Northcliffe12

Thanks for your great reviews - we are going on the Grand Africa tour in October so interested in the Zuiderdam which we haven’t cruised on before.  As an Australian have also found your reviews of the Australian ports really interesting to see through an overseas traveler’s eyes.  Looking forward to hearing about the African ports when you reach them.  Have read your blog regarding your previous visits to some of these ports which were really helpful too.

We did a 24 day cruise in July and we were very happy.  Still the traditional ship we like and yes trio in the ocean bar as well as a pianist who was outstanding.  Trio were good for dancing  We didn’t find any issues with staffing levels other than they rotated the staff through different venues including the dining room so if you found ones you liked you couldn’t stay with them.  We found some of the dining staff disinterested (very slow to serve) and when after a few nights at different tables we found a good team only to find after a week they got moved.  Same in ocean bar -had great staff but they got moved at the half way point of the cruise and replacement staff just stood around and didn’t serve anyone.  Literally guests were leaving and going to the piano bar to get drinks and come back.  But for all that if you like traditional cruising it was great and I wouldn’t hesitate to sail on Veendam again.

Thank you so much!

Hi Jim - thanks so much for all your trouble and the information and photos you have uploaded.  It is really appreciated.  My husband can’t believe someone actually on the ship has replied!  Would it be possible to get a photo of a daily Where and When?  Even just the one page which shows the times of entertainment in each venue which is usually in a box on the third page or thereabouts.

Thanks so much for all the information.  My husband and I enjoy dancing and I know HAL has progressively removed ocean bar entertainment (well suitable for dance anyway) and crows nest has also been changed on their new ships.  I booked Veendam as they still had the traditional layout and gambled on this remaining after dry dock.  So really pleased to hear ocean bar is intact with pianist and/or Neptune trio each night!  Really appreciate your help.

Thank you so much for the photos.  Do they still have the ocean bar musicians (Neptune trio I think they are called) performing sets each night and the band in crows nest?

Is there anyone on board the Veendam now she is out of dry dick who can advise what work was done?  I am on her for a Mediterranean cruise in June and just hoping they haven’t made and significant changes to the layout.  If anyone has a photo of a daily schedule from the first post dry dock cruise that would be wonderfully helpful too.

I am booked on veendam in June 2019 specifically because it is still in the old HAL fitout (haven’t converted crows nest etc or removed library) however I also noticed the gap 6 -14 April 2019 and contacted HAL customer services. They confirmed it is going into dry dock at the end of its Caribbean programme and before it goes to Europe. Curstomer services couldn’t tell me what is to be done and referred me to ship services. Ship services to.d me they had no idea and even the ship crew themselves don’t know until after the dry dock (which I find hard to believe). So I went back to customer services who said ship services made a file note to let me know when the schedule is known. Not sure why when ship services claimed they don’t get told. I don’t expect to hear any more as it seems to me HAL don’t want any information released. I am quite concerned as if they are changing to the “new” configuration I would cancel as my husband and I enjoy the dance venues (ocean bar and crows nest) which material change on other refits.

A further update in my attempts to get details of the Veendam dry dock work - been given the run around by HAL - their customer services said they don’t know and referred me to ship services - gave me a USA phone number even though I live in Australia. Managed to get an email address but ship services told me they have no idea and further even the ship team don’t know until after the dry dock! I find this incredible that the ship staff wouldn’t even be told at some point as they would need to prepare for the changes. I then went back to customer service who said “ship services have a file note to let you know”! Not sure what use that is when ship services say they aren’t told. Clearly HAL just don’t want anyone to know what they are doing.

July dates are available on HAL’s website but they are making itinerary changes as I am booked on a June Mediterranean cruise and they just advised they have changed the itinerary (dropping Mykonos and substituting turkey). So perhaps this is causing some itineraries to be unavailable for short periods while they update? I notice a gap at end of July early August so they may be progressively updating.

VMAX1700 - fantastic dry dock information thank you. My husband and I are booked on Veendam on a Mediterranean cruise in June 2019 because it is still in the old layout and we enjoy dancing which has pretty much been removed in HALs new fitouts. However I noticed a gap in their cruise schedule in April after they finish their Caribbean programme and before it goes to Europe. I contacted HAL customer service who have confirmed veendam is going into dry dock 4 April but say they don't know what work is being done. I am now very alarmed as we are on a 24 day cruise in a Neptune suite (so significant financial investment) and will be very angry (will cancel) if the ship is being converted to the layout of their other ships (eg. No dancing/band in ocean bar and crows nest converted to EXC). Do you know if there is any way to find out what work is being done? I can't find it listed on any publicly available dry dock schedules.