Absolutely the WORST experience I have ever had!!!!!!

Item: Volendam
Rating: 2.9
Author: FrJ

Volendam Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

FrJ

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 62

Overall rating:

2.9 out of 5

7 Night Alaskan Inside Passage (Vancouver Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 10, 2019

Ship: Volendam

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 6163

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

I expected much more from this cruise line. They did not deliver, on anything! I have even completed their online survey immediately after returning & they have continued to ignore me. I have receive no response from them in a month. I even reached out to them again recently to ensure that they had received my survey. $ days have passed & I have again been ignored. I would NOT recommend this line to anyone!!!!!

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Embarkation was about average. Nothing special. Party was definitely not what was expected.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Many staff were not very conversant in English. The staff did nothing to enforce the line for service rules, although posted (IE. people walked up & were served right in front of me, although I was standing there already). Staff were not willing to finish cooking things that were not fully cooked (IE. bacon in the mornings was almost raw & they would not finish it on the grill, that was already hot). The posted menus were not followed as a rule (IE. dinner menus show that there is ALWAYS an alternate menu selection, but some nights they would not honour the request for these items). Main dining room ran out of some cutlery items one night & people were expected to eat soup with teaspoons! Staff members were sometimes rude & curt with guests. I always ordered beef as well done. I was ALWAYS given rare to medium rare. Bars, coffee bar & dining rooms were inconsistent in what constitutes a soft drink. Some, if they had a fountain, would pour a glass. If they did not have a fountain, some would open a can & fill the glass but not give you the remainder. Others would give the entire can with a glass of ice.

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Most of the onboard activities were geared to an older crowd, so we did not participate. The outside pool was not used as to cold. The indoor pool was mostly used by the few children onboard so we stayed clear of there.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Stage shows were average at best. The comedian was not that funny. The magician was the only real entertainment that we enjoyed. The piano bar was extremely loud and crowed. Our room was directly above & impossible to get to sleep as decent hour due to the volume.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Room stewards were exceptional! Beyond that, the staff were sub-par. We have cruised 3 previous times on another line & the treatment we received from the staff on tis ship was DEPLORABLE! The staff were rude at times. I observed an elderly woman who was lost ask a staff member for directions to the main stage. He didn't even stop & point the correct direction. He just stated "All the way forward lady." & continued walking. She looked at me in disbelief because she was lost & turned around. She didn't know which way was forward. I ended up taking her there. An elderly guest at our table one evening in the main dining room, on a Gala Night, asked the waiter which items were soups on the menu. When he pointed them out, she asked "These are all soups?" He responded, in a curt tone of voice, "That's what I said!"

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Ship had a layout that is not family friendly. The bars & casino are open to everyone, including children, to walk into & through. The interior windows on the one speciality dining room that I checked out were very dirty. They appeared to have a greasy film on them that had been there for some time. Most of the windows & the railings had paint splatter on them from ship repainting/maintenance efforts.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

The cabin was fantastic. The only issue was that it was directly above a very loud piano bar. I was not told this when I accepted that cabin, otherwise I would have taken a different one. Other than that, no issues. The size was excellent. it was clean & well kept.

Ship tip

Do not expect to much of the ship & staff on board in terms of service. Having cruised on another line previously I anticipated a mush high standard on this line. I was extremely disappointed. I felt shunned, ignored, & was treated like a third class passenger.

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