Irish Eyes Are Sailing

I used OBC to pay ship gratuities/HSC last month on the Veendam.

I took several photos on Maasdam in April, and included them in a long review. Here are links to the individual posts that contain the photos of the new shops:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56044635&postcount=83

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56044664&postcount=84

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56044678&postcount=85

 

They may at least give you an idea of what the shops have and how they look.

 

Dave

Your ship had a lot more going on/better look/better looking merchandise than the shops than the Veendam......!!! At least from your pictures it seems that way!

Circle Hawaii cruise store was loaded with Alaska stuff????????????,,really.

It makes no sense, does it?

Who knows what HAL is thinking these days......

I have never seen Rolex watches sold on HAL ships, and I have sailed many times. I really don't think they are licensed dealers, but if they are it is quite a step up from what I saw sold.

Believe me, they were giving the Rolex sales pitch, whether licensed or not.

We will be going on the Maasdam this summer. We will have a $100 onboard credit. I was hoping that I might be able to get some earrings, ring or a bracelet or something for my daughter's birthday. She will be turning 15. Do you think that they have anything reasonable in the shops?

I don't think so, unfortunately.

You might be able to get her something on shore .

Everything I saw was pretty high priced.

Just so that I am clear in my own mind - all the foregoing reports are of the new merchandisers, or are some ships still using the former ones?

Good Lord I hope so, but somehow I doubt it. It's "Progress" for HAL I guess.....not for (it seems) the rest of us.

Before 9/11 when we could take liquids on planes with us, quite a few people bought liquor and brought it home with them.

 

Roz

Yes but those days are gone unfortunately . Maybe for non US citizens it might be worthwhile like another poster said. But for us, the liquor us just as inexpensive at home as on the ship. Not worth lugging it home, however you could get it there. You can't carry it on for sure domestically ....to the best of my knowledge.

Shops had nothing compared to years past. (Veendam - May) What I bought = ZERO. In the past I always found some nice things at a good price.

All they did was pitch Rolex watches in one store and high priced diamond jewelry in another. And they had a Cuba shop (on a Bermuda cruise - go figure). This one "sales pitch" being given in one of the bars one morning was trying to convince 2 dozen 80+ year olds to buy Rolexes for their grandchildren as an heirloom. I laughed. The young people today rarely use watches, they have their smart phone. I don't think they made any sales......I think the seniors were bored out of their mind and just sat thru the speech to have something to do. Not much to do on that ship.

And a liquor store (dumb, you can't drink it onboard and who is going to buy liquor and cart it around travelling home!)

Not much in the way of HAL merchandise or anything reasonably priced. Didn't see many takers, the shops had the tumbleweeds blowing through and the sales help looked like they wanted to take a nap/go pass out somewhere. Don't think Seattle made any money on my cruise......at least not from me.

This is all "JMO" of course. Someone else on my cruise could have thought the shops were a lovely addition to the ship and found them fascinating. I didn't. Neither did my DH.

Hands down, the Eurodam for many reasons......loved it.

Least favorite? The Veendam....also for many reasons. Never again.

Great pics and commentary Jacqui...love reading your thread! All the food looks great!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with all of us!

Happy Birthday Kazu!

When Irish eyes are smiling

Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring

In the lilt of Irish laughter

You can hear the angels sing

When Irish hearts are happy

All the world seems bright and gay

And when Irish eyes are smiling

Sure, they steal your heart away

Ditto....Happy Birthday Jacqui, hope you have a lovely day and a great birthday!

Did anyone notice op has been 3 star for several years and has over 100 nights on HAL. Must have been in steerage to only make 3 stars after 100 nights.

What difference does it make what type of stateroom (or location) the OP has had? Does that mean his/her comments don't count?

Seems like an elitist statement. Not necessary to the discussion IMO.

That’s unfortunate. Food is subjective. We got off Veendam two weeks before your cruise and had no complaints at all. Lunch selections were great, with the New York Pizza, the always-popular Dive-in, and the taco bar with very fresh ingredients. Plus, of course, all the good buffet options like made-to-order salads. The food & beverage management people were highly visible, constantly monitoring everything. Service was excellent in the Lido area and outdoors. The ship was full but a freshly-cleared table was always easy to find.

 

I was also pleasantly surprised when ordering a Mai Tai that it was made properly with fresh juices and not some sort of mix poured over excess ice cubes which has become the norm on ships.

 

We were talking just Friday evening in fact with another couple we met on board about how pleased we all were with the food. (They were in the next stateroom and we discovered that not only do they live three miles from our house, but the wife and I went to junior and senior high school together. But that’s another story.)

I'm glad you had better luck. Some things were good : the salad bar, dive in burgers, escargot, some desserts.

We found the meats over spiced with funky spices, overcooked, dry, unappetizing . Not a large selection of fresh vegetables. Many rolls were hard as a rock. Grits was awful. Powdered eggs if you got scrambled (which are disgusting). Most every selection was hit or miss. Overcooked meat and fish was the norm. The taco bar looked good but I also had some stomach issues present itself which good sense told me to stay away from Mexican food. Seemed like a lot of lamb and pork belly was served....yuk. Didn't see King crab legs or any crab leg for that matter. I saw 4 shrimp the whole trip. It almost seemed that whatever was left over from the last voyage was being re-worked and served on this trip. Very disappointed and I have always loved HAL food.

now there is a real money saver. HAVE the paying guests provide the 'entertaiment'. Here's hoping some have a smidgeon of talent. :eek:

 

 

WHAT next?

 

Will we have to make our own beds?

 

 

Wash dishes? :D

Agreed. Either pay for good entertainment or just eliminate it.

A bunch of seniors like myself in a singing competition I will pass on.

I cringe at the thought.

This is actually difficult to comprehend, considering all the different sumptuous options available in the Lido at any given time, every day.

As far as I know you weren't on the Veendam on May 12 to 19.

If you were, you might understand my statement.

On all of our other cruises I would agree with you.

This ship had the worst food of any cruise I have ever been on....and no, we are not fussy or gourmet eaters.

And I know I'm not completely crazy, because a lady ahead of me in line at the Lido once turned to the lady behind her and commented "I really don't like the food on this ship"......so my opinion was confirmed.

2 to 3 elevators not working off and on for us too May 12 to 19. Ridiculous.

And I could not do the stairs like I normally could because of my back.

Rough seas going over, not so bad coming home. Love Bermuda and docking in Hamilton- our 6th time in Bermuda, 3rd on the Veendam. First for DH and I...our honeymoon was 50 years ago May 25th! I did a cruise to Bermuda during College Week in 1962 on the Ocean Monarch. Veendam is OK. Just OK... but, it’s the only way that I know of to cruise from Boston and dock in Hamilton.

 

 

 

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Bermuda is gorgeous I agree and docking in Hamilton was great.

My pre-cruise time in Boston (despite back issues) was wonderful...I always enjoy Boston and loved seeing my friends there.

The Veendam (not it's crew--they were great and tried very hard despite what seemed like obvious staff cutbacks---not enough staff IMO) was the big disappointment.

One good thing: staff serving the food in Lido....no self service. Good idea.

PS to my previous statement.

We had not cruised on HAL or any line in 5 years.

I guess you could say cruising has changed (not for the better IMO) and I guess so have we.

Cancelled my 2 future cruises when I got home...my TA was a little disappointed too I suspect.

I most bluntly and very oddly for me, let it be known on his forum, I was very, very disappoined with Veendam last July . I have a ton of days on HAL and have sailed all HAL ships but for K dam and Prinsendam and mos tof them many multiple times. Veendam, last u July was the most disappointing HAL cruise I ev er experienced.

You and I now have something else in common....!

Yes this Veendam trip was a huge disapointment to say the least.

Turned us off to cruising at least for the forseeable future. Many reasons for this....this HAL ship and it's issues.....and my back issues and my DH's back issues. We will continue to travel, but probably not be isolated on a cruise ship with limited medical help. Shorter domestic US land journeys may fill the bill with access to medical assistance.

It was the perfect storm on this trip....unsatisfied with ship (many things) and medical issues.

Just unfortunate all around.

I am very sorry I soldiered on and went instead of cancelling the trip the day before like I should have.

Happy Sailing!

We don't go on cruises to eat sandwiches..period..lol

I have a tendency to agree with you. I can eat sandwiches at home.

The only reason I even tried one of the pre-made sandwiches as I saw little else that appealed to me one day at lunch. It wasn't very good at all.

Cold cuts okay, bread was hard as a rock, and some sloppy bread dressing that was just not very appealing.

Happy Sailing!

For our upcoming cruise, we have a large amount of OBC (and free HSC). I have pre-booked some shorex (those I was afraid would be sold out in advance of the cruise) and will book others when we board to use some of the OBC. For the balance remaining, we will apply it to internet usage, wine packages and other beverages, bingo, speciality dining, and shopping in the gift shops onboard. We get free laundry or else I would purchase the unlimited laundry as well.

 

If your OBC comes from a TA, then any balance remaining at the end of the cruise will be refunded to you. If it's from HAL, then it must be used or you will lose it.

My OBC came from HAL so we were told it would be lost to Seattle. That's why I gave it to the crew.

I actually had some left over this time (about $60). Went to the office and donated it to the hard working crew by raising gratuities by the leftover amount. The front desk seemed happy about that, but I must admit they acted a little shocked, like no one had ever increased the gratuity before.

I didn't want the leftover OBC going to Seattle.....I thought the crew deserved it more. This was in addition to some extra $ we gave the cabin stewards privately as they were taking care of my ice needs for my ice paks for my back. I was very grateful.

Why didn't you like the Veendam?

 

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Very long story, and I don't want to say too many disparaging things about a cruise ship on a public forum. My mother used to say that if you have nothing good to say, say nothing. I think that is good advice.

Perception is personal and others on the ship might have a totally different opinion than me.

Let's leave it at: my previous voyages on HAL were great. This one not so much. And even if my back problem was not present (which happened the day before the cruise), my DH and I both agree, this ship was less than stellar.

The destination: Great. Bermuda is lovely. Boston pre and post nights. Very nice. No complaints.

Read a bunch of opinions before you make up your mind. And then average it all out..........