Hydro spa pool & thermal suite

[poolwife]

My husband and I purchased this package and loved it to begin with. Also, when we purchased it we were told that it was open EVERY DAY until 10:00 p.m. Well, NOT SO on your final day. They closed it at 4:00 p.m. and did not notify the 50 people that signed up. Yes, it did say in the daily paper but we didn't read that part of it about the spa hours cause why should we since we were told that it would be open EVERY DAY until 10:00 p.m. On Friday, our last day, I chose to get my packing done in the afternoon so I would get all the work out of the way and was going to go the spa in the evening after dinner to relax before bed.

 

My husband and I put our robes on and parade ourselves through the ship in our robes to get up to the spa, were given our keys and lo and behold we go to go into the hydro pool area and the pool was empty at 8:00 p.m. The girl that handed us the keys wasn't even aware that the pool was empty. I was livid. They were performing maintenance on the spa.

 

And why couldn't this be done after 10:00 p.m. or first thing in the morning before the new group got on? My husband and I were so upset about this bad taste being left with us at the end of the cruise we probably will never buy that spa package again. We felt totally jipped.

[Sleepladypalmdesert]

My husband and I were actually really happy to see that they totally emptied the water from the hydro pool on that final night. The staff were in the pool really giving it a thorough cleaning. We actually thought it was great that they cleaned it so well between cruises. It seemed to me that we knew they were going to be closed early that evening. I can't remember if it was posted or on the daily schedule or what....but, we knew ahead of time and used it earlier in the day.

[ME Guide]

Sherry,

"totally jipped" sounds a bit dramatic, don't you think? You had a wonderful spa experience otherwise and you even mention that you read it in the daily activities paper.

What more could you ask for?! You must be hard to please.

I agree with the other poster about the crew taking time to clean the pool. You should understand that as well.

lighten up!

[poolwife]

Yes, I am also glad they take the time to clean the spa pool, but don't believe it had to be done our last evening. To me we are still on our cruise and that we paid $250.00 for to enjoy for the whole cruise should have still been available to us like it was told to us in the beginning when we purchased it. I don't see any reason why it couldn't have been cleaned on Saturday morning between cruises.

 

No, I did not read it in the daily paper until after the fact when it was pointed out to us that it was in there. There was no reason to check the times of the hydro pool since we were told it would be available EVERY DAY until 10:00 p.m.

 

I thought it definitely more advantageous to get my work done of packing in the afternoon so I could enjoy myself in the evening. Seems like every cruise I end up packing late and didn't want to do that this time since I thought I had the spa pool to enjoy after my work was finished. Thought it would be nice to go relax in the spa before bed.

 

No, I am not hard to please. I just want what I am told ahead of time to expect and we were told that the pool would be open until 10:00 p.m. every night. They were always leaving us notices in the box outside the door about everything so I don't see why a notice couldn't have been left as to the early closing of the pool. There were advertisements for everything so there could have been something left for the only 50 people that got to use the pool.

 

Iramack: My receiving a "free" upgrade to an SA category had nothing to do with my purchase of the thermal suite spa package for $250.00. I could have an inside or oceanview room and would have still had the same concern regarding the hydro pool.

[TMJplus1]

I can see why you would be disappointed if you were informed the spa would be open late on the last night and it wasn't. I enjoyed the hydro pass so much on the Zuiderdam that I used it every possible minute and would definitely have been upset if I thought the spa was going to be open, only to show up and see a big ol' "CLOSED" sign on the door.

 

I hope, though, in retrospect you are able to remember all the wonderful things about your hydro pass and not the bad feelings that happened on your last night. I'm sure this was just a matter of miscommunication and not HAL deliberately trying to deceive you. Your experience is a good reminder to check the daily schedule closely.

[djhsolara]

WOW...everyone is certainly trying to execute you poolwife. I certainly feel your pain. When we were on Westerdam last December we cut short our time on HMC to come back onboard to use the Hydropool only to find out that it was closed early for cleaning. After enough complaining we did get a refund for the last day.

 

It is not wrong that you felt jipped...and I truly feel badly for you that everyone has blasted you on here for sharing your opinion.

[poolwife]

TO: djhsolara

 

Thank you very much for your consideration and understanding. $250.00 was a lot to us and didn't have money to waste but my husband wanted to do something special for us.

 

I guess this man, iramack, must have money to burn and it must not mean that much to him.

 

We don't customarily purchase packages such as this so it meant alot to us to get to have it and then very disappointed when they cut short our use of it when we were still on our cruise vacation. I still CANNOT understand why it couldn't be cleaned early the next morning.

 

And, of course, it did not ruin our cruise by any means. We had a great time just didn't understand this whole hydro pool closing situation.

 

We thought the service and the food on the Oosterdam was excellent and would definitely cruise on her again. I agreed with other posters that she did not have a "Wow" factor but that didn't mean that much to us considering all of her other outstanding qualities such as the great service, great food and friendliness of staff and good entertainment. The production show singers and dancers were very good and entertaining. We were disappointed that their last show on Thursday night was cancelled due to a mechanical malfunction of the stage equipment. And, then there was Johnny Jones at the piano bar. Absolutely super! We all thought he should be in a bigger lounge, but then, of course, that would lose the intimacy of getting to watch his fingers dance across those piano keys. What an outstanding entertainer.

 

Yes, Joel Mason was good also, but all of our group truly enjoyed Johnny Jones the best.

[DMorris]

Thus my POINT:

 

GET OVER IT!!!

S

 

 

Sorry I normally don't get involved... but this post was uncalled for. If people don't have anything nice to say, then why say anything at all :confused: Amazing how mean people can be these days... geeze.

[poolwife]

Deanna:

 

Thank you for your kind words. We had a great cruise. We were just voicing our disappointment as to the handling of the hydro spa pool. I had no idea some people's feathers would get so ruffled.

 

Obviously, it is a lesson learned for us to look at the hours of things we purchase in the daily paper even when we are told what the hours are when we first purchase something.

 

But, this experience would definitely not hold us back from sailing on the Oosterdam again.

[DMorris]

Deanna:

 

Thank you for your kind words. We had a great cruise. We were just voicing our disappointment as to the handling of the hydro spa pool. I had no idea some people's feathers would get so ruffled.

 

Obviously, it is a lesson learned for us to look at the hours of things we purchase in the daily paper even when we are told what the hours are when we first purchase something.

 

But, this experience would definitely not hold us back from sailing on the Oosterdam again.

 

No problem... I just hate when people gang up on posters for giving an opinion. Anyone would be shocked or taken aback if something wasn't what they were told would be... IMO

 

Glad you had a great cruise... we are thinking of booking the thermal/hydro pool package too... will be on a 10 day on the Zuiderdam in 18 days :D

[timbo89]

I found the hydro pool and thermal spa a complete rip off. It was always overcrowded, it was rarely picked up, and I find it unreasonable that, if someone simply wants a steam room, they have to pay $150 for the privilege of using it. Other lines have a steam room that they don't charge for.

 

Just another in the long list of the factors contributing to the huge decline in HAL.

[poolwife]

Go ahead and book that thermal spa package. We loved it! That is if it does also include the hydro spa pool. That is what we enjoyed the most - bubbling our cares away. It was soooooooo relaxing and that is why I was so looking forward to it after packing that day and before going to bed.

 

Just learn from our experience and always check the hours of its availability.

 

Where are you going on a 10 day Zuiderdam cruise? Will be interested to see how you liked that ship and whether it is designed like the Oosterdam.

 

We liked "Northern Lights" dance club on the Oosterdam but couldn't stay long cause it was connected to the casino which let the smoke from the smokers into the Northern Lights lounge which was too bad cause it was a fun place to dance with good music. The smoke just made my throat feel bad and uncomfortable so I had to leave.

 

The Oosterdam did not have the "wow" factor that other ships have such as the beautiful centrums, etc., but did have so many other great features such as I previously stated with great food, friendly staff and good entertainment. They had a piano bar with a great pianist named Johnny Jones who sang and played. He was a great entertainer.

 

Hope you also have a great cruise.

[DMorris]

Go ahead and book that thermal spa package. We loved it! That is if it does also include the hydro spa pool. That is what we enjoyed the most - bubbling our cares away. It was soooooooo relaxing and that is why I was so looking forward to it after packing that day and before going to bed.

 

Just learn from our experience and always check the hours of its availability.

 

Where are you going on a 10 day Zuiderdam cruise? Will be interested to see how you liked that ship and whether it is designed like the Oosterdam.

 

We liked "Northern Lights" dance club on the Oosterdam but couldn't stay long cause it was connected to the casino which let the smoke from the smokers into the Northern Lights lounge which was too bad cause it was a fun place to dance with good music. The smoke just made my throat feel bad and uncomfortable so I had to leave.

 

The Oosterdam did not have the "wow" factor that other ships have such as the beautiful centrums, etc., but did have so many other great features such as I previously stated with great food, friendly staff and good entertainment. They had a piano bar with a great pianist named Johnny Jones who sang and played. He was a great entertainer.

 

Hope you also have a great cruise.

 

If they run the special we will book it like you did... this is my 2nd time on the Zuiderdam, sailed on her in 2006... loved it. I have not been on her since the retrofit though... so will be interested to see all the changes they made to her. I will post a review when I get back on my trip... I think the set up on the Zuiderdam is similar to the Oosterdam if I am not mistaken... since they are sister ships. Decor I am sure is a bit different but layouts is about the same I think. Just checked the deck plan and the norther lights is right off the casino... but I don't remember alot of smoke when I sailed on her in 2006... so will check that out for you.

[djhsolara]

Sorry I normally don't get involved... but this post was uncalled for. If people don't have anything nice to say, then why say anything at all :confused: Amazing how mean people can be these days... geeze.

 

I AGREE!! There was no reason for this post!! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however nastiness :( has no place on these boards.

[sms_liblady]

I've never done a spa package and this may sound dumb...but what's the difference between the thermal spa and the spa by the pool?

[cruzkitty]

If you book a suite on Holland, do you have free access to hydro-pool? Thank you for your response!

[poolwife]

No, you do not. You still have to pay $150.00 for the first person and if two of you sign up then it is $250.00.