This was our first HAL cruise. We had been told that the service on HAL was better than other lines and we have to agree. The staff seems genuinely happy with being their and doing their job. Our cabin steward was rarely seen, but everything was always taken care of.

The ship itself is pretty tired. There are windows that have lost the seal so are cloudy; some of the furniture is worn and, there were quite a few significant leaks throughout the ship when it rained. Many times several of the public restrooms were out of order. None of this was enough to spoil anything on our trip but HAL seriously needs to think about putting this ship in dry dock.

The food in the dining room was always good but I wouldn't consider it outstanding. I do like that they have made the portions a nice size. The service was excellent. The food in the Lido was just average. You don't serve yourself; a good idea. The salad bar was good and always crowded. The pre-made sandwiches were ok and easy to grab. The hot food selection was limited. There was always an Asian section - I wish they would alrternate this with Mediterranean and Indian. The issue with the Lido is trying to find a table to sit at. It was a zoo. Read more