Oosterdam Review day-by-day 01-09-2010 Mexico

[brucory]

On our recent Oosterdam cruise, we could have eaten in the Main dining room, the Canaletto, the Pinnacle Grill, The lido, snacked in the Explorer's lounge,

 

:D:D:D

 

Oops..

 

Meant to say Explorations cafe... They had a variety of mini sandwiches and slices available whenever it was open...

 

:D:D:D

[RANCHOVISTA]

BOATDRILL: What's with the rambling..what's your point? Let the guys give their unbiased review of this ship, and HAL's overall company policy, now that HAL has been taken over by Carnival Cruise Lines.

We that have cruised with the old HAL have seen a big difference over the past years.

 

1975: Like the majority of contributors to this thread, I'm waiting for your next installment. Again, your writing skills are excellent, along with your humor and wit. Thanks for taking us along on your cruise. Today Puerto Vallarta, enjoy yourselves.

 

Jeff

[Boatdrill]

BOATDRILL: What's with the rambling..what's your point? Let the guys give their unbiased review of this ship, and HAL's overall company policy, now that HAL has been taken over by Carnival Cruise Lines.

We that have cruised with the old HAL have seen a big difference over the past years.

 

 

 

I very much appreciate and enjoy reading the OP's views and feedback about the Oosterdam, and agree with alot of what they've said. I hear great things about Celebrity from these boards and friends who are very loyal to that line. But I haven't been on Celebrity, and so asked if their ships are consistent throughout their fleet ? HAL's are not, which I find a mixed blessing. It was just a question.... do you know the answer ? The OP might, since they've been on Celebrity...that's why I asked them. (are we not allowed to ask questions of the OP ?)

 

As we all know, HAL has not "been taken over Carnival Cruise Lines".

Carnival Corporation owns HAL, and Carnival Cruise Lines, and Cunard, and others. There's quite a distinction between brands, so please don't mix CCL with HAL.

[RANCHOVISTA]

Point well taken Drillboat, my apologies.

 

Jeff

[Old Broad]

I hope you'll check out the piano bar. If W.T.Greer is still there, as he was in December, he's not to be missed.

[RuthC]

As we all know, HAL has not "been taken over Carnival Cruise Lines".

Carnival Corporation owns HAL, and Carnival Cruise Lines, and Cunard, and others.

And CCL has owned HAL for over 21 years now. There are comparatively few posters on this board who remember the pre-CCL HAL.

[cruzboss]

I hope you'll check out the piano bar. If W.T.Greer is still there, as he was in December, he's not to be missed.

 

Yes, he is still there, or at least he was there last week and he is really great...

We enjoyed the cruise, but as noted in in a different thread, were shocked by the lack of service in the Lido, couldn' t they at least serve the coffee? The service in the dining room was hit and miss, cabin steward and in room dining was really great especially for breakfast. We can't complain for the price paid (especially when 3rd and 4th person are free...our kids that is)

 

"ranchovista", i believe they are in Mazatlan today...

 

It is really great to see this cruise from a different eye...Continue the good work 1975!

[Cruisers1975]

Taking advantage here of free Internet at Shrimp Bucket in Matzatlan. Not the best margaritas in town. For these try the epinonimous Margaritas in Gold Town. But a quick couple of answers. We did get another dinner res at Pinnacle Grill thx to Neptune concierge (so there! Snarky person!) two in fact. And lunch. Free lunch BTW.

 

As for trayless policy no prob here. Snatch and Run. Trays get in the way. Without one I don't have to wait behind the walkers bolls. Did I offend someone again? Must be the margaritas.

[Old Broad]

We enjoyed the cruise, but as noted in in a different thread, were shocked by the lack of service in the Lido, couldn' t they at least serve the coffee? The service in the dining room was hit and miss, cabin steward and in room dining was really great especially for breakfast.

 

It is really great to see this cruise from a different eye...Continue the good work 1975!

 

I agree about the lack of service in the Lido and the totally hit or miss dining room service. Fortunately, given the price of the cruise we felt we could escape to the Pinnacle Grill three nights out of seven. I'd sailed the O three years ago and was sorely disappointed in how the dining room food and service have deteriorated. But....we had fun!

[Cruisers1975]

For these two "Travel Professionals" to be so selective on there vast experience of cruising and there world of knowledge to be able to compare HAL against so many other cruise lines. It would of been nice to see all of there past reviews to be shared with all of us at CC. But instead this is only there second review since Nov 2007 Live on Board Azamara Quest.

Sad for all that use your agency to book travel

 

all the way to the bank.

 

We only review when warranted. Don't live on Cruise Critic.

[Cruisers1975]

Taking advantage here of free Internet at Shrimp Bucket in Matzatlan. Not the best margaritas in town. For these try the epinonimous Margaritas in Gold Town. But a quick couple of answers. We did get another dinner res at Pinnacle Grill thx to Neptune concierge (so there! Snarky person!) two in fact. And lunch. Free lunch BTW.

 

As for trayless policy no prob here. Snatch and Run. Trays get in the way. Without one I don't have to wait behind the walkers bolls. Did I offend someone again? Must be the margaritas.

 

We ate at El Shrimp Bucket as it is really the only place that has been around since I started reading about Mazatlan in the 70s. I'm sure there are better places and Mazatlan is fun, but not for my clientele. Not really a great hotel among them. But we had a lot of fun today. I think it was Jim plying me with margaritas. Better get on that treadmill!

[Cruisers1975]

And therein lies the problem with multi-ship cruiselines. Not all ships within the line are the same. The Amsterdam is the flag-ship of HAL, and the service (yes there is gonging before dinner) is rated the best in the fleet. I found the service on the Am. to reach (not exceed) Crystal standards. The beautiful interior design of the Amsterdam is traditional, and nothing like the Oosterdam.

 

But if one goes on the Oosterdam, they're not seeing the whole HAL picture. And some would say, they're not seeing the best that HAL offers.

 

Perhaps it's the same with Celebrity - some of their ships are better than others ? Or are they consistent throughout their fleet ?

 

Thanks so much for your insightful post. I recognize the Vista ships were purpose-built and I have said to Jim countless times on this voyage, that I need to sail on the Amsterdam, and smaller ship.

 

Will use your insight in my selling.:)

[Cruisers1975]

======

 

A note to whoever asked why we haven’t reviewed others since Azamara 2 yrs ago: Because, as I said, if we have any obligation to Agency, Cruise Line, or Clients, it’s nothing less than “Wonderful!” On this cruise, however…. Hang tight. We paid for the priviledge of tellin’ it as we sees it.

 

======

 

Day Four – Mazatlan

 

 

First, a note about dinner, etc., last night. Stood up, as we were, by our NBFs, and with a few drinks en suite consumed, we staggered up to the public trough in the Lido. Can’t even remember what we had. I think it was chicken mole and something fishy. Plus another piece of pizza. That, I remember. Rog said the Butternut Squash soup was amazing.

 

Wandered around the ship awhile, wondering where everyone was. How can 2000 passengers hide so effectively? Rog expressed an interest in watches, which will possibly prove to have been a mistake, as he was immediately engaged by a thoroughly engaging Mohamed from Shops, who shares a similar fascination with watches and explained that all the lines’ shops are probably part of his company (so we didn’t feel so badly about getting his Celebrity-bought TAG repaired), and then escorted him to the more Exclusive Section wherein were displayed various watches actually crafted from the rusty hull of the Titanic. For years, I thought that was a forbidden word on cruise ships, like “bomb” on airplanes, or “Macbeth” before a performance of same. Anyway, here they were, for less than $20,000, your own piece of collector rust, with hands in the shapes of those unfortunate anchors.

 

Meanwhile, I stopped to peek at tonight’s stage show, the illusionist/humourist Leo Ward. And, as if by magic, there I discovered the missing 2000 passengers! His concluding illusion was going to be his disappearance suspended above the stage on a revving motorcycle. I know how it’s done, but I can’t tell you or the Magician’s Union would have to kill me. I left, to avoid the embarrassment of the obligatory applause.

 

I got back to Rog just before something less than $20,000 of our own money disappeared, albeit with a price-match guarantee, and took him home.

 

NOW, we can move on to Day Four.

 

Breakfast was ordered for 7:30. It arrived at 7:15. Rog was already awake, handling business-as-usual, and (imagine!) expecting me to do the same. 8:50AM arrived, exactly 1 hr 35 min later, and we were disembarking for our Shore Excursion, the Complete Mazatlan including the Pantalones Flyers or whatever they are called. You must excuse me, as I don’t have any reference materials while I type. Before this is published in paperback, I’ll have my editor correct these things.

 

It was a USD 39.00 option that promised a panoramic drive around the city, a folkloric show including the newest United Nations Historical Designation, the P-Flyers of Veracruz, and – most importantly - unlimited beer.

 

Now, here’s our one and only assessment of HAL’s shore excursions, as we have no intention of ever taking another one: Score 5 out of 10. Four of those points are for value, at $39. Four are for the guide, Milton – very personable, passionate and knowledgeable, and with excellent English. Two are for the tour itself. Then we’ll deduct two for the ramshackle bus, jam-packed with 40 passengers, one exit, taking 10 minutes to disembark at each stop, another 5 minutes to reassemble the walkers and (damn, I’m gonna do it again!) wheelchairs. Deduct another three for the obligatory stop and sales pitch at the Silver Bucket. Two more off the count for not allowing us to disembark where we wanted to at the end of the tour. And two more for not having water on board. (HAL was selling it as we disembarked, however.)

 

If the math doesn’t work out, it’s because we managed to escape the Silver Bucket stop and discovered The Best Margaritas In Mazatlan at the eponymous Margaritas, next door. Add a starter of Guacamole, and it’s USD50 worth of me gusta mucho.

 

We gulped and followed the crowd to The Show, and apparently that’s where the unlimited beer was offered. We had a choice: grab a seat in the shade, or grab a beer or two from the bar. We opted for shade. The show was fun, colourful, and not quite as death defying as a YouTube might suggest. We also made another brief stop to watch the cliff divers – who from their 50-foot launch pads were a pale comparison to those of Acapulco.

 

And of course, there was the Cathedral, completing the ABCs of touring: Another Bloody Country / Another Bloody City/ Another Bloody Cathedral.

 

Tour Guide Milton’s humor was better, however, as he asked us if we knew the difference between a tourist on his bus, and a hitchhiker. Answer: Five minutes. We were warned!

 

The tour ended at the Mazatlan Port Arts & Crafts Market, where we took a taxi, or “pulmania,” back to the Shrimp Bucket (or “El Shrimp Bucket” as it is called in Spanish). The ride gave me a chance to practice my newly acquired Spanish skills, although I suspect the driver wondered why I wanted another dessert with my hotel room, por favour.

 

Thank heavens Rog, who has never formally learned a word of Spanish, was able to get us there for “Cinco Dollars-o or forgeddaboudit-o.”

 

El Shrimp Bucket has been around since the Conquistadores, and was the precursor to the Reverend Snr. Frog’s. The margaritas were watery, the guacamole less chunky, but the garlic shrimp were wonderful. And, with free WiFi, it gave me a chance to snark back for free at other posters on this thread! OMG, her again!

 

Another pulmania and we’re back at the Port Arts & Crafts (a.k.a. tee-shirts and fake silver) Centre, where we had healthy negotiations for four tee-shirts bearing the logo of the local cerveza, the only spoils our four sons will see from our travels.

 

We also visited one of several farmacias in the area, each with a handy pre-printed list of popular meds that we could obtain without Rx. The only ones I recognized were ******, ******, and *******. But I assure you, that’s just from the spam I get.

 

Another sign advertised $4 Margaritas, so of course, there’s always time for one more. It’s Mexico, eh?

 

And now, we’re recuperating in our DSV awaiting our Pinnacle Grill experience at 8:30.PM. Oh, did we mention, our confidential secretary (the Neptune Lounge concierge) confirmed tonight, tomorrow night, and our free luncheon, at the Pinnacle Grill? So there!

 

There may be more to come.

 

Or there might not be. My feelings are easily bruised.

[ECUTeacher97]

You are hilarious and I am loving reading about your (and Rog's) adventure- or lack thereof.

Please consider taking the 6/13 cruise to Alaska, as I would love to have your insight and sense of humor on board!

 

Kelly

[JamesEM]

Cruisers1975, thanks for sharing, will be on the Oosterdam in April.

[cruisinjudy]

To the question of whether experiences vary on different Celebrity ships, yes they do. Our last Celebrity cruise was on Equinox and it was excellent. Our previous X cruise was on Millennium and it was far less than spectacular. So we have not found Celebrity cruises to be consistent either.

[SwissMyst]

======

 

There may be more to come.

Or there might not be. My feelings are easily bruised.

 

Stay with those thoughts.

[tarps14]

Stay with those thoughts.

 

Oh please, just give it up. Enough already.

[RANCHOVISTA]

1975ers: Please keep your great reviews coming, they're very entertaining and informative.

 

Hope you enjoy your time in Mazatlan today.

 

Jeff

[SwissMyst]

Wow. Was that necessary to your cruise review ? Why veil what you're speaking about ? Let's get it out in the open. Nothing to be afraid of.

 

The hotel you're speaking of is one of San Diego's best, and is managed

by Hyatt. Or were you at the Marriott Marina ? Or at the Grand Del Mar ?All are owned by a local developer who has lived in San Diego for many years.

 

The proposition you're referring to was Prop. 8, the California Marriage Protection Act, which states "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California". It passed 52% to 47% in 2008 and became an amendment to the state constitution.

 

Californians had passed similar measures several times in the past, but each one was overturned by courts. So far, this one has withstood numerous court challenges. Same sex couples who were married before Prop. 8 passed were grandfathered in, and their marriages remain legal.

 

Those who opposed Prop. 8 raised more funds during the campaign than those who were for it (about $4 million more). The owner of the hotel where you stayed donated $125,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign.

 

Because of his contribution, the Hyatt was the target of a boycott by those opposed to Prop. 8.

 

Excellent summation of the issues. Thank you for keeping things factual.

[Cruisers1975]

Day Four - concluded

 

 

Well, dinner didn’t happen last night. We took our seats in the Pinnacle Grill, placed our orders, and then looked at each other after our sun- and margarita-drenched day and asked, “Is this meal really worth $40?” Truth be known, we had both ordered only a small salad and a main course with the personal intention of just picking at it to be polite for the other one. Neither of us was hungry.

 

I sidled up to the maitre d’ and explained that I was not feeling well, and the thought of food was not helping. He understood entirely and offered to send our meal to our room. We declined, and left without pointing out how ridiculous that seemingly kind offer really was, under the circumstances.

 

We took a tenuous amble around the deck until Rog decided that, although not hungry, a bowl of soup would really help settle his stomach. The Lido buffet lines had been shuttered for an hour by now (9:00PM), but from one corner a server was ladling soup into bowls. Perfect! But no, that was not to be. That soup was apparently only for guests of Canaletto, the reservations-only Italian “restaurant” that looks like it’s just a separate seating area of the Lido self-serve trough. And, although there were two or three diners in that otherwise empty area, apparently just getting their soup courses, we could not eat there, as they didn’t make reservations that late.

 

I suppose room service was still an option, but it was becoming entirely too much trouble to worry about any more.

 

Not all that pleased, we retired to the comfort of our DSV and an early bed. We didn’t even ask each other if we wanted to go to the Indonesian Crew Show in the Vista Lounge. Some things you just know.

 

Day Five – Puerto Vallarta

 

 

Woke up this morning moored to Walmart (they’ve dropped the hyphen, I noticed). I thought I’d slept through the rest of the cruise until I realized that indeed we were in Puerto Vallarta.

 

Rog did half a day’s work before breakfast arrived, 15 minutes early and with a bonus of three glasses of unordered juice. I guess they couldn’t decide which flavour we didn’t order so they sent one of each. We ate and drank what we ordered and left for a day of explorations and hotel site inspections that have absolutely nothing to do with HAL, so we’ll save that for the photo essay upon our return. Suffice to say, loved the Old Town, were amazed at the New Town, and were delighted by the Four Seasons Punta Mita where we were shown around the resort by two most gracious ladies and treated to a superb lunch that WAS an event!

 

For Rog, any holiday in a new port is an opportunity to see as many hotels as possible, and today was no exception. The Four Seasons here (one of only two in all of Mexico), however, is a long way out of town (45minutes to an hour), so it has to be worth it. It is, especially the 5-bedroom villa that goes for $5500 to $7800/night depending on the season.

 

Returned aboard just as someone was making a public address announcement that ended, “And to the gentleman who reported his diamond-studded gold Rolex missing … the time is 3:45PM.” Odd sense of humor. Is it Dutch?

 

Sail-aways are entirely without fanfare, which is kind of disappointing. I’ll always remember my first cruise, on the Star Flyer, the world’s tallest sailing ship. The sails were hoisted as Vangelis’ theme from “1492” was broadcast on deck. Sounds hokey, but it brought chills up by spine each time we heard it.

 

I don’t think we’re going to be seeing much of the dining room tonight, either. In fact, I think we’ve seen quite enough of it in total. Food is not HAL’s strength, and food service is a downright weakness. We’re not going to starve, but it’s time we faced reality: it’s not going to be anything to look forward to, which is good for two guys trying very hard to stay on their diets.

 

In fact, back now from a spin around the ship, completing my photo collection. I made sure I got one of the red “dots” you asked for. They have been roped off, apparently unsafe to sit on. I also took photos of the Lido buffet as we usually see it: blinds drawn. And of the entire starboard dining table area, all marked off limits with “Ship’s Officers and Staff Only” signs.

 

I was finally lucky enough to be in the vicinity of the Terrace Grill just before it closed at 6:00PM, and ordered a hamburger. Ate it, and part of a self-assembled taco from the adjacent bar, completely messing up that process. Napkins are not available in this area, as I guess they blow around too much, but the bartender will give you a paper towel if you ask. Just like home! Hamburger verdict: Okay. Taco? Skip it.

 

So, while Rog is off to the gym working off the hamburger I ate, I’m back in the cabin getting ready for the next lesson of Rosetta Stone: “Estoy gordo pero hablare espanol muy bien

[SwissMyst]

Room service club sandwich and their wonderful onion soup has always been a very good HAL dining alternative, when at loose ends.

[jameybano]

I am throughly enjoying this trip report, thanks for posting an honest account of your trip!

I would love to see some pictures if boredom assails you and you decide to upload some!

 

I have a milestone birthday this year and am investigating suitable vacation options, so I am enjoying your perspective.

 

The most annoying thing about this site is how loyal people are to their particular cruiseline! I wish I could start a business that would engender such voracious protectiveness in my clientele!

 

Carry on!

[debkaysmith]

I'm lovin' every post and can't wait to sail this March... keep the info coming!

[CroneWynd]

Room service club sandwich and their wonderful onion soup has always been a very good HAL dining alternative, when at loose ends.

Thank you! I'll keep that in mind when we are on the Oosterdam in March :)