Back from the Maasdam 1/27 cruise

[luvs2beachit]

Just returned from the Maasdam this past Sunday and thought I might share some of our experiences. I am sure there are some that may not agree with this review but as I said these are our experiences.

 

Embarkation was delayed because the ship return to Norfolk late. We were standing in line waiting to board watching the previous week cruisers disembark. At about 2pm we were finally permitted to board but not allowed to go to our staterooms for another hour or so. Not really a problem we just went to the buffet in the Lido. Our cabin was larger than similar cats on other ships and it was nicely layed out. Bathroom was large and had a tub. Never felt crowded or cramped. Plenty of closet and storage space. We thought that the ship was beautiful and charming. Had heard other comments about ship being worn and in disrepair but we didn't see anything worth noting.

Our first day out was a bit rocky but not a major problem. Popped a Bonine and enjoyed the day.

HMC was a disappointment. We had heard so many wonderful reports on the island and we were really looking forward to spending the day there. We were on a waitinglist for a cabana and had rented a clamshell in addition but we arrived late and tendering was slow so time on HMC was limited. I would have been very upset had we actually secured a cabana for $250 and only had a few hours to enjoy it. Persons with cabanas were the first off the ship but even with early tendering they still had less than 5 hrs on the island.

Our group had tender tickets for #s 19 and 28. 19 went to the island shortly after 1pm and those of us with #28 just gave up and stayed on the ship. Wasn't much point in going over there for only an hour or so. People that did go on #28 said that when they arrived there was no more food because the BBQ ended at 230.

 

St Thomas was also a late arrival. We have been there many times so we usually just make our own arrangements to go over to Trunk Bay, however, because of the limited time frame in port we decided to go with the HAL tour which is a lot more expensive but would ensure us getting back to the ship on time.

 

Antigua was wonderful. We had arranged for a private tour of the island and spent the day sightseeing and hanging out at a beautiful beach.

 

St Martins, my favorite port, was great. Spent the day shopping and just wandering around. Am always so surprised at how much the port has grown between each visit. But prices have also grown.........cigarettes that were $9 a carton last year were $14.95 this year. Still a bargain compared to NY prices.

 

PR was a waste. Only 4 1/2 hours in port, not really enough time to do anything. Would really prefer to stay over in St Martin instead. But only MHO.

 

Service on the Maasdam was outstanding! From cabin stewart to officers, we never met anyone who was not pleasant. The staff around the pool and Lido were always available but never pushy. We had one person in our group that only drank iced coffee and throughout the day they would just place a fresh coffee on the table for her without her ever asking.

 

The food in the Lido and diningroom was good, not great. The diningroom menu was a bit disappointing. As one person put it, there was never a night where you had a problem selecting a meal, it was simply a process of eliminating what you didn't want to eat. Many nights we just ordered the tried and true salmon or steak because nothing appealed to us on the menu.

It was strange to see offerings like meatloaf, pot roast, roast chicken and liver on a cruise. These foods were called "comfort foods". I must admit though, that I did taste the meatloaf and the pot roast and they were both very good. The pork chops I ordered one night were terrible. Overcooked, hard, tough and dried out. First time that I actually sent something back because of quality while on a cruise. The pasta dishes were terriffic, both in the diningroom and the Lido. The entertainment was good, especially the show that the crew put on. Really a lot of talent and enthusiasim. The casino was medium size, did see several people winning, I, of course was not one of them. The lounges offered low key music and the selections catered to an older crowd. By 11pm most nights the public areas on the ship were empty. Even the casino was not crowded and often shut down around 1am.

 

Now the worst.........the trip home was a horror!! The trek from PR to Norfolk was terrible. The ship was rocking and rolling. According to the weather conditions noted on the TV there were 50 mile ph wind gusts and wave heights were 18 to 27 ft!! There were warnings not to walk on outside decks, the pools were shutdown and tons of people complaining of being sick.

Water from the pools was splashing out onto the decks making walking dangerous. The crew kept trying to mop up but it was an act of futility. By the time we reached Norfolk there was only about a foot of water left in the pool. People were bouncing off walls and hanging on to the columns and rails trying to get from place to place. Glasses and dishes crashed several times and there were a few injuries from falls and bumping into things. A couple we met told us that when they were sitting up on deck 8 that the waves were hitting the windows!! According to staff these weather conditions were the norm. One crew member we spoke with told us she was transferring to another ship in two weeks because she couldn't deal with the conditions any longer. What was interesting to see though, was that most people were just taking it in stride and that there was more laughter and jokes than grumbling.

 

Finally we arrived in Norfolk. We were more than 5 hrs late and that caused a problem for lots of folks who had airplanes to catch. Heard several people making reservations for hotels because they couldn't reschedule until Monday. We were lucky, we were able to rebook and get on a 430 flight to NY.

 

All in all we enjoyed the cruise but I don't think we will be booking the Maasdam again any time soon. My husband is adement that he will not go on a small ship again. (he was sick for those two days). Am glad that our next cruise is a transatlantic on the Golden Princess and not a smaller ship or he might have wanted to cancel.

[TedC]

Very glad that you generally had a good cruise. Sorry about the rough seas, but it's no secret that section of the Atlantic can be very rough, especially during the winter.

 

And big waves also adversely affect even the largest ships. Mother Nature has yet to meet a ship she can't make uncomfortable.

 

Here's for smooth seas for you and all of us cruisers.

[HeatherInFlorida]

So glad overall you enjoyed your cruise. Of course, no fault can be given HAL for weather conditions. We had that every time we cruised to Bermuda out of NY. But it is the sea after all and we are at it's mercy. I think with high seas you bounce around quite a bit no matter the size of the ship. It's a big cruel ocean sometimes.

 

Agree with you about the food. I've never enjoyed HAL's food particularly, but I always seem to gain a bit of weight anyway;) . While personally I don't enjoy the "comfort foods" I think it's nice they have the choice for the people who do (like my DH).

 

We had a cabana on HMC and chose to only be there for 5 hours which for me, on a beach, is a long time. We loved it. But when the tenders have trouble getting there it can be a problem. I'm sorry to hear they've increased the price to $250. We only paid $219 and split with another couple, it was really a bargain.

[cru1s1ng]

Thanks for your comments about your trip. I'll be on the 3/31/05 sailing of the Maasdam. Lots of people have mentioned the rough seas.

 

Is it a matter of the ship being late or the schedule being wrong. It is 1231 Nautical miles from San Juan to Norfolk. The maximum speed of the Massdam is 22 knots. 1231 / 22 = 55.95 hours. The itinerary allows 67 hours return, assuming everything is on-time and the ship leaves PR 1:00pm. Glad I bookd a 6:00 PM flight back.

 

I'm surprised to hear about the comfort food. If I want mealoaf, etc, I can fix that at home. What is HAL thinking!?! I wonder if they read these boards. Hmmmm. :eek: Do the servers ask 'how was everything'? Do you answer truthfully or say it was fine?

 

HAL - are you listening?

[oceansdevine]

I've done No. Atlantic cruises during winter months and yes the seas can be tough but I've done some on larger ships that did extremely well. When I sailed the Maasdam of course it's not HAL's fault about the ocean but what were they thinking putting a ship that doesn't sail well to begin with doing this itinerary. She's always late because she can't sail more than 17 knots in this ocean and needs to sail maximum to make it to port. What are they thinking? My cruise was not just rocking and rolling - it was all of that and more, pitching so terribly that passengers could not walk safely. In addition the current captain was a captain of a container ship. How much experience does he have with human passengers. After "the big thud" I was sitting in glass, food and dishes completely covering me. No response or explanation from the captain means to me "No surprise folks, the ship sails like a pig". Stop blaming the weather. Not all ships are created equally. I did not get sick. I have sailed in rougher waters (30 to 50 ft seas) and didn't have to hold on to walls. I didn't have a good time because the ship was a ghost ship, people were held up in their rooms, bars were closed because staff was sick and crew members were scarce. What are they thinking?

[sail7seas]

In addition the current captain was a captain of a container ship. How much experience does he have with human passengers.[/Quote]

 

 

 

The current Captain of Maasdam has sailed with HAL for a long time. He was a Chief Officer for years and through merit earned his promotion to Captain. He most assuredly has been very involved with passengers for many years. We think him FABULOUS.

 

 

From having read many of the biographies that are printed in the daily programs, a great many of the cruiseship Captains did some work on container/shipping vessels early in their careers.

[oceansdevine]

Yes, agreed tremendous personality this Captain had and was very visible on board and concerned about seasickness on board ship. However, forgot the passengers were horrified over "the Big Thud". Not forgivable when people are hurt and upset.

[sail7seas]

Yes, agreed tremendous personality this Captain had and was very visible on board and concerned about seasickness on board ship. However, forgot the passengers were horrified over "the Big Thud". Not forgivable when people are hurt and upset.

 

You have absolutely no way of knowing how concerned the Captain was for seasick passengers. Did you expect him to telephone every cabin and inquire if anyone wanted bonine? He well could have spoken with the Infirmary, the Hotel Manager, the Guest Relations Manager.....who knows how many conversations. And exactly what would you have him do if there were many seasick? Calm the seas? I am very sure if he could, he would have.

 

Do you honestly expect the Captain to walk around the ship at 8:30-9:00 P.M. and personally look to see if pax are frightened? He has a well trained crew.

 

Just speaking for myself, but I'd much rather have the Captain on the bridge seeing to navigation and safety than strolling the decks muttering greetings.

 

He has a Hotel Manager, Security Officer and Staff, a Guest Relations Manager, a Front Desk Supervisor, a Doctor and Nurses, Bar Managers, Food and Beverage Manager etc ad nauseum.......you get the point. All of those persons and the entire crew most assuredly were available to assist anyone requiring any sort of help. We all know that no one who needed help did not/could not receive it.

 

The first and foremost job of the Captain is to keep us safe. He did that. He brought that ship safely home to Norfolk with 'no dents or dings'.

 

I guess we look at what we expect from Captains in different ways. I want the Captain of any ship I am on to keep us safe. To bring us from here to there and do his utmost to protect life and ship.

 

Thank you, Captain. Well done IMO

[HeatherInFlorida]

I have sailed in rougher waters (30 to 50 ft seas) and didn't have to hold on to walls.

 

Well, I'm impressed! 50 ft seas and you didn't have to hold on to walls? I was in 20 ft seas and holding onto the railings and that was on the Oosterdam!

But I have to say I continue to be amazed that people expect TLC during these kinds of seas and weather. Concern, yes, but no one is going to hold our hands. They have much more important things to be taking care of. I still believe that when we are going out into the Atlantic we should be aware that it can be very, very rough and very, very unpleasant. If you're concerned about this, then don't sail in those waters.

[cru1s1ng]

I'm looking forward to a little rocking and rolling. It will remind me I'm on a ship :D . I was on a carnival one night and it was so rough the waiters were literally falling down. Elevators were closed, people puking. :eek: It was a hoot.

 

Could the captain, or more likely someone else, have made an announcement that 'all is well'? Perhaps that would have been in order.

 

Did any of the curious go to the front desk and ask? I would have.

[sail7seas]

I guess I am a 'glass is half full' type.

 

 

I would assume that unless we had been advised that 'all was NOT well'; unless they told us about a problem, then it would be reasonable to assume we were safe.

[rocks]

He could have made mention of what the big bang was during his next daily report from the bridge...I'm sure there were a lot of people who would have liked to known what it was....I know I would have. Of course we would expect to hear if there was a problem! But it wouldn't have been asking too much for him to include it in his next report..even if it was just a big wave.

rocks

[gooselace]

I've done No. Atlantic cruises during winter months and yes the seas can be tough but I've done some on larger ships that did extremely well. When I sailed the Maasdam of course it's not HAL's fault about the ocean but what were they thinking putting a ship that doesn't sail well to begin with doing this itinerary.

 

I was just comparing September cruises to Atlantic coast (Nova Scotia etc.) on either the Maasdam or Golden Princess. The only cruise I've been on recently was on the Westerdam, and I understand that the Maasdam is a rather different experience, which some HAL-ers prefer. The last time on Princess was 20+ years ago, and I've heard the line has declined. Even so I was surprised that for the same length cruise and similar cabins (large outside, ocean view) the Golden Princess was $1,000 less, with a balcony. Balcony cabins apparently all sold out on Mdam. Is the GP really THAT bad, or is there some other explanation?

 

Would appreciate any comments. What kind of weather to expect. Any port excursions to avoid or recommend?

[jimmy2x]

Have not yet been on Princess but their Grand class ships have far more balconies than the older HAL ships. It should be noted that a good portion of those balconies are quite small.

[oceansdevine]

Are you a Captain, Sail. How personally you are taking this. Yes, the Captain was actually roaming the ship (and not on the bridge) asking people if they were sick. And yes many people were at the Pursar asking about what happened. No answers. Yes too they were taking "appointments" to see the Hotel Manager and the Pursar. The atrium area was crowded. The ship did need assistance to dock in Norfolk. Side thrusters were not used or possibly damaged. I am not attacking Captains in general, this was my 26th cruise and not totally unpleasant but that night was scary. I don't get sick in high seas and consider myself thus far lucky. Each day when the Captain reported position and information over the speakers to his passengers he always mentioned that the stabilizers were in operation. Thank you Sir. So what happened to his voice on that scary evening or even the next day. Yes, I do feel that he was busy. I am not an expert but from the listing of the ship and the assistance needed to port, something mechanical probably happened. I didn't expect to know that but someone, anyone, could ease the passengers and that was not done by anyone, including cruise director, hotel manager or pursar.

[Linda&Vern]

Are you a Captain, Sail. How personally you are taking this. Yes, the Captain was actually roaming the ship (and not on the bridge) asking people if they were sick. And yes many people were at the Pursar asking about what happened. No answers. Yes too they were taking "appointments" to see the Hotel Manager and the Pursar. The atrium area was crowded. The ship did need assistance to dock in Norfolk. Side thrusters were not used or possibly damaged. I am not attacking Captains in general, this was my 26th cruise and not totally unpleasant but that night was scary. I don't get sick in high seas and consider myself thus far lucky. Each day when the Captain reported position and information over the speakers to his passengers he always mentioned that the stabilizers were in operation. Thank you Sir. So what happened to his voice on that scary evening or even the next day. Yes, I do feel that he was busy. I am not an expert but from the listing of the ship and the assistance needed to port, something mechanical probably happened. I didn't expect to know that but someone, anyone, could ease the passengers and that was not done by anyone, including cruise director, hotel manager or pursar.

DH wants to know what kind of assistance was needed (besides the usual tug required for docking at the pier) . . .

[ekerr19]

Are you a Captain, Sail.

 

I'm sure you know she isn't (at least not that I am aware...) however, being that she has sailed more times than many of the other people I've come across on these boards - I, for one - value her opinion.

 

I think the posters on this thread are merely trying to ascertain exactly what occurred from an objective viewpoint. I can honestly say that out of all the HAL cruises I've been on, I have never seen the Captain wandering around asking folks if they are sick or not. I have also been on this cruise out of Norfolk. I am not saying your experience (as relayed to us here) is not valid, we are simply seeking additonal information. No reason to get "cheeky" with Sail, imo.