Live! The Grouch on the Noordam for 38 days to New Zealand, Sept. 30, 2018

[whogo]

Looking back, it was a great cruise, we visited islands we would never reach any other way. Fellow passengers were nice, the Noordam was up to snuff. Holland America is still Holland America. I found that I can do without a library, there is limited seating, the canned music is distracting, and my Kindle worked beautifully. The best place to read was the promenade deck when the weather was warm enough. Don't care one way or the other, but I never heard anything about Oprah. I could do without the showroom performances, most of them are mediocre at best, I'd rather read. Would any of you tune in those performances at home on TV? Of course not, why watch them on a cruise?

 

The not so good:

1. Holland America's Vailele Village & Museum of Samoa excursion.

2. Announcements by the cruise director.

3. The EXC name for excursions. The name is awkward and no help.

4. Tai chi is no longer offered.

5. Calling sales pitches seminars.

6. The long flight home.

7. The ridiculously long HAL guest satisfaction survey.

8. Loud music in the showroom and BB King's. Are the sound technicians hard of hearing?

9. Chair hogs.

 

A few improvements over some HAL cruises.

1. Park West is long gone. Art sales have calmed down.

2. USB chargers are a helpful addition, had never had them in our cabin before.

3. Never enjoyed the piano bar so much. Your mileage may vary.

4. BB King's. Good music attracted lots of dancers. It is just too loud.

 

Favorite moments:

1. Crossing the international date line. There's is just something about it.

2. Crossing the equator by ship. There is just something about it.

3. Hearing and saying 'Bula' in Fiji.

4. Seeing the little cane train in Fiji.

5. The orchids and all at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant in Fiji.

6. Our Samoa walk in the woods.

7. The happy dogs of New Caledonia.

8. The circular huts with conical towers in New Caledonia.

9. The Sydney sail in.

10. The Sydney Zoo.

11. The Great Ocean Road tour.

12. Having my hair cut by Glen. The man is a pro, an artist.

13. Milford Sound scenic cruising.

14. Our independent Taieri Gorge Train excursion.

15. Tree ferns. Walks in the New Zealand woods. Seeing penguin chicks.

16. The “Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War” exhibit.

17. Wellington cable car ride.

18. Wellington Botanic Garden.

19. Hobbiton.

20. The touching Mariner four star pin award ceremony. The pins were in our mailbox on disembarkation day. Sniff.

[erewhon]

Have really enjoyed reading all your reports, thank you.

You were lucky to receive 4 star pins.  We found a card addressed to both of us, on the bed the last night of a cruise, with a single 5 star pin.  

 

[Stratheden]

2 hours ago, erewhon said:

Have really enjoyed reading all your reports, thank you.

You were lucky to receive 4 star pins.  We found a card addressed to both of us, on the bed the last night of a cruise, with a single 5 star pin.  

 

That is very poor acknowledgement of your loyalty in my opinion.  They did the same with our last pins but they were only 3 star so I didn't think it warranted anything else. But 5 stars.