Veendam---have you been on it within the last 6 months???? Cuba cruise...............

[HotBranch]

I am 5 days removed from the end of 2 glorious weeks on the Veendam (8/4-8/18 from Boston) and missing it terribly. My wife and I were celebrating our 20th anniversary a little early; it was our first cruise and it was an amazing experience.

 

About the ship:

DINING

Was mostly very good; we had one specialty dining at Canaletto that was nice, but was a little confusing for how to order (2 entrees to share, 2 mains to share, one pasta to share, and 2 desserts). The Lido buffet was a decent choice for a quick breakfast or lunch--I really enjoyed the dedicated salad station. The Dive In was passable, but not worth a second visit. I found the taco bar to be very disappointing, but the Pizza was a pleasant surprise. The main dining room was our go-to on sea days for a leisurely breakfast; we had lunch a few times there as well. Supper was always very good, and the portions were just right; any larger and I would have gained a ton of weight. We did order room service on one night and the menu was limited, but still good--the only hiccup was picking up our tray when we were done (it took 2 calls to have someone come by).

DRINKS

We were regulars for Crow's Nest Happy Hour at 4:00 and/or 9:00, and discovered halfway through the trip that the Mix bar had daily martini samplings at 6:00 pm ($4 each), where bartender Michael was informative and entertaining. The Mix also featured Tom on the piano at 9:00 pm, and he was a great Irish entertainer.

ENTERTAINMENT

We saw a few shows in the showroom, including the comedians (the first one was so-so, the second was much funnier), as well as a mentalism act. We also attended a "History of Stand Up Comedy" presentation that was educational and entertaining. I walked through the casino but never participated. Same with the library and board games. As we wanted to disconnect and relax, we spent a good portion of our time reading and napping.

ACTIVITIES

The pool was refreshing and seemed like it was salt water with some desalination, but I didn't look into that. The hot tubs by the pool were a nice way to relax tight muscles. We didn't use the hot tubs at the Retreat, in fact, we only used the retreat a few times, ad we noticed we'd usually leave there with soot on us from the ship's stacks. The basketball and pickle-ball courts were infrequently used, so there was rarely any wait to use them. Decks 6 (Lanai cabins) and 12 have walking tracks where you can log a mile (4 laps on 6, no running, and 13 laps on 12, used by joggers). I noticed during my laps on 6 that there were many people on deck chairs (reserved for the rooms and general use), but it was never lacking in seating--a good option for fresh air without being in direct sunlight. My wife used the spa for some massages, and I used the services of the personal trainer in the gym. Daily trivia challenges were fun as well. Did not partake in any of the movies in the Wajang theatre, but we did rent a few DVDs for use in our room.

STAFF

Always friendly and smiling. Our room stewards (Diding and Yamin) were amazing, and the dining room staff were always cheerful and accommodating. Bar staff were quick to learn our names and preferred drinks. Some HAL regulars were commenting that they noticed staff had been reduced--we didn't notice any impact on our service. The dining room Maitre'Ds were always friendly and always managed to get us a table in under 5 minutes (shared, solo, and with specific other passengers).

 

About the trip:

KEY WEST

Docked, so easy to disembark and meet our tour group (bike tour). It was hot and humid, but the excursion was fun and we were able to wander about easily to get lunch before returning to the ship.

HAVANA

Did the "Best of Havana" EXC tour and it was amazing. It was a war of attrition, though, as the heat had some people ask to return to the ship before we were done. Our tour guide (Israel) told us that usually, it begins with walking in Old Havana before getting on the bus for the rest, but our tour reversed that script, going bus first and ending with walking. The tour was supposed to last between 6 and 8 hours, and it was almost 10 hours from the time we disembarked to the time we returned to the ship. After showering and eating supper on board, we returned to the streets of Havana for some solo exploration before calling it a night and falling asleep almost as soon as our heads hit the pillows. We got colored, numbered stickers for our tour, waited for our color/number to be called to proceed to immigration control and currency exchange. Efficient and well organized with no delays.

CIENFUEGOS

Purchased the "Cuban dancing" EXC tour and were sorely disappointed. It was disorganized and did not meet our expectations. There was more "sitting around listening to music" than actual dancing, then a rushed tour of Teatro Terry and Jose Marti park, before having to walk 4 blocks of street vendors to meet the bus. Transport to Cienfuegos was done by tenders and there was a repeat of color/number stickers to keep things organized. I won't go into details on the excursion problems (HAL is getting an earful for that), but everything felt rushed and prevented us from enjoying the very different architecture and "vibe" from Havana.

GEORGETOWN

It was Sunday and most everything was closed, so if you didn't organize an EXC tour, it was hard to find any 3rd party activity. Jewelry shops were open, expensive, and pushy. Tenders were organized by number, and you could only claim a number if your entire party was ready to go. Once you got your number, it was "hurry up and wait". We waited 45 minutes to an hour before our number was called. Not the greatest experience overall, but we still had a nice, long walk through Georgetown.

OCHO RIOS

We hired a local company (Yardie Tours) for a trip to Dunn River Falls and it was fantastic. The ship was docked, so disembarkation was quick and easy. Our driver took us to the falls, gave us the lowdown on what would happen and how to avoid being pressured into buying souvenirs. He then took us shopping and even took us to his favorite "jerk shack" where we had a fantastic lunch.

HALF MOON CAY

Tenders were quick and efficient; the water is indescribably beautiful, and the sand is unlike any I've ever experienced. The only negative thing at Half Moon Cay was the "island BBQ" where food was inconsistent. But it was very relaxing and a great ocean swim.

 

Overall impressions:

For a first cruise, this was almost perfect. Other than the Cienfuegos tour and Georgetown tender issues, this was everything we had imagined and more. In our early 50s, my wife and I were on the younger side of the typical HAL passengers, but there were a number of families with kids and some younger cruisers as well. It was fascinating getting to meet so many different people and learn more about cruising in general and HAL/Veendam in particular.

 

If I had to fault HAL for anything it would be the confusing, sometimes contradictory, information about Cuba, visas, and tour "requirements". Our affidavit was handed in during check in, with no indication that anyone would even be looking at it. Clearing immigration in Havana was quick and easy, though we heard conflicting stories of people who said they didn't purchase the tourist visa and/or explored on their own. I understand that HAL's rules are based on the US government's regulations, but the reality is that Cuban officials welcome the tourists and don't care much about the hoops passengers are made to jump through. It was doubly frustrating for us, being Canadian, where we had to follow rules that we're pretty sure could never be enforced. When it comes to currency in Cuba, I had Canadian dollars that I exchanged to CUCs, but many vendors were accepting US dollars. Some of the larger shops (that sold cigars and rum) also accepted credit cards, but only from Canada and Europe, so there is some flexibility there. Cuba felt very safe, even at night.

 

That said, I'd do this cruise again in a heartbeat (though maybe not in August). It was a fantastic experience and has only fed my desire to travel more. I now see that this has gone from a "quick recap" to an abridged version of War and Peace, so I apologize for that.

[jertom]

HotBranch,

Great review !

[summerclouds]

I would second HotBranch's caution about August in Cuba. We were there in August last summer. We live in a very hot area, temps in high 90s much of the summer, so we thought we were prepared for August in Cuba. That was heat like we've never experienced. Cuba is a wonderful place to visit and we hope to go back again, but will definitely pick a cooler month.

[ChinaShrek]

CIENFUEGOS

Purchased the "Cuban dancing" EXC tour and were sorely disappointed. It was disorganized and did not meet our expectations. There was more "sitting around listening to music" than actual dancing, then a rushed tour of Teatro Terry and Jose Marti park, before having to walk 4 blocks of street vendors to meet the bus. Transport to Cienfuegos was done by tenders and there was a repeat of color/number stickers to keep things organized. I won't go into details on the excursion problems (HAL is getting an earful for that), but everything felt rushed and prevented us from enjoying the very different architecture and "vibe" from Havana.

 

I enjoyed reading your review. Can you talk a little bit more about the tender situation in Cienfuegos? I will be on the Veendam in December and was thinking of booking a private tour in Cienfuegos. The ship is supposed to arrive at 8:00am, what time would be able to get to shore?

[HotBranch]

I enjoyed reading your review. Can you talk a little bit more about the tender situation in Cienfuegos? I will be on the Veendam in December and was thinking of booking a private tour in Cienfuegos. The ship is supposed to arrive at 8:00am, what time would be able to get to shore?

 

I can't speak for EXC excursions in Georgetown or Ocho Rios, but for Havana and Cienfuegos, anyone who booked an EXC excursion had to present themselves to the Showroom (starboard side) to show their ticket(s) and receive a colored sticker with a number, which corresponded to your tour group. People were asked to exit port side, but there were inevitable traffic jams and "line cutters" entering from the wrong side who slowed the process. Please people, listen carefully to the instructions and follow them.

 

For Havana (docked), after you got your sticker you made sure you had your required documents (room key, passport, tourist visa) and walked off the ship to pass immigration and exchange money before meeting your tour.

 

For Cienfuegos, after receiving your sticker, you waited in the Showroom for your color and number to be called before proceeding to the tender dock (Deck B, level 3). Our tour meet time was 10:00 am, and we waited probably 20 minutes for our color/number to be called. The tender to get to Cienfuegos had two decks and could accommodate a large number of people (2 or 3 buses worth). The ride was just under 15 minutes from the ship to the dock. When we got off, we went through immigration again, where our tourist visa was exchanged for a stamped card that we had to return after the tour. There was another currency exchange if you needed it, then you walked onto the bus for your tour.

 

A few considerations about Cienfuegos:

• Because the waters near Cienfuegos are tricky to navigate, the ship can only arrive and leave during daylight hours with the assistance of the pilot boat
  
• Strong winds can scuttle any attempt to arrive in Cienfuegos
  
• I believe that EXC tours get first priority for the tenders
  
• Any self-directed or 3rd party tours should assume you will be among the last off the ship, but you can always ask for expedited tender access (don't ask, don't get)
  
• There are some souvenir stands near the ship if you miss your opportunity in town--they're not the greatest, but they've got some nice stuff
  
• Jose Marti park is a 15-20 minute walk (at a moderate pace) from the tender dock (you'd walk down Santa Isabel street and take a right on La Mar)
  
• After you return the stamped card, you commit to getting back on the ship; if you take an EXC tour and want to explore Cienfuegos more, don't go through immigration until you are ready to re-embark.
  
• The currency exchange is available to exchange your remaining CUCs to USD--I got $38.10 for 39 CUC, a surprisingly good exchange rate.
  

I believe that some of the longer tours in Cienfuegos (like visiting Trinidad, which is ~90 minute drive away), were among the first tenders to leave the ship. If you book a private tour, you'll need to communicate with HAL to ensure you can get on some of the first tenders and communicate your anticipated arrival time at the dock with the tour operator.

 

I would also strongly advise to see if the tour operator offers refunds if the ship is unable to get into Cienfuegos, and what communication is possible if that port is cancelled. I purchased a world SIM card for my phone that got good reception in Cuba, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica (zero reception in Half Moon Cay).

 

That's all I can think of for now; if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer.

Edited August 24, 2018 by HotBranch

[ChinaShrek]

I can't speak for EXC excursions in Georgetown or Ocho Rios, but for Havana and Cienfuegos, anyone who booked an EXC excursion had to present themselves to the Showroom (starboard side) to show their ticket(s) and receive a colored sticker with a number, which corresponded to your tour group. People were asked to exit port side, but there were inevitable traffic jams and "line cutters" entering from the wrong side who slowed the process. Please people, listen carefully to the instructions and follow them.

 

For Havana (docked), after you got your sticker you made sure you had your required documents (room key, passport, tourist visa) and walked off the ship to pass immigration and exchange money before meeting your tour.

 

For Cienfuegos, after receiving your sticker, you waited in the Showroom for your color and number to be called before proceeding to the tender dock (Deck B, level 3). Our tour meet time was 10:00 am, and we waited probably 20 minutes for our color/number to be called. The tender to get to Cienfuegos had two decks and could accommodate a large number of people (2 or 3 buses worth). The ride was just under 15 minutes from the ship to the dock. When we got off, we went through immigration again, where our tourist visa was exchanged for a stamped card that we had to return after the tour. There was another currency exchange if you needed it, then you walked onto the bus for your tour.

 

A few considerations about Cienfuegos:

• Because the waters near Cienfuegos are tricky to navigate, the ship can only arrive and leave during daylight hours with the assistance of the pilot boat
  
• Strong winds can scuttle any attempt to arrive in Cienfuegos
  
• I believe that EXC tours get first priority for the tenders
  
• Any self-directed or 3rd party tours should assume you will be among the last off the ship, but you can always ask for expedited tender access (don't ask, don't get)
  
• There are some souvenir stands near the ship if you miss your opportunity in town--they're not the greatest, but they've got some nice stuff
  
• Jose Marti park is a 15-20 minute walk (at a moderate pace) from the tender dock (you'd walk down Santa Isabel street and take a right on La Mar)
  
• After you return the stamped card, you commit to getting back on the ship; if you take an EXC tour and want to explore Cienfuegos more, don't go through immigration until you are ready to re-embark.
  
• The currency exchange is available to exchange your remaining CUCs to USD--I got $38.10 for 39 CUC, a surprisingly good exchange rate.
  

I believe that some of the longer tours in Cienfuegos (like visiting Trinidad, which is ~90 minute drive away), were among the first tenders to leave the ship. If you book a private tour, you'll need to communicate with HAL to ensure you can get on some of the first tenders and communicate your anticipated arrival time at the dock with the tour operator.

 

I would also strongly advise to see if the tour operator offers refunds if the ship is unable to get into Cienfuegos, and what communication is possible if that port is cancelled. I purchased a world SIM card for my phone that got good reception in Cuba, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica (zero reception in Half Moon Cay).

 

That's all I can think of for now; if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer.

 

Thank you HotBranch. This is valuable information that everyone going to Cienfuegos should read. I am now going to contact the tour operator to see if they will give a refund if the ship does not make it into port. If they will not promise a refund, I will book a HAL tour.

[HotBranch]

Thank you HotBranch. This is valuable information that everyone going to Cienfuegos should read. I am now going to contact the tour operator to see if they will give a refund if the ship does not make it into port. If they will not promise a refund, I will book a HAL tour.

 

Thank you. The issue with entering Cienfuegos is fairly obvious if you look at the narrow passage into the bay on any map. The tender boats arrive opposite the ferry terminal, where Calle 19 and La Mar intersect. If you look it up, that should give you a good idea of where the dock is in relation to most things in Cienfuegos. Passeo El Prado is the main boulevard, but a large section of it was closed for a carnival, so we ended up doing a long detour to get to the Cienfuegos Beach Club.

 

I am certain that HAL will get a LOT of feedback about several of their tours in Cienfuegos and should take appropriate measures to correct the problems, but one tour I did hear positive things about was the "Coffee, rum, and cigars" tour. Even the most skeptical of people who participated were pleasantly surprised by that tour.

[bluegiraffe]

Very helpful information, Hot Branch. Thanks for posting.