Disappointing compared to previous HAL sailings.

Item: Nieuw Amsterdam
Rating: 2.8
Author: diluvsdisney

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

diluvsdisney

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 58

Overall rating:

2.8 out of 5

Verified Review

4 Night Bahamas (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 02, 2017

Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 7016

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

I am not sure what happened in the few years since we last sailed the Nieuw Amsterdam, but I really hope this was an exception and not the "new normal". WHAT HAPPENED????!! I have been on about 40 cruises, this will go down as one of the most disappointing.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

average. No special check in area for higher up Mariner Society members.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

I am not sure what happened, in the past the food was good, if not great. This time it was really not at all. Even the afternoon tea was a let down. We also actually moved tables the first night as the service was very poor. I could not get any understanding that we had a vegetarian and someone allergic to seafood. The brunch with the Captain, also subpar. No special entrée for gala night??? Even Carnival does that on a four night cruise.

Lido Market

2 out of 5

Food was "ok". What drove us all crazy is that you have to wait to have someone serve you instead of just taking what you like from the buffet. It takes too long and so anything you already have plated, gets cold. Are they afraid you will take too much? They did not refill items on the buffet fast enough, again causing a wait. They kept pitchers of lemonade around that was made from the mix that should be in a machine that constantly mixes so it is even and not week or too strong. The pitcher allowed the syrup to all settle to the bottom quickly. The same occurred in the dining room. Food quality was marginal overall.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

did seem to have as many activities to choose from as other lines.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

My mother typically loves going to the shows in the main theatre, She wound up walking out of each one, either bored or just didn't care for the performance.

Children's Programs

no kids

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

not even close to the service level we have had in the past with HAL. Head waiter was rude, unhelpful. took forever to get beverage refills the first night. We changed tables, out second server was better. Afternoon tea service was a joke. A cheap version of HAL and other cruise lines tea service.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

average.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

incredibly small, not enough storage. I had the pull out sofa, the mattress was torn and had urine stains. I could not sit on the bed with out in trying to fold me into a taco.