Let’s start with the basics: this is an old ship with old décor and design badly in need of full dry dock rehab, and a very old clientele (mostly 60-80 age). If this is your cup of tea, then this is your ship. For perspective on our experience, we have cruised on Princess, Celebrity, Cunard, RCL, Viking and Seaborne cruise lines. This was our first with HAL and unfortunately, it’s one and done.

First the good, and it’s short. The entire ship’s crew, from the cabin stewards, to the waiters and bartenders, to the maintenance crew were some of the best I’ve seen. Their attention to making your voyage memorable through their service was outstanding. Our waiters at table #50 (Libre and Oka) were wonderful and kept us entertained with magic and conversation while providing excellent service. Secondly, the food in the dining room, specialty restaurants and buffet Lido deck was good to excellent. Thirdly, I ordered a bottle of liquor (gin) for $37 for cabin consumption and was surprised to see that it was a full liter bottle with three cans of mixer---an excellent value.

Fourthly, excursions from HAL were a good experience as well. Our “villa” rental on Half Moon Cay was worth the money. Not much to do on Aruba so rented a taxi and went to Eagle beach. Took the “Native Village” tour in Panama and that was interesting. In Costa Rica we took the 7 hour “Adrenaline Rush Zip Line Rain Forest” tour and it was excellent---11 zip lines, very safe as someone like me who’s afraid of heights can attest. Great bus guide (Ray) who provided interesting history and facts about the country as we rolled along to and from the rain forest. Read more