed to be something for everyone.

 

We especially like the fresh-squeezed OJ at breakfast; and free ice cream and toppings available throughout the day, and again late in the evening.

 

Most of the entertainment was to our liking and we also had some very interesting lecturers on this itinerary.

[WeLoveCruising]

I agree with Mark. There are an overwhelming number of positive reviews. I've sailed on the Maasdam 6-7 times, including the Norfolk cruise last year (PS I am also booked on the 10/26 with you). No cruise is going to please 100% of the people 100% of the time, so remember that when you read reviews. The Maasdam is not a huge mega-liner with 24 hours of activity, (and thats one of the reasons why people love her), but that might not appeal to some looking for a different style of cruise. I think a lot of it is preferance and expectation. What are your specific concerns?

[Stevesan]

If you'll take a peek at the CC Member reviews only two of this year's fourteen reviews were rated negative, one was strictly weather related. The other was very unhappy. A sample (oh, the horror of it all):

 

No officers to greet us when we boarded the ship,we also thought the cruise directors and assistants looked a bit sloppy and shoes needed shining (that goes for some of the head waiters in the dining room), a toilet that didn't work properly or at all at times, mold in our bathtub and on the bathmat, water turned off for 4 hours in our cabin one day, dusty corners in our cabin, dusty/dirty silver tray that the ice bucket sits on, service in the Lido that was awful with waiters standing and talking instead of taking care of the tables or helping people with their trays. There was a manager in the Lido but he didn't see to it that the waiters did their jobs. I cleared our table some days. There seemed to be a shortage of china and silverware as there were days that only bread plates were available at times and half the time you had to go looking for silverware. The wonderful fresh squeezed orange juice that almost everyone absolutely loves and is so special was undrinkable to me. I saw glasses of it untouched on the tables as was mine. The oranges must have been seconds or something. Also, the pineapple juice in the dining room was watered down and I didn't drink that either.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=34

[Joanelle]

I am researching right now for a Canada/New England cruise on the Maasdam, and like the others above, am finding mostly Good Reviews! I have yet to find a review that would make me change my mind (and I'm booking for six couples yikes!). Dust in the corner of my cabin will only make me feel more at home :)

[Bookish Angel]

I was on Maasdam in April for 10 days and I am going again for 11 days next March.

 

The ship is beautiful, the service is impeccable, the ambiance sublime. It is the best cruise ship I have ever sailed and I have cruised a fair amount in recent years.

 

The Maasdam and HAL are both understated, elegant experiences for mid-price, discerning cruisers. No, it is not a "party hearty" atmosphere (which is why I cruise HAL) but I never wanted for anything to do. The ship is full of beautiful art, particularly Asian porcelain, has a good library and a nice theater that screens recent films. In addition, there is the casino, gym and spa and a nice game room for cards, board games, etc. There is also a club for dancing and other watering holes if one is so inclined.

 

The food is good overall, quite good in The Pinnacle. There is always a good selection at the salad bar (spinach everyday, a huge plus for me) and a couple of entries for vegetarians.

 

The staff is excellent - friendly and professional. They are my favorite crew. They are constantly keeping the ship clean and lovely with fresh flower arrangements everywhere and attention to the smallest details.

 

Admittedly, I think that the Maasdam is best suited for people who are self-entertaining and are not looking for a ton of organized activities. Maasdam (thank Buddha!) is not a party atmosphere but it is never boring.

 

Take a couple of good books for your quiet time and enjoy your cruise. I really don't think you will be disappointed.

[sail7seas]

Like the others, I'm wondering how you might have missed all the reviews telling about wonderful cruises on Maasdam....including mine.

 

We sailed Maasdam back-to-back in June for Canada/New England and had such a wonderful time we have booked to redo the same cruise(s) next August.

 

Nothing is perfect and Maasdam is not but she is very wonderful IMO

She's an elegant, beautiful ship, great crew, very good food, (subjective as that subject is) and we can't seem to be aboard her enough.

 

Keep looking for reviews here and I know for sure you will find some raves.

[RuthC]

What negative reviews? I don't remember reading any on this forum in a very long time. I concur with MarkB totally. Tell us what you read, and when it was written, so we can answer more specifically.

 

Like TedC I was on the 35-day trans-Atlantic this summer. That's plenty of time to get an idea of a ship---it was fine. The staff was as gratious as always; the ship clean. Sure, there were a few times a rest room was out of service for repairs---just means things break; things get fixed.

I'm real picky about food, and have to say never missed a meal. Some nights I had a difficult decision choosing from three entrees. The night I couldn't find anything on the menu a special request was filled. Someone at our table routinely asked for a platter of onion rings to share. Coming right up!

Rolando---a cook on Lido starboard side---had a special request waiting for me every single morning. Some days I was still at the beginning of the line when he brought it to me!

I was greeted by Musa every morning in that same line---even when he was transferred to port side. Three stewards were fighing over which one could carry my tray and find a clean place for me.

I have absolutley no complaints---and lots of praise---about the Maasdam and would like to be aboard this very minute.

[tomc]

I did a b2b on the Maasdam this summer (I think right after s7s got off) and, aside from having to go a little slower because of a mechanical problem, I thought the ship and its crew were wonderful in every way.

 

Did things go wrong? Sure; things will always go wrong everywhere. Were they big? Well, we had to miss one nice place because of the propulsion difficulties, but that was the only notable negative. Would I recommend the ship and its crew? In an instant!

 

The Lido was constantly being picked up, waiters were available for tray help (but not everybody at rush hour and, especially, not the able-bodied).

[debshomespun]

Bookish Angel--Did you leave out of Norfolk on your April cruise? How is the seas at that time of year, and what is the air temperature like? We have only sailed the Caribbean from florida, and San Juan, and not sure what the ocean will be like out of places like New York, Norfolk, and Charleston. We love sea days, but if it is rough, I tend to get a little green.

[ahoymatey3]

Overall, I had a good time onthe Maasdam. Here's my review:

 

http://www.cruisereviews.com/HollandAmerica/Maasdam35.htm

[Bookish Angel]

Bookish Angel--Did you leave out of Norfolk on your April cruise? How is the seas at that time of year, and what is the air temperature like? We have only sailed the Caribbean from florida, and San Juan, and not sure what the ocean will be like out of places like New York, Norfolk, and Charleston. We love sea days, but if it is rough, I tend to get a little green.

 

 

Except for the last night, the sea was smooth on my 4.21 through 5.1 cruise. The last day had been a bit rough and both hubby and I got seasick around 8:00 p.m. Nothing terrible and it was our own fault as we shoud have taken another dose of our before-bed motion sickness medicine; we just waited too long given the somewhat rough seas. We buy the cheapy motion sickness medicine from Wal-Mart and for us, it works every bit as well as the more expensive Dramamine or Bonine.

 

The air and water temps were quite warm; so warm that we purposely booked earlier in the year for our 2006 S. Caribbean trip as both hubby and I prefer cooler temps. St. Thomas was hot and humid so we opted for Magen's Bay to cool off and the water there was quite warm.

 

I am so ready for my 3.3.06 cruise and I think the temps will be perfect. I suppose the seas could be rougher as the water will be cooler but I'd rather deal with that than possible hurricanes later in the season!

[judithbiggs]

I too was on the Massdam for 35 days this summer, and hated to get off. There are always things that go wrong, but I felt they were quick to fix them. The service was super. Everybody was friendly. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

We were also on her for the holiday cruise last year where there were engine problems which kept us from leaving Noirfolk until after midnight. It still was a great cruise with great food and a great crew. Stop worrying and have a great time. I'm ready to go again and visit all the crew that I loved so much

[mrskmirolla]

We loved the Maasdam when we went to the Panama Canal and we are booked for May 2006 to Canada/New England and we are excited to return. We just got of the Zuiderdam and had a great time but look forward to getting back to a smaller ship. Don't get me wrong I loved the Zuiderdam but she was really big :eek: Have a great time!!

 

Kathy

[LAFFNVEGAS]

All I can say is OMG:eek: there is nothing bad about the Maasdam. The 7 day cruise we did on her was by far the BEST cruise we have ever taken. I do not recall anything really bad other then a few mechanical problems which can happen with ANY ship. Here is the link to my Live Reporting that I did while on the Maasdam. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=202157&highlight=live+maasdam

 

 

I think you will be quite pleased with the Maasdam, I know we were and hope to cruise on her again in 2007, we would next year but we are booked up on cruises.:D

[sail7seas]

Here is a link to comments I wrote re: Maasdam in June, 2005.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=196185&highlight=Comments+Maasdam

[sgrissom]

OK, thanks everybody, I'm feeling much better now. Like I said, we're really not picky, we're easy to get along with, and we're prepared to love the Maasdam. We don't need lots of entertainment, just a well run ship where we can relax and have fun.

My concern was when I read 5 or 6 reviews of different cruise dates (one on this board, the rest in the member review section) that mentioned engine problems which resulted in missed ports, air conditioning problems, cleanliness problems, and bad service. I'll try to focus on the positive reviews instead!

Again, thanks for your reassurance and quick responses.

Sally

[tomc]

engine problems which resulted in missed ports, air conditioning problems, cleanliness problems, and bad service.

 

Engine probs: Yeah, they've had some. Caused some inconvenience, but not a lot. We did miss one place, but we weren't stranded in the Sargasso Sea.

 

Air conditioning: Maybe the Original Poster's cabin had problems. I was in two cabins on my b2b; no difficulties.

 

Cleanliness: On HAL? You kidding? If the OP found dust in the corner, you can be sure it was clean dust and changed three times each day.

 

Bad service: Can't imagine it. Unless you are very picky, and I had a tablemate like that. Couldn't wait to throw her overboard. My sentence comes up for review in five years and, believe me, it was worth it.

[sail7seas]

Bad service: Can't imagine it. Unless you are very picky, and I had a tablemate like that. Couldn't wait to throw her overboard. My sentence comes up for review in five years and, believe me, it was worth it

 

:D That is GREAT, Tom!!! ....it was worth it.

 

Clean dust in the corners.....changed three times a day!!! rofl ... :)

[wcolucci]

Engine problems??? I would love it if we were stranded an extra day....maybe I am different but I never got off during a Carribean cruise on the Zan, I just love being on the ships. The Maasdam was wonderful, reminded me of what I would imagine an old time cruise ship....or ocean liner, must have been like...only better.

 

Stop the engines...I wanna stay on!

[starysacz]

Sailed on the Maasdam last May from Norfolk to the Southern Caribbean for 11 nights. No problems at all. No plumbing problems and service was excellent in the dining room as well as the Lido. This was our second cruise on the Maasdam and was upgraded to a suite on the first cruise.

 

Would sail on the Maasdam in the future. Presently booked on the Noordam, Ryndam, and Amsterdam in the next 12 months.

 

You will enjoy!!:)

[Navy_Chief]

Cleanliness: On HAL? You kidding? If the OP found dust in the corner, you can be sure it was clean dust and changed three times each day.

I love that comment, clean dust. Brilliant! Of course, the person that wrote the "Bad Review" sounds a great deal like an XO I once knew who was never ever satisfied on Messing and Birthing inspections. The deck could have a shine you could use to shave and that man would find fault. Just the way some people are. IMHO, I'm sure your going to have a wonderful time on any HAL ship you sail on. There may be an occasional "Bump in the Road" but I would not dwell on it to the point that it would spoil my vacation. Life is to short for that indeed.

[Linda&Vern]

Howdy

 

I'm curious what reviews you've read. Aside from some not insignificant mechanical problems last year which have apparently been repaired, the reviews have been pretty great.

DW and I did that itinerary on Maasdam last year and loved it so much we are sailing her again in November.

The only advice I can give is: chill a little. If you have specific worries you would like addressed, please voice them and we'll give it a shot.

Cheers

MarkB

Thanks Mark! Ditto for me too! My advice is same as yours. Wonder exactly what poster has been reading? There are always negative reviews about every cruise if you look for them. Hope poster finds all the "good stuff" about the Maasdam!

[nktwinpeaks]

Maasdam is WONDERFUL!! We (4 couples) thoroughly enjoyed 10-day cruise out of Norfolk last November & just got our documents for Nov. 5th cruise out of Norfolk. Have a great cruise!