Westerdam review - part 3

[sandiego1]

Service:

Our Cabin steward was very good. On the 1st day, I requested 3 towels (2 for me and one for DH) and an extra bar of soap. We had 2 sinks, shower and separate bath tub. We needed 3 bars of soap since we didn’t use the shower stall. From that day on, there was always enough soap and towels. I also did quite a bit of laundry/dry cleaning and the steward ensured there was a new bag in our cabin each day. Every time we saw our steward, he asked if we needed anything.

Our Waiter was a little slow at 1st. but seemed to warm up after the 1st dinner. Also since we kept switching seats at table to ensure we were able to talk to each of our table mates, he had his hands full trying to keep track of us!

Shows:

We are not into the shows and in general try to avoid them as we haven’t been impressed w/ the caliber of the performers in the past. We did go see the comedian on this cruise (JR or JZ something) and he told very old and unoriginal jokes. He was awful. I think I laughed twice. We also went to the Filipino Crew Show as the crew Physician told us that she was going to perform. There were 3 singers including Gracielle and all were excellent. There were 3 or 4 native dances. They were very long and w/ the exception of the Bamboo dance, we were pretty bored.

Misc:

I didn’t like the FLL pier workers. When we were dropping off our luggage, they demanded a tip. We always tip baggage handlers (quite generously) and were reaching for our wallet when the demand was made. I was quite annoyed and really didn’t want to tip them after that. But I figured that our luggage would probably wind up in the water if we didn’t!

I met many people through the Roll Call on the CC board. I set up a meet & greet through HAL which was very easy. We had about 20 people show up but no crew members were present. It was embarkation day, so I’m sure that’s a very busy time for them. Still it would have been nice if 1 person stopped by for a few minutes. I requested cookies, coffee, tea and water. They used a large coffee urn for the water. It tasted like old coffee grounds. No one could drink it.

I did a fair bit of laundry & dry cleaning since there was no additional fee for us (in a suite). I wasn’t impressed. The return service was quite slow; sometimes as long as 2 days. One polo shirt came back w/ stains on it - there were NO stains when I sent it in. I sent it back w/ no improvement. I washed it myself when I got home and the stains came out on the 1st washing. I have no idea why they weren’t able to get them out. They did an ok job pressing the clothes, but 1 pair of pants that didn’t have a center crease on the legs came back w/ one. Another pair that did have the crease, came back w/o it. I had to iron them both when I got home.

There was very little smoking on the balconies around us. That was very good. I’m very anti-smoking since I have asthma and can’t be around it at all. Some of the bars were very bad (Sports bar in particular) and of course the Casino. There was no smoking in the Piano Bar (not sure if it wasn’t permitted or we just lucked out). Smoking on the ship wasn’t a big issue which surprised me.

Unfortunately, we were hit by the Norovirus on the 3rd day. I think over 100 people came down w/ it over the next few days. They immediately went into Code Red – no self-serve at buffet, no bread/butter/salt/pepper on dining table (served by waiter), hot tubs and thalassotherapy rooms were closed, etc. The Captain made several announcements each day. In particular, he commented that several people had left their quarantined cabins and he denounced them as “irresponsible” and stated that it was “reprehensible that they put others in danger getting sick”. I thought the crew handled the situation quite well. There were longer lines in the Lido but they put a lot of crew in there to help. The BBQ line at HMC was very long. We ate quite late so the lines were gone by then. But the Captain came ashore to HMC to see the problem 1st hand and later apologized during 1 of his announcements. I was served my lunch by one of the singers. They really had every one pitching in!

We also heard that they were able to track down the virus to Person 0. Turns out, he was vomiting on the plane heading to FLL and lied on his signed statement when he checked in at the pier. This is inexcusable. He ruined the vacation of 100+ people because he was sick and didn’t want to be quarantined when he boarded the ship. I disgusts me that this person was so inconsiderate of his fellow passengers.

[Schplinky]

Outside of the norovirus, your experiences were similar to ours in most ways. On our cruise, the comedian was the one shining spot in the otherwise bad entertainment but otherwise, your experiences were like ours. I agree about the lack of smoking in the piano bar. We never, ever saw anyone smoke there. It was great (for us).

[hammybee]

 

This sounds like one heck of a shipboard legend or an incredible bit of Sherlock on someone's part.

[Copper10-8]

This sounds like one heck of a shipboard legend or an incredible bit of Sherlock on someone's part.

 

Easy, Sherlock! Make it elementary!;)

[sandiego1]

It's not too tough to track the originator down. The 1st person that came to sick bay was traveling w/ Person 0. He got sick about 36 hrs after we left FLL. I heard it directly from the Captain that they tracked the virus down to Person 0. He didn't tell me about the vomiting on the plane. I heard that from someone else.

 

On the PA system, the Captain announced that several people had left quarantine and that it was irresponsible of them to do so and that they were endangering the health of others. Obviously, he was also directing his comments to Person 0 who lied about his health and didn't go into quarantine upon boarding.