Just Off Westerdam to Alaska

[casaloma]

Hi Everyone, 

Wanted to post a quick review covering the good, the bad, etc.  

DH and I haven't been on a cruise since our terrible 2019 horrorfest out of New Orleans which nearly ended our cruise career.  We wanted to jump back in and an Alaska cruise out of Seattle was perfect as we live within driving distance of the port.  

 

The Good 

I'd read a lot of moaning and groaning about the state of the Westerdam.  I should note that DH and I are not particularly picky and it takes a LOT to make us unhappy onboard a ship.  I didn't notice anything wrong with the ship.  I didn't have my sleuthing glasses on either.  The staff seemed happy and helpful, though busy of course.  I didn't think the public areas were particularly crowded, which is one of my sensitive areas.  

The food in the Lido Market was uniformly good.  WONDERFUL rolls of all kinds.  Unlike other cruises we've been on, they seemed to really vary the selection from day to day which we appreciated.  Servers were quick to get drink orders.  Except for one or two times it was easy to find a seat. 

Embarkation and debarkation could not have been easier.  We were on the ship within ten minutes of arriving.  

When we got to ports, they always advised people not to stampede the gangway and it must have effective because there were never any lines at the ports.  

I was using a scooter and they were good about advising what gangways were accessible.  Some of them were a little hairraising to get down but staff was right there to assist.  

After I lost a *certain* amount of money at the casino they gave me a nice little dessert selection.  Despite losing just as much on other cruises, no one ever gave me anything before lol.  

We had an aft balcony for the first time and we really enjoyed it.  Had soot one day and some jerk through his cigarette onto our deck once.  

 

Not So Good 

We ate in the dining room twice.  Both times they got my order wrong.  It was no big deal and I didn't bring it up to them, but the odds weren't great.  Service was SLOW.  The portions were TINY.  DH had banana french toast and I think they took a normal piece of bread and cut it into fourths.  He said we could only go back to the dining room if we planned to go directly to the Lido and have second dinner, like hobbits. 

The casino is right next to the dueling piano bar.  Guy was not good.  Girl was great. 

I got the unlimited soda package and I got soda more or less easily, unlike previous cruises.  At like Day 5 they pointed out I should have been using this glass tumbler they gave me but never told me to use it.  Guest Services was good about taking all the bogus charges off.   I sure liked the systems better that have the big coke machine you can use yourself.  

 

In summary, we find ourselves in love with cruising again.  Good thing, as I've already booked our next adventure to Europe in the fall.  We might go to Alaska again, the weather couldn't have been better and the scenery was breathtaking.  DH saw seals, we both saw orcas.  

[Haljo1935]

26 minutes ago, casaloma said:

Hi Everyone, 

Wanted to post a quick review covering the good, the bad, etc.  

...The Good 

I'd read a lot of moaning and groaning about the state of the Westerdam. ...

We had an aft balcony for the first time and we really enjoyed it.  Had soot one day and some jerk through his cigarette onto our deck once.  

...

Thanks for sharing your feedback. We LOVE AK and LOVE aft balconies, so happy to hear you enjoyed your cruise.

Made me smile to see you listed the comments about the soot and cigarette under "The Good" 🤭🙄

[Roz]

I enjoyed reading your review.  Glad your return to cruising was a success. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for sharing.

[horseymike]

Sounds like the pluses outweighed the minuses on your cruise 🚢.

Glad you enjoyed it.

[Mermen]

Thank you from us too. Enjoyed your thoughts on your trip. 

[cbr663]

Great review.  I'm guessing that one of the possible risks of sailing in an aft cabin is that cigarette butts from the Sea View Bar can blow onto your balcony.  We had sea gulls on our balcony in Alaska.  Ship Happens.  🙂

[red4lisa]

Thanks for the review. I am embarking on July 16th, first time on a HAL ship. 

[Haljo1935]

3 hours ago, red4lisa said:

Thanks for the review. I am embarking on July 16th, first time on a HAL ship. 

Welcome to HAL!!

[Crew News]

Thanks for the review.  Just to clarify, you can eat at the MDR for dinner, then to the Lido for more with the Late Lido Buffet Snack at 10:30 just in case you want to try something else. 

 

Love the aft balconies.

[albingirl]

10 hours ago, Crew News said:

Thanks for the review.  Just to clarify, you can eat at the MDR for dinner, then to the Lido for more with the Late Lido Buffet Snack at 10:30 just in case you want to try something else. 

 

Love the aft balconies.

I do too.  Watching the wake is spellbinding! I've heard people complain about the vibrations in the cabin, but we experienced no such thing.  Or, if I did, it wasn't memorable.  

[CATandSQUID]

On 6/25/2023 at 1:20 PM, casaloma said:

Hi Everyone, 

Wanted to post a quick review covering the good, the bad, etc.  

DH and I haven't been on a cruise since our terrible 2019 horrorfest out of New Orleans which nearly ended our cruise career.  We wanted to jump back in and an Alaska cruise out of Seattle was perfect as we live within driving distance of the port.  

 

The Good 

I'd read a lot of moaning and groaning about the state of the Westerdam.  I should note that DH and I are not particularly picky and it takes a LOT to make us unhappy onboard a ship.  I didn't notice anything wrong with the ship.  I didn't have my sleuthing glasses on either.  The staff seemed happy and helpful, though busy of course.  I didn't think the public areas were particularly crowded, which is one of my sensitive areas.  

The food in the Lido Market was uniformly good.  WONDERFUL rolls of all kinds.  Unlike other cruises we've been on, they seemed to really vary the selection from day to day which we appreciated.  Servers were quick to get drink orders.  Except for one or two times it was easy to find a seat. 

Embarkation and debarkation could not have been easier.  We were on the ship within ten minutes of arriving.  

When we got to ports, they always advised people not to stampede the gangway and it must have effective because there were never any lines at the ports.  

I was using a scooter and they were good about advising what gangways were accessible.  Some of them were a little hairraising to get down but staff was right there to assist.  

After I lost a *certain* amount of money at the casino they gave me a nice little dessert selection.  Despite losing just as much on other cruises, no one ever gave me anything before lol.  

We had an aft balcony for the first time and we really enjoyed it.  Had soot one day and some jerk through his cigarette onto our deck once.  

 

Not So Good 

We ate in the dining room twice.  Both times they got my order wrong.  It was no big deal and I didn't bring it up to them, but the odds weren't great.  Service was SLOW.  The portions were TINY.  DH had banana french toast and I think they took a normal piece of bread and cut it into fourths.  He said we could only go back to the dining room if we planned to go directly to the Lido and have second dinner, like hobbits. 

The casino is right next to the dueling piano bar.  Guy was not good.  Girl was great. 

I got the unlimited soda package and I got soda more or less easily, unlike previous cruises.  At like Day 5 they pointed out I should have been using this glass tumbler they gave me but never told me to use it.  Guest Services was good about taking all the bogus charges off.   I sure liked the systems better that have the big coke machine you can use yourself.  

 

In summary, we find ourselves in love with cruising again.  Good thing, as I've already booked our next adventure to Europe in the fall.  We might go to Alaska again, the weather couldn't have been better and the scenery was breathtaking.  DH saw seals, we both saw orcas.  

Did the bed have outlets next to them?

 

[Mary229]

Thanks for the review.  I will be sailing the Westerdam to Alaska next year and it is good to hear a better review.  When I had the French toast it was banana bread dipped in egg and fried like French toast - I didn’t particularly like it. 

[casaloma]

17 hours ago, CATandSQUID said:

Did the bed have outlets next to them?

 

Yes and on the desk as well 

[bluesplayer]

Nice review.  I was on the Westerdam June 18.  I found your review spot on.  Was surprised the ship did not feel overcrowded as the sailing was sold out.  The cabin stewards did seem to have too many rooms to clean.  They did do a great job..  just very busy.  I agree the portions in the dining room are on the small side.  I have seen couples order a 3rd entree and share.  We ate several times in MDR and service was good.  Don’t recall anytime it was slow..  yet I enjoyed my travel companion.  The ship was in great shape and very clean.  The new library was very nice.  It had several copies of the same book..  thought that was a bit odd.  Not a vast selection yet way better than none!  We enjoyed our cruise very much.  

[casaloma]

Yeah, I was very pleasantly surprised that the cruise did not seem crowded.  That has become my number one pet peeve. I know they're trying to cut back on portions.  My DH is quite a scrambled egg lover and they would give him ONE tablespoon of egg.  He'd ask for more and they'd give him ONE MORE TABLESPOON.  He had to ask again before he got a normal portion  They didn't seem nearly as stingy with the bacon, of all things! 

[Haljo1935]

41 minutes ago, bluesplayer said:

...The new library was very nice.  It had several copies of the same book..  thought that was a bit odd.  Not a vast selection yet way better than none!  

Last month on the Eurodam we got to enjoy the new library on the Eurodam and noticed titles had multiple copies. It reminded us of Blockbuster Video - remember how some cases faced forward so the graphic and title were easily visible with multiple copies turned sideways?

[red4lisa]

Is there a full Promenade deck on the Westerdam?

 

[Haljo1935]

4 minutes ago, red4lisa said:

Is there a full Promenade deck on the Westerdam?

 

Yes deck 3.

[red4lisa]

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

Yes deck 3.

Awesome! Thank you for replying!!

[vbecky]

On 6/25/2023 at 1:20 PM, casaloma said:

Hi Everyone, 

Wanted to post a quick review covering the good, the bad, etc.  

DH and I haven't been on a cruise since our terrible 2019 horrorfest out of New Orleans which nearly ended our cruise career.  We wanted to jump back in and an Alaska cruise out of Seattle was perfect as we live within driving distance of the port.  

 

The Good 

I'd read a lot of moaning and groaning about the state of the Westerdam.  I should note that DH and I are not particularly picky and it takes a LOT to make us unhappy onboard a ship.  I didn't notice anything wrong with the ship.  I didn't have my sleuthing glasses on either.  The staff seemed happy and helpful, though busy of course.  I didn't think the public areas were particularly crowded, which is one of my sensitive areas.  

The food in the Lido Market was uniformly good.  WONDERFUL rolls of all kinds.  Unlike other cruises we've been on, they seemed to really vary the selection from day to day which we appreciated.  Servers were quick to get drink orders.  Except for one or two times it was easy to find a seat. 

Embarkation and debarkation could not have been easier.  We were on the ship within ten minutes of arriving.  

When we got to ports, they always advised people not to stampede the gangway and it must have effective because there were never any lines at the ports.  

I was using a scooter and they were good about advising what gangways were accessible.  Some of them were a little hairraising to get down but staff was right there to assist.  

After I lost a *certain* amount of money at the casino they gave me a nice little dessert selection.  Despite losing just as much on other cruises, no one ever gave me anything before lol.  

We had an aft balcony for the first time and we really enjoyed it.  Had soot one day and some jerk through his cigarette onto our deck once.  

 

Not So Good 

We ate in the dining room twice.  Both times they got my order wrong.  It was no big deal and I didn't bring it up to them, but the odds weren't great.  Service was SLOW.  The portions were TINY.  DH had banana french toast and I think they took a normal piece of bread and cut it into fourths.  He said we could only go back to the dining room if we planned to go directly to the Lido and have second dinner, like hobbits. 

The casino is right next to the dueling piano bar.  Guy was not good.  Girl was great. 

I got the unlimited soda package and I got soda more or less easily, unlike previous cruises.  At like Day 5 they pointed out I should have been using this glass tumbler they gave me but never told me to use it.  Guest Services was good about taking all the bogus charges off.   I sure liked the systems better that have the big coke machine you can use yourself.  

 

In summary, we find ourselves in love with cruising again.  Good thing, as I've already booked our next adventure to Europe in the fall.  We might go to Alaska again, the weather couldn't have been better and the scenery was breathtaking.  DH saw seals, we both saw orcas.  

Can you boar early or do you have to wait for your boarding time? THanks

[disneyochem]

We were on the June 25 Westerdam cruise—loved the new library!  It was a fantastic place to browse, read and talk to others about books.  There were six comfy armchairs in the room facing the windows.  Hubby and I loved sitting there reading and watching the scenery.

 

I, for one, am glad there were multiple copies of the same book (there were about 2000 people on board!).  It was fun seeing other folks reading the same book and then having an impromptu reading club!

 

There was also book drop off section.  Hubby had finished a book on a previous cruise so he just left it for another cruise to enjoy.

 

And yes, we really enjoyed the cruise!  

[casaloma]

On 7/1/2023 at 3:05 PM, red4lisa said:

Is there a full Promenade deck on the Westerdam?

 

Yes, the hubby and I and my scooter made several circuits.  

[hbsurfcitycruiser]

On 6/30/2023 at 4:53 PM, Mary229 said:

Thanks for the review.  I will be sailing the Westerdam to Alaska next year and it is good to hear a better review.  When I had the French toast it was banana bread dipped in egg and fried like French toast - I didn’t particularly like it. 

We were just on the Westerdam for 14 days in Feb/Mar and it was fantastic. Staff A+ 🙂

[MisterMatthew]

On 7/1/2023 at 10:25 AM, casaloma said:

Yeah, I was very pleasantly surprised that the cruise did not seem crowded.  That has become my number one pet peeve. I know they're trying to cut back on portions.  My DH is quite a scrambled egg lover and they would give him ONE tablespoon of egg.  He'd ask for more and they'd give him ONE MORE TABLESPOON.  He had to ask again before he got a normal portion  They didn't seem nearly as stingy with the bacon, of all things! 

 

When i get something from the Lido--sometimes i want a double portion of something.

 

I do love that staff is serving the guests.  It is more clean this way.  

 

Maybe i am thinking out of the box on THIS.. but i would imagine even a mighty cruise ship may start to "run out" of things?!  Perhaps the crew is instructed to be LIGHT HANDED with certain items?

 

----MisterMatthew