LIVE Thanksgiving Review Nieuw Statendam Rome -> FLL My First Transatlantic Nov 26 - Dec 10 🦃

[Haljo1935]

Horrible pictures, but best I can do on my phone - we're approaching the Strait of Gibraltar. 

[albingirl]

Really fun following along.  Been to alot of those places and loved every minute and it's fun seeing it again through your eyes.  Thank you.

[mawvkysc]

Can’t wait to hear about the sea days. We will cruise  our first TA this spring on Zuiderdam. 

[Haljo1935]

Just now, mawvkysc said:

Can’t wait to hear about the sea days. We will cruise  our first TA this spring on Zuiderdam. 

I'm curious to see how I like all those sea says as this is my first TA, too.

[pirate cruiser]

I would like the sea days so I could get my money's worth on the SBP ! 😁

[cruisinsince75]

6 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

I'm curious to see how I like all those sea says as this is my first TA, too.

That's the best part.  It is go, go, go.  Then slow, slow, slow as you sail to FLL.  And you gain an extra hour almost each day as you head west.  More time to rest and relax and do the fun things you want to do.

[Haljo1935]

On 11/28/2023 at 2:32 AM, LAFFNVEGAS said:

@Haljo1935  Thanks so much, I wonder if it was crazy the first night? Do you know if Club Orange will let us make reservations for a set time? Our biggest problem is that we will be a group of 7 traveling together so may make it a bit difficult.

Hey @LAFFNVEGAS according to hostess Siri, they will accommodate a standing table & time for you in CO. However, it will be at one of the 2 round 6-tops, they won't push together the smaller square tables. I would think once you meet with them and consistently show each night, they might be willing to give you the other set up.

[Haljo1935]

Good morning, Cadiz!

 

Shuttles are provided (and required) to get you from the ship to the gate as Cadiz is very much a working port.

We went past the art gallery to get off this morning, that's new.

All aboard is 530pm - same as yesterday. We have a full day again today - we're going to Seville. Booked independent through Spain Day Tours - they were waiting for us just before the gate w/a "Top Day Tour Bus 1" sign, easy to find. She also had a "Shore Exc" sign.

We are 1 of 4 ships in port today. Couldn't get all of them.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Haljo1935]

No deduction for poor quality, lol. Here's the best I could do to capture the Rock of Gibraltar. It was very cool to see.

 

We went up to Crow's Nest, but our aft view was much better. LO❤️E an aft cabin 😊

[FLCruiser97]

Hope you enjoy Cadiz and Seville. Hope you were able to try some of the sherry from Jerez. 

[Haljo1935]

6 hours ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Hope you enjoy Cadiz and Seville. Hope you were able to try some of the sherry from Jerez. 

Yes, I very much enjoyed the time there. We went to Seville - pictures to follow - it was fabulous! Did not try the sherry.

[Haljo1935]

Ok, here we go - things have just been "off" on this cruise; I think I mentioned that earlier. We gave it a few days thinking they just needed to get back into their routines, you know, channel their inner Stella and get their groove back since they're once again interacting w/passengers. But time hasn't helped.

Nothing major, just a lot of little things starting to pile up - tonight it's the wrong breakfast hanger, so I'm waiting for the correct one. Yes, I know I can write in what I want w/a note it's for CO and they'll look it up and send what we order, but... It's approaching midnight and I think I'm ready to call it a night, so I'd like to get the card out on the door.

Service is painfully slow - tonight CO was about half full, maybe a tad less. 23 minutes after receiving menus, nobody had taken our drink orders; 20 minutes later we placed our food order - maybe I'm expecting too much in thinking I should be able to place a dinner order in less than 45 min... We waited so long to get dessert we thought about leaving without it. That is not the pace we've been experiencing in there this week.

Laundry took 3 days to get back - ugh!! I LOVE HAL laundry, but 3 days is long enough for me to think the honeymoon is over, lol.

The broken china was vacuumed today, so we no longer have to worry about stepping on it. Last night the person delivering room service dropped banana pudding on the floor and the plate broke. She never sent anyone to clean it up, but it was cleaned up today while we were gone.

Robes did not arrive until day 3 after multiple inquiries.

Water is standing on the deck again because it rained today - cabin steward hasn't mopped it up yet (that was their solution day 1 🙄).

Generally speaking, the food is not as good as usual. Tonight (yes, we did eventually get to eat) was really good - probably the best so far. So maybe it's either semi-decent pace or tasty food just not both? Room service food orders have not been correct once - example: bagel and lox ordered, lox rec'd - where's the bagel? Lido ran out of spinach day 2 - no idea when/if they've gotten any since we haven't been back.

Took 2 days to get the TV to work - it would turn on then froze. At least it did muster before it froze so we can user our drink package. Thank goodness, cuz now that we no longer have the distraction of ports, we're going to need to drink, lol.

Only one of us (2 in cabin) rec'd a key card - had to go to GS to have one made for the other person.

Sink is hot water only, well except for the brief moment when you first turn it on - that's cold then heats up quickly and no matter which side you turn the lever to, there's no cold water. Would you like Hot or Hot Hot?

So, all in all, nothing earth shattering that will keep me from sailing again on HAL, but the pesky little things seem to become bigger irritants when there are so many of them and put enough of them together and it starts to negatively impact my experience. Worse, or at least worse for now, is we're talking about it w/fellow passengers. So, it's grown from a pesky gnat I'm swatting at to a conversation, ugh.

Hoping Stella visits soon...

Update - called again asking for the CO breakfast hanger and was told her colleague had ordered it for me. Well, okay...

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2023 by Haljo1935
typo

[0106]

@Haljo1935 I have enjoyed both of y threads.  Thank you for your honest review and your wonderful pictures.  
 

I do not have the patience you have shown.  In CO, would have immediately spoken to the manager.  Your dinner experience is unacceptable.  With regards to your room, have you used the “let us know” feature on the Navigator app.  I refuse to stand in line at guest services.  There is no record if I make a phone call.  But every time I have used the app, not only has the problem been resolved but I received a follow up phone call asking if I was satisfied with the resolutions. 
 

Wishing you a wonderful first transatlantic.

[dobiemom]

3 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Ok, here we go - things have just been "off" on this cruise; I think I mentioned that earlier. We gave it a few days thinking they just needed to get back into their routines, you know, channel their inner Stella and get their groove back since they're once again interacting w/passengers. But time hasn't helped. Nothing major, just a lot of little things starting to pile up -

😳😡 Uh oh, I hope they get their groove back soon. 🤞 

[BetsyS.]

Haljo1935 - I'm sorry you are having so many problems.  I hope things will start improving tomorrow. I agree with 0106. If you haven't used the "let us know"  feature on  the Navigator app, I hope you will use it soon. Good luck with everything.

[borasue]

Haljo1935 - We're on this sailing, too, and had the same issue with the TV, twice.  We reported it via the app and within about an hour they responded.  First time was a simple reset.  Same issue the next day and they sent up a tech.  We agree about the service in the dining areas and bars (we're not CO), although our stateroom attendants have been outstanding.  Hope things begin to improve for you.  🙂  Given the movement from the ship last night and this morning, we're trying to roll with it!  LOL  

[Haljo1935]

10 hours ago, 0106 said:

@Haljo1935 I have enjoyed both of y threads.  Thank you for your honest review and your wonderful pictures.  
 

I do not have the patience you have shown.  In CO, would have immediately spoken to the manager.  Your dinner experience is unacceptable.  With regards to your room, have you used the “let us know” feature on the Navigator app.  I refuse to stand in line at guest services.  There is no record if I make a phone call.  But every time I have used the app, not only has the problem been resolved but I received a follow up phone call asking if I was satisfied with the resolutions. 
 

Wishing you a wonderful first transatlantic.

Thanks for reminding me about making requests through the Navigator - I have not done that on this cruise, but have on previous cruises. I just picked up the phone and called the CO batline (adding that to the "pesky" list as multiple times, including last night, it has rung long enough to disconnect). 🙄I will begin using the app.😏

[Haljo1935]

Good morning, Sea Day! Sunrise west of the Strait of Gibraltar heading toward the Azores as seen from my balcony.

[Haljo1935]

Pictures to (eventually) follow; I haven't been there, so I'll have to go one evening to take pictures. From the TV:

Family Game Room

Kids Club

[Djptcp]

I am always curious about the first cruise after a major dry dock. Hopefully, these little annoyances will work themselves out before we sail on the Nieuw Statendam on Dec. 10th. How do you like the new casino with the spiral staircase gone? I've seen photos of it on Facebook and it seems a lot larger which was needed.

 

Enjoy the rest of the cruise.

[Haljo1935]

3 hours ago, Djptcp said:

I am always curious about the first cruise after a major dry dock. Hopefully, these little annoyances will work themselves out before we sail on the Nieuw Statendam on Dec. 10th. How do you like the new casino with the spiral staircase gone? I've seen photos of it on Facebook and it seems a lot larger which was needed.

 

Enjoy the rest of the cruise.

The casino definitely feels larger now. Of course, the fact that it's mostly been void of players each time I've gone through may contribute to that 😏

[cbr663]

23 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

 

.... Worse, or at least worse for now, is we're talking about it w/fellow passengers. So, it's grown from a pesky gnat I'm swatting at to a conversation, ugh.

....

 

Following along as I so enjoyed your last live review.  I hate it when the cruise gets to that point.  During our last cruise I found myself in that situation only once with our next door neighbour while we were both out on our balconies and I caught myself and shut it down quickly.  I always try to let the slips roll off my back and enjoy the rest of the cruise but have to admit, sometimes, HAL can make it  hard to do that.

 

[ksmaxey]

Our aggravation with the TV continues.  It keeps locking us out and needing to be reset.  That seems to be a software issue and not a hardware issue.  The crew continues to be amazing.  The ship looks great and HAL shipped Christmas decorations from FLL to Italy for our cruise, (per two crew)

[Haljo1935]

45 minutes ago, ksmaxey said:

Our aggravation with the TV continues.  It keeps locking us out and needing to be reset.  That seems to be a software issue and not a hardware issue.  The crew continues to be amazing.  The ship looks great and HAL shipped Christmas decorations from FLL to Italy for our cruise, (per two crew)

I agree, the ship is looking great for Christmas!

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "...decorations from FLL to Italy...(per two crew)"

Also, when I mentioned the TV issues to Sugi (our cabin steward) he reached behind, unplugged/replugged - we have not had an issue since. The reboots GS was doing were not "sticking" but this seems to have resolved it.

Edited December 2, 2023 by Haljo1935
Additional comment

[oakridger]

1 minute ago, Haljo1935 said:

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "...decorations from FLL to Italy...(per two crew)"

 

I took it to mean that two crew told @ksmaxey that the decorations were shipped from Ft. Lauderdale to the ship in Italy.  

 

~Nancy