Just back from Westerdam

[kazu]

I would love to hear more specifics regarding the MDR food, did anyone copy the menus? I have never had less than superior service on any HAL ship, but I understand that the quality of meals has fallen. Can someone elaborate?

 

I did bring the menus home - but they are not scanned at this time. Generally speaking, I found the food and choices good the first three nights and then the choices were not as appealing. The food was still ok - but it wasn't something I would have chosen. I was pleasantly surprised by one that wasn't appealing and enjoyed it - the other I wished we had gone to the Pinnacle that night.

The MDR service was excellent.:D

[bobhesse]

I did bring the menus home - but they are not scanned at this time. Generally speaking, I found the food and choices good the first three nights and then the choices were not as appealing. The food was still ok - but it wasn't something I would have chosen. I was pleasantly surprised by one that wasn't appealing and enjoyed it - the other I wished we had gone to the Pinnacle that night.

The MDR service was excellent.:D

 

Thanks Kazu,

I am pleased to hear that the service has not fallen down, I have never experienced less than wonderful service on any HAL cruise.

We will sail on December 16 and would love to see the new menus prior, perhaps to schedule the PG on nights that have less desirable offerings.

I appreciate your response.

Bob

[George C]

Thanks for the review, we really enjoyed Westerdam 2 years ago, I also found it almost impossible to get a second cup of coffee in MDR on all the Hal ships.

[trixiee]

Thanks Kazu,

I am pleased to hear that the service has not fallen down, I have never experienced less than wonderful service on any HAL cruise.

We will sail on December 16 and would love to see the new menus prior, perhaps to schedule the PG on nights that have less desirable offerings.

I appreciate your response.

Bob

 

I would truly appreciate being able to see the menu prior to our cruise too, so that I can book the Pinnacle Grill on certain evenings . :)

[sail7seas]

I think the reason is two fold:

 

They are pressed if they have to make return trips to get more coffee after the original serving and I doubt they want us lingering endlessly over our coffee. They want to get the MDR cleaned up and ready for next seating or if it is last seating, they want to get finished and set up for the morning.

 

[sail7seas]

I would truly appreciate being able to see the menu prior to our cruise too, so that I can book the Pinnacle Grill on certain evenings . :)

 

We were on for two cruises (Collector's Cruise) and the menus did not repeat week one to week two. There were a few dishes offered both weeks but they were not the same. Kazu was on the second week of our Collectors but that was the first week of other guests' Collectors. What she may scan won't be the complete 14 day cycle.

 

What I'm trying to say is what was our first weeks set of menus was someone else's second week of menus. What was Kazu's only week of menus could be either for the week you are on........ or not.

 

 

[George C]

I think the reason is two fold:

 

They are pressed if they have to make return trips to get more coffee after the original serving and I doubt they want us lingering endlessly over our coffee. They want to get the MDR cleaned up and ready for next seating or if it is last seating, they want to get finished and set up for the morning.

 

 

I never remember this before Hal added the auto tip, I understand the rush on 1st seating but not on second.

[trixiee]

 

We were on for two cruises (Collector's Cruise) and the menus did not repeat week one to week two. There were a few dishes offered both weeks but they were not the same. Kazu was on the second week of our Collectors but that was the first week of other guests' Collectors. What she may scan won't be the complete 14 day cycle.

 

What I'm trying to say is what was our first weeks set of menus was someone else's second week of menus. What was Kazu's only week of menus could be either for the week you are on........ or not.

 

 

 

:eek:

 

Ok! I think that explains it. :)

[sail7seas]

I never remember this before Hal added the auto tip, I understand the rush on 1st seating but not on second.

 

Rather than 'blaming' auto tip, I suggest it has more to do with lower levels of staffing. There are fewer dining stewards doing the same work that formerly was done by more stewards.

 

[Bearnaise]

Rather than 'blaming' auto tip, I suggest it has more to do with lower levels of staffing. There are fewer dining stewards doing the same work that formerly was done by more stewards.

Which means that these stewards not only get a larger share of the auto tip but also have more tables that potentially might tip in person. It's a win-win situation for the stewards, except for the lose situation by having to work harder and potentially lose tips because of necessarily slower service.

[bobhesse]

Thanks for the review, we really enjoyed Westerdam 2 years ago, I also found it almost impossible to get a second cup of coffee in MDR on all the Hal ships.

 

I have always sat in the main (late) seating and never had an issue with 2 or 3 cups of coffee, often times being one of the last to leave the DR. Many times chatting with the servers and having them entertain us with magic and card tricks. It has been more than 2 years since we have been on HAL and I hope this has not changed. The dining experience, even though we always have a table for 2 is one of the things that we look forward to.

[erewhon]

Thank you for taking time to write your review.

[Loralu]

Thank you for taking time to write your review.

 

You're welcome!

 

I have been reading other threads about service in MDR on HAL ships - seems its accross the line that service has declined. I think HAL should address this with all the wait staff or they will lose customers.

[languageartslady]

:DHellow fellow cruisers, I was going to write a long review, but decided to just hilight some of MY opinions on this cruise. Remember theese are only my opinions, not everyone's.

The ship is nice, we had SY cabin #6058, it was quiet, with a large balcony and we enjoyed it ( Mom and I ). Our room stewards ( Heru & Roy) were wonderful.

Dining: the Lido was what we expected, but the main dining room service and food were both poor. the food quality was not what we had experience3d on previous HAL cruises, and out waiter was lacking in ALL areas. We never saw or met the Matradee, as we have on every other cruise. We never had a Bar/beverage person come to our table. My mom ordered coffee each night when she ordered dinner.. and never once did it come until after we were served dessert, and having to ask several times.

Entertainment: I enjoyed the singers and dancers, the comedian and Juggler/comedian were very entertaining. The Percussion show was extremely LOUD and not to my liking.

Ports of call were all good, Gr Turk is now my favorite place. 1/2 Moon cay seems to have the pretiest beach IMO.

CC Meet & Greet: well attended by HAL, this was nice to see.

Casino: small, old machines, and like all the rest - good to gamble the first night when the machines are loose.. but as the cruise goes on they become tighter.

Smoking: for those interested, you can smoke on your balcony, in the sports bar, and on one side of the AFT pool area as well as a small portion of the Casino.

Activities: I enjoy trivia and name that tune types of games - they were very well attended and I think HAL should have more of this since it seems to be so popular. The Piano bar was another favorite.

All in all, it ws good to be on a cruise, and we had great weather and made new friends..so thats what really matters, but I will have to say I won't be in any hurry to book another HAL cruise since I can get what I believe is better service and food on other cruise lines, such as RC and Carnival and Princess.

Happy sailing everyone :)

 

Hey Loralu - so nice to have met you on board:)

We actually found the service in the MDR excellent so to compare apples to apples were you on early, main or anytime (or whatever word we are using today) dining? Just wondering?

We were on late and honestly, the service was very good but we were a table of two. On the menu I found the choices not as exciting the last few nights.

But the service was very good on all of our nights - so it would be nice to compare and figure out what people should do :) or did we just luck out;)

 

Hi, again!

 

I agree that Heru & Roy were amazing... they were so friendly and helpful. When we had a missing remote (for the DVD) I wrote a note and got one. I didn't have that coffee experience, though. The first night I asked for coffee as my drink, and after that, there was always a coffee cup waiting for me, which they filled immediately when I sat down. I'm sorry that your mother didn't have the same luck!

 

I also agree with you, Kazu. Our MDR experience was great. Our server was SUPER grouchy the first two nights, but then morphed into a friendly, smiling, happy guy (his assistant was ill and then had to be miss work, so I think it threw him off). I was impressed with the food, too.

 

I was happy with my first HAL experience. It truly cemented in my mind that, whatever the cruise line, I like cruising! :)

[pms4104]

You're welcome!

 

I have been reading other threads about service in MDR on HAL ships - seems its accross the line that service has declined. I think HAL should address this with all the wait staff or they will lose customers.

Perhaps the way for HAL to address the issue would be to adjust the staffing level, as I would guess the wait staff may be doing their best ... there just aren't enough of them.

[B Russo]

I have always sat in the main (late) seating and never had an issue with 2 or 3 cups of coffee, often times being one of the last to leave the DR. Many times chatting with the servers and having them entertain us with magic and card tricks. It has been more than 2 years since we have been on HAL and I hope this has not changed. The dining experience, even though we always have a table for 2 is one of the things that we look forward to.

I agree with you on all this, I think late seating and a table for two is a lot more enjoyable :) , Always had a great time. Bill

[jaguarstyper]

Perhaps the way for HAL to address the issue would be to adjust the staffing level, as I would guess the wait staff may be doing their best ... there just aren't enough of them.

As long as they have to offer $349 seven night cruises and lots of gtys and upgrades to fill up their boats, I don't see that happening. They are on a slippery slope to mediocrity.

[Bearnaise]

As long as they have to offer $349 seven night cruises and lots of gtys and upgrades to fill up their boats, I don't see that happening. They are on a slippery slope to mediocrity.

We do have to remember that it's still a troubled economy. Travel is down. Specials abound. HAL still needs to fill the same number of ships it had when times were better, but with so many out of work and so many others preferring to save instead of spend, it's doing what it needs to do to keep running. When the economy improves, more people will spend money on traveling, ships will fill easier and fare will rise and then people here will be lamenting the good old days when one could cruise HAL for only $349.

[vicocala]

We do have to remember that it's still a troubled economy. Travel is down. Specials abound. HAL still needs to fill the same number of ships it had when times were better, but with so many out of work and so many others preferring to save instead of spend, it's doing what it needs to do to keep running. When the economy improves, more people will spend money on traveling, ships will fill easier and fare will rise and then people here will be lamenting the good old days when one could cruise HAL for only $349.

 

 

Not to even mention that supply is up with all these larger ships. That is why I find it so sad HAL is going for bigger as well. If the demand isn't going to be there why keep increasing the supply?

[jaguarstyper]

We do have to remember that it's still a troubled economy. Travel is down. Specials abound. HAL still needs to fill the same number of ships it had when times were better, but with so many out of work and so many others preferring to save instead of spend, it's doing what it needs to do to keep running. When the economy improves, more people will spend money on traveling, ships will fill easier and fare will rise and then people here will be lamenting the good old days when one could cruise HAL for only $349.

 

Oh, I'm very aware of the reasons. My fear is when things do get better and HAL's revenue stream from fares increases, they will be too entrenched in mediocrity to ever get back to where they once were. By then, it will have become the new standard for them and I will probably have moved on to another line.

[sail7seas]

Once certain niceties and standards are lowered or done away with, they will never return. IMO

 

We will never again have the Dutch in Holland America Line. IMO

Where did the Holland part go?

[Pettifogger]

I trust them to resume their traditional "affordable premium" place on the price and features scale when the market permits because they pretty much had that niche to themselves five years ago. The alternative of trying to prosper indefinitely in the brutally competitive mass market doesn't seem attractive to me and, I hope, won't to them.

 

When that happens and some lament that they can no longer cruise for $349, we can point out that, in return, we've got the little jars of jelly and the breakfast specials again.

[cruz chic]

I trust them to resume their traditional "affordable premium" place on the price and features scale when the market permits because they pretty much had that niche to themselves five years ago. The alternative of trying to prosper indefinitely in the brutally competitive mass market doesn't seem attractive to me and, I hope, won't to them.

 

When that happens and some lament that they can no longer cruise for $349, we can point out that, in return, we've got the little jars of jelly and the breakfast specials again.

I think the breakfast specials went away because the menu was expanded. It's hard to believe you couldn't find something on the current menu. I cruise Princess once and a while and their menu is much more limited. One thing I thought was odd was that I asked for more cream cheese when they brought one tiny cube for my bagel. They brought it out in one of those cheapie medicine cups things you get in the hospital. It looked cheap. If HAL would stop gouging their customers that book early they likely wouldn't have to drop their fares to $349. They have brought this on themselves.

[Pettifogger]

When the prices start to go back up, we shall need something by which to gauge whether or not the features are going back up proportionately. I happen to be a breakfast person, so for me the little jars of jelly and the breakfast specials will signal the return of the graciousness of yore.

 

Did you ever try eating Eggs Royale tweny-one days in a row?

[B Russo]

It,s not just HAL. I have been on others and I think HAL is still a little better than others, at least what we like on a cruse. Just my opinion, everyone likes different things :D. Bill