COMING BACK TO HAL/Volendam 3/23-4/2/06...

[venicecruiser]

First, let me say that my last HAL cruise was about 3-4 years ago. While there were things I liked about HAL, there were some areas that disappointed. So, I stuck with Celebrity with an occasional foray into the luxury lines or MSC.

 

I had no plans to sail HAL again unless it was on Prinsendam. That changed when I got an offer that I couldn't refuse for the 3/23 Volendam sailing. My friend and I booked about 10 days prior to the sail date.

 

Our booking was for an outside gty and we were given a Cat C on Lower Promenade Deck. Cabin was a tish smaller than the usual outside cabin due to its particular location, but the difference was negligible. We were somewhat forward but the location was great!

 

Now to general comments rather than a true "review"....

 

The new beds are fabulous! I have NEVER had a bed on any ship-including Seabourn and Radisson- as comfortable as the bed on Volendam. That alone would be reason enough to sail again and again with HAL! But, there were many other things that I enjoyed on this cruise as well.

 

For the first time ever in all the cruises I've done, I never set foot in the dining room. I took formal clothing, informal clothing, resort-casual clothing and ended up wearing none of it. The first night onboard we had reservations for Pinnacle-which was indeed half price. Pinnacle was just as wonderful as I remembered. After that night, we had dinner in Casual Dining. The food was great! I loved going to dinner in casual slacks or capris every night! And I particularly enjoyed going to dinner when I wanted, rather than at a set time. Hours for casual dining were 6pm-7:30pm and we usually went between 6:30 and 7:15. I especially liked the fact that the salad bar was pretty much the same as it was at lunchtime.

 

Speaking of the Lido, it has improved a great deal since my last HAL sailing. I liked the different "stations" and everything looked very appetizing. I tried the sandwich station a couple times and it was quite good with a nice selection. Most of the time I just had a big salad from the salad bar which was perfect. HAL has spring salad mix on their salad bar and is the only line I've been on that offers it every day.

 

The fish that I had onboard in the Lido, both at lunch and dinner, was quite good. The breads/rolls onboard were excellent as was the selection of fruit. I had Eggbeaters omelets a couple mornings that were very good.

 

Our cabin steward was fine. I can't say he was exceptional, but he did what we asked-extra blankets, removing a chair- and kept the cabin clean. I had no complaints.

 

Service everywhere onboard was great. Crew was smiling, pleasant, and friendly. We had drinks in the Ocean Bar a few times and were well taken care of by Leo and Aldrin-such nice young men. Speaking of drinks, I have now become addicted to Coral Drops (thanks, Doone)!

 

The casino was busy every time it was open. Only complaint is that many passengers wished there were more penny slots.

 

We never had any problem getting a lounge chair either by the Lido pool or the aft pool. I really liked the aft pool area because it was quieter.

 

There were less than 60 children on this sailing and I rarely saw them or heard them.

 

Disembarkation was very smooth and we really enjoyed being able to stay in our cabin until our color was called to leave the ship.

 

The Celebrity cruise I had booked for October has been cancelled. I'll be back on HAL. In fact, other than a 5 nighter on Celebrity in January, I don't plan on doing any more sailings with them. I was so pleased with the Volendam experience that from now on, my first choice among the mass-market cruiselines will be HAL on the R and S class ships or Prinsendam.

 

Claudia

[doone]

Venicecruiser, welcome back to HAL. I am so glad you enjoyed the Volendam as much as we did in February. Aren't those Coral Drops wonderful, so glad you tried them and enjoyed them. I am hooked on them as well.

[gizmo]

Welcome back. Thanks for the nice review. Those beds sure are wonderfull aren't they? :cool:

[Spot]

Thank You Venicecruiser for your thoughts on the Volendam. We will be on the Volendam this coming Dec for the first time (also our first cruise over 7 nights) and we are very excited. Most everyone that cruises on this ship has high praise for everything about her.

We have booked a catagory B Verandah cabin and can hardly wait for our 10 nights of relaxation.

 

Thanks again!!

[Maryandi]

I agree with you on the freedom of the Lido at dinner. We did have one cruise with no dining room and I felt free of the stilted atmosphere of the diningroom. Once or twice a cruise is enough for me then I want the Lido.

 

We were on the sailing just before yours and had a great time, too.

[NoNoNanette]

How does one make a Coral Drop? :)

[venicecruiser]

Absolut Mandarin, chambord, sour mix are the ingredients in a Coral Drop. I will try and find the measurements for each ingredient and post them.

 

Claudia

[patval]

Venice Cruiser we are neighbors I was born and raised in Sarasota and attending Graduate School at University of Kentucky right now and missing the weather.

 

I am happy you had a great trip!

 

 

Paul

[NoNoNanette]

That really sounds yummy. If you can find them, the measurements would be great to have. If not, I'll have to experiment, which might be fun, too!:D

[venicecruiser]

Paul - Weather here has been superb! Warm, sunny, bright blue skies.....Perfect!

 

Claudia

[venicecruiser]

Coral Drop recipe:

 

1.5 oz Absolut Mandarin

.25 oz Chambord

1.5 oz fresh sour mix

 

Shake well with ice in Martini shaker. Strain into Martini glass.

[NoNoNanette]

Coral Drop recipe:

 

1.5 oz Absolut Mandarin

.25 oz Chambord

1.5 oz fresh sour mix

 

Shake well with ice in Martini shaker. Strain into Martini glass.

 

You're a doll! Many thanks, kiddo! :)

[venicecruiser]

Enjoy!

 

Claudia

[Randyk47]

Venice - Glad you enjoyed the Volendam. We were quite taken by her and though we have "emotional" ties to the Ryndam, as we honeymooned on her, I'd have to say the Volendam is now our favorite HAL ship. Noticed you mentioned Leo. He waited on us in the Crow's Nest and was very good.

 

By the way. A couple of years ago we fell in love with coral lemon drops on the Oosterdam thanks to Michael in the Crow's Nest. Michael took my wife, an ex-bartender, behind the bar and taught her how to make them. This expands just slightly on the recipe above:

 

Coral Lemon Drop

 

1-1/2 oz Vodka (We use Smirnoff or a good brand smooth vodka)

1/2 oz Chambord (Raspberry liqueur)

3 oz Sweet and Sour Mix

Lemon wedges (Cut one large into six wedges or one small into four wedges)

 

Using a steel shaker and glass, squeeze or mash two lemon wedges into bottom of glass. Add 2 parts each of vodka, Chambord, sour mix and add ice leaving room at top of glass. Shake well and strain into martini glasses rimmed with sugar.

 

When I'm only making one at a time just use one wedge of lemon and one part of each liquid.

 

The color of the drink should be coral - if you have too much Chambord in it it looks too pink!

[doone]

Randyk47, I had a lemon drop, which I think didn't have the chambourd in it, if I remember it correctly. But once I discovered the Coral Drops, love them. Made them once with just plain vodka, wasn't as good as with the Absolute Mandarin.

[doone]

Sorry, double post.

[Randyk47]

We used to do regular lemon drops as kind of "shooters" in our local bar back in Virginia. It wasn't until the Oosterdam that we'd ever heard of a coral lemon drop. As I remember it was one of the drinks-of-the-day and Michael talked my wife into trying one. They're kind of a sneaky drink....don't seem like much going down but belt down a couple...maybe three....and you'll notice it. :eek: We shared the recipe with our local bar here in San Antonio and they now make them for us and others who have learned about them. :)

[doone]

Your right, those type of drinks do sneak up on you for sure. But they are so yummy!!!!