From Toni Vitanza -- who cruised on Noordam June 20 from Rome -- I am a flight attendant with 17 years of experience and I have frequent cruiser status with several cruise lines. This cruise was probably my seventh or eighth Med cruise. But this was our first time to cruise with HAL and I am afraid we have been spoiled. Since returning from our cruise, I have already told several passengers on board my flights about what a great experience we had with HAL. My husband Victor, in particular, is now a bona fide cruiser, and a bona fide HAL cruiser, like he never was before (and I also managed to get him hooked on the spa). My parents are smokers who still want to smoke on a balcony and their next cruise will be on HAL as long as you allow smoking on balconies.

Sophie (in the ship's guest relations department) was INSTRUMENTAL in changing us from a balcony room with a completely obstructed view to one with a real view. A balcony was a splurge for us; we don't smoke but wanted it specifically for a relaxing view. She found us a new spot and even offered to send someone to help us move (although we refused the offer). She answered the phone often when I called with questions and was always affable, patient and competent. She is efficient, communicates clearly and professionally, looks so sharp in her uniform, and works HARD!

Our stateroom attendants, Erwan and Ray, were so hardworking but also discreet. That is probably an overlooked quality in a stateroom attendant; after all, the work they do is rather intimate, isn't it? They never failed to greet us in the hallways with a smile and a question about our day. They were on the ball with ice and restocked our mini-bar promptly. Read more