Maasdam Review

4.0 / 5.0
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Solo HAL first-timer will definitely be back soon!

Review for Canada & New England Cruise on Maasdam
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fishywood
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Oct 2013

A little quick background: I am always looking for a last-minute solo sailing in between the ones planned with family or friends. When I couldn’t work out making one of the last Alaska sailings of the season I turned to the Canada-to-Florida repositioning cruises (only one flight does make it easier). Was expecting to sail later in October but when the price of the inside guarantee on Maasdam from Montreal on October 5 was enhanced to include ''"free upgrade to oceanview” I was hooked''"eight days before sailing! A family commitment on the 4th left me no choice but to find a flight to Montreal the morning of sailing; yes, I knew that I was breaking the unwritten cardinal rule to fly in at least one day early''"but as I already broke the alleged rule to book early for best cabin selection, and the worst case scenario would have me meeting the ship in Quebec City the next morning, so what? My day thus began on a 5:45 AM flight from FLL to YUL with a change in (where else) ATL. And did I mention that First Class was the only fare available? But here’s a secret: if you add in the cost of checking your bags, pre-selecting your seats ($25 per flight leg for a ''"comfort seat” in coach''"really, Delta?), the serving of something slightly more edible than the ''"food for sale” plus unlimited libations, the price difference on most domestic flights is actually quite reasonable. So now reporting from onboard:

Stateroom: My ''"included upgrade” found me in a Category DD on Lower Promenade deck, a partially obstructed oceanview nestled among the Lanai cabins opening to the outside promenade. Since this was hardly a tropical cruise, those outside doors and the adjoining reserved loungers got virtually no use. As the Maasdam is an ''"older” ship with mostly inside or oceanview cabins, the lanais and balconies are at a premium''"one I don’t consider worth jockeying (or paying) for. Another tip: booking a Category DD or HH adjoining cabin will net you an impromptu sitting area if you don’t plan to use the door to the adjoining cabin''"a sofa is placed across it! Like most cabins on the 90s-era Maasdam, mine included a full bathtub rather than a tiny shower stall and lacked a refrigerator. But my ice bucket was refilled twice daily''"and the shower head inside the tub was the much sought-after handheld type. The tub contained dispensers of liquid body wash, shampoo and conditioner, though there was still bar soap provided at the sink.

Dining: After having dinner at the poolside BBQ on embarkation day and trying my luck with open seating dining the second night, the following morning I requested to be moved to the 8 PM seating. An hour later there was a voicemail on my cabin telephone advising me that it had been done. Smartest move I made on this cruise: having every-night servers who quickly learn your preferences, as well as a wonderful group of new tablemates, is the only way to dine. Menus are hardly what one would call adventurous, but all courses were attractively presented and just the right portion size. All of the dining room staff''"our waiter, assistant waiter, wine steward, head waiter, and the dining room manager who stopped by nearly every night''"set exactly the right tone of service for whatever we needed each night. So while you really can’t call a restaurant that serves 1200 dinners in two sittings each night ''"fine dining” I would say that dinner every night on the Maasdam proved to be perfectly ''"just fine” for me.

Cabin Review

Very nice comfortable cabin. View is considered "partially obstructed" as you are looking across the outside promenade and over a rail to see the ocean. In adjoining cabins if you do not need to use the interior door the is a sofa placed across it--a bonus sitting area! Bathroom has tub with hand-held shower attachment. Closets have adjustable height shelves and rods.

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