Very late Noordam review

[PathfinderEss]

Melodie, we had the same problem with Corrine. We asked for a printout after another couple in the Neptune Lounge said they were being charged for their drinks on the Explore 4 card. Corrine looked at our account and said nothing was showing. I didn't believe her as she told the same thing to the other couple. Glenn ALSO said no beverage charges were on our account. I went down to the Front Desk, asked for a copy and all the beverage charges were listed, without a credit.

 

I then went back up to the Neptune Lounge and confronted both of them, and neither one apologized for not telling the truth. There were many others in the Neptune Lounge who also complained about the service they were receiving.

 

It seems everyone was being charged for their beverages who had the Explore 4 and was corrected in two days when no charges appeared on the accounts. They could have been more truthful and told all of us there was a problem and it was being fixed.

 

I guess if you didn't have any problems, the Neptune staff was ok. :rolleyes:

Isn't that truth if you didn't have any issues, the staff was just fine.

 

 

Melodie,

 

So sorry to hear about your less than fantastic cruise and coming home with pneumonia. Glad that you are getting better and planning another cruise.

 

Kathi

 

Thanks Scapnana, I could not think aboiut never cruising again. As I got to feeling better I got the itch to book a cruise.:D

[canadianbear]

So glad to see you posting again Melodie! Missed you and sorry to hear how ill you were. My husband and I really enjoyed our visit with you both in the Neptune lounge. :)

 

 

We had Glenn and Cathy as our concierge from Ft Lauderdale to San Diego. Cathy was amazing! It was really sad when she got off in San Diego because I did not like Corrine at all either and avoided her if I needed something. The atmosphere, in my opinion, really changed when she took over for Cathy. Did not seem to have the personality I am used to.

 

Keep getting healthy!

[Sundagger]

We thought the concierges were excellent. Glenn was as friendly and efficient as any we have encountered on any ship. Corrine seemed a bit aloof at first, but once we got to know each other she warmed up.

<SNIP>

 

We agree about the concierges - very responsive to our numerous daily requests and very pleasant to talk to. Corrine made our dining table reservations for the exact table we requested for each dinner that wasn't in the Pinnacle or Canaletto. Being Swiss, she may have seemed a bit more aloof than the usual concierges.:)

 

I just checked my statement - we had the Explore 4 package also. Every bar debit shows an equal credit, except for when our glasses of wine were for more than $7. I received two statements upon request during the cruise, and the final one on the last night. Every one was correct.

[PathfinderEss]

So glad to see you posting again Melodie! Missed you and sorry to hear how ill you were. My husband and I really enjoyed our visit with you both in the Neptune lounge. :)

 

 

We had Glenn and Cathy as our concierge from Ft Lauderdale to San Diego. Cathy was amazing! It was really sad when she got off in San Diego because I did not like Corrine at all either and avoided her if I needed something. The atmosphere, in my opinion, really changed when she took over for Cathy. Did not seem to have the personality I am used to.

 

Keep getting healthy!

 

Thanks for the good wishes.

 

We agree about the concierges - very responsive to our numerous daily requests and very pleasant to talk to. Corrine made our dining table reservations for the exact table we requested for each dinner that wasn't in the Pinnacle or Canaletto. Being Swiss, she may have seemed a bit more aloof than the usual concierges.:)

 

I just checked my statement - we had the Explore 4 package also. Every bar debit shows an equal credit, except for when our glasses of wine were for more than $7. I received two statements upon request during the cruise, and the final one on the last night. Every one was correct.

 

I think this just shows different passengers can have different experiences, and why you can have varying opinions about the same cruise.

[IRL_Joanie]

Thanks for the good wishes.

 

 

 

I think this just shows different passengers can have different experiences, and why you can have varying opinions about the same cruise.

 

Exactly!! Roger says he liked Corrine and it gave him a chance to practice his German with her after discovering she is from Germany, and never had any problems with either her or Glenn. Me, I felt that they were both rather cold and not as helpful or caring as they should have been.

 

Corinne seemed quite put out on our 2nd turn around day in Vancouver that she had to escort all the Neptune and Pinnacle Suite guests through the process of getting off and right back onto the ship. Considering the total fiasco of the previous turn around day (San Diego to Vancouver) and the mess it created......As only one example (for those not with us) CC member Dobiemom was "Escorted" off the ship in her bathing suit!! I believe the Captain's wife may have had some problem at the same time because she, her 2 children and the Captain were with us doing the 2nd turn around day, though they did not have to wait to reboard.

 

Such is life, we have some really great ones and once in a while we get one that is not as stellar. I think that having Corinne makes me appreciate the really great ones that we have had in the past:)

 

Joanie

Edited August 7, 2015 by IRL_Joanie

[PathfinderEss]

I think there was such a screw up on the first turn around with some passenger not understanding what they were supposed to do, that the Captain wanted to come down and see for himself what we were going thru. I believe we were the only ones to get it right but we've done this many times before. As you know, when doing btb cruises they seem to do it a little different every time.

[qsuzi]

The Noordam looked very nice with all the new soft goods installed while in dry dock this last spring. Had new carpet in our cabin, but still there was some tired looking furniture. Food was great in the Pinnacle, though I was a little disappointed in the new menu for Le Cirque only because of the pea soup, not one of my favorites:(, DH loved it, but the rest was very good. We had excellent service in the Pinnacle and around the ship the bar service was also outstanding. I think anyone sailing on the Noordam will enjoy their cruise. This was our first time on the Noordam and I will say it was not my favorite of the Vista class, still love the Westerdam and Oosterdam the best, follow by the Zuiderdam and now the Noordam.

 

We probably had the best weather we have ever encountered in Alaska, 14 days of pure sunshine and warm weather. Lots of familiar faces on board, Joanie, Crew News, Legalslave, Marcia, etc. Always fun catching up with cruise buddies. Joanie and Roger treated us one night in the Pinnacle with Chocolate Balls and Chocolate Purses.

 

Some of our disappointment with the Noordam was not the ship its self but how it was run. As some of you will understand, we like to get to know the Captain, (Jeroen Van Donselaar) Hotel Director (Craig Oakes) and other staff members. None were visible for the entire 18 days we were on board. The only time we saw the Captain was once when he was pushing one of his very young child thru the Lido in one of those small toy car like things. We also had some lack luster Concierge's that seemed oblivious to everything going around them. Giving us notice about the suite welcome party (held in the Crows Nest) after it was over and a lot of other stuff that made this cruise not up to the Hal standards we have learned to expect.

 

As a side note, I've been missing from the boards for several months because I came off the Noordam with pneumonia. Have been in and out of the hospital several times and a skilled nursing facility, but hopefully I'm home now and on the mend, if I could only convince my legs of that now. Oh and just for your information I had the two pneumonia shots your supposed to have, guess they weren't the right ones.

Just seeing this for the first time! Thanks for posting the review and a VERY WELCOME BACK to posting and the HAL Forum.

[PathfinderEss]

Just seeing this for the first time! Thanks for posting the review and a VERY WELCOME BACK to posting and the HAL Forum.

Thanks qsuzi, it is good to be back, taking it kind of slow and easy yet, trying to get back on my feet, literally. I've only been out of the hospital for a couple of weeks for the 3rd time and now I have a cold. Sometimes life seems to be against us but I'm getting better and looking forward to cruising.