While many of the reviews here are quite wordy and detailed , im just not going to do that !!! i think what i have to say will be taken a wisely as what i DONT say , From the other reviewers on here you will know the details of this cruise , so i dont see any point in duplication of effort. we were influenced to go on Holland America by their advertising as well as some other reviews , Big Mistake !!! , we were under the impression that HAL was a very high quality line somewhere in the genre of Celebrity of days past before they were bought out, VERY MUCH not the case.
the pros: our stateroom was excellent, could possibly one of the nicest we have every had , thanks to our travel agent who suggested the upgrade. our cabin steward was excellent, the staff in the up charge dining room Pinnacle, was also very good. the overall ship was clean and well kept.
the cons. most of the staff were average at best, lots of make believe friendly faces by a crew that was clearly prompted and scripted, as when you got beyond that most of who i spoke with couldn't even understand me . HAL is very Average at best, the LIDO Buffet was a nightmare of logistical chaos my wife and i were almost never able to eat together as we were always have to make several trips for food selections. i have read some other reviews and i really have to wonder if they were on the same cruise as i. one simple example the poolside grill .always a minimum of 20-25 min waits for even a hot dog!! the main dining room was better and the food was also , But by no means spectacular or even exceptional. my wife and i are experienced cruisers and average one -two a year , i guess the best way to make my point is if you think Olive Garden is really good food then you will like HAL food There was a constant reminder that the cruise ship is concerned for its profit margins as there was non stop selling on the ship in every way from going to the spa for sell-ups to always being asked at the lounges if you want "a double" even the Television in our room played non stop advertising of HAL almost to brain wash you into thinking "Hey were the best" i will tell you in all fairness, this cruise line as i have now been told numerous times is geared way more to a much more vintage crowd not that im a youngster anymore but 80% of this ship was over 70 , witnessed by the fact that we had 5 medical emergencies of relative serious nature.
Was the crew attentive? yes but i feel that i shouldnt have always ask for things that should the rule and not the exception. I really think that this last statement really says it all. if you have cruised on Oceania or Crystal etc then decide to cruise on a line such as HAL you will be very very disappointed if you have always cruised on lines such as HAL and move up to Oceania you will be spoiled forever !!! i would simply say that HAL is just Average.
