Dissapointing

Item: Zaandam
Rating: 2
Author: SteveS18

Zaandam Cruise Review to Hawaii

SteveS18

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 40

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

14 Night Circle Hawaii (San Diego Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 13, 2011

Ship: Zaandam

Cabin type: Inside

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 13 years ago

Review summary

Ship needs a refit and an overhaul of the management. Nothing like our last cruise on the Volendam last year which is a similar ship. Would not recommend Holland America based on this experience.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

I would love to see Chef Gordon Ramsay review the so called 5 star food and service on HAL. It is nice but not 5 star and it is also very inconsistant. Pinnacle Grill had the best food except for the two poor quality rib eye's I had.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

when you are at sea for 9 days they could put on more activities. It was like a floating morgue some days.

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Our teens are happy in their "Loft" so much so that we hardly saw them.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

middle management needs overhaul. I saw elderly 4 star HAL Mariners beingtreated rudely by dining room supervisors trying to force them into set time reservations like they tried to do to us when we were on a Open Seating schedule. Service could be better from the non dining and house keeping staff that run the programs, gym, etc. They were too busy having a good time with each other. The American male cruise director was downright aloof while his female replacement was much nicer but rather "involved" with the mainline acts. The best service was from the Indonesian & Filipinos who work so hard on those ships. They just need to be better led and educated to what they are doing.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Needs a refit. Some parts of the ship needed cleaning.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Nice inside cabin but still needs an overhaul to the bathroom