Might not take our trip after all

[Blonde Granny]

I was bored last night and again attempted to get information on the Holland America ship Maasdam. I got more than I bargained for.

The reviews of the ship sounded as familiar as saying Carnival Cruise Line. No hot water, dripping sewage from the lines, food either cold or not cooked properly, our assigned deck for state room...Cruise Critic, says it's the worst deck on the ship, problem being it right above casino and bars, and the ruckus goes on into the early morning.

I emailed our travel agent with concerns, she's contacting the tour company and HAL, but I suspicion that both will say "all is well, we've had no complaints." We opted to pay in full for trip last fall in order to get bigger discount , that decision looks like it's going to bite us in the butt!!! if we cancel.

Told travel agent I won't spend 1 week on a ship like that, and for the same money I can take a cruise to Hawaii.

btw: Carnival owns Holland America.  The ship was completely redone in 2011, but pulled out of service to dry dock this past winter (hmmm, wonder why).  It was put back into service in January and the complaints started again.

[nutty]

The very first thing I look for and I take it very seriously that I have tabs of ship cabins is where they are located. SO maybe before you decide see if you can change cabin loacation, I hear a lot of people say they don't notice much. Only you are to decide if you are that kind of person.

[Blonde Granny]

This is part of a tour by Globus. We have the land portion first by bus to New England, then board the ship in Quebec City. We have no choice of cabins.

[Gardening Grandma]

BG,
Were the reviews recent? Also, people tend to post reviews more often when they had a bad experience rather than a good one, so I take them with a grain of salt...

[amishgal]

All ships are put into dry dock every few years for updates, etc. I'd rather be on one that was recently in dry dock than one that hasn't. I agree, people are much more likely to post a negative review than a positive one.

[Blonde Granny]

Some reviews in jan 2014, right after the ship came out of dry dock.  Others from last fall for same trip we have planned. Still waiting for word from travel agent.

we could cancel and drive ourselves for likely the same or less money.  (Shrug)

[marvholly]

BG
There is a BIG cruise discussion web site that covers ALL cruise lines. Each line has their own section and I KNOW the Maasdam has been discussed over the past month. I am helping a friend plan an Alaska cruise.

www.cruisecritic.com

Go to the forums NOT the reviews. Most reviews are written by people who would glorify a sinking ship or who would complain about 5* cabins, service & meals.

[Blonde Granny]

I talked with our travel agent yesterday afternoon. She had talked with HAL and Globus (that's who is the travel company putting this together). I feel confident that as usual, some people will gripe if their napkin is folded incorrectly, and I have a good friend who has nothing good to say about Celebrity cruise to Alaska. Friends complaint was the weather was too cold, and the other travelers weren't up to her standards. <sigh>

Since this is a bucket list trip for DH we are going. Globus offered 3 options, including our money back if we wanted to cancel.

What I did find interesting about those reviews were all the tiny details they talked about....like the bar of soap or shampoo in the bath. Towels became another issue....oh please, like my towels at home are any better. And there is always shampoo I bought that I don't like.  In remember one person didn't like a breakfast buffet offering of bananas in orange juice.  That should be the worst of my worries.

Onward.....

[zibazinski]

BG, some people would bitch if they were stabbed with a golden knife, my Daddy always used to say. If we aren't talking serious health issues, let it ride and have a good time.

[zibazinski]

That being said, I'm from Florida and every week the cruise lines health inspections are in the newspapers, which is why I never travel carnival. But both my kids have and survived!

[resolution]

My parents go on 5-6 cruises a year, and they speak relatively highly of Holland America. I think they are along the same level as Royal Caribbean and they seem to have better docking position than Princess (if the distance to walk is important to you), although less amenities. They should be slightly better than Carnival.

I noticed that the more frequently my parents cruise, the higher their expectations are and the more difficult to please. For example on this last cruise their laundry wasn't folded and got wrinkles, and they were very displeased with it. However a decade ago they would have been thrilled to have laundry service.

[Blonde Granny]

We loved our cruise on the Grand Princess to Alaska. What we liked even better was having a penthouse suite. On the HAL we're going to have one of the mini-suites, and since it's all booked thru Globus, there is no way we can upgrade.

I also happily pay for wifi internet access, and with Princess we bought the coffee card, so big deal.  I know others think it's terrible.  I buy the wifi, others buy the booze.  Guess it's whatever makes you happy.

Our first cruise was on a Carnival ship, it was the Fantasy.  That was back when the mega ships were first put into service.  Since then, cruise to the Panama Canal (that was on a no longer in business line).  Then Alaska, now this.  I'm thinking a cruise to Hawaii is next.

[Blonde Granny]

There was a lady last year who got on the bus to take us to the ship terminal...as the lady in charge said "be sure you have your passports or you will not be allowed to board the ship" this woman shouted out " I don't have mine.". After some back & forth, we never did hear the end result, but I suspicion she did not make her boarding.

Oh, the land portion starts in Boston with a day of sightseeing, then we're off to Mt. Washington-Montpelier-Stowe-Vergennes. From there to Vergennes-Shelburne-Montreal. Day 5 we board ship in Montreal. From there Quebec City, Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. Then Sydney, from there Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bar Harbor and then back to Boston.

I mentioned to DH today about taking the cruise to Hawaii, only problem is half of the trip is going back & forth to LA or SF. He said how about flying to Hawaii then taking the cruise to the different places. Maybe?

[marvholly]

BG
ONLY NCL does only around Hawaii cruises. It is on the Pride of America. Because of US work rules the crew has to be mostly (all?) US citizens. This has lead to some extreme staffing & service (lack of) issues. PLUS it is VERY $$$ due to US minimum wage requirements and likely to go WAAAY up if $10 minimum passes.

Also, NCL has a VERY different approach to many things. Example: all meals are open seating. Dine where & when you want. This can lead to long waits for the included (FREE) dining rooms. Many of the ships have 3-10 upcharge places to eat causing a LOT of people to complain about added costs. It is much more like a land vacation in this respect.

[Blonde Granny]

The cost was about $3100 pp for a suite. On our Alaska cruise we almost exclusively ate at the surcharge restaurants. We did the open seating thing twice and the company was less that outstanding.

We will see what happens between now and next March.