Addendum to latest Maasdam review

[Gustavas]

I forgot to mention another annoying aspect of the voyage which really bugged us. You're welcome to read my review. HAL's past with making passenger's ill is notorious. It was almost always a HAL ship in the news. A crew member told me that since Carnival bought them, they insisted on HAL using these new hand sanitizers. They are EVERYWHERE !!!! Tacky as ever. Purrell as a matter of fact, which is overkill. Now, I am a firm believer in hot water, anti-bacterial soap and all the rest, especially in public places like cruise ships. It also amazes me how many people still don't wash their hands before eating and then lick their fingers.

 

I'm no stranger to sterile hands before eating and firmly believe it it but HAL, well, has gone off the deep end on the Maasdam with the hand sanitizers and pushing passengers to use them. Here we are, freshly showered and dressed to the nines for formal night, (AND CLEAN HANDS TOO) and all these waiters and stewards standing at the entrance to the Rotterdam Dining Room holding full sized dispensers of Purrell.

 

That's not all, they walk quickly over to everone entering the dining room and force a couple of squirts into their hands. They're militant about it, rude about it and almost insistant. It's horrible and tacky and goes with the rest of my Maasdam review.

[jtopicz1]

I really don't see this as a problem. You'd be suprised how many people don't wash their hands or shower before coming to dinner unfortunatly. A minute or less of inconvienience is worth it to me to not become sick for the week or more, but thats just my opinion. I may be biased since I've previously been cruising with RCCL and the hand sanatizers are pretty standard.

 

Jim

[grannynurse]

By the way, Gustavas, there's no such thing as sterile hands. You can disinfect but you cannot sterilize skin.

I also think that HAL doesn't make pax ill. Most of them come aboard and don't want to honestly report that they've been ill.

Overkill is not a crime, Poor attitude is, if the stewards are uncivilized they should be reported, but they are just trying to do their jobs and run into some hostile people in doing so. Please give them a break.

Even if I didn't want to be squirted, I'd still comply and thank them.

GN

[jmk22574]

Gustavas - I'm fairly new to these boards myself (although not as new as you with your two posts), and I tend to just read comments/reviews and ask questions as necessary. When reading reviews, I try to give the writer the benefit of the doubt. Even if they have a completely negative review, I just accept it, make note of their complaints, and move on. Sometimes I even get a bit put off by past HAL cruisers who simply will not accept a negative comment about one of the "dam" ships.

 

However, in your review, you state "We're warm, friendly, we smile, we're not overtly demanding or arrogant." Your tone throughout the entire review was to the contrary.

 

You've posted your review on a board frequented by those who love HAL, and although as stated previously you are absolutely entitled to your opinion, I'd be willing to bet you will not be swaying the opinions of many who partake in these boards. Honestly, the only thing I'll take away from your review is that if there's a chance you may be on a future Celebrity cruise, I'll make sure I'm not on it.

 

If others out there want to flame me for what I've written, that's your prerogative. After all, I'm just a Midwesterner who has stepped foot inside a Wal-Mart and will be in constant "awe" of both the ship and its employees on my upcoming cruise on the Noordam.

 

Jill

[brightonguys]

LOL -- I couldn't agree more, Jill!! I prefer to enjoy my cruise experiences. :)

[Jade13]

We have never had a problem. In fact, we use sanitizer in our home and started because we have reptile pets. My only comment is that too much automatrically skirts out from those big dispensers.

 

I do not find the dispenser tacky at all....I am glad HAL makes sure everyone washes there hands. You are right though that hot water works as well.

[MercedMike]

My goodness, you get bent out of shape easily, don't you? Is this really a big deal?

 

It is not just HAL -- EVERY cruise line is doing it now. While hand washing is still very important, the sanitizer can't hurt anything, can it?

 

Why don't you save your irate posts for chair hogs at the pool or something else equally important?????;)

[dvdfreakmc]

I'd rather have everyone's hand sanitized, then have to spend a few days in my cabin sick -- seems like an easy trade off.

[josephone]

Hi

 

Where is your review????

 

We sailed on the Maasdam in January and were delighted with the sanitizers. In fact, we were disappointed there were not more. We had previously sailed on the Prinsendam and there were more sanitizers.

 

I am retired from teaching and I can tell you from experience that amoung my colleagues I was the only one who didn't get sick often because I carried Purell!!! It works like magic.

 

 

Josephone

[boatlover]

Hi

Where is your review????

Josephone

 

Excellent question, I am not finding it either.

[magictam]

Hi

 

Where is your review????

 

We sailed on the Maasdam in January and were delighted with the sanitizers. In fact, we were disappointed there were not more. We had previously sailed on the Prinsendam and there were more sanitizers.

 

I am retired from teaching and I can tell you from experience that amoung my colleagues I was the only one who didn't get sick often because I carried Purell!!! It works like magic.

 

 

Josephone

 

It took me a while to find it too. Here's a link

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=30121

 

I'm not taking to much of it to heart. Seems unusual that the OP has only 2 posting. Most people find this site before they cruise and then return and post thier experience. Kinda of find it funny that with all the cruises he says he's taken, their aren't other reveiw/posts.

[jmk22574]

The review is under "reviews" at the top of this page, click on "members reviews," and then select Maasdam...it is the newest review (as of right now) on that page. Maybe someone will be able to post a link under this thread.

 

Jill

[hammybee]

HAL's past with making passenger's ill is notorious. It was almost always a HAL ship in the news. A crew member told me that since Carnival bought them, they insisted on HAL using these new hand sanitizers. They are EVERYWHERE !!!! Tacky as ever.

 

They're militant about it, rude about it and almost insistant. It's horrible and tacky and goes with the rest of my Maasdam review.

 

Your facts are incorrect. RCL holds the distiction of reporting the most cases of norovirus in 2006. This makes sense given the number of ships/ cabins in their fleet.

 

I can't imagine finding any crew member who was there before Carnival acquired HAL, 18 years ago.

 

So sorry that you find preventative measures to be tacky.

 

Clearly your review and this thread has one intent - to obtain a reaction, on this board, silly goose.

[Sundagger]

Gustavas also posted a very negative HAL review on the Celebrity board.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=10649314#post10649314

[maxout]

"Methinks he doth protest too much"

 

Perhaps a bit of...

 

 

['The Bear']

'Josephone' -- Sorry, everyone else, but at the risk of hijacking this thread, I just had to say a fond 'Good Morning' to Jim & Becky --- I hope you both are having a wonderful summer. :)

 

The 2 of you certainly made our Maasdam cruise last January extra special; so special, in fact that we are sailing on her again this January -- it sure would be wonderful if we could meet up again !! :)

 

All the best to both of you!

 

Gord & Gilda

[Cruising Illini]

My only question is -- Purell does NOT prevent Noro VIRUS -- it only kills bacteria!! You must wash WELL with soap and water to prevent Noro Virus and people should be reminded of this often. We had one Captain during a Red Alert who ended every "transmission" with "Wash Your Hands!!" A really great reminder.

 

I do have a problem with the "squirt" at the dining room entrance because I carry a cane and a purse and it is very awkward to hold the liquid in the open hand until I reach my table. I usually decline the offer and use my own small bottle when I reach the table.

[Palm Beacher]

I read Gustavas review, and I agree with jmk22574 (Jill) in her reply.

[Cruising-along]

[quote name=

 

However, in your review, you state "W[/color]e're warm, friendly, we smile, we're not overtly demanding or arrogant." Your tone throughout the entire review was to the contrary.

 

Honestly, the only thing I'll take away from your review is that if there's a chance you may be on a future Celebrity cruise, I'll make sure I'm not on it.

 

 

 

Jill

 

My thoughts exactly. He managed to offend several segments of the population in one post. :eek: He also posted his review on tripadvisor.com.

[maxout]

Good info here... (requires power point)

 

http://www.alphaweb.org/docs/Strategies_for_Norovirus_alPHa_Seminar-12_02_2004-11_50_26.ppt

[TRadle]

Gustavas also posted a very negative HAL review on the Celebrity board.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=10649314#post10649314

 

 

I read it over there and came here to read how badly you guys were flaming him. Here is how it opens the review on the Celebrity board:

“I was blasted on the HAL boards for this one but here it is. I have been cruising and crossing the oceans since 1975 and this recent voyage makes number 62 in a lifetime. My wife wanted Canada and New England in June. Celebrity didn't go there in June so it was HAL Maasdam. I have friends who also told me that HAL was on par with Celebrity and I have also read such similar views on these boards and others. Tastes differ no doubt; but I can certainly assure you that HAL is definitely not on par with Celebrity in any verifiable way.”

So where is this blasting? He made it up, didn’t he? :rolleyes:

[Jade13]

What astounds me is that most of our fellow passengers on HAL's Maasdam thought they were in seventh heaven. Amazing what people consider first class quality. Perhaps mid-western retirees and senior citizens are simply in rapture with HAL's legend but blind to the aspects. They all seemed to love these fake smiling Indonesians, all of them bowing in servitude. They were enthralled by this style; I was unimpressed.

It was sad to experience the reality of a 130 year old legendary name that failed to meet even my minimal expectations. The only thing pristine or excellent about Maasdam or HAL is their marketing and advertising. Needless to say, Celebrity, Crystal or Silversea will handle my future cruising needs.

 

Long Live Celebrity Cruises !!!!![/font][/color][/color][/size][/font]

 

I just wanted to say that we are from the East Coast and the same age range as the OP. I haven't been on the Maasdam but very surprised at this review. We are not either "mid-western retirees and (or) senior citizens".

 

I guess my basic feeling is that the OP just did not like the Indonesian staff, being accustomed to European. We have never felt that their attitudes were fake.

 

I did want to make a comment that on the Veendam last year we were not escorted to our cabin but then it was not ready when we boarded at 11:30am. There was no photograher when we boarded and that was fine with us. We thought the food was great and my DH is a a Chef at a fine dining establishment. We don't expect dry or wet aged steaks on board a cruise ship...

[Crusing Bob]

The review and comments on this post by Gustavs leave me thinking he is a snob and also gets pleasure in discriminating against hard working crew not to mention Midwesterners and Retirees. Guess he doesn't ever plan to retire and if he does I can't imagine how he would find pleasure.

[maxout]

More like a hired torpedo.

[Copper10-8]

Gustavas, thanks for taking the time and effort to write a well-ballanced, albeit somewhat negative, review! Always nice to hear a different perspective:) (BTW, if you have extra time on your hands, may I indulge you to read the Maasdam as as Wonderful as Ever!!!! thread for an entire different perspective of that same ole' boat and cruise line)

Just a tiny comment on the Indonesian stormtroopers forcing everyone to use purell hand sanitizer upon entering the dining room and summoning the Spanish Inquisition with the comfy pillow and the washboard for those that don't comply!:eek:

Next time you're in the head,..... the public head, not you're own......., take a quick scientific survey and count how many nice folks "use the facilities" and then make a quick exit stage right without washing their hands. It will be an eye-opener and will justify the use of any hand sanitizer. See you on Maasdam!;)