Our trip of Life Time
Noordam Cruise Review to Hawaii
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 44
Review summary
Very disappointing for our expectations of Holland. We heard so many great things and the quality of ship and crew. We checked with several other passengers to see if it was just our experience or not. Unanimously everybody agreed with our experiences. We think our 2 top were. One the lie that ship was updated in 2015.Second was the Cruise director Andy. My top was when we had our veterans meeting and Andy showed to greet us (which seemed like he was being put out by attending for 2 min). There was 96 year old WW II veteran and he asked if the Captain was buying the first round of drinks (which would have been impossible as there was no bartender) and Andy stated that wasn't going to happen. The WWII veteran stated that every other cruises the Captain (of which he had been on 30 cruises) had bought the first round. After a few back forth comments Andy stated if did not like it take another cruise line to which the WWII vet said that was fine and be his last cruise on Holland. Andy said he would go get a bartender and an hour later no no bartender. Probably never cruise on Holland again.Embarkation
Everything went of what expected from Holland from the pickup at the airport, to the hotel and boarding. pretty much down hill from there.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The food was ok from Vancouver to Australia but much better from Australia to New Zealand.
The chicken was always very dry in the buffet. The meals in the Vista Dining hall was good but portions were extremely small.
Drinks were to expensive Happy Hour in the Crows Nest was the best deal but hard to fine a waiter to order drinks prior to the end of Happy Hour.
Onboard Activities
with a lousy Cruise Director Andy Knox had a few activities. Departure from new ports was joke. We would get an announcement that there was going to be a departing party on the aft deck with drinks and appetizers.
600+ people show up and their were two waiters, one make shift bar and 2 trays of appetizers. The announcement sounded like free drinks and appetizers CHEAP
Entertainment
The entertainment did not fit the age group. No one had ever heard of most the music and WAY to load. How many jugglers and comedian can one cruise take? It seemed to see how cheap of entertainment the cruise line could get. Guest speakers Dr Maulk and Dr Tom were excellent.
Children's Programs
None we know or heard of but we only saw 5 childern
Service and Staff
Our room staff of Hoaru and Henei were excellent. Along with our Vista wait staff of Diaz and Lido of Edi and Houves were really out to please there customers
Ship Quality
We were expecting a refurbished ship as stated on the web site (Ship was refurbished on 2015 which was a half lie). When asked about it we were told that could mean anything like the engines were refurbished. Everything was dated and needing a total. All in all the ship seemed pretty clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
The sofa/hide-a-bed and TV haven't been touched since the ship was built. the sliding door to patio the sun tint was badly damaged making it hard to see from inside. NOT GOOD.
Amazed us the internet was supper slow but when you used your ship card to order a drink the charge was posted to your on board account before the drink was to your table. The number of outlets in the cabin (2) are no where enough when charging phones, I pads, curling irons and CPAP machines. The ship line needs to move into electronic age.
Ship tip
Find another cruise line one thing that greatly upsets me is lying and half truths. The Cruise director was the most obnoxious person I have ever met. His typical comment if you had a concern was and I quote "if you don't like it take another cruise line" and we will
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia
Actually took tour before we boarded the ship to Victoria and Buchard Gardens. spend a little to much time in Victoria and not enough time at Buchard Gardens. The gardens are must see but plan 2 hours to see everything. Our tour was running late so we only had a little over an hour
Total disaster hop on hop off was more than I have time to explain but we waited an hour and half at stops for next bus (we were told by bus driver that the bus ran every 55 mins.). Speaker on upper level didn't work. The bus driver had no clue what to expect at stops on and on.
No one told anyone that the only red line buses went back to ship. We found it in the small print on the pamphlet.
Disembarkation
Average
2 Comments
Jessmin 7 years ago
Thank you for sharing this. So I won't choose this ship in the further. I cruised on Zuiderdam las month. The portion of the dinners in Vista restaurant is small. The TV in the cabin is way too old. I don't even find any stuff in singles getheeing.
Thank goodness the service and food in Lido restaurant was great. The Lido restaurant manager Mahrub was outstanding. The Vista restaurant manager also was very accommodating to my request when I dine alone. Since I can make friends with people at any age, that helped me to meet few friends 20 or 30 years senior than me.