Comments on: Judgment Day: The Cruise http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/03/judgment-day-the-cruise/ Frederik Pohl Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:40:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jen http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/03/judgment-day-the-cruise/#comment-1506 Jen Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:52:44 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=696#comment-1506 My husband finally got me onboard the Maasdam in January for my first cruise ever. He's been on literally hundreds of cruises (he used to work in the industry), and had chosen HAL because he thought that I'd have the best experience with them. Although I did love the destinations and will definitely cruise again, the experience on the Maasdam left a lot to be desired. Malfunctioning air conditioning (which they had assured us was fixed before we boarded, as they'd had problems with it all last fall) meant that my husband slept on our balcony for the entire trip while I wore 3 layers of clothes to bed every night, the food was similar to what you'd find in a roadhouse (except for the Pinnacle Grill, which was fantastic), and in general it was not a pleasant experience. The staff were wonderful, and I was taken aback by the fact that so many people remembered my husband from past cruises- it was like meeting old friends for him, and the service was exemplary to say the least. But by the end of the cruise, my husband was mortified at how the quality had dropped since he'd last sailed with HAL. As I said, I'd gladly cruise again, but even with our letter of apology and $500 shipboard credit on our next cruise that we ended up receiving from HAL I doubt if it will be with them. Which is too bad, as I did like the library on the Maasdam, and I'm not sure that my husband can live without the bread pudding :-) My husband finally got me onboard the Maasdam in January for my first cruise ever. He’s been on literally hundreds of cruises (he used to work in the industry), and had chosen HAL because he thought that I’d have the best experience with them.

Although I did love the destinations and will definitely cruise again, the experience on the Maasdam left a lot to be desired. Malfunctioning air conditioning (which they had assured us was fixed before we boarded, as they’d had problems with it all last fall) meant that my husband slept on our balcony for the entire trip while I wore 3 layers of clothes to bed every night, the food was similar to what you’d find in a roadhouse (except for the Pinnacle Grill, which was fantastic), and in general it was not a pleasant experience. The staff were wonderful, and I was taken aback by the fact that so many people remembered my husband from past cruises- it was like meeting old friends for him, and the service was exemplary to say the least. But by the end of the cruise, my husband was mortified at how the quality had dropped since he’d last sailed with HAL.

As I said, I’d gladly cruise again, but even with our letter of apology and $500 shipboard credit on our next cruise that we ended up receiving from HAL I doubt if it will be with them. Which is too bad, as I did like the library on the Maasdam, and I’m not sure that my husband can live without the bread pudding :-)

]]> By: Fathercrow http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/03/judgment-day-the-cruise/#comment-1490 Fathercrow Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:35:59 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=696#comment-1490 My big problem with cruises would have to be wheelchair acessibility or the lack there of. My big problem with cruises would have to be wheelchair acessibility or the lack there of.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/03/judgment-day-the-cruise/#comment-1482 Jeff Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:52:36 +0000 http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/?p=696#comment-1482 I fear the closest I shall ever come to a cruise will be to rent a pontoon boat for a three hour cruise around Pickwick Lake. But I shall certainly take advantage of the cruise ship terminology to liven things up. Maybe I'll invite everybody up to the Lido Deck for a seafood feast (trans - the front of the boat for a can of sardines). I fear the closest I shall ever come to a cruise will be to rent a pontoon boat for a three hour cruise around Pickwick Lake. But I shall certainly take advantage of the cruise ship terminology to liven things up. Maybe I’ll invite everybody up to the Lido Deck for a seafood feast (trans – the front of the boat for a can of sardines).

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