Eurodam 11-16-21 Thoughts and Impressions

[Riversedge]

7 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

Entertainment:

 

I'm not a big fan of the production shows and I've been reading how people here think HAL has really taken a step back with their shows.  I enjoyed both of the "dance" shows.  As I've said before, I've always felt that the vocalists in these production shows have been the weak point.  I'd much rather have good dancers out there doing their thing than have OK vocalists trying to also dance and have dancers trying to be backup singers.

 

The last show, with the piano bar folks, was something I wouldn't bother seeing again.

 

I did not go to any comedy shows.  I did not attend any talks or demonstrations.

 

The BB King All Stars were good but not as good as on Zuiderdam or Koningsdam.

 

I

 

7 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

 

As for music, may I just complain yet again about having bad pop music BLARING in all locations at all times.  I hate this.  I so wanted to be able to go sit up in the Tamarind bar during the day when it should have been a nice, quiet place to sit and relax.  But noooooooooooooo.  Music blasting away.  It's the main reason I was out on the Promenade all the time.  It's the only place I found without the music.

 

 

I’m curious where the music was coming from in the Tamarind Bar?  We went there for drinks every day in September and don’t ever remember music blaring. 

[NCTribeFan]

It was just the typical piped-in music blasting over speakers.  I checked on at least 3 times on days when there was no one around.  Some people don't even notice it.  I definitely do.  For someone with the beginnings of hearing loss, you'd think I could tune it out but I really can't.  I suspect it's "misophonia" in my case.  Of course, this is a self-diagnosis, but it's something I've had to deal with forever.  And, for me, it's pretty much all background noise - music, conversation, machinery, etc..  I can't sleep without white noise to mask any other sound.

 

I just feel it's so pointless and unnecessary.  Why must there be music playing at all hours in every space?  If you're there alone, it might be nice to be able to hear yourself think.  Or to read without the distraction.  If you're there with others, it would be nice to be able to have a conversation without having to shout over the music, which just increases the overall din.

 

OK, I'm going to try to upload a video again.  Appears it worked.  I recommend muting it so you don't have to listen to all that MDR background noise (unless, unlike me, you can just ignore it 😉 ).

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

And may I just say how wonderful it was to be in a non-smoking casino!  Of course, having to wear a mask would've kept the 2nd-hand smoke mostly out of my nose and lungs, but it was just so nice to not have that stench floating around!  Makes me think that when I'm back on Carnival in a couple of months that I'll keep a mask on in the casino whether it's required or not.

[DaveOKC]

Comment on background noise.  I used to work the night shift at various supermarkets in my younger days.  During the day you really did not hear the music, but at 3 AM it sure seemed loud.  I guess all the other daily noises drowns some of it out.

[rodndonna]

7 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

 

 

I just feel it's so pointless and unnecessary.  Why must there be music playing at all hours in every space?  If you're there alone, it might be nice to be able to hear yourself think.  Or to read without the distraction.  If you're there with others, it would be nice to be able to have a conversation without having to shout over the music, which just increases the overall din.

 

I wonder if it was something they started doing as a result of sailing at much lower capacities? It sounds like the capacities are coming back up now, but I wonder what the ambience might have been like we super low capacity. On one hand it's a dream come true to be on an empty cruise, but on the other, was is potentially 'creepy quiet" at times?

 

 

 

[RuthC]

1 hour ago, rodndonna said:

 

I wonder if it was something they started doing as a result of sailing at much lower capacities? It sounds like the capacities are coming back up now, but I wonder what the ambience might have been like we super low capacity. On one hand it's a dream come true to be on an empty cruise, but on the other, was is potentially 'creepy quiet" at times?

 

 

 

I doubt it, as too loud 'background' music has been a part of HAL cruises for several years now. 
There may be nothing worse than coming up to breakfast, without so much as a whiff of coffee yet, and hearing that jarring  excuse for music assaulting your ears. 

The worst blaring I ever heard on a HAL ship is daytime in the Explorers Lounge, where people sit and read, or sometimes chat, quietly. 
The over head speakers were BLARING classical music coming out. Headache city! 

[Infi]

Thank you for sharing this review and your thoughts on Eurodam; it's great to hear what the ship is like now that she's on her Caribbean sailings. How were the crew onboard? Was the ship at half capacity or more? We're sailing on a B2B over Christmas and New Years, so any Eurodam-specific tips/insights would be much appreciated!

Edited November 26, 2021 by Infi

[NCTribeFan]

If I must be assaulted with blaring music, I'll take classical over bad pop.  But, yes, it was absurdly loud in the Explorer's Lounge.

 

Someone said our capacity was about 800.  I loved it.  There's no such thing as "creepy quiet" for me.

 

The crew seemed very happy.  I don't think I ever passed a single crew/staff member who didn't say hello or good morning.  Sat and chatted with a delightful young woman who was on Deck 2, cleaning up and down the deck seemingly every day, all day.  Name is Devi.

 

Also a delight was Predrag (sp?) the Club Orange host in the MDR on Deck 2.  Met him on the first afternoon and he quizzed me about my seating preference and made sure I had a 2-top, a bit secluded (I don't like to sit in the main traffic areas) each evening.  He was in Lido one day at the specialty dining reservation table and booked me for Tamarind that night.  The next night when I went to the MDR, he said he had gone up to check on me but since I had passed on dessert and left, he'd just missed me.  How thoughtful! 

[Vict0riann]

After our cruise on Eurodam, I did the survey, and my one "complaint" (comment) was that the music was too loud, everywhere.

[ger_77]

I know if people submit compliments/complaints via the Navigator App that they're often addressed rather quickly.  I wonder if when on a cruise where the music is blaring, a number of cruisers got together and each one submitted a complaint via the app, that the volume might be lowered?   Just a thought.

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

[sevenseasnomad]

2 hours ago, ger_77 said:

I know if people submit compliments/complaints via the Navigator App that they're often addressed rather quickly.  I wonder if when on a cruise where the music is blaring, a number of cruisers got together and each one submitted a complaint via the app, that the volume might be lowered?   Just a thought.

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Storm the Guest Services desk with complaints!  Would they listen and lower the volume?  DH hated the noise around the main pool, especially when inclement weather forced the employees to close the roof.  We relocated to the Promenade Deck many times and found quiet spots, where the only sound was the wind and the waves.  Heavenly.

 

NCTribeFan, I so enjoyed your reviews.  I agree that after waiting so long to get on a ship again complaining is the last thing I want to do.  In fact, my friend and I, who will be on Rotterdam for Christmas/New Year's, have agreed not to gripe about anything.  We'll see how long that lasts.  LOL.  I envy your upcoming cruises.  I'm still teaching school to afford the few cruises I take each year, although I saved a bunch of money over the last two years and have money banked with HAL, since my three scheduled cruises were cancelled in 2020.  Now, I'm looking at booking, using those credits before the end of this year; otherwise, I lose that money, which is the last thing I want.

[510picker]

Enjoyed your review as we are just off the Nieuw Amsterdam a week ago. I surprised my wife with a pass to the spa. I prepurchased the pass for $139 and noticed it was $199 once on board. I assumed pricing would be the same, but obviously I made the right choice. 
 

I am curious why you did your second emed test proctored. Did you need proof of negative just to visit family? As far as not being able to hear them well, I was able to hear mine just fine (and I’m slightly hard of hearing) but sat in while my wife did her test and that person was extremely difficult to hear. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the review.

[NCTribeFan]

I had purchased the eMed tests but had also booked the pre-cruise test at the local pharmacy.  I just wanted to give it a try yesterday to be sure I was clear to visit family today and so I'd be more comfortable just doing it in a couple of weeks before i sail again.  My hearing is getting bad and the speaker in my phone is almost shot, plus I couldn't prop it up and still hear, so I gave up and switched to my laptop, which also have almost-fried speakers.  Next time, I'll probably put in earbuds.

 

In 40-some cruises, I'm not sure I've ever complained about anything while on board. I'll do my survey tomorrow and will definitely mention it.  Maybe more than once!   I'll consider complaining while on board NA about the music. 

 

I'm still working, at least part-time.  I turned 69 on the cruise.  I got a late start at what I do (38 when I started college; single mother of a toddler; now I'm a CPA).  It was a struggle for a long time.  I never had any desire to climb the corporate ladder.  I do taxes and I like what I do.  But it's very stressful and because i never wanted to make Partner, my earnings have been limited.  So I continue to work.  I did cut back last year, and will cut back even more this next year.  The past two years have been tough with all the law changes due to the pandemic and it's getting harder to keep up with it all.  I'll keep working some hours during tax seasons since I don't have millions of dollars in retirement funds.  I just want to get out there and travel!

 

 

 

 

[Hlitner]

Just wondering if anyone who had an issue with loud piped in music mentioned this issue to the Cruise Director?  We once ran into a similar situation on a different cruise line and some friends of ours mentioned it to the CD who actually had the volume lowered.   One can either remain silent (and continue to suffer) or politely mention the issue to appropriate party and perhaps get the situation resolved.  At least you can later say "I tried."

 

Hank

[NCTribeFan]

I just filled out my survey and mentioned the music volume a couple of times.  When I sail in 2 weeks, if I find it as annoying, I may say something.  As I rarely interact with the CD, I wouldn't hunt him down to say anything but I might give some feedback on the Navigator app.

[High Flyer]

Thank you for the review.  I wonder who was your cruise director.  

[Florida_gal_50]

14 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Just wondering if anyone who had an issue with loud piped in music mentioned this issue to the Cruise Director?  We once ran into a similar situation on a different cruise line and some friends of ours mentioned it to the CD who actually had the volume lowered.   One can either remain silent (and continue to suffer) or politely mention the issue to appropriate party and perhaps get the situation resolved.  At least you can later say "I tried."

 

Hank

How would you arrange to speak with the cruise director? Maybe at a q and a?  I was on the koningsdam for 2 weeks and I couldn’t tell you who was the cruise director if you gave me $1000.  It’s just not important to me.

[lstrong]

Just off the koningsdam. We often asked the volume to be turned down in aft pool area and it was done for us by bar servers

[J&Dhighdesert]

Once upon a time……….having dinner in the Lido area, we observed that the same music was played every evening.  Wrote a note on their comments card.  Received a call telling us that the music is programmed in Seattle.   It was out of their hands, but would forward our observation to Seattle.

Jo

 

[Infi]

20 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

If I must be assaulted with blaring music, I'll take classical over bad pop.  But, yes, it was absurdly loud in the Explorer's Lounge.

 

Someone said our capacity was about 800.  I loved it.  There's no such thing as "creepy quiet" for me.

 

The crew seemed very happy.  I don't think I ever passed a single crew/staff member who didn't say hello or good morning.  Sat and chatted with a delightful young woman who was on Deck 2, cleaning up and down the deck seemingly every day, all day.  Name is Devi.

 

Also a delight was Predrag (sp?) the Club Orange host in the MDR on Deck 2.  Met him on the first afternoon and he quizzed me about my seating preference and made sure I had a 2-top, a bit secluded (I don't like to sit in the main traffic areas) each evening.  He was in Lido one day at the specialty dining reservation table and booked me for Tamarind that night.  The next night when I went to the MDR, he said he had gone up to check on me but since I had passed on dessert and left, he'd just missed me.  How thoughtful! 

 

Thank you for sharing this. Happy to hear about the limited capacity, and fingers crossed it will stay the same for our trip. Christmas cruises are usually packed, but you never know with the pandemic. I've been checking and it looks like many cabins are still available for our sailings. 

 

Also glad to hear about the superb service and that the crew is still in good spirits. With the Eurodam now in service for 4 months, I had been wondering if the novelty of returning to cruising had worn off for them. HAL's crew are the highlight of the trip and I'm very much looking forward to seeing them again. 

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How would you arrange to speak with the cruise director? Maybe at a q and a?  I was on the koningsdam for 2 weeks and I couldn’t tell you who was the cruise director if you gave me $1000.  It’s just not important to me.

I think that says something bad about HAL.  On most lines the Cruise Directors are "everywhere" and easily accessible.  We are going on the new Enchanted Princess next week and I guarantee you that I will see the CD many times a day just roaming around the ship and chatting with passengers.   On Seabourn we were constantly seeing the CD and Assistant CD (who soon knew most of the passengers by name).  

 

But my point was that when something is terribly wrong on a cruise (such as blasting music) it should be easily rectified by simply bringing it to the attention of the proper person.  Many problems (like loud music) can often be easily handled with just a quiet word to the CD.  It makes little sense suffering through that issue for an entire cruise to only mention it on a later survey.   When Thom Faulkner was the CD on the Prinsendam he was "everywhere" interacting with passengers and dealing with issues.   When passengers have "issues" that can easily be handled onboard it is just silly to suffer in silence.  That is not to say that folks should whine/complain about everything but expecting staff to read minds is not always a good strategy.

 

Hank

[albingirl]

I appreciate the fact that I am not alone in detesting loud music.  I am an avid reader and cannot concentrate with loud surroundings.....it's gotten so bad lately that I don't even want to go out to eat to some restaurants because of their obnoxious music.  It's a shame that quiet spaces are becoming rare.

[albingirl]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How would you arrange to speak with the cruise director? Maybe at a q and a?  I was on the koningsdam for 2 weeks and I couldn’t tell you who was the cruise director if you gave me $1000.  It’s just not important to me.

And for some cruise directors, it's just not that important to them either.  I have witnessed some very quiet cruise directors who prefer to talk with other staff, rather than passengers.

[SusieKIslandGirl]

I did mention the loud music to one of the white shirts working the Lido area. He told me that they have to consider all passengers' desires. I said with just 5 or 6 people outside for breakfast at 7 am most didn't want loud noise and without the crowd to absorb sound it was loud. There were a few times the volume was lowered but not most of the time.