penguinscott

Many thanks, all. Happy New Year.

It took a while to get this done, but here is a link to my travel journal with pix about my "Land Cruise" on Island Princess from the UK back in August.

 

https://penguinscott.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-land-cruise.html

 

It was great fun. Enjoy,

Penguin

I found the breakfast room service coffee and coffee served in the MDR to be the best at sea. The coffee from the trough upstairs was barely potable. There were several coffee bars, as mentioned, but I didn't pay close attention, being quite pleased with my morning coffee served in my stateroom.

I know nate left in Lisbon. I suspect most of the Brazilian acts left as well. Really unsure of the cast, but I suspect the caliber would be the same. Enjoy your cruise. 

Hi.

I just posted my cruise experience. While not my official review (coming soon), it is a good read for those considering the Aurea Experience. Make sure you are aware of the changes. I booked Aurea based on reviews not realizing that MSC changed the perks associated. Therefore, my expectations were not met.

 

That said, it was a great ship and I had a wonderful vacation from Rio to Lisbon.

 

https://penguinscott.blogspot.com/2022/05/my-msc-preziosa-experience-april-8-23.html

Just back from a 7 night voyage on the Holland America ms Nieuw Amsterdam from Ft. Lauderdale to Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, October 21-28, 2018. Commanded by Capt. Jeroen van Donselaar with Nick Reirsgard as our cruise director.

 

I tend to sail HAL most. I enjoy the more classic sailings with some degree of refinement, yet with a spectrum of live music and activities. I prefer smaller ship so I can get to know people. The state rooms on HAL are very generous and there are a lot of little touches that make a difference.

 

Prior to this sailing, it had been nearly 4 years since being on HAL, and I did note a few changes. Some not necessarily for the best, but in all, as you will read, it was a great vacation on a wonderful ship. I also have a fun cruise blog at http://penguinlust.blogspot.com/2018/10/nieuw-amsterdam-for-new-penguin.html

 

Checking in: 8 of 10

 

The port terminal in Ft. Lauderdale (terminal 26) is a nice terminal. I arrived from my hotel around 1045am. There was a small line to get through security, but it only took about 3 minutes to get to the screeners. I did have some liquids, and a bottle of wine, but no one made mention of it. I fully expected to be called out on the alcohol in my bag.

 

The line to check in was much slower than usual, however, when I got to the counter, it was very quick. Perhaps not everyone was checked in on line and ready to go. Next, to the waiting area, which was comfortable, but not remarkable. There was a time I recall there being cookies and water/lemonade, but there was no sign of this until going upstairs, where the suite guests can wait separately from us heathens. I would think suite guests would get better than just cookies and water/lemonade.

 

I don’t recall the exact time, but around noon, the announcements were made to go upstairs to board the ship. The group numbers were called fairly quickly. It’s easy to bypass the photographers if you don’t want to pose for a photo as you board. I always do.

 

On the ship, we were welcomed by staff and it was easy to find directions. State rooms were not ready yet, but the restaurants were all open. I went straight to deck 9 for a pizza. By the time I was done with lunch, the announcement had been made that state rooms were ready. My bag would be waiting for me within 3 hours. If you plan on changing or need anything from your checked bag, make sure you have it in your smaller carry on.

 

Staff: 10 of 10

 

I am not sure why I rate staff. Every ship has about the best. There are a few things of note, however, so I’ll start with that.

 

Cabin attendants are happy and cheerful. I always have a few minor requests, such as removing the down blanket and instead, using 2 sheets, removing all items from the mini bar/fridge, and making sure I had plenty of ice every afternoon and evening. They were happy to oblige and never failed. They even quickly learned that I do not like my trash can under the desk, and by day 3, I no longer had to move it out every day- they knew. I really appreciated that.

 

Day one, I left my cabin for breakfast and explored the ship while we were in Half Moon Cay. I didn’t plan on leaving the ship, so there was a lot to explore. I returned to my cabin around 1pm to find that it had not been made up! I didn’t see anyone in the hall. I called to inquire what was amiss. I was asked if I had placed the small card in the key slot. One side of the card is do not disturb. The other side is make up room. I learned fast that one must put this card in the door. Gone are the days when you’d see the attendants in the hallway, where they could see you come and go and know when to attack your room. Maybe it’s better on them, and once I understood this new system, it worked just fine for me.

 

I stopped by a wine table before we embarked to ask about a wine package I saw on line. It was not in the printed materials on the ship. A steward took my room and name info and told me he’d call with the information on the wine package. I never heard from him again.

 

Bar attendants are much less pushy than in the past. There were quite a few times I would enter a bar area and never was approached by anyone. I feel, for the most part, they know when someone wants something, so in a way, I’m very happy they no longer come right over to ask what you want from the bar. There were, however, a few times I did want something, it took a long time to get someone to come over. I would rather it be this way, than the old. So this was good.

 

Everyone I encountered was friendly and polite, even if they were not part of the team who normally interfaces with passengers. I never did see the cruise director or captain outside of their functions. Maybe I’m used to ocean crossings, where you tend to see them mingling with the passengers more, but outside of a show, I never saw them, and I never left the ship and stayed mainly in public spaces.

 

There were 2 times (in a row) where I ordered pizza and they got the order wrong. The first time, an extra ingredient was added. The next, one topping I wanted was not included. The 2^nd day I ordered a burger from The Dive In, it took over half an hour before I was notified. I think something happened to my order.

 

There were a few times I noticed things overlooked. In the thermal spa whirlpool, for 2 days sat a collection of bobby pins and hair bands someone left behind. For 3 days, the same spoon rested next to the whirlpool of the Sea View Pool. I finally called someone over and asked if they could remove it. Good thing I’m not reviewing the kindness of fellow passengers!

 

Other than these few incidents, the ship and pool areas were clean and tidy.

 

Ship: 10 of 10

 

What a great ship! There was never a time where I saw anything and thought to myself that this ship was in need of repairs or modernizing. There were no stains or worn fabric on chairs, scuff marks or major issues. Sure, there were a few leaks, one in the Ocean Bar, another in the lounge area of the spa, but those happen and were dealt with accordingly.

 

The decor was very stately in all public areas. I loved the rich reds in the main dining room. The Lido looked professional. They also did a very good job of keeping most public space windows clean, doing so in ports of call.

 

This is about as large a ship as I ever want to sail on. It never felt crowded or full, and I highly suspect that there were open cabins, based on the empty seats nightly in the MDR. She was easy to get around on, but also, it was easy to get turned around.

 

Cabin: 6 of 10

 

Here is where I found the greatest amount of unease on this ship. While a great size with lots of storage and drawers, and plenty of room for my large suitcase under the bed, there were several areas that needed attention.

 

The water knob in the sink was broken. It was functional, but not attractive. Next to the ice bucket, the counter top laminate was buckling and worn. There was a similar issue on my night stand. It was a bit awkward trying to navigate the hallway between the bathroom and the closets when the closet doors were open, such as when unpacking or getting dressed for dinner. The doors only open to 90 degrees.

 

The view was better than I expected, considering I booked an ocean view room with fully obstructed views. I could still the horizon and much of the sky. Lucky for me, one day was a life boat drill, so the life boat was lowered and I had a full view.

 

I was impressed with the fitness center. It was a large space with a great variety of machines (no butterfly machine for arm day) and a great view over the bow. So glad there were no annoying TVs in your face on the machines. You can watch TV on the machines at home. You’re at sea, you should be seeing the sea!

 

I paid for the thermal spa package, which includes steam rooms, relaxing loungers, use of the lockers, and the large whirlpool. I’ve had issues in the past using this package when having to share it with people who don’t know the meaning of a quiet room, or who think it’s OK to eat lunch with your glass (real glass) of wine next to the whirlpool. I do wish they would give other passengers a list of spa etiquette suggestions (rules, if you must), but on this voyage, that was not necessary.

 

No more art auctions. There is a gallery on board, and art can be purchased, however, on this sailing, they had culled much art inspired by the Caribbean. I came half expecting to buy a new Peter Max or find some other great inspired piece for my new dining room, but that didn’t happen.

 

The photographers were on board, and never pushy to take photos or ask for sales. In fact, I had an issue arise with my new camera, and they were quite willing to bend over backwards to assist me.

 

Food: 10 of 10

 

As always, HAL has outdone themselves in the food department. To this day, I still have yet to have a bad meal on HAL. The food is always fresh and for the most part, flavorful. There were a few times I had to salt up soup or spice up a dish to my liking, but that’s normal when feeding hundreds of guests with varying tastes.

 

I expected the normal halved lobster tales on steak and lobster night, and regretted ordering 4 tales. Fortunately, they only brought out 2 at a time! These were no halves, and while not huge, 2 was plenty. The steak was delicious. Every dinner had eyes rolling and conversations go quiet.

 

I only ate in the Lido buffet one day for lunch and 2 nights at the late buffet. It was always hot and tasty and surprisingly crisp. The Dive In burgers were very good and the pizza was delicious! My only issue, as stated above, was in having 2 pizzas made incorrectly in a row. There were a great variety of breakfast items, ranging from healthy to not at all.

 

There was never really a time when it was hard to find food. The Lido Market was open 7am-1030am, then 1130-2 for lunch, 530-830pm for dinner and only a scant hour, 1030-1130pm for late night dining. The New York pizza station was open 1130-1130pm every day, and Dive In was open 1130-530pm. In room dining was 24 hours and 90% was free of charge. They now charge for burgers and have a few other items on the menu as well. I ordered a few times, enjoying the fruit plate and a sandwich with chips and some coffee.

 

The famous bread pudding is now kept out of reach, in the dessert station. At first, I thought it was gone, but later saw it sitting back there. The desserts are all very good, unfortunately. My first few sailings found the desserts to be a bit bland, which I loved, meaning I’d eat less of them. Not the case here!

 

I can save HAL a bit of money. Order fewer onions. They are everywhere! Egg salad? Check. Tuna salad? Check. Sandwiches? Check. The extra ingredient I got on my pizza? You guessed, it, they added onions!!!! For the life of me, I don’t understand why they don’t just point out that the sandwich area has onions. If you want it in your egg and tuna salad, you can easily add it. But for those of us with onion phobia, if you will, it cannot be removed. I so wanted a tuna sandwich on this voyage!

 

The breads are still made fresh daily. I could smell them on deck! You can tell in the texture and taste that they were made only a few hours prior. Fantastic food on this voyage, as usual.

 

My big gripe is the timing of the late night buffet. It’s only open for one hour and so close following the main seating, that it was always gone by the time I wanted to eat again, around midnight! Plus, with all the action going on down on deck 2 forward, you have to go all the way up to deck 8 aft to grab a bite.

 

I really wish they could bring a table of food out near the casino. Pre wrapped sandwiches with chips, a tray of hot snacks with serviettes and tooth picks, set up a water station or something. It would just be nice to have a snack option available at 1230am when you’re down partying on 2 forward.

 

With my wine package was included one dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. I would never have purchased the meal, otherwise. First of all, I had a very hard time getting a reservation. On Wednesday morning, I called to make one for Thursday night, being told it was booked. It was the same on Friday. Saturday, I had dinner plans with staff in the MDR. A few calls were made and I was now told I could be sat at a table for 2 at 530 or 8pm. I chose 530 because there was only one show at 930, and I didn’t want to miss it. When I arrived at 530, I was told I was on the standby list, they were booked, and no one had yet to cancel. I protested that had I known this, I would have made other plans. A few comments were made between the two at the host stand, and soon I was being sat at a 2-top near the window.

 

The last time I ate here, 4 years ago, I was enabled to order, or taste, 2 of the main dishes. I was told they now charge another fee for ordering more than one dish. I never saw this in writing on the menu, but maybe I wasn’t looking, going on past experience. The food was very good and the service quite nice. The dining room is elegant. I thought the food in the MDR was equally as good, however, especially considering that it had already been paid for. I really just have no desire to experience the specialty restaurants!

 

What really upset me as I left at 645pm, was counting 9 open tables, two of which were 2-tops, and they had remained open since my arrival at 530, when I had been told I was wait listed because they were booked! Something smells funny in Denmark!

 

Entertainment: 8 of 10

 

As a brand ambassador, I’m always asked what I like so much about HAL. I always include how much I love to sit and listen to classical music with a glass of wine before dinner. Was a time they started playing just before the early dining. They took a break, played a few songs in the dining room, then returned for another round before the second seating. Gone.

 

Now, there are scheduled shows in what is now called the Lincoln Center Stage. Some nights, the band was off, so there was nothing. I’m so disappointed in this change. I was unable to attend a single show of the group who performed. I heard wonderful things about them. I hope you can make a show!

 

The main stage still had a cast, and they performed 3 times for us. The first night was a little showcase teaser. The second show, called One World, was one of the best shows at sea that I’ve ever seen. The dancing was spot-on, the voices tremendous, the sets were dazzling, and the costuming amazing! Sure, the songs were mostly from what you might have heard in the 80s, such as from Enya, Toto and the like, but it was terrific! I was never impressed with what Stiletto Entertainment provided, the new company seems much better. Plus, HAL has invested over $3 million in the new lighted panels on the stage. Much improved!

 

After the show, one can enjoy the newly billed “Music Walk”, from the BB Kings All Stars, who really get booties shaking with great live music of the blues and rock genres. The Billboard Onboard bar has a piano duo (Michael and Megan on this cruise) who were amazing! Each night they hammered out hit after hit, inviting everyone to sing along. Lots of requests, so keep your favorites in mind!

 

One night was a brilliant show, Planet Earth in Concert- a combination of live music set against a backdrop of breathtaking footage from BBC Earth. Another night was comedian Derrick Cameron, and a third act brought on board was vocalist and comedy impressionist, Tricia Kelly, who in her second act had lost much of her voice, which was disappointing, as she was talented.

 

The HALCats are gone, but there is still a band on board, who seem to have a lot of time free. I wish they played live music for the sail aways, as there really was not a single sail away party in the entirety of the week. Sure, they were too loud playing by the Lido Pool at 1pm, but unplug their instruments or let them play in the Sea View area out back, where the sound won’t be as contained. There are so many musicians on board, and I just felt like they were being under utilized.

 

There is a lot of talk about entertainment changes coming to HAL. I did get confirmation that on the larger ships, there will no longer be a HAL cast putting on shows, but they will rely more and more on smaller acts. HAL hopes to add more to the Music Walk, but as I mentioned to Nick, our CD, I enjoy dinner and a show and don’t want to be expected to have to chase down my entertainment, even if it might help work off dinner!

 

The HAL VP of entertainment was boarding the ship the day we returned. How I wish I could have sailed with him. I would have loved to bend his ear.

 

Overall: 9 of 10

 

You’ve read that I had a few issues. All were minor and none impacted my vacation to a point that I would have taken notice, except that I am a travel expert and truly enjoy posting reviews. I loved the ship and staff. I loved that there were never more than 2 announcements in a given day.

 

There is a new app you can use on board, called Navigator. It was very handy, but needs improvement. On your personal device, you can see the When and Where guide, you can create your own agenda, which really helps one figure out what they decided they wanted to do earlier in the day without having to look at the entire paper guide. My issue with this method is that one must open the Wi-Fi on their device to access the Navigator. Then, you have to turn it back off, or your device will keep looking to connect and burn through it’s battery charge. I wish you could keep a copy of your agenda off line, and that you could also add your own agenda items, if you make plans that are not included in the guide.

 

I had a few customer service issues before my trip that I’m still in need of working out with corporate, and I have a feeling they won’t be decided in my favor. In one case, I was given bad info by one of their reps that cost me more money. The other issue is a timed issue that I wish they would give me a small compensation for having missed the window of opportunity, but since the reason I had to do so was related to home damage from Hurricane Harvey, I’d like to think that HAL would bend over backwards to accommodate my needs just a bit. I’m not asking for the face value of the original offer, I’d accept less to feel compensated. Again, these are issues that didn’t affect the quality of my vacation time. I am, however, concerned that I was hearing quite a few other passengers mention CS issues, as well. So it seems CS standards are being eroded, which is a shame. Sometimes, if you offer someone something that costs only $50, they’ll end up spending a few thousand more!

 

I’m anxious to see what happens with the entertainment on board HAL ships, as this could be one of the things that has me venture out to try other cruise lines. I’ve stated before, one of the biggest reasons I cruise is for dinner and a show. I do love the live music, but found it lacking on this cruise, especially missed the band that used to play every night in the Ocean Bar.

 

Many people were met and numbers exchanged. I had a relaxing time in the Spa. Singing along with Megan and Michael was a blast. I so appreciate that smoking is now banned everywhere inside, especially in the casino. The aft Sea View always smelled like an ash tray, so maybe one day we can give smokers a little room, as their numbers seem to be dwindling. I had a wonderful time and I’m happy I booked and sailed on another HAL vacation. As long as they don’t change too much from where they are now, things will be great. There are so many cruise lines out there, and a line for each person. I hope they realize that many of us stick with HAL for what we’ve found, not what we hope for.

 

 

*****

If you are interested in reading my more comedic version of my cruise, with photos, be sure to check out my blog:

 

http://penguinlust.blogspot.com/2018/10/nieuw-amsterdam-for-new-penguin.html

Check daily, there were 2 nights there was only 1 show in the main stage. All other info above is accurate to my sailing.

 

If you are interested in reading my more comedic version of my cruise, with photos, be sure to check out my blog:

 

http://penguinlust.blogspot.com/2018/10/nieuw-amsterdam-for-new-penguin.html

Just back from a 7 night voyage on the Holland America ms Nieuw Amsterdam from Ft. Lauderdale to Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, October 21-28, 2018. Commanded by Capt. Jeroen van Donselaar with Nick Reirsgard as our cruise director.

 

I tend to sail HAL most. I enjoy the more classic sailings with some degree of refinement, yet with a spectrum of live music and activities. I prefer smaller ship so I can get to know people. The state rooms on HAL are very generous and there are a lot of little touches that make a difference.

 

Prior to this sailing, it had been nearly 4 years since being on HAL, and I did note a few changes. Some not necessarily for the best, but in all, as you will read, it was a great vacation on a wonderful ship. I also have a fun cruise blog at http://penguinlust.blogspot.com/2018/10/nieuw-amsterdam-for-new-penguin.html

 

Checking in: 8 of 10

 

The port terminal in Ft. Lauderdale (terminal 26) is a nice terminal. I arrived from my hotel around 1045am. There was a small line to get through security, but it only took about 3 minutes to get to the screeners. I did have some liquids, and a bottle of wine, but no one made mention of it. I fully expected to be called out on the alcohol in my bag.

 

The line to check in was much slower than usual, however, when I got to the counter, it was very quick. Perhaps not everyone was checked in on line and ready to go. Next, to the waiting area, which was comfortable, but not remarkable. There was a time I recall there being cookies and water/lemonade, but there was no sign of this until going upstairs, where the suite guests can wait separately from us heathens. I would think suite guests would get better than just cookies and water/lemonade.

 

I don’t recall the exact time, but around noon, the announcements were made to go upstairs to board the ship. The group numbers were called fairly quickly. It’s easy to bypass the photographers if you don’t want to pose for a photo as you board. I always do.

 

On the ship, we were welcomed by staff and it was easy to find directions. State rooms were not ready yet, but the restaurants were all open. I went straight to deck 9 for a pizza. By the time I was done with lunch, the announcement had been made that state rooms were ready. My bag would be waiting for me within 3 hours. If you plan on changing or need anything from your checked bag, make sure you have it in your smaller carry on.

 

Staff: 10 of 10

 

I am not sure why I rate staff. Every ship has about the best. There are a few things of note, however, so I’ll start with that.

 

Cabin attendants are happy and cheerful. I always have a few minor requests, such as removing the down blanket and instead, using 2 sheets, removing all items from the mini bar/fridge, and making sure I had plenty of ice every afternoon and evening. They were happy to oblige and never failed. They even quickly learned that I do not like my trash can under the desk, and by day 3, I no longer had to move it out every day- they knew. I really appreciated that.

 

Day one, I left my cabin for breakfast and explored the ship while we were in Half Moon Cay. I didn’t plan on leaving the ship, so there was a lot to explore. I returned to my cabin around 1pm to find that it had not been made up! I didn’t see anyone in the hall. I called to inquire what was amiss. I was asked if I had placed the small card in the key slot. One side of the card is do not disturb. The other side is make up room. I learned fast that one must put this card in the door. Gone are the days when you’d see the attendants in the hallway, where they could see you come and go and know when to attack your room. Maybe it’s better on them, and once I understood this new system, it worked just fine for me.

 

I stopped by a wine table before we embarked to ask about a wine package I saw on line. It was not in the printed materials on the ship. A steward took my room and name info and told me he’d call with the information on the wine package. I never heard from him again.

 

Bar attendants are much less pushy than in the past. There were quite a few times I would enter a bar area and never was approached by anyone. I feel, for the most part, they know when someone wants something, so in a way, I’m very happy they no longer come right over to ask what you want from the bar. There were, however, a few times I did want something, it took a long time to get someone to come over. I would rather it be this way, than the old. So this was good.

 

Everyone I encountered was friendly and polite, even if they were not part of the team who normally interfaces with passengers. I never did see the cruise director or captain outside of their functions. Maybe I’m used to ocean crossings, where you tend to see them mingling with the passengers more, but outside of a show, I never saw them, and I never left the ship and stayed mainly in public spaces.

 

There were 2 times (in a row) where I ordered pizza and they got the order wrong. The first time, an extra ingredient was added. The next, one topping I wanted was not included. The 2^nd day I ordered a burger from The Dive In, it took over half an hour before I was notified. I think something happened to my order.

 

There were a few times I noticed things overlooked. In the thermal spa whirlpool, for 2 days sat a collection of bobby pins and hair bands someone left behind. For 3 days, the same spoon rested next to the whirlpool of the Sea View Pool. I finally called someone over and asked if they could remove it. Good thing I’m not reviewing the kindness of fellow passengers!

 

Other than these few incidents, the ship and pool areas were clean and tidy.

 

Ship: 10 of 10

 

What a great ship! There was never a time where I saw anything and thought to myself that this ship was in need of repairs or modernizing. There were no stains or worn fabric on chairs, scuff marks or major issues. Sure, there were a few leaks, one in the Ocean Bar, another in the lounge area of the spa, but those happen and were dealt with accordingly.

 

The decor was very stately in all public areas. I loved the rich reds in the main dining room. The Lido looked professional. They also did a very good job of keeping most public space windows clean, doing so in ports of call.

 

This is about as large a ship as I ever want to sail on. It never felt crowded or full, and I highly suspect that there were open cabins, based on the empty seats nightly in the MDR. She was easy to get around on, but also, it was easy to get turned around.

 

Cabin: 6 of 10

 

Here is where I found the greatest amount of unease on this ship. While a great size with lots of storage and drawers, and plenty of room for my large suitcase under the bed, there were several areas that needed attention.

 

The water knob in the sink was broken. It was functional, but not attractive. Next to the ice bucket, the counter top laminate was buckling and worn. There was a similar issue on my night stand. It was a bit awkward trying to navigate the hallway between the bathroom and the closets when the closet doors were open, such as when unpacking or getting dressed for dinner. The doors only open to 90 degrees.

 

The view was better than I expected, considering I booked an ocean view room with fully obstructed views. I could still the horizon and much of the sky. Lucky for me, one day was a life boat drill, so the life boat was lowered and I had a full view.

 

I was impressed with the fitness center. It was a large space with a great variety of machines (no butterfly machine for arm day) and a great view over the bow. So glad there were no annoying TVs in your face on the machines. You can watch TV on the machines at home. You’re at sea, you should be seeing the sea!

 

I paid for the thermal spa package, which includes steam rooms, relaxing loungers, use of the lockers, and the large whirlpool. I’ve had issues in the past using this package when having to share it with people who don’t know the meaning of a quiet room, or who think it’s OK to eat lunch with your glass (real glass) of wine next to the whirlpool. I do wish they would give other passengers a list of spa etiquette suggestions (rules, if you must), but on this voyage, that was not necessary.

 

No more art auctions. There is a gallery on board, and art can be purchased, however, on this sailing, they had culled much art inspired by the Caribbean. I came half expecting to buy a new Peter Max or find some other great inspired piece for my new dining room, but that didn’t happen.

 

The photographers were on board, and never pushy to take photos or ask for sales. In fact, I had an issue arise with my new camera, and they were quite willing to bend over backwards to assist me.

 

Food: 10 of 10

 

As always, HAL has outdone themselves in the food department. To this day, I still have yet to have a bad meal on HAL. The food is always fresh and for the most part, flavorful. There were a few times I had to salt up soup or spice up a dish to my liking, but that’s normal when feeding hundreds of guests with varying tastes.

 

I expected the normal halved lobster tales on steak and lobster night, and regretted ordering 4 tales. Fortunately, they only brought out 2 at a time! These were no halves, and while not huge, 2 was plenty. The steak was delicious. Every dinner had eyes rolling and conversations go quiet.

 

I only ate in the Lido buffet one day for lunch and 2 nights at the late buffet. It was always hot and tasty and surprisingly crisp. The Dive In burgers were very good and the pizza was delicious! My only issue, as stated above, was in having 2 pizzas made incorrectly in a row. There were a great variety of breakfast items, ranging from healthy to not at all.

 

There was never really a time when it was hard to find food. The Lido Market was open 7am-1030am, then 1130-2 for lunch, 530-830pm for dinner and only a scant hour, 1030-1130pm for late night dining. The New York pizza station was open 1130-1130pm every day, and Dive In was open 1130-530pm. In room dining was 24 hours and 90% was free of charge. They now charge for burgers and have a few other items on the menu as well. I ordered a few times, enjoying the fruit plate and a sandwich with chips and some coffee.

 

The famous bread pudding is now kept out of reach, in the dessert station. At first, I thought it was gone, but later saw it sitting back there. The desserts are all very good, unfortunately. My first few sailings found the desserts to be a bit bland, which I loved, meaning I’d eat less of them. Not the case here!

 

I can save HAL a bit of money. Order fewer onions. They are everywhere! Egg salad? Check. Tuna salad? Check. Sandwiches? Check. The extra ingredient I got on my pizza? You guessed, it, they added onions!!!! For the life of me, I don’t understand why they don’t just point out that the sandwich area has onions. If you want it in your egg and tuna salad, you can easily add it. But for those of us with onion phobia, if you will, it cannot be removed. I so wanted a tuna sandwich on this voyage!

 

The breads are still made fresh daily. I could smell them on deck! You can tell in the texture and taste that they were made only a few hours prior. Fantastic food on this voyage, as usual.

 

My big gripe is the timing of the late night buffet. It’s only open for one hour and so close following the main seating, that it was always gone by the time I wanted to eat again, around midnight! Plus, with all the action going on down on deck 2 forward, you have to go all the way up to deck 8 aft to grab a bite.

 

I really wish they could bring a table of food out near the casino. Pre wrapped sandwiches with chips, a tray of hot snacks with serviettes and tooth picks, set up a water station or something. It would just be nice to have a snack option available at 1230am when you’re down partying on 2 forward.

 

With my wine package was included one dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. I would never have purchased the meal, otherwise. First of all, I had a very hard time getting a reservation. On Wednesday morning, I called to make one for Thursday night, being told it was booked. It was the same on Friday. Saturday, I had dinner plans with staff in the MDR. A few calls were made and I was now told I could be sat at a table for 2 at 530 or 8pm. I chose 530 because there was only one show at 930, and I didn’t want to miss it. When I arrived at 530, I was told I was on the standby list, they were booked, and no one had yet to cancel. I protested that had I known this, I would have made other plans. A few comments were made between the two at the host stand, and soon I was being sat at a 2-top near the window.

 

The last time I ate here, 4 years ago, I was enabled to order, or taste, 2 of the main dishes. I was told they now charge another fee for ordering more than one dish. I never saw this in writing on the menu, but maybe I wasn’t looking, going on past experience. The food was very good and the service quite nice. The dining room is elegant. I thought the food in the MDR was equally as good, however, especially considering that it had already been paid for. I really just have no desire to experience the specialty restaurants!

 

What really upset me as I left at 645pm, was counting 9 open tables, two of which were 2-tops, and they had remained open since my arrival at 530, when I had been told I was wait listed because they were booked! Something smells funny in Denmark!

 

Entertainment: 8 of 10

 

As a brand ambassador, I’m always asked what I like so much about HAL. I always include how much I love to sit and listen to classical music with a glass of wine before dinner. Was a time they started playing just before the early dining. They took a break, played a few songs in the dining room, then returned for another round before the second seating. Gone.

 

Now, there are scheduled shows in what is now called the Lincoln Center Stage. Some nights, the band was off, so there was nothing. I’m so disappointed in this change. I was unable to attend a single show of the group who performed. I heard wonderful things about them. I hope you can make a show!

 

The main stage still had a cast, and they performed 3 times for us. The first night was a little showcase teaser. The second show, called One World, was one of the best shows at sea that I’ve ever seen. The dancing was spot-on, the voices tremendous, the sets were dazzling, and the costuming amazing! Sure, the songs were mostly from what you might have heard in the 80s, such as from Enya, Toto and the like, but it was terrific! I was never impressed with what Stiletto Entertainment provided, the new company seems much better. Plus, HAL has invested over $3 million in the new lighted panels on the stage. Much improved!

 

After the show, one can enjoy the newly billed “Music Walk”, from the BB Kings All Stars, who really get booties shaking with great live music of the blues and rock genres. The Billboard Onboard bar has a piano duo (Michael and Megan on this cruise) who were amazing! Each night they hammered out hit after hit, inviting everyone to sing along. Lots of requests, so keep your favorites in mind!

 

One night was a brilliant show, Planet Earth in Concert- a combination of live music set against a backdrop of breathtaking footage from BBC Earth. Another night was comedian Derrick Cameron, and a third act brought on board was vocalist and comedy impressionist, Tricia Kelly, who in her second act had lost much of her voice, which was disappointing, as she was talented.

 

The HALCats are gone, but there is still a band on board, who seem to have a lot of time free. I wish they played live music for the sail aways, as there really was not a single sail away party in the entirety of the week. Sure, they were too loud playing by the Lido Pool at 1pm, but unplug their instruments or let them play in the Sea View area out back, where the sound won’t be as contained. There are so many musicians on board, and I just felt like they were being under utilized.

 

There is a lot of talk about entertainment changes coming to HAL. I did get confirmation that on the larger ships, there will no longer be a HAL cast putting on shows, but they will rely more and more on smaller acts. HAL hopes to add more to the Music Walk, but as I mentioned to Nick, our CD, I enjoy dinner and a show and don’t want to be expected to have to chase down my entertainment, even if it might help work off dinner!

 

The HAL VP of entertainment was boarding the ship the day we returned. How I wish I could have sailed with him. I would have loved to bend his ear.

 

Overall: 9 of 10

 

You’ve read that I had a few issues. All were minor and none impacted my vacation to a point that I would have taken notice, except that I am a travel expert and truly enjoy posting reviews. I loved the ship and staff. I loved that there were never more than 2 announcements in a given day.

 

There is a new app you can use on board, called Navigator. It was very handy, but needs improvement. On your personal device, you can see the When and Where guide, you can create your own agenda, which really helps one figure out what they decided they wanted to do earlier in the day without having to look at the entire paper guide. My issue with this method is that one must open the Wi-Fi on their device to access the Navigator. Then, you have to turn it back off, or your device will keep looking to connect and burn through it’s battery charge. I wish you could keep a copy of your agenda off line, and that you could also add your own agenda items, if you make plans that are not included in the guide.

 

I had a few customer service issues before my trip that I’m still in need of working out with corporate, and I have a feeling they won’t be decided in my favor. In one case, I was given bad info by one of their reps that cost me more money. The other issue is a timed issue that I wish they would give me a small compensation for having missed the window of opportunity, but since the reason I had to do so was related to home damage from Hurricane Harvey, I’d like to think that HAL would bend over backwards to accommodate my needs just a bit. I’m not asking for the face value of the original offer, I’d accept less to feel compensated. Again, these are issues that didn’t affect the quality of my vacation time. I am, however, concerned that I was hearing quite a few other passengers mention CS issues, as well. So it seems CS standards are being eroded, which is a shame. Sometimes, if you offer someone something that costs only $50, they’ll end up spending a few thousand more!

 

I’m anxious to see what happens with the entertainment on board HAL ships, as this could be one of the things that has me venture out to try other cruise lines. I’ve stated before, one of the biggest reasons I cruise is for dinner and a show. I do love the live music, but found it lacking on this cruise, especially missed the band that used to play every night in the Ocean Bar.

 

Many people were met and numbers exchanged. I had a relaxing time in the Spa. Singing along with Megan and Michael was a blast. I so appreciate that smoking is now banned everywhere inside, especially in the casino. The aft Sea View always smelled like an ash tray, so maybe one day we can give smokers a little room, as their numbers seem to be dwindling. I had a wonderful time and I’m happy I booked and sailed on another HAL vacation. As long as they don’t change too much from where they are now, things will be great. There are so many cruise lines out there, and a line for each person. I hope they realize that many of us stick with HAL for what we’ve found, not what we hope for.

 

 

*****

If you are interested in reading my more comedic version of my cruise, with photos, be sure to check out my blog:

 

http://penguinlust.blogspot.com/2018/10/nieuw-amsterdam-for-new-penguin.html

Wine by the glass is my MO. Maybe I should branch out.

I always book on board at the start of each cruise. Have fun and cheers!

This is good to know. Thank you.

Thanx. I've been thinking of doing this on my next cruise.

It's always fun to share wine with my dinner guests. I've had many glasses thanks to others, now I like to pay it forward.

Sounds like a really nice vacay for you!

And what if I'm traveling with someone who is pregnant? Seems she wouldn't be required to buy one, but that makes sense.

One thing one can always count on when cruising is having to wait in a few lines.

Luckily, I've always had great shower/bath spaces. There have been times the toilet area was cramped.

I usually find the entertainers very talented, but dealing with lack luster scripts. I'd love to see more local entertainment and I always enjoy the comedians. I always critique entertainment, and will do so after my Oct 21 cruise.

Now I'm hungry! Thanks for posting.

I love the RTK story! Thanx for sharing that.

Wow, I thought my reviews were thorough. That Priesman review was awesome! Thank you for sharing!

Afternoon tea is always one of my favorite parts of my cruise. Please, never get rid of tea, HAL!

Wow, thanx for the great pix. I'm sailing on this ship for 7 days in the Caribbean. I can't wait.

As one who sails for the ships, not the stops, I love sea days, so ocean crossings are what I've come to love.

I've seen soy milk, but I only drink almond or cashew milk. So my cruises are usually a vacation from cereal. Fortunately, they make great eggs Benedict. Now THAT's vacation time! (Um, double the ham, please.)