Never again

Westerdam Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 49

Overall rating:

2.5 out of 5
Westerdam

24 Night Adriatic & Mediterranean Dream (Rome Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 15, 2017

Ship: Westerdam

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 5108

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

This is our third cruise. We sailed with Raphosy of the seas and celebrity reflection both were really good and far superior to westredam in any aspect. The Celebrity was the best. We are not fussy in any sense and don't mind if things are not perfect but this was just a poor experience. And the sad things is it cost us more than the celebrity cruise. We paid quite a lot of money for this cruise but got nothing in return!! We are a couple in our mid-40s with 2 girls 15 and 9. The average age was probably 70. So many old, unfriendly and grumpy couples that don't seem to like younger people and kids. They just everywhere you go on the ship. Entrainment was non-existent. Poor shows that lasted half an hour. Celebrity had the tenures of rock on for 2 amazing shows and 4 live bands playing all day all over the ship. We sadly had to go to bed at 10 every night and just watched a movie. No discos or parties to go to. No bands in the pool, no pool parties, no activities for younger the crowd. The BBKING band was good but played the same oldies songs every night. The whole place was like sedated. It felt like old age home rather than a cruise ship. The daily activities were mostly talks and seminars about how to fold towels, how to diet and bridge card game. Old people staff all day long. Great basketball court but no activities on it. Food was repeatable. Sma every night. For instance, the celebrity had a theme night. If we docked in Greece they had Greek food and so on. Nothing like that on the Westerdam. Food was always the same. Eating time are very short especially for lunch which was 12-14. If you missed the time then no food! so if you onshore you have no chance of making it back for lunch. How stupid!! Celebrity had the dining room open till 4 for lunch which made life much easier. Not enough staff to clean the tables. They did not have one BBQ party on the pool deck for the whole 10 days!! It felt like the whole ship is running on a really tight budget. The ship is also built really funny. It's an old ship very poorly decorated. Felt like in some sort of a rundown 80s hotel. No central area. Unless you are penthouse VIP passenger. you cannot access the front of the ship at the top deck so it was impossible to watch the ship entering ports from the front ogf the ship. The back of the ship there is a pool, and a bar it was always flooded with water and people were smoking there the whole time which made it really unpleasant. The Gym was ok. Destinations were fabulaous. Especially kotor and venice. Bot the ship dont giver you much time onshore. The had to back on the boat by 16:30 and some days it was 15:

Embarkation

1 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ports of call

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

1 out of 5

Messina, Sicily

2 out of 5

Valletta, Malta

4 out of 5

Mgarr, Malta

4 out of 5

Corfu, Greece

5 out of 5

Dubrovnik, Croatia

5 out of 5

Kotor, Montenegro

5 out of 5

Split, Croatia

5 out of 5

Venice, Italy

5 out of 5

Sarande, Albania Did not visit port

Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece Did not visit port

Katakolon (Olympia), Greece Did not visit port

Nafplion (Nauplion), Greece Did not visit port

Piraeus (Athens), Greece Did not visit port

Mykonos, Greece Did not visit port

Rhodes, Greece Did not visit port

Santorini, Greece Did not visit port

Naples, Italy Did not visit port

Disembarkation

3 out of 5
Was this review helpful? 49

8 Comments

GerryBCruisin    3 years ago

Thank you for taking the time to share your review of the Westerdam.

thewoodys    7 years ago

We have just returned from your same cruise we are mid 50's and did not feel THAT young. You found the gym, so did you not try the door to the right which leads out to the front balcony or did you not look out of the gym window and wonder how people got out there. We watched most port arrivals from that great vantage point. A cruise is what you make it.

majmom96    7 years ago

Just a little reminder - no one gets out of this world alive! And the good Lord willing, we'll all get the opportunity to reach the Golden Years and still be healthy enough to enjoy some hard earned luxury on a cruise! So instead of criticizing the "old and grumpy", help them celebrate their long lives!

majmom96    7 years ago

Just a little reminder -- no one gets out if this world alive! And the good Lord willing, we'll all get the opportunity to reach the Golden Years and still be healthy enough to enjoy some hard earned luxury on a cruise! So instead of criticizing the "old and grumpy", help them celebrate!

SvetlanaS    7 years ago

We love HAL for absent of kids and quite atmosphere. Classical music and BB King stage. You are much younger than Holland population and may be will be back when youll want relaxing cruise.

majmom96    7 years ago

So sorry you didn't like HAL. I sail them all the time and I've never experienced the disappointments you describe, although I've never sailed the Westerdam. All the other HAL ships I've been on have had nightclubs for the younger crowd, usually in the Crows Nest, which also provides exceptional forward views from floor to ceiling windows. But you are correct that HAL does host a slightly older crowd. Perhaps you should try Carnival. It sounds like they'll offer the party atmosphere you're looking for.

GIL155    7 years ago

I give you credit for trying a new ship, and a new cruise line. They obviously do not meet the needs of you and YOUR family. Nice you can return to Celebrity for your next cruise adventure.

olldbob    7 years ago

sorry old folk spoilt your cruise i can assure you im not grumpy lol meal times seem restricted i like to eat when i like i love deck partys and bbq and enjoy at least 7- 8 hrs ashore if you cruise again do a little more research before you book . im sure theres one out there that caters for your needs

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