Maasdam Review

4.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

Lots of positives and many negatives result in uncertainty.

Review for Canada & New England Cruise on Maasdam
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cruzmann
10+ Cruises • Age 2020s

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Value for Money
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Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2014
Cabin: Large Ocean-View Stateroom

When people ask if I liked this cruise the answer would be a qualified yes and likewise when asking about the ship I would also give it a positive rating. But, I'm not sure about either. If you talk about the cruise itself you have to take into consideration the value Vs. the alternatives. On a cost per day basis it is much more expensive than a Caribbean cruise and even the last two Mediterranean cruises we took were cheaper. So I expected to have some great ports. While Quebec City is certainly a highlight and Bar Harbor was very interesting, the other three ports were quaint but lacked the special something that says "I was so glad we got to stop there". Since my wife is an Anne of Green Gables fan she might disagree a bit on Prince Edward Island but Halifax and Sydney just didn't float the boat very well. If you like lighthouses you will like this cruise but I actually believe the best part was looking out the back of the ship at dinner and watching the scenery go by on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.

The ship was a real best and worst combination. On the best side of the equation I would add the Explorations Café and Library, the staff in general, the Explorers Lounge with a very good duo of violin and piano nightly and the ease of getting from place to place on what is now considered a small ship. I told my wife that compared to the Royal Princess it was about half the steps just to eat breakfast because everything was so close at the Lido buffet.

On the negative side I have to agree with others who said that the food was very bland and suffered from a lack of quality. Variety was abundant but really outstanding entrées were a rarity. The entertainment in the showroom reflected the size of the ship with the exception of the comic and the featured piano player who were hired out talent. Our fiddle playing entertainment scheduled for the night we left Sydney apparently missed the boarding call so they showed a movie instead. Most evenings we just listened to the music available in the lounges after dinner.

Cabin Review

Large Ocean-View Stateroom

Cabin E

This is the first time we have sailed without a veranda in a decade but the deck plans had me concerned as the Lanai cabins have no private balcony and the Veranda cabins looked small and were outrageously priced. Lots of reviews I looked at said this and people I talked to on the ship were disappointed in them as the cruise is not one that is suited for sitting outside due to the weather. The cabin was quite roomy though and as it is the last cabin in the price category it is arguably the best. Close to the center of the ship towards the bow and away from those very noisy rear thrusters and engines. I didn't choose main deck because those cabins have an open promenade above their heads. Cabin has a full tub and a lot of closet and drawer space. Only crazy thing is the TV that makes you sit up in bed and raise your arm to full length to change the channel because the sensor for the remote is hidden by the high shelf the set rests on.I would definitely take this room as compared to any of the Lanai rooms.

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