Fresh Off Westerdam - Not Good :(

[andilynnwright]

I'm just off the Westerdam as of Saturday, November 30th. This was my second HAL cruise with my first being on the Oosterdam. This cruise was not good. I do have to say that my Steward, Aep, was kind and I wanted to take him home, but that's about it.

 

It was nearly impossible to get a drink! Just because I didn't want a glass of wine my first night at dinner, doesn't mean that I didn't want a drink of wine the rest of my cruise. I couldn't even get a drink in a bar! I waited for a half an hour for a drink at the pool. When I was listening to the adagio I couldn't get a drink in that bar either. It was nuts!

 

The show host, Mark, was extremely unhappy and very rude. I realize that he was sick most of the cruise but if you're going to be sick and unhappy you should just stay in bed.

 

The food was subpar at best. The waitstaff was horrible! I hate to say it because I really wanted to love them. It took me until my main course to get my soft drink. I realize that I had a soda card but I paid for that card so I should get service just as much as the next guy. I will never ever get another soda card, ever! If you're never, ever going to clean the soda gun or machine and my soda is going to taste moldy then forget it. When I mentioned the quality and asked for a can I was told no.

 

Our water glasses were never filled. My table mates drank iced tea and never got a refill. They had to ask each night for an iced tea even though the first night they said they always wanted a glass with dinner. The waiters never brought a pitcher to their station so they could do any refills. We would consider ourselves lucky when we got what we ordered because most of the time we didn't.

 

We went to bingo one day, waited in a long line, paid for our cards just to learn that we weren't even going to have bingo at all. They were three cards short for us to have a bingo game. Why didn't they ask if there were any husbands or wives in the room that could buy a card so that we all could play? Why couldn't the ship buy three measly cards so that the group could play? Why couldn't we at least have a game for some junk prizes? It doesn't make sense! I could have gone to see the movie instead.

 

I played cards in the casino every night and not even once did the casino staff ask me my name or call me by name. They took my cruise card every time I put cash on the table so I just don't understand why the manager or any of the staff ever acknowledged me. I spent more in the casino then I did on the cruise so they should've at least said hello to me and called me by my name!

 

Any time there was a fun activity, like a game show or special event, they only did it once a night and it was during the middle of my dinner. So I never got to attend anything. My new friends that I met on the cruise came on Holland America to dance. There was only one hour of dancing each evening, if they were lucky, and smack dab during the middle of dinner. So they had to leave our dinner group to go dancing and switch to a different mealtime. Several nights they ended up coming to dinner anyway because the dancing got canceled. We had a full ship during the Thanksgiving holiday so none of these things should've ever happened.

 

I could go on but I'm just so sad. I really wanted to love Holland America and make it my cruise line. I was even planning on booking my next cruise while on-bored but just don't think I'll ever go on Holland America again. I even wanted to book something for Christmas!

[boaterette]

Well that is sad.

[OlsSalt]

It obviously did not work for you. Best wishes on finding a line that is a better fit.

[Thebes]

:(:(:(

[startwin]

Oh dear, it sounds like just about everything was "off" on this cruise, for you. The lack of service certainly doesn't sound typical of a HAL ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

That is so sad that so many things went wrong for you on that cruise.

We were on the Westerdam last spring for 20 days and our biggest complaint was the 2 groups of HAL Cats screaming in the Ocean Bar.

Didn't your friends know about the Northern Lights for dancing? That starts around 9 PM.

[kazu]

WOW!!

 

I am so sorry to hear this. I am blown away - it doesn't sound like the same Westerdam we were on. What a shame.

 

I am so sorry to hear that your cruise went badly.

 

If I had issues with service in the MDR like you did, I would have been talking to the Dining Room Manager. But it sounds like so many things went not well, that even if this was fixed it wouldn't have solved the problems.

 

I am so sorry to hear of your cruise experience - it's not typical of the cruises that we have been on.

[sapper1]

OP. Maybe you could tell us some of the things that you enjoyed about your cruise. It couldn't have been all bad.

[Candiaccruiser]

That is so sad, I'm really sorry that you had such a disappointing cruise.

 

We were fortunate enough to be able to sail on the Westerdam last month and had a wonderful time, no complaints at all. That said, we don't drink -- doctor's orders! -- so we didn't run into any of the associated problems that you had.

 

I hope you manage to find a cruise line that is a better fit for you and get to experience cruising the way you had hoped it would be next time around.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[KirkNC]

Sorry to hear of your experience. We have never had such bad luck, at least not for the whole cruise. Hope you find a better place for your cruise dollars.

[tangerinebunny]

Think of the fun you'll have looking into other cruise lines.

[debijaynes]

Perhaps cruising is just not for you. Time to find a new venture where you have more of the upper hand.

[mamaofami]

I'm truly sorry so many things went wrong for you on Westerdam. It's no fun when a looked forward to vacation doesn't live up to your expectations in so many ways.

[TracieABD]

I am so sorry to hear your cruise was disappointing. I hope that you can find a cruise line that works for you in the near future!:)

[Keith1010]

Sorry the cruise did not work for you.

 

Keith

[puppers]

Sorry to hear about your cruise problems. We're going on the Westy on Dec 7th. Let you know if we experience any of these problems.......

[0bnxshs]

Andrea,

 

As you know, we were on the same cruise last week. Out of curiosity, did you have anytime dining or fixed dining? We had early fixed and never had an empty water glass, my wife's iced tea was always waiting for her when we were seated (after the first night, of course) and was refilled multiple times. I did buy a 3 bottle Navigator Wine package for dinner and, surely due to this, never wanted for wine. That said, the wait staff was the busiest I have ever seen in a HAL MDR and always seemed to be catching up. We found the food to be OK, just nothing to write home about. We have set our expectations for HALs food and it usually gets met. I hope you took the time to talk to the Head Waiters, who checked our table almost nightly, or the Dining Room Manager. I know complaining isn't always a "feel good" event, but it does get results. :( I was surprised, if not disappointed, that the "menu scroll" for the International Night dinner theme the last night of the cruise has now disappeared (it was still International Dinner night and the reduced offerings placed inside the very battered menu holders we were given each night) and the "Baked Alaska" march is now gone altogether, replaced by a general crew march and song.

 

There was dancing all over the ship. Northern Lights, Crow's Nest, Queen's Lounge and Ocean Bar all had dancing at various points during most evenings. I know the Queen's Lounge had BB King's Blues Band from 8:30pm until 11:30pm 4 of the 7 evenings as I was there each of them. Sorry your friends couldn't find something to dance to. And yes, a miserable Show Host will always make a bad showing. I was not impressed with the CD, Eric, who I felt was just going through the motions all week.

 

How about the rough seas? Hope you and your mom didn't suffer from those. :(

 

My bar bill wishes I had your trouble getting drinks.... all I'll say about that! ;)

 

I'm not a casino sort of guy, so I can't address that, other than to say, when you are spending money there, the dealers should be treating you as their best friend. :confused:

 

We missed you at our informal Meet and Greet. We had a nice, short chat with those there and would have loved to have met you and your mother. I do hope that, despite the problems you had, you both had a nice time overall.

 

Finally, please do fill out the survey you should have received by now via email. HAL needs to know your expectations were not met. Hope you meet you on another cruise someday.

Edited December 3, 2013 by 0bnxshs

[pdroth]

I'm on this cruise also this Saturday.

 

It's a little too late for the "what you should have done" advice, but take it from me, next time you have your very first issue, address it immediately with the manager. Put him/her on notice that the service you are receiving is unacceptable, and you expect it to be rectified by the next evening. Believe me, they don't want to hear from you again - it will be right.

 

How were the islands you visited? Although people love to rave about the food and wait service, the cruise isn't just about dining.

[innlady1]

Andrea....sorry that your cruise didn't meet your expectations...at all.

Rich...Was your CD Eric Dowis? He was on our Ryndam cruise last winter. His wife, Kari, was the lead singer in the show cast. I think she's on board with him now but don't know if she's working. Last I knew, they were working on a duo to perform on ships...now that he's married, I think he's looking beyond being a Cruise Director to do something he and Kari can do together...

We had the menu scroll on the Nieuw Amsterdam recently. I thought it was a nice touch.

[Esri]

Perhaps cruising is just not for you. Time to find a new venture where you have more of the upper hand.

 

I'm sorry, but the things she was complaining about were things that are SUPPOSED to happen on a cruise. You're supposed to feel like the crew knows your name and cares about your cruise experience. You're supposed to feel pampered. These are things that cruise companies use to sell the experience. They don't say "We'll get you from point A to point B and we won't lose your baggage."

 

Telling her that cruising isn't for her because she had a bad experience, based on things that are SUPPOSED to happen on a cruise, is just cheerleading. Sorry.

[Esri]

Andrea,

 

As you know, we were on the same cruise last week. Out of curiosity, did you have anytime dining or fixed dining? We had early fixed and never had an empty water glass, my wife's iced tea was always waiting for her when we were seated (after the first night, of course) and was refilled multiple times. I did buy a 3 bottle Navigator Wine package for dinner and, surely due to this, never wanted for wine. That said, the wait staff was the busiest I have ever seen in a HAL MDR and always seemed to be catching up. We found the food to be OK, just nothing to write home about. We have set our expectations for HALs food and it usually gets met. I hope you took the time to talk to the Head Waiters, who checked our table almost nightly, or the Dining Room Manager. I know complaining isn't always a "feel good" event, but it does get results. :( I was surprised, if not disappointed, that the "menu scroll" for the International Night dinner theme the last night of the cruise has now disappeared (it was still International Dinner night and the reduced offerings placed inside the very battered menu holders we were given each night) and the "Baked Alaska" march is now gone altogether, replaced by a general crew march and song.

 

There was dancing all over the ship. Northern Lights, Crow's Nest, Queen's Lounge and Ocean Bar all had dancing at various points during most evenings. I know the Queen's Lounge had BB King's Blues Band from 8:30pm until 11:30pm 4 of the 7 evenings as I was there each of them. Sorry your friends couldn't find something to dance to. And yes, a miserable Show Host will always make a bad showing. I was not impressed with the CD, Eric, who I felt was just going through the motions all week.

 

How about the rough seas? Hope you and your mom didn't suffer from those. :(

 

My bar bill wishes I had your trouble getting drinks.... all I'll say about that! ;)

 

I'm not a casino sort of guy, so I can't address that, other than to say, when you are spending money there, the dealers should be treating you as their best friend. :confused:

 

We missed you at our informal Meet and Greet. We had a nice, short chat with those there and would have loved to have met you and your mother. I do hope that, despite the problems you had, you both had a nice time overall.

 

Finally, please do fill out the survey you should have received by now via email. HAL needs to know your expectations were not met. Hope you meet you on another cruise someday.

 

Now THIS is good advice! :D

[OlsSalt]

I'm sorry, but the things she was complaining about were things that are SUPPOSED to happen on a cruise. You're supposed to feel like the crew knows your name and cares about your cruise experience. You're supposed to feel pampered. These are things that cruise companies use to sell the experience. They don't say "We'll get you from point A to point B and we won't lose your baggage."

 

Telling her that cruising isn't for her because she had a bad experience, based on things that are SUPPOSED to happen on a cruise, is just cheerleading. Sorry.

 

You set out the biggest difference we found in this whole "cruising" experience, which has led to a lot of communication breakdowns here. We honestly thought cruising was just supposed to be reasonably comfortable travel, from point to point. For that, we have been totally happy with HAL.

 

I was surprised later to come to understand others found cruising to be exactly how you describe it; a pampering on-board experience as much as a travel experience.

 

And this is where I can see HAL is challenged which way to go when rising costs and cutting costs now come into the picture. We remain happy as long as they deliver the travel experience. Yet I can see now why others now are unhappy when HAL starts cutting back on the pampering experience they apparently had been able to offer in the past.

Edited December 3, 2013 by OlsSalt

[whogo]

Sorry you did not enjoy your cruise. Your drink experience sounds like standard operating procedure on Holland America. Main Dining room drink service can be slow to non-existent, especially for those who want something other than wine. In lounges and around the pool it is faster to fetch a drink for yourself from the bar than to wait for waitstaff.

 

While an attentive waiter is a delight, I would rather not deal with someone pushing the umbrella drink of the day.

[OlsSalt]

I think banquet hall expectations work best for the dining room and not thinking one is going to have a 3-star Michelin restaurant dining experience in this setting. One gets fed nicely with reasonable dispatch has been our experience. While in times past, there apparently was a higher level of individual service. But that should not be an expectation today. We find our dining experiences on HAL ships to be delightful, short-comings in details not withstanding.

Edited December 3, 2013 by OlsSalt

[debijaynes]

I'm sorry, but the things she was complaining about were things that are SUPPOSED to happen on a cruise. You're supposed to feel like the crew knows your name and cares about your cruise experience. You're supposed to feel pampered. These are things that cruise companies use to sell the experience. They don't say "We'll get you from point A to point B and we won't lose your baggage."

 

Telling her that cruising isn't for her because she had a bad experience, based on things that are SUPPOSED to happen on a cruise, is just cheerleading. Sorry.

 

Some people are not meant to be cruisers--I'm not meant to go to big cities. And HAL is not a luxury, pampering type of cruise line. You get on the ships for the itinerary not for the service experience. We know that we we board a HAL ship that the experience will be different from our Regent cruises-- we have chosen HAL for the ports, not the service. It is not a criticism of the OP but maybe she should search for a different type of vacation experience. I purely abhor long plane rides and we are re-thinking our travel schedules. It's not the fault of the carrier--it's my decision. We happen to like cruises because we can be on the ship in 2 hours and when we get home, our laundry is done before noon!

 

I love to cruise but it certainly is not a vacation that many would chose.

 

Debi