Disapointted

[albingirl]

I guess you just don't get it Laura.we paid just as much for this cruise' date='if not more as any HAL cruise.Im just saying that Hal is going down hill. Yes I have gone on other cruise lines and have paid more,but that is not the question DiD I get GOOD SERVICE".......YES .Which we didn't get on HAL[/quote']

 

Looks like it's time for you to do something else. Too bad it didn't work out for you.

[RuthC]

So far, no matter how many requests for it, there are no specifics as to what was so disappointing. The closest is that cabin steward was sorry he didn't do better, but there's nothing said as to what was wrong.

Some people think it's bad service if their cabin isn't serviced until the afternoon. :rolleyes:

[serendipity1499]

When did you last cruise with HAL? Do you remembered what you paid then? What cruise did you take this time and what did you pay? You may find your answer there. Obviously you had some problems this time. Care to share?

 

Why would you care what anyone Paid for their cruise?:confused: Is it really anyone's business except the posters?

 

So far' date=' no matter how many requests for it, there are no specifics as to what was so disappointing. The closest is that cabin steward was sorry he didn't do better, but there's nothing said as to what was wrong.

Some people think it's bad service if their cabin isn't serviced until the afternoon. :rolleyes: [/color']

 

Sorry OP but I agree with Ruth... We have not seen any specifics about the poor service you had.. What disappointed you? Why would a cabin Steward apologize to you.. Did you complain about his service? Was your cabin cleaned to your satisfaction? What about your MDR Stewards, did they ignore you or take too long to get your food? Your first post tells us nothing? I'm sorry you were disappointed, but an explanation with specifics, as to why would help us understand..

[Lauranne]

I guess you just don't get it Laura.we paid just as much for this cruise' date='if not more as any HAL cruise.Im just saying that Hal is going down hill. Yes I have gone on other cruise lines and have paid more,but that is not the question DiD I get GOOD SERVICE".......YES .Which we didn't get on HAL[/quote']

 

Actually it's Laurie :o

And I guess that I don't get it. Sorry if the opinion and suggestions that I offered were not acceptable/agreeable/or of any use.

Laurie

[Copper10-8]

We'll sail Look us up we are 4star cruisers. We have sailed on many Hal ships including the original Rotterdamn

 

Just a tidbit of trivia; the original Rotterdam' date=' aka Rotterdam I, was delivered to HAL's forerunner on 07 September 1872 and made her maiden voyage to the Big Apple on 15 October 1872. Eleven years later, on 26 September 1883, on a return voyage from New York, sailing for HAL or rather NASM, and almost home, Mr. Murphy came calling as the original Rotterdam ran aground in the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands, luckily without any loss of life. Sixteen days later she broke apart[/color']

[erewhon]

Well We are 4* Mariners. Have cruised 30 years on many cruise lines (mostly Hal. But will look else where) and our last 2 cruises have gone downhill. Even the Room Steward said he was so sorry that he couldn't do a better job. Just had to many rooms. We had dining at 5;30 and were lucky the make the 800 pm night show( which was very poor as well) The meals were either over cooked or under done. The Lecturer was boring and poorly attend. The tours were very over priced (OldBusses) I could go on for more' date=' but I will tell you all that the service was VERY BAD[/quote']

 

At which ports were the old tour buses?

[kjw869]

Just a tidbit of trivia; the original Rotterdam, aka Rotterdam I, was delivered to HAL's forerunner on 07 September 1872 and made her maiden voyage to the Big Apple on 15 October 1872. Eleven years later, on 26 September 1883, on a return voyage from New York, sailing for HAL or rather NASM, and almost home, Mr. Murphy came calling as the original Rotterdam ran aground in the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands, luckily without any loss of life. Sixteen days later she broke apart

 

Thanks Copper. Now that would be a disappointing cruise.;)

[Lis2065]

We were on the Oosterdam earlier this year and noticed some cut backs compared to our previous cruises on her - e.g. the menu in the main dining room wasn't as extensive as previous years. We did however really enjoy our cruise and found the service excellent.

 

I'm sorry you didn't have the experience you expected.

[Iwant2BatC]

Osterdamn April 19th to May 10th. Last cruise was last fall and no I don't want a free cruise. Just want to get what I paid for

 

 

I have good friends who were on the O a few weeks before you (loyal HA cruisers) and they said they would never sail her again! Terrible service. They haven't quit HA but are going back to the Prinsendam. They don't follow or post on Cruise Crtic ( like most passengers) but they certainly had a very strong reaction.

[Krazy Kruizers]

OP

Sorry you were disappointed in your most recent HAL cruise.

There have been a lot of cut backs in all the cruise lines.

Sounds like you either need to choose another cruise line like Crystal or Cunard or choose another type of vacation.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[DeeniEncinitas]

OP

Sorry you were disappointed in your most recent HAL cruise.

There have been a lot of cut backs in all the cruise lines.

Sounds like you either need to choose another cruise line like Crystal or Cunard or choose another type of vacation.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

I agree with KK!

Hope you find the right vacation and enjoy the experience you are looking for.

Denise😄

[cruisin'girl]

Why would you care what anyone Paid for their cruise?:confused: Is it really anyone's business except the posters?

I don't care at all what OP paid for his cruise and I didn't ask him to post what he paid on this cruise or previous cruises. His comment was why HAL had gone downhill. There are hundreds of posts on CC about things that HAL cruisers loved on HAL going downhill over the last few years. Very often comments are made that while cruise prices to pax have not increased very much if at all the cruise lines' costs (food, labor especially) have gone up. Something has to suffer for HAL to still make a profit. Most often the cutbacks are made in food quality and service (cutback in crew). Business Management 101.

 

I simply suggested OP look at what he paid in previous years for a similar cruise on HAL and what he currently paid and he probably would find the answer as to why he felt things had gone downhill. There have to be cutbacks if the price of the cruise doesn't go up over the years as so many other posters have pointed out in many threads. I wasn't asking him to post what he paid nor do I care.

[LindaM]

I agree in the last ten or so years, HAL has changed but so has a great many things in our world. What has not changed on HAL, IMO, are the wonderful crews/Officers who work so hard to give us the best cruise possible. You are right the number of crew members is lowered from ten years ago but that is true on most of the competing cruise lines.

 

Did you sail one of the Vista or Signature Class ship or another of the "S" class like your Ryndam cruise?

 

 

Well said!! When we first started cruising almost 40 years ago, the food was so special and extravagant. But.....the prices aren't all that much more today, if I recall correctly.

[Jade13]

I don't care at all what OP paid for his cruise and I didn't ask him to post what he paid on this cruise or previous cruises. His comment was why HAL had gone downhill. There are hundreds of posts on CC about things that HAL cruisers loved on HAL going downhill over the last few years. Very often comments are made that while cruise prices to pax have not increased very much if at all the cruise lines' costs (food' date=' labor especially) have gone up. Something has to suffer for HAL to still make a profit. Most often the cutbacks are made in food quality and service (cutback in crew). Business Management 101.

 

I simply suggested OP look at what he paid in previous years for a similar cruise on HAL and what he currently paid and he probably would find the answer as to why he felt things had gone downhill. There have to be cutbacks if the price of the cruise doesn't go up over the years as so many other posters have pointed out in many threads. I wasn't asking him to post what he paid nor do I care.[/quote']

 

One of the issues is that there is a very large difference in the stateroom prices/per diem between Insides/Outsides and SA/Pinnacle Suites, but they are getting basically the same service and food quality, or lack of, the same entertainment and activities. The higher Suites get the best cabin stewards and they should, they have more space, but does that make up for the service and food cutbacks and things that used to make Holland America great?

 

7 night Canada New England cruises on either Maasdam or Veendam this year range from $499.00 per person to $4,000.00 per person, plus taxes and port charges with the large range of pricing dependent on whether you are in an Inside cabin or SA Suite and whether you have paid before final payment or after. This is also before any agency discounts may be applied. So, while one person may feel they got what they paid for, another may not.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Jade13

[taxmantoo]

ENOUGH SAID END of STORY

 

Thank you

[sue1898]

Just a tidbit of trivia; the original Rotterdam, aka Rotterdam I, was delivered to HAL's forerunner on 07 September 1872 and made her maiden voyage to the Big Apple on 15 October 1872. Eleven years later, on 26 September 1883, on a return voyage from New York, sailing for HAL or rather NASM, and almost home, Mr. Murphy came calling as the original Rotterdam ran aground in the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands, luckily without any loss of life. Sixteen days later she broke apart

 

Thanks Copper...you just made my morning!

[cruz chic]

One of the issues is that there is a very large difference in the stateroom prices/per diem between Insides/Outsides and SA/Pinnacle Suites, but they are getting basically the same service and food quality, or lack of, the same entertainment and activities. The higher Suites get the best cabin stewards and they should, they have more space, but does that make up for the service and food cutbacks and things that used to make Holland America great?

 

7 night Canada New England cruises on either Maasdam or Veendam this year range from $499.00 per person to $4,000.00 per person, plus taxes and port charges with the large range of pricing dependent on whether you are in an Inside cabin or SA Suite and whether you have paid before final payment or after. This is also before any agency discounts may be applied. So, while one person may feel they got what they paid for, another may not.

 

I'd love to hear where you got the information the the best stewards are assigned to the upper level cabins. From everything I've heard on ships this is not true. I've had good stewards in regular balcony cabins and not great stewards higher up. I just got off the Veendam where I had a vista suite. While my cabin wasn't dirty I found a barf bag, chocolates and a price tag in the drawer. They were very good stewards otherwise but clearly not the cream of the crop.

[Jade13]

I guess you just don't get it Laura.we paid just as much for this cruise' date='if not more as any HAL cruise.Im just saying that Hal is going down hill. Yes I have gone on other cruise lines and have paid more,but that is not the question DiD I get GOOD SERVICE".......YES .Which we didn't get on HAL

 

We just disembarked Maasdam yesterday and I understand and agree with everything that you say. HAL is a shell of what it used to be. Our cabin stewards never introduced themselves and we could not tell you their names. They have 31 cabins to clean between two stewards. Even though we embarked late so they had time to do extra cleaning, we had to ask the stewards to clean our bathroom because when we walked in there were hairs on the floor that were not ours and lipstick (or what looked like lipstick) on the tub. The Lido was disorganized with no Manager in sight. You mentioned earlier that you had port lecturers. At least you had them because there weren't any on our cruise, only the Shore Excursion Department selling excursions. Both the Captain and Hotel Director were invisible. We did not embark until 4:00pm, because of Noro on the previous cruise, so basically missed the first day. There wasn't any Senior Officers to welcome us onboard. They did have a sign up that if anyone wanted to cancel the cruise they would issue a full refund, which I guess they can use if anyone complains. They decided to keep the ship under Code Red for the entire cruise which was not expected and we have never experienced before, which meant there were lines in the Lido and the Library was locked all week.

 

There were people in line waiting for Immigration in Bar Harbor who said it would be their last HAL cruise because the cruise line had slipped so far. Another couple on their first cruise turned to them and said that their friend who recommended that they go on a cruise had told them not to miss the last formal night as it would be an extravagant affair and they were let down as it was no different than dinner in the MDR on the other nights. They were probably expecting a Baked Alaska parade or at least the crew singing and/or a parade, which is long gone.

 

On a positive note, we liked the new Cruise Director, and food in the MDR was delivered quickly and we never had a long wait.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Jade13

[frankc98376]

We have been in code red situations. Believe me the crew works around the clock Sanitizing- they get very little sleep. I remember a PG Manager working with her staff scrubbing and sanitizing the PG and NL all night then greeting us at breakfast with a big smile.

 

The ship stays in code red as long as there are active cases of GI on board. If your cruise was in code red the full cruise was likely because people weren't following quarantine and/or not following hand washing recommendations.

 

The ship staff really didn't want to be in code red any more than you did. Sounds like you didn't get the GI illness-you Can thank the crew for that. On our 6 day code red last year we thanked the crew every day for all of their hard work to keep us safe.

Edited May 24, 2015 by frankc98376

[iancal]

What we are noticing on cruise lines is growing inconsistencies between cruises/ships of the same line.

 

We recently took two cruises, three months apart, on the same mass market cruise line. Different ships, different geographical areas, same demographics. One was 8 days, the other was 17.

 

Our experience on the first was very good, on the second not so good. It was as thought they were two different cruise lines with two different levels of food quality, service, etc.

 

I suspect that cruise line senior management are making knee jerk reactions to the expense side of the P&L based on quarterly performance. We poor cruisers will simply have to suffer through it or make the decision to abandon the mass market lines and move upscale to the premium or higher lines.

Edited May 24, 2015 by iancal

[weluvcruisin']

Well Ruth C. I think I have told you enough. PURE AND SIMPLE HAL S SERVICE IS GOING DOWNHILL. If I said the freeway was busy I'm sure you would want to know how many cars were on the highway LOL

[RuthC]

Well Ruth C. I think I have told you enough.

You've told us nothing. That's enough for me to be able to draw my own conclusions.

[frankc98376]

I have been sailing on HAL ships since 1982 and yes, have seem lots of changes. Adjusted to inflation cruises are much less now per day than 1982. Somewhere something has go go to make up for this. We paid $800 per person in 1982 for an outside porthole cabin. I see outside cabins advertised now for $399. If prices had kept up with inflation that outside cabin would be over $2000 per person.

 

One thing though that has never changed for me is the smiling warm faces of the crew welcoming me on board as soon as I step on the ship. I've sailed on many lines but have never found better crews than on HAL. Sure they are friendly and do their jobs well on other lines but I don't get the feeling I get on a HAL ship that I am home when I step off of the gangway.

 

We choose to sail in NS and eat in the PG and our experience is very close to what we remember back then. Sure, we aren't greeted at the gangway with a glass of Champagne and a crew member to escort us to our cabin anymore however the smiles and "Welcome on Board" are still there.

[chrisbu315]

This is an interesting debate. When I cruise I look at "value for the money" instead of comparing it to what "it used to be". For example, if I were to arrange a land vacation to several locales I am sure it would be more expensive than a cruise and I would have some complaints about flights, hotels, and food.

 

I am not a veteran cruiser and was not part of the HAL "golden age" but, in site of hiccups, I never have taken a cruise on any cruise line that did not provide excellent value for the money.

[DaveOKC]

We just disembarked Maasdam yesterday and I understand and agree with everything that you say. HAL is a shell of what it used to be. Our cabin stewards never introduced themselves and we could not tell you their names. They have 31 cabins to clean between two stewards. Even though we embarked late so they had time to do extra cleaning, we had to ask the stewards to clean our bathroom because when we walked in there were hairs on the floor that were not ours and lipstick (or what looked like lipstick) on the tub. The Lido was disorganized with no Manager in sight. You mentioned earlier that you had port lecturers. At least you had them because there weren't any on our cruise, only the Shore Excursion Department selling excursions. Both the Captain and Hotel Director were invisible. We did not embark until 4:00pm, because of Noro on the previous cruise, so basically missed the first day. There wasn't any Senior Officers to welcome us onboard. They did have a sign up that if anyone wanted to cancel the cruise they would issue a full refund, which I guess they can use if anyone complains. They decided to keep the ship under Code Red for the entire cruise which was not expected and we have never experienced before, which meant there were lines in the Lido and the Library was locked all week.

 

There were people in line waiting for Immigration in Bar Harbor who said it would be their last HAL cruise because the cruise line had slipped so far. Another couple on their first cruise turned to them and said that their friend who recommended that they go on a cruise had told them not to miss the last formal night as it would be an extravagant affair and they were let down as it was no different than dinner in the MDR on the other nights. They were probably expecting a Baked Alaska parade or at least the crew singing and/or a parade, which is long gone.

 

On a positive note, we liked the new Cruise Director, and food in the MDR was delivered quickly and we never had a long wait.

 

We were on the Maasdam, the cruise before yours. We were in code red 13 of the 15 days and MANY passengers got sick (both during the cruise and the next couple of days afterwards). You are very lucky that on your cruise only a few people came down with it (and of course very lucky that you did not get it).

 

While I was also disappointed with the service and a few missing "extras" (such as a special formal night), I understood why. The crew had to do considerable extra cleaning plus cover for other crew members who were sick and confined to their cabins. I am certain that this contributed to lower service levels than we normally experienced and a few things not being done as usual. Please give HAL and its crew the benefit of the doubt in this type of situation. In fact, I felt that they did a great job considering everything.