The Kindness of Strangers........

[Old As Dirt Mom]

:) Well, I'm about ready for a Happy HAL Thread, aren't you? I've had a marvelous two cruises on Holland America, and I'm booked for two more. YAY! One of the nicest aspects of cruising with HAL is the large number of very nice passengers and crewmembers whom I've had the pleasure to meet. Crew and staff have been more than accommodating, even when they really didn't need to, as they had already gone over and above in providing good service. Other passengers have committed generous acts of kindness towards our family, again, they didn't need to, they just wanted to. Here are some examples:

 

Our dining stewards on Zaandam loved to tell us jokes and show us their "bar tricks", even at the end of dinner when we know they had the next seating to set up for. But they never rushed us or made it seem like they wanted us out of there. They made it seem like there was nothing they liked better than to pass the time with us.

 

Our Neptune Lounge concierge on the Amsterdam who took my new formal gown to the ship's tailor for last-minute alterations, so I could wear it for Christmas Day dinner. He personally stayed at the tailor's during his break to make sure the job was done in time.

 

The kind elderly passenger from Guatemala in the Lido restaurant who came up to my youngest daughter as she was enjoying yet another of those yummy ice cream cones, and told her "what a lucky girl she was" to be able to see the world on a cruise ship, and who stayed to chat with us for several minutes.

 

A fellow passenger on our Panama Canal transit, who, during a sudden downpour as we stood on the bow of the Amsterdam, spontaneously lifted her umbrella over both of us so that I wouldn't get wet.

 

Anybody else have an example or two or more about the "kindness of strangers" encountered on a HAL cruise?

 

Thanks,

 

Karin:)

[waiting2retire]

Great idea Karin!

 

When I was on the Zaandam in January, my mother collapsed just as we got off the elevator on our deck, and was briefly unconscious. There wasn't a soul in sight, so I called out for help because I didn't want to leave her to go to the phone. Within seconds, a room steward appeared and used the phone to call for help. Almost simultaneously, a fellow passenger, who happened to be a registered nurse, appeared out of nowhere and proceeded to take my mother's pulse and reassure me that her pulse was steady and she was regaining consciousness. That wonderful lady stayed with us until the head nurse and wheelchair arrived on the scene to take my mother to the medical facility. All turned out well, my mother was fine, but I will never forget the kindness of that wonderful passenger who immediately came to our aid.

 

Bonnie

[kakalina]

Thanks for the thread MAM. We need some good thoughts.

 

As you mentioned I have never run into a HAL employee that was anything but marvelous and attentive.

 

The lady who sprayed us with suntan lotion while we were filming going through the Panama Canal so we wouldn't have to leave.

 

The wonderful woman who gave me a lithograph from Park West for my birthday.

 

The wonderful couple who shared a cab with us in the rain back to the ship.

So many others I can't think of right now. HAL seems to attract the best in employees and passengers.

[hammybee]

Thanks Karin for the change of pace.

 

As some of you are aware, I travel with my nectar, Dr. Pepper. As much as I try to allocate it so I do not run out, I invariably do. We were in Aruba, I think, and our room steward found some on shore and left them in our cabin. That was just swell. Not only did he notice my brand, he noticed I was running low and thought to snag me a few cans while on his own leave, on his own time. That was swell.

[Got2goaway]

We met so many wonderful HAL staff members,passengers and Tour operators on our 2/17 Sailing on the Noordam. Here are some of our experiences:

 

A member of our Dining Room staff made all sorts of Origami (sp) animals for our children, while continuing to service all his tables.

 

Our head waiter on numerous occasions, requested to cut up our children's beef or chicken so I could "eat my meal while it was warm".

 

We met a lovely couple, Joe and Shirley, who were absolutely wonderful and geniune. They said that they were smitten by our children and saved them a place to sit each night at the show where Shirley would give them paper crafts that she had made during the day.

 

And the selfless act that took the cake....

As we were leaving the NY Pier on route for home, we came across one of the waitstaff that attended to us in the Dining Room, Budi (who also made the origami). He was bringing out containers of Hot chocolate for individuals waiting to board. He asked if he could give our children each a cup. They galdly accepted and he poured out two cups. He than took their rolling suitcases as well as their cups and escorted us to where our vehicle was waiting. Even after telling him that this was beyond the call, he just retorted, that he wanted to - for the kids.

 

These were just a few of the geniunely selfless acts that we encountered during our trip.

 

We are truly blessed. I feel priviledged to have met so many good people.:)

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Oh this is great; I love these accounts of all the good things that happen to folks on a HAL cruise, thanks to nice people! Thank you so much, everyone; I feel so much better right now:) Hope you all do, too!

 

Karin

[cusyl]

The marvelous Hunky Dory on the Zuiderdam, who could remember everyone's name and greet them as they took their tray from him in the buffet line.

[kneecap]

I was on the Noordam last year with my parents. They were just on the Noordam again in Feb and at least 5 crew members came and said "HI" because they remembered them from LAST MAY.

I can't remember things from last week, so I don't know how they remembered my parents' names.

[minitor]

Nice Thread

 

I forgot about Hunky Dory! It was 2004 when I was on the Z'dam and Hunky Dory was a delight each day. Thanks for the reminder.

 

Favorite passengers were on the O'dam for an Alaska cruise. It was a family of 3 - Mom and Dad and a daughter in her 20's. We visited with them for the entire week and even were in the same raft with them on a glacier tour. Coming back wet on the bus, we all joked about how so many people were delaying our departure so that they could go to the Bathroom. We all joked that they need to hold it for the Oosterpooper.

 

From time to time we had frank discussions about what we liked or did not particularly like (very few minor problems, we loved the cruise) about the cruise. On the last day prior to Disembarkation we visited with them one last time in the Lido and learned that the daughter worked for HAL in the Seattle home office. It was so cool that all this time-- she never made any excuses- she just participated like everyone else.

 

Kindness of Strangers? Hum. Does the Captain count? He was so cool on the W'dam. He visited all over the ship and made people feel really at home. He was very approachable. The crew seems to really love/respect him.

[NHCruisr]

Two wonderful examples of kindness. On our recent Westerdam, we were celebrating my husband's "big" birthday with three of our 20-30 something offspring and a friend. This was the cruise with the norovirus. At Half Moon Cay ALL the staff were serving the buffet - including the entertainment staff. They were a riot in the buffet line, talking and joking with everyone. And, when my son went to get desserts, the Captain (!!!!) was serving the deserts.

 

In the dining room, our assistant waiter found out that my son is a musician. He brought his own Indonesian musical instrument to the dining room and showed my son how to play it.

 

Priceless!

[Atomica]

Karin, thanks for posting such a fantastic thread!

 

The crew have been fantastic to us every time. On the Zuiderdam, as we were entering the Captain's Reception, the ship hit a pretty good wave, which knocked Kim (kikiwik) off her feet. Both the Captain & Hotel manager were able to catch her on the way down :)

 

Some of the nicest people I met though were the six other people from my cancelled flight from Vancouver to San Diego to board the Oosterdam last year. We all managed to get to SD by flying into LAX and driving to SD, and it's an experience I won't soon forget. It was nice to start the cruise off by already knowing some other passengers!

 

We're taking time to try a couple different lines out this year, but we know we always have a 'home' on HAL.

[arzz]

I would not know where to start after our recent Prinsendam cruise. The first comment I might make is to change the title of this thread from "the kindness of strangers" to the "kindness of friends" because that is what we all felt like (both passengers and crew) aboard the Prinsendam.

 

I could mention my dining room steward who grabbed me and kept me from serious harm during our incident with the waves -- I could mention those medical professionals who were on board as passengers who, without a second thought and without being asked, just rose to the occasion to help triage and treat those who were injured. (As I stated in my journal -- luckily there were no serious injuries and within a few days the waves were just history) -- I could mention the kitchen staff and dining room staff who produced, magically, a hot dinner meal (albeit with the help of many paper plates) a scant 5 hours after the waves had created chaos out of their normally well ordered domain -- the cabin stewards who gave up their afternoon rest time to do head counts and reclean their areas -- but that would single out a few when every single crew member on board went above and beyond to help where ever it was needed. I have nothing but praise for the professionalism and dedication of the crew and officers of the Prinsendam. I would not hesitate to sail with all of them again.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

I would not know where to start after our recent Prinsendam cruise. The first comment I might make is to change the title of this thread from "the kindness of strangers" to the "kindness of friends" because that is what we all felt like (both passengers and crew) aboard the Prinsendam......

 

........

 

How right you are, Arzz. When we are touched by the kindness of others, they cease to be "strangers" to us. In a situation such as you experienced, a communal bond develops because of a shared response to a potentially lethal situation. I'm so glad things turned out as they did....

 

(Atomica, I remember your "race to the Oosterdam" from last year; I watched it play live, thanks to poster Ziggy 7.:eek: )

 

I am going to save this thread for future reference, because of the wonderful stories here. Thanks, all, for sharing your memories.

 

Karin

[arzz]

Thank you middle-aged mom for your kind words but I would like to make it clear that I never once felt that we were in a potentially lethal situation. I believe that most of the passengers and crew would agree here. The ship behaved extremely well and did exactly as it should. Unfortunately the plates and glassware were not as well engineered.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Thank you middle-aged mom for your kind words but I would like to make it clear that I never once felt that we were in a potentially lethal situation. I believe that most of the passengers and crew would agree here. The ship behaved extremely well and did exactly as it should. Unfortunately the plates and glassware were not as well engineered.

 

How about "potentially dangerous", then? At the very least, definitely messy :) I agree with you, the Prinsendam officers, staff, and crew were exemplary.

 

 

Karin

[arzz]

Can't argue with messy or even potentially dangerous -- it was truly incredible that there were so few injuries to people -- especially considering the average age on board.

 

Again, thanks for this wonderful thread -- can't wait to read what others post!

[Atomica]

(Atomica, I remember your "race to the Oosterdam" from last year; I watched it play live, thanks to poster Ziggy 7.:eek: )

 

Karin

 

I remember reading it once I got back - it certainly was a suspenseful thread! Though I hope I'll never have another 'amazing race' thread like that again!! :D

[PathfinderEss]

Wow, do I have a story for you about the professionalism of Hal, their concierge and how far they will go for mariner passengers. Our trip was planned for back to backs on the new cruise ship, at that time, the Westerdam doing eastern and western Caribbean in December. I decided I didn't want to spend Christmas at home, as this was the first Christmas without my Mom, so we booked a third cruise aboard the Veendam for Christmas. Just one problem the Veendam left Tampa one day ahead of us docking in Ft Lauderdale, so I figured out we could get off the Westerdam in Grand Cayman a few days early, only missing one day at sea and another at Hal's Island, staying two nights in Grand Caymen and then we would fly to Tampa from Cayman, to catch up with the Veendam for Christmas, right? Just one horrible problem, the seas were so rough, we could not get into Grand Cayman. Our dear Captain tried both sides of the Island with no luck. There was also another couple on board that were doing the same thing by getting off in Cayman but they were doing it to get married there. All their friends and relatives were already in Cayman, with no wedding couple, can you imagine? I was loosing airline tickets, cruise fees, hotel monies, to say the least I was beside myself, as I know the other couple was too. To make a long story short, Hal, said we could break the Jones Act, as long as we paid the fine, they could get us a flight out of Miami to Key West and we could board the Veendam just one day late. I am happy to say it all work out. I did loose one night of a hotel bill, and some on a switch airline fare, but all in all between Hal and our concierge they got it done.

Ps by the way, no one ask us to pay the fine, we were told later from the conierge that Hal picked it up. Nice Christmas present!

[wandb]

One moment I'll always remember from our very first cruise (Alaska/Ryndam) happened in the laundry room. Needing to wash a small load of clothes and iron just one item (which I needed to wear that night) I waited for what seemed like forever for one lady who had brought ALL of her clothes to iron. Others waiting to iron one or two items slowly gave up[ and disappeared back to their cabins until there was only one other lady and myself left, waiting for the "ironer" to finish her last shirt. After she finally left, the two of us were commenting on keeping a good attitude when someone is so inconsiderate. A very nice gentleman passing by in the hallway stuck his head into the doorway and just said "Hello". Then he came in and chatted a few minutes, agreeing that being stuck in the laundry room wasn't the greatest way to start a cruise---and that he knew about such things because that was his job at home--doing the laundry. We talked a few minutes, he wished us a happy cruise and left. Imagine our surprise (and delight) to find out a couple of hours later that he was the CAPTAIN!!!:)

[Mary Ellen]

I just want to thank MaM for a 'happy' thread. I don't have any specific tales, but Ari, the Yum-yum man on our Amsterdam and Zaandam cruises with my Dad and step-mom, really showed them how wonderful the HAL crew is. My step-mom is no longer with us, but Dad has wonderful memories of 2 cruises and the delight of sailing with Ari.

[Jimjam]

This Is One Of The Best Threads By Far That Has Been Presented..thanks....finally, Good Thoughts And No Crying And Complaining! Amen. (Although some comlaints are real and need to be expressed.)

[hammybee]

that was his job at home--doing the laundry. We talked a few minutes, he wished us a happy cruise and left. Imagine our surprise (and delight) to find out a couple of hours later that he was the CAPTAIN!!!:)

 

Great story. Do you happen to remember this captain's name?

[nurseblissful]

while in st thomas on a party barge with a glass bottom we were all shoving to see the little fishies, when an elderly couple from wales just leaned in. they were both on canes. an avenue opened up between people to give them space to see without mashing them. i thought it was nice. and caesar on the maasdam made me a special breakfast when i hung out in the spa too long and missed breakfast:eek: . it had alot of fruit and put me in a mighty fine mood. a mai tai with extra fruit. yummmm....:D

[kakalina]

Grumpy and Slinky offering us assistance and a place to stay when we are stranded in Florida RIGHT NOW. Thank you guys you are the best!

[nurseblissful]

when we were in st thomas on a party barge with a glass bottom, we were all crowding around to see the fishies. there was an elderly couple from wales sitting on the outer benches. they both had canes. an avenue opened up so that they could both get in to see too. it was nice. folks are not as bad as we think most of the time. thanks for the happy thread.:)