Zaandam Review

Would not use HAL again

Review for South America Cruise on Zaandam
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kirsten Somerset
2-5 Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Nov 2014
Cabin: Verandah Suite

We are a fit couple in our early 70s. Having had a great first cruise to Alaska with HAL we decided to take the South America trip. We went from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso. The public areas of the ship were spotless and someone was always polishing something. Our Verandah stateroom was clean but dated. The bathroom was very poor. Having paid top money we did not expect a chipped bath, painted tile grouting which was peeling off and black mold in places. I have the photos. I found a small bottle of mouthwash and a hair grip in the bathroom cupboard.The door frame had been hastily repainted and the other side had no paint on at all. The verandah furniture had been badly repainted too.It was tatty. HAL proclaim they are saving the planet but having a spa bath is very wasteful and not hygienic. Climbing into a bath to have a shower is so last century and dangerous to the elderly in rough weather.

The food was excellent. The 'open dining' idea is good as you meet different people every meal. Lunch in the LIDO was a bit of a scramble and the meal could be cold by the time you found a table. The drinks policy is archaic. Other cruise lines allow you to purchase drinks ashore. The wines were far too expensive and people said they had never drunk so little at table.

The ship is considered a 'hotel' but the cost of wifi was disgraceful. They said it was because it was satellite. Most people would have been happy with any wifi near a port FREE.

Cabin Review

Verandah Suite

Cabin A

Our Verandah stateroom was clean but dated. The bathroom was very poor. Having paid top money we did not expect a chipped bath, painted tile grouting which was peeling off and black mold in places. I have the photos. I found a small bottle of mouthwash and a hair grip in the bathroom cupboard.The door frame had been hastily repainted and the other side had no paint on at all. The verandah furniture had been badly repainted too.It was tatty. HAL proclaim they are saving the planet but having a spa bath is very wasteful and not hygienic. Climbing into a bath to have a shower is so last century and dangerous to the elderly in rough weather.

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