Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Observations: Westerdam Jan. 21-28 2011

Alcarondas

By Alcarondas,
in Holland America Line

Recommended Posts

Alcarondas

Alcarondas

Posted
Posted

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a very hard time saying anything in a few words. After all, why use 50 words when 5,000 will do just as well? But in deference to bandwidth limitations and the patience of Cruise Critic crowd, I'll try to keep this as short as possible.

 

Based on my observations and experiences on this particular cruise (Southern Caribbean, including Curacao and Aruba) on this particular week (21-28 January 2011) on this particular ship (Westerdam), I am compelled to conclude that rumors of the imminent demise of Holland America Line are greatly exaggerated. To paraphrase Mr. Ismay, "Westerdam is a marvel, and has given unbounded satisfaction."

 

Service, accomodations and dining were all done to a very high standard; comparable to my earliest HAL cruises at the end of the last century, and appreciably higher than on my last few trips. Cabin-, table- and wine stewards all gave excellent, professional service. The few members of the bar staff that I regularly encountered were also prompt, efficient and courteous.

 

Mis-steps and hiccups were few; a room-service breakfast that vanished into the ether and was never heard from, and (predictably) slow service in the dining room at breakfast following a cancelled stop at Half Moon Cay, as everyone descended on the place at once.

 

At its very worst, the dining room's food was palatable and acceptable; at its best it was extraordinary. Most meals fell somewhere in the middle of that range. With the exception of two trips to the Terrace Grill, necessitated by shore excursions which covered lunch-time, I took all my meals either from the dining room or room service. Thus, I can't comment on the Pinnacle or Lido.

 

One more food-related comment: The hors d'oeuvres in the Ocean Bar (yes, they're still being served - on request, instead of being out on steam trays as in days of yore) were wonderful. Each night there was a different assortment of 2 or 3 goodies from the predictable (batter fried shimp, jalapeno poppers) to the exotic (seafood mousse on puff pastry squares).

 

I didn't partake of much entertainment; a deck chair and a good book are usually enough to keep me occupied. What I did encounter seemed appropriate and up to standard from prior experience. The jazz trio in the Ocean Bar struck a good Lounge Lizard vibe - the vocalist's stylings seemed to hit about halfway between Sinatra and Bennett. The classical quartet were competent, but hampered by a repertiore that was somewhat timid, rarely straying from well-worn favorites. The HALCats band were very tight; one of the best such combos I've heard on a ship. Their vocalist ("Gen", in this case) was by far the weakest link, but she had the good sense to realize it, and didn't try to go beyond her (very limited) range. I never found them (or anyone else, for that matter) to be too loud.

 

I didn't do any of the evening shows except for the comedienne, Julie Barr. Her unrepentant ribaldry was well-deserving of the "adults-only" warning. Everyone left the theatre laughing, blushing, or both.

 

One bit of extra entertainment came in the form of the NFL conference championships, which got a special showing on the big screen in the Queen's Lounge, along with a "tailgate party" buffet of various football-friendly hot snacks and discounted beer. It was almost enough to succour the despondent Bears and Jets fans.

 

Those things beyond HAL's control managed to cooperate as well; the weather was great (after some cool-&-windiness the first two days), the ports of call (Willemstad and Oranjestad) interesting, and the seas mostly calm (had a bumpy ride one night, but otherwise smooth sailing). Excessive wind and wave action, along with looming rain showers, conspired to force a cancellation of our stop at HMC. This didn't bother me any, since I rarely go ashore there anyway, but the captain and cruise director spent much of the rest of the trip apologizing and reminding us that it was for our own safety. The Noordam was there at the same time, and they cancelled their stop as well. In my own opinion, it worked out for the best, since we got an extra 4 hours in Curacao, for a full day of 9:30am-10:30pm.

 

A few other random observations: I'm a non-smoker, and smoke was never a problem. Yes, the casino and adjacent areas got a bit smoky, and the outer decks usually had small knots of folks tending to their habit, but to each his own. I wasn't aware of anyone smoking on verandahs near mine. The "Master Chef's Dinner" seemed to be a non-happening. Although the menus were emblazoned with the MCD logo, there was nothing out of the ordinary from any of my pre-MCD cruises. As they had for the 12 years previous, between the entree and dessert course, someone from the cruise staff introduced the galley and dining room personnel, and encouraged us to show our appreciation as they paraded Baked Alaskas around the dining room (with a notable substitution of green glow-sticks for the erstwhile sparklers. While the 21st Century is probably safer, it's certainly a bit less fun than its predecessor.). After that, several of the Indonesian service staff sang their traditional farewell song. That was it. Considering that the menu that night was one of the most interesting and expansive of the trip, I'm glad that I failed to take the advice of those on this forum who recommend alternative dining arrangements for the final night.

 

The Verdict: Two thumbs way up. Of my 9 HAL cruises, this one's easily in the top 3. Maybe top 2, and that's saying a lot. Perhaps my expectations had been subtly lowered by too much exposure to Cruise Critic, but they were consistently exceeded throughout the trip. If I had to assign "stars" based on perceptions of luxury, then on a scale of 1 star (greasy spoon diner appended to a flophouse motel) to 5 stars (ne plus ultra of everything), I'd give this a 3.5. That's pretty darned good considering the roughly 2.5-star price that I paid.*

 

I think that anyone who can afford, and is accustomed to, the finest things in life would probably have come away unimpressed, but the moneyed crowd have other options better suited to their station in life. The fact that HAL can continue to provide a luxe-like experience to folks on a middle-class budget is positively inspirational. On that basis, equating "stars" to the balance of what-I-felt-I-got versus what-I-paid-for, with 1 star being paid-a-lot-but-got-nothing and 5 stars bordering on theft of services, then this trip gets 4.5 stars all day long. I didn't quite feel guilty about it, but at times it was close.

 

As I said at the outset, this was the "short version" of my cruise review. The full version would probably take longer to relate than the actual cruise did, so be thankful. I'll try to respond to any specific questions posed in this thread.

　

 

 

*Concerning my room, I was amply blessed by the Upgrade Fairy, and her equally charming sister, the Upsell Fairy. I had booked a roll-the-dice Outside Guarantee, and when I received my room assignment 2 weeks prior to sailing, it was a D-class oceanview on Main Deck. 3 days before departure, I was offered an upsell to my choice of 3 available Verandah cabins for $198 (actually $99 per person, but travelling solo, I had to eat the whole thing). I did not hesitate to grab the aft-facing VA on Deck 6. My guess is, if I had booked that room initially, it would have cost about at least twice what I ended up paying for it. Yes, it's true: It's better to be lucky than good.

　

Link to comment
Share on other sites
newfiegirl4

newfiegirl4

Posted
Posted

Alcarondas,

Awesome review.So glad to hear all the good stuff.Going on her in Mar and our 1st time with HAL!Also hoping for an upgrade....no calls as of yet though,another couple of weeks I guess.

Thanks again for sharing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alcarondas

Alcarondas

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here are a few more odds and ends, for those of you who haven't already drowned in my turgid prose:

 

I was very pleasantly surprised by the general adherence to, and occasional exceeding of the dress code. Personally, I'm a habitual over-dresser. I always wore a tie to lunch in the MDR, and jacket & tie to dinner except on Formal nights, when I went the full Tux route. I saw several other gents who chose to wear sportcoats and/or ties even when that was not the suggested dress. Just about everyone kept to the "country club casual" theme after dark, at least for the public areas on Decks 2 and 3. Since I didn't frequent the Lido area, I can't say how things were there. Sunday the 23rd saw a profusion of football-themed T-shirts and other casual wear, but this was entirely forgivable under the circumstances.

 

On the first formal night, virtually everyone got in on the act despite the ongoing NFL playoffs. Based on 45 minutes of people-watching from the Ocean Bar as the early-dining crowd headed forward to the show lounge, and then my late-seating dinner itself, my eyeball-meter estimated about 40% tuxedos, 40% dark suits, 10% sportcoats/blazers and 10%... um... well, let's call them "conscientious objectors". It's worth noting that the Objectors were just sort of going about their business in the background; I didn't see any attempting (successfully or otherwise) to get into the dining room. The Football Faithful restricted themselves to the Queen's Lounge and the sports bar. Oddly, the second formal night wasn't as formal; more blazers and fewer tuxes. Even more oddly, the boys seemed better dressed than the girls on both nights. The near-universal outfit for ladies was dark pants or skirt with sparkly top. Long dresses were few and far between, and gowns almost non-existent. I blame airline bag fees and weight limits. Steamer Trunk, we hardly knew ye!

 

As far as demographics, this was a fairly young crowd... (brace yourselves for important caveat)... for Holland-America. While the "core demographic" were certainly out in force, the pre-retirement age group was also well represented, with quite a few "younger" couples, and some that were just plain "young". I counted maybe a dozen children; mostly toddlers, with a couple of school-age kids. On the rare occasions when I saw them, they were always well-behaved, even the youngest ones. The Silver Set were also very active; canes, walkers and scooters were largely absent, and very few dance floors went unused. I spoke to two young couples (i.e., younger than my 40-ish self) who were repeat HAL cruisers, and both said that their favorite aspect of the Line was the mature crowd and refined surroundings.

 

While the embarkation-day lunch in the MDR was billed on the menu as "Mariner Society Luncheon", it appeared to be open to anyone. There was no signage implying exclusivity, and I didn't see anyone turned away. Quite a number of people made their way down to escape the predictable chaos of the Lido buffet.

 

The Mariners' Brunch later in the cruise was actually a 2-seating affair; apparently 2/3 of the passengers on board were Mariners. With nearly 1,400 folks to feed, the brunch was held twice, at 11am and 1pm. The ship's senior officers greeted diners from a receiving line at the doorway, and the captain and cruise director both spoke briefly at the outset. Our delft tiles were waiting for us at the tables. The menu was limited (2 appetizers, one soup, one salad and 2 entrees), but I enjoyed the meal quite a bit. I'm still trying to figure out who John Dory is, and why he has a fish named after him. Quite a tasty fish at that. Of course, free fizzy wine flowed in abundance. There was no public ceremony of awarding longevity medals; I have no idea if anyone might have received them privately. This was also my first cruise of the "Star-Mariner" era; I was not presented with a new pin, but that was just as well. I like my old red 50-day pin better anyway. 12 more days and I'll be 3-Star; we'll see what happens then.

 

To those embarking in the near future, I offer the same advice I try to live by myself: Go on your own cruise, not someone else's. Don't let some random Cruise Critic crank or fanboy set the yardstick for your own enjoyment. Also, don't try to "make it happen". Let the experience come to you, and enjoy it for what it is, not what somebody told you it should be (or shouldn't be). Bon Voyage!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fsdj1097

fsdj1097

Posted
Posted

Truly enjoyed your well-written thoughts. This will be our first cruise aboard the Westerdam and we are certainly looking forward to another relaxing cruise aboard HAL. This cruise will move us up to 3-Star status. Thanks again for taking time to share your review.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
IRL_Joanie

IRL_Joanie

Posted
Posted

Alcarondas, What an awesome review!!! Thouroughly enjoyed every word of it!! I'd love to have read more as you make it come alive:)

 

So glad to hear/read another great review from a fellow cruiser with the right attitude of Life happens and make the best of it:)

 

Joanie

Link to comment
Share on other sites
IRL_Joanie

IRL_Joanie

Posted
Posted
....

 

To those embarking in the near future, I offer the same advice I try to live by myself: Go on your own cruise, not someone else's. Don't let some random Cruise Critic crank or fanboy set the yardstick for your own enjoyment. Also, don't try to "make it happen". Let the experience come to you, and enjoy it for what it is, not what somebody told you it should be (or shouldn't be). Bon Voyage!

 

AMEN!!!!!

 

Joanie

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alcarondas

Alcarondas

Posted
  • Author
Posted
By any chance- did you use the hydro-pool area ?? If so, your thoughts, please. :confused:

 

I didn't buy the thermal suite package. I blew all my discretionary money making a last-minute change to my inbound flight in order to avoid threatening weather (a wise decision, as it turned out). I did make frequent use of the (very well equipped) gym, and I'm sure the saunas, hydro pool and heated loungers would have felt wondifferous after a workout, but I had to settle for a hot shower in my cabin.

 

Thank you for the great review! I don't know what your profession is, but you should seriously think about writing!

 

This made me laugh. In a good way, of course. Yes, I basically write (and talk) for a living.

 

Thank you all for the kind comments. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wefewee

Wefewee

Posted
Posted
This made me laugh. In a good way, of course. Yes, I basically write (and talk) for a living.

 

And where, may I ask, might we hear you talk for a living?

stephenlewis@rogers.com

Incidentally, your review and attitude about 'Making your own Cruise' is refreshing! It has me regretting spending SO much time on CC (other than the good part of getting pertinent info and questions answered).

Almost everything in life comes down to the 80/20 rule (good/bad) and unfortunately, spending so much time on CC has me agonizing over the '20' that I read and dwell on.

Shame on me and many thanks for your important 'slap upside the head'!

My fave frequent poster Kazu has the '80' kind of attitude, too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Oceanwench

Oceanwench

Posted
Posted

I guess we were your neighbors on Deck 6!

 

Your review was excellent.

One thing that I found interesting: Your assessment of 40 percent tuxedos on the first formal night.

I did not see a single one until later in the evening! [We had early seating.]

I made a point of looking, too. It was the fewest number of tuxes I have ever seen on my dozen HAL cruises.

 

I have to agree with you on the children, as my grandson was one of them aboard and very well-behaved! :)

 

My daughters, now in their 30s, closed up the Northern Lights almost every night. They had a lot of fun, but there was some inappropriate behavior by one of the staff toward the boyfriend of one of my daughters. :(

That really surprised me.

 

We had the absolutely best concierge - Ivy - in the Neptune Lounge and enjoyed our visits there.

My sister and BIL also booked a suite - their first - and loved the Neptune.

They did not like breakfast in the PG, and we had to agree. Last year we enjoyed dining there in the mornings, but this time it was a disappointment.

Food was lukewarm - as was DH's coffee!

We decided to go to the Lido instead, and we were rewarded with hot food and coffee!

 

As for the smoking, it kept all 8 of us out of the casino most of the time. Maybe that's a good thing!

 

Loved Julie Barr, and the other shows were entertaining.

The seas were rather bumpy - one of the dancers in one of the shows fell!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alcarondas

Alcarondas

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I guess we were your neighbors on Deck 6!

 

Heh, could be. I was in 6162. It was noticeably smaller than the port-side VB I had on my last cruise; the whole closet/hallway/bathroom interface was quite a pinch. The sitting area was small too, with 2/3rds of a loveseat and a single chair. Fortunately there's only one of me, and I managed not to get in my own way too much. Overall, I loved it, and the aft view was great. I didn't get much use out of the balcony on the last two days because the sun was on it most of the time and it got pretty warm. Had to keep the curtains closed so the A/C would have a fighting chance of keeping the room comfortable.

 

One thing that I found interesting: Your assessment of 40 percent tuxedos on the first formal night.

I did not see a single one until later in the evening! [We had early seating.]

I made a point of looking, too. It was the fewest number of tuxes I have ever seen on my dozen HAL cruises.

 

I thought it was strange too, which is why it made an impression on me. Maybe early vs. late seating had something to do with it; by the time I was out and about, more people might have dressed for dinner and nightlife. My observations on the 2nd night were more in line with my expectations, and with what you saw, so I guess it was just peculiar luck the first time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Oceanwench

Oceanwench

Posted
Posted
Heh, could be. I was in 6162. It was noticeably smaller than the port-side VB I had on my last cruise; the whole closet/hallway/bathroom interface was quite a pinch. The sitting area was small too, with 2/3rds of a loveseat and a single chair. Fortunately there's only one of me, and I managed not to get in my own way too much. Overall, I loved it, and the aft view was great. I didn't get much use out of the balcony on the last two days because the sun was on it most of the time and it got pretty warm. Had to keep the curtains closed so the A/C would have a fighting chance of keeping the room comfortable.

 

Ha! We were next door to you! ;)

The room with the balloons.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
swscruiser

swscruiser

Posted
Posted
:) Enjoyed your entries very much. This will be our first cruise with HAL so I am rather "anxious" about the different reviews/opinions I have read concerning HAL, in general. By any chance- did you use rhe hydro-pool area ?? If so, your thoughts, please. :confused:

 

We did. We purchased it for the week. We dropped it after the 1st day. Chair and lounge hogs were abundate. People had placed towels etc on the lounges by the hydro-spa while they were using the heated loungers. Talked to the spa personnel, and they stated that patrons were only to use lounges or spa etc, for 20 minutes at a time and then move to somewhere else, within the spa. This was not stated at the time of booking. Spa personnel said that a letter would be sent to all individuals about the time limit that night. However, we did not feel the cost was worth it and they refunded our costs less 1 day of use.

 

Keith

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...