We loved the itinerary, but between the nightmare of two rooms that were unfit for human habitation due to 80 degree temperature/diesel fumes and the poor food quality, we won’t be back to Holland America.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
I don’t recall getting notification that we needed a Covid test before boarding. They asked us if we had an app to show Covid test results which was all news to us. Caused a delay but not a big deal. My partner and I both looked in our emails again and found nothing.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Our main server was amazing. Others kept messing up our orders. Vegan/vegetarian options were many but bad tasting. Low quality food across the board for veg and meat options. Nothing like Royal Caribbean food which we love.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Fitness center was good. I appreciated that the pool areas were not too loud and that the chlorine level wasn’t so high that it made my eyes burn like some other cruise lines. Other than that, not a lot available.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
One comedian was good, two others were just awful. Like the worst we’d ever seen and almost no one in the crowd was laughing. Dance company was great. BBC Earth was really good.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Our main server was amazing. Room stewards were hit or miss. Lido staff was hit or miss.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
Structural issues with exhaust meant that rooms on 4th floor aft get diesel fumes pouring into the room when the wind blows in a certain direction. Customer service is given a talk track to tell us that they can’t control the wind and they can’t help us. After the 5th day that it happened and we were getting headaches from waking up with it, a room opened up and they were finally able to move us. HAL should know that these rooms are a hazard to human health and block them out. Poor ship design where the intake is behind the ship smoke stack.
Cabin / Stateroom
1 out of 5
Because of major issues - we had 3 rooms.
1088 - under the kitchen and above crew rooms so every morning at 4am we heart pounding noises from cooking that woke us up. Constant through most of the day. Our AC broke at one point so then they finally moved us.
4115 - see note above about diesel fumes coming in at least once a day. They said this happens to the entire 4th floor port aft.
4054 - a nice quiet room. All rooms are dated with drains that don’t drain well.
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