Antarctica was great but HAL cruise was so-so

[Ken the cruiser]

Our early Jan 2018 Zaandam cruise was everything we expected and more! Great ports of call, 4 days cruising in Antarctica waters where we saw bunches of penguins, sea lions, whales and a wide variety of birds. Onboard, they offered great lecturers on sea days and even had a few interactive game shows which elated my DW.

 

However, two areas where HAL did not meet our expectations were (1) the quality of their NY-based production shows and (2) making sure passengers sanitized their hands when going into a dining area and when boarding the ship after a day in port.

 

Quality of HAL production shows. The singers and dancers were fine, but the pace of the shows were that of watching a Lawrence Welk Show. That's fine if you like a slower pace, but we're in our mid 60's and grew up on rock and roll and were board stiff during most of their shows. However, they did hire some great entertainers which made up in part for the lack luster production shows.

 

Personal hygiene shortfalls. This 22 day cruise was during the height of the cold/flu season, but HAL didn't seem to realize this. In the past HAL used to insist folks going into a dining area sanitize their hands the first 48 hours of the cruise. Not any more. They used to have a crew member at the base of the gangway making sure passengers sanitize their hands before coming back on ship. Not any more. They used to have sanitizer dispensers outside the main theater entrances. Not on this cruise. As a result, this was the "sickest" HAL cruise we have ever been on as at least 1/3 of the passengers had bronchial type cold/flu symptoms the last 2+ weeks of the cruise. Going to the show in the evening was like listening to a chorus of coughing in stereo. My DW nicknamed it the Zaandam mating call. Ever have someone cough behind you in the theater and feel a light spray hit the back of your neck at the same time?

 

Of course, no cruise is perfect and since we just got off a great 25 day Celebrity Eclipse cruise where all of the production shows were great with many reaching the "wow" status and the ship's hygiene practices were top notch, it was just a big let down to see HAL's offerings so inferior. But, as I mentioned earlier, it wasn't all bad. The itinerary was GREAT, the guest lecturers were GREAT and the guest entertainers for the most part were very entertaining.



As a side note, I also put this in a CC review. I wanted to post it here to continue to highlight IMHO where HAL is really starting to fail and until we start reading about improvement in these two areas, the chances of us cruising with HAL again seem to be fading fast. It's sad as we recently made 4 star and really enjoy the free laundry and 1/2 off on wine packages and specialty dining.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad you enjoyed your Antarctica itinerary.

We noticed about 3 or 4 years ago that HAL's shows were going down hill.

[Cruise or Lose!]

The last few cruises, I found myself skipping the big production shows entirely, in favour of losing even more money in the casino 🤦*♀️🤷*♀️

 

 

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[bigwally]

The last few cruises, I found myself skipping the big production shows entirely, in favour of losing even more money in the casino 🤦*♀️🤷*♀️

 

So what you're saying is that your name here really should be Cruise AND Lose!:D

[Cruise or Lose!]

Exactly!!!

 

 

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[OlsSalt]

HAL is for travelers who appreciate the destinations offered. You made a poor choice of cruise lines. Sorry.

[OlsSalt]

HAL is for travelers who appreciate the destinations offered. You made a poor choice of cruise lines. Sorry. Do not stick dirty fingertips into your nose, eyes or mouth remains always sound travel advice.

 

Making ineffective sanitizers available provide false assurances over the basics of sanitation. I remember our cruise several on this ship and destination and getting the constant reminders also to wash our hands, in both English and Spanish - which I find welcoming to keep this always in everyone's mind on a daily basis.

 

Plus since this cruise most likely required extensive air travel, your fellow passengers may well have brought their upper respiratory illnesses on board with them since planes are among the dirtiest travel contamination sources of all. Good thing you found such a great match for your own vacation needs with Celebrity. Meanwhile we continue to enjoy our own travel appreciations on HAL ships.

 

Not sure how HAL "failed" you. Your interests are not a good match for what HAL offers - travel value and itineraries. The only surprise it took becoming a four star to figure this out. Happy future travels on other cruise lines who put more emphasis on the onboard experience instead of where the ship is going.

[puppycanducruise]

Thank you for taking the time to post your comments.

Glad you enjoyed Antarctica and the lecturers.

Too bad about the entertainment.

[cabinluvn]

I think they stopped meeting you at the entrance to the Lido with the hand sanitizer when they stopped the self serve buffet. Since people are not using the same serving spoons, the chances of passing around the bugs are reduced. There are other ways to pass the bugs...handrails and elevator buttons. We stopped using the elevator and never touch the railings and have not gotten sick on the last 4 cruises we sailed. You can never totally eliminate people’s germs and it is up to the individual to keep them away as best they can. We always travel with the small bottle of hand sanitizer and use it liberally.

 

 

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[Mtn2Sea]

We were on this same Zaandam cruise and agree that the itinerary was great. DW and I have also commented several times that this was the sickest group of passengers we’ve ever encountered on a cruise. Just as we were leaving Antarctica, I started getting sick. Fortunately, we had some sea days that allowed me to stay in the cabin and recover for the most part. Amazingly, I was never as sick as numerous obviously ill passengers who kept roaming the ship. I too was amazed at how slack HAL was regarding the hand sanitizers, especially in light of the letter we received mid cruise about the high level of flu type sickness on the ship, with passengers being urged to go to the medical office for treatment.

[kazu]

I am really surprised by your report on the sanitizers. I am NOT doubting you, just surprised.

 

On our Rotterdam cruise, they were in the usual spots that we have become accustomed to or standing by the hand sanitizer and motioning to use them - Lido, MDR, boarding the shp, etc.

 

That's a huge change.

 

Appreciate the reports from both of you on board.

[OlsSalt]

The relative ineffectiveness of "hand sanitizers" needs more emphasis obviously - stay current about the continuing research regarding their use and more importantly their unintended misuse.

 

One should not treat "hand sanitizers" as a magical potion or substitute for the old common sense rules of common sickness prevention. CDC will keep you up to date about health prevention techniques on cruise ships.

[Ken the cruiser]

HAL is for travelers who appreciate the destinations offered. You made a poor choice of cruise lines. Sorry.

That's true as they have nice itineraries. That's why we've done 10 cruises with them. However, we prefer enjoying the cruise without having to worry about getting sick.

[CI66774]

That's true as they have nice itineraries. That's why we've done 10 cruises with them. However, we prefer enjoying the cruise without having to worry about getting sick.

 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've gotten sick on a Celebrity cruise - as well as Disney and Princess. You can get sick on any cruise - and any cruise line. They were just colds/cough but don't think for one minute you're immune on Celebrity.

[OlsSalt]

That's true as they have nice itineraries. That's why we've done 10 cruises with them. However, we prefer enjoying the cruise without having to worry about getting sick.

 

Who doesn't. Stopping the hand-sanitizer myths is one way to do this.

[OlsSalt]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've gotten sick on a Celebrity cruise - as well as Disney and Princess. You can get sick on any cruise - and any cruise line. They were just colds/cough but don't think for one minute you're immune on Celebrity.

 

All one has to do it read the Celebrity reviews to realize they have exactly the same problems reported on every other cruise line.

[sail7seas]

Most of us are aware this is a very severew flu season with a great many seriously ill people. Better to wellness than those snitizers are barss of soap and warm to hot water used often to wash hands well. WASH your hands and ofrget those dispensers of gunk,

 

Flu is so widely spread that some hospitals cannot treat any more patients.

 

Don't blame HAL for these U R I's.... Most cities are inundated with people suffering colds and flu.

[Ken the cruiser]

Thank you so much OlsSalt and Sail7Seas for your visionary thoughts. It's people like you that make HAL what it is today.

[OlsSalt]

Thank you so much OlsSalt and Sail7Seas for your visionary thoughts. It's people like you that make HAL what it is today.

 

And it is people like you who make other cruise lines prosper offering entertainment over itineraries. We all float our boats for different reasons. You see HAL as "failing", I see her sailing with fair winds and following seas.

[Ken the cruiser]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've gotten sick on a Celebrity cruise - as well as Disney and Princess. You can get sick on any cruise - and any cruise line. They were just colds/cough but don't think for one minute you're immune on Celebrity.

Of course folks get sick on all the cruise lines. But at least on Celebrity and Disney, not to sure about Princess though, they at least TRY to minimize the spread, whether the hand sanitizer works or not as some folks seem to think.

[Ken the cruiser]

I am really surprised by your report on the sanitizers. I am NOT doubting you, just surprised.

 

On our Rotterdam cruise, they were in the usual spots that we have become accustomed to or standing by the hand sanitizer and motioning to use them - Lido, MDR, boarding the shp, etc.

 

That's a huge change.

 

Appreciate the reports from both of you on board.

Maybe it's at the Captain's discretion as to how they choose to implement their personal hygiene policies. This was the first HAL cruise we can remember when there wasn't hand sanitizer at any of the 4 theater entrances.

[OlsSalt]

Everything we should all know about effective hand sanitation from the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP):

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/cruiselines/hand_hygiene_general.htm

 

Keeping in mind clean hands is only part of the equation - what we do with those hands (mainly finger tips) after they are cleaned remains the weak link. Bad bugs do not jump on their own volition from our contaminated hands (fingertips) into our respiratory passages or gastro-intestinal tracks - they are inserted, often by inadvertence.

 

Taking the "magic" out of both vector transmission and ineffective sanitation rituals will keep passengers healthier than continuing to foster ineffective sanitation myths. Accepting always no protocol is 100% effective, ever. Just pleading for people to not ignore the often inadvertent self-innocculation disease transmission route.

[Ken the cruiser]

Everything we should all know about effective hand sanitation from the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP):

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/cruiselines/hand_hygiene_general.htm

 

Yes, hand washing with soap and warm water for 20+ seconds is best. No question. However, I also like this paragraph found at the above CDC link:

 

 

The use of alcohol-based hand antiseptics (hand sanitizers) does not replace the need for frequent and proper hand washing. The efficacy of most alcohol-based hand antiseptics approximates simple hand washing. In addition, many alcohol-based hand antiseptics have very poor activity against bacterial spores, protozoan cysts and certain non-enveloped viruses, such as noroviruses. Alcohol-based hand antiseptics appear to have very good to excellent activity against many bacteria and some enveloped viruses. Some scientific evidence suggest that ethanol-based hand antiseptics containing 60-90 percent alcohol, appear to be the most effective against common pathogens (including non-enveloped viruses) that cause acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships. In general, ethanol-based hand antiseptics appear to have greater antimicrobial activity against viruses than isopropanol-based hand antiseptics, although both appear to offer some activity against these pathogens.

 

But again, washing your hands IS the most effective means to rid your hands of unwanted bugs. Also avoiding the public restrooms is another way to minimize getting contaminated.

[OlsSalt]

Yes, hand washing with soap and warm water for 20+ seconds is best. No question. However, I also like this paragraph found at the above CDC link:......

 

But again, washing your hands IS the most effective means to rid your hands of unwanted bugs. Also avoiding the public restrooms is another way to minimize getting contaminated.

 

Why do you keep ignoring the self-innoculation route. I don't ever remember seeing hand sanitizers at the entrance to the show rooms. Why would you be sticking your finger tips into your hands, mouth, nose or eyes in the showroom.

 

"Avoiding public restrooms" is sheer nonsense advice. They are both signed and designed for passengers to leave them as contamination free as possible - clean towels, sinks, soap and posted reminders to use a tissue when opening the exit door, plus a well-placed waste basket to deposit that potentially contaminated door handle tissue..

[CI66774]

Of course folks get sick on all the cruise lines. But at least on Celebrity and Disney, not to sure about Princess though, they at least TRY to minimize the spread, whether the hand sanitizer works or not as some folks seem to think.

 

No cruise line can minimize the spread when people are coughing. I'm diligent about personal hygiene, etc., but when people board ill and cough the virus out into the air, hand sanitizers, etc. don't matter. I bring a commercial Clorox hand sanitizer with me on every cruise. Most of the time I don't succumb but I usually end up sick when I cruise in the winter. Just recently, I went on a lovely Princess cruise and fought off all of the coughers until the last day. On the plane home I lost my voice and was in bed for a week. Everyone on the airplane was coughing and sneezing, too. It's a virus battlefield out there.