Rotterdam Review

4.0 / 5.0
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Hey HAL... it could be worse!

Review for Transatlantic Cruise on Rotterdam
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CharlieOnTheWaves
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Jul 2016
Cabin: Vista Suite

HAL is a cruise line with some problems as far as I can tell from the experience on this cruise. The itineraries are unique and that's a plus (This one covered Iceland, Shetland islands, Greenland and Canada) The ship's size is smaller and that's a plus... So don't go expecting all of the bells and whistles of an Allure of the Seas etc etc. But the service attitude of the corporate line itself is stiff/inflexible and makes one question to use them. We booked our flight on Icelandair (CAUTION!!!! TO ALL RE Great rates to Europe on Icelandair) who managed to take our transfer window of time in Rekyavik and consume it doing nothing as they tried to figure out that the plane they had on the ground was too small for the number of people they booked) Needless to say we got in late to Amsterdam and too late to get to the ship. I had booked the transfers from the airport with HAL but guess what.... No one there when we arrived. Call the emergency line... get put on hold after we called (international rates ticking away) and no on answered in two calls of over 20 minutes wait. The port agent wasn't engaged or concerned (That is when we finally got her number from the driver who was supposed to be there to pick us up... his number being posted on a general pickup board without much indication of anyone concerned or waiting on us!)

Turns out a lot of folks missed connections on this cruise. Those that booked the air with HAL (some of them actually turned out to be on our flight too) got attention and assist. Us, even though we had their transfers etc.... got nothing. We spent about $2500 additional in two days catching up to the ship in Bergen. And yes we had travel insurance, but beware cruisers... .look closely at that coverage... ours was $150/person per day for a max total allowed of $300 per trip and if you aren't delayed more than six hours you get zilch.... so that additional $400/person was equally a waste!!! Our delay would qualify only as 3hours.

Now having said all of this, the cruise because of the itinerary and the other passengers was still good. Most of the folks on board were really experienced cruisers (and yes older!) But they improved the tone and focus of the cruise itself.

Cabin Review

Vista Suite

Routine balcony. Not unique but nice

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