As seniors we have many fine memories of U.S. and World travels including over 20 cruises on major lines... all modern, newer ships with well-trained personnel. Since cruise lines use older ships on the Bermuda route, we booked the 14-year-old MS Veendam based on its "EXTENSIVE 2009 REFURBISHING". We soon learned "you can put lipstick on a pig ... but it's still a pig". We are just too disappointed not to let other travelers know that the first-class cruise we booked to Bermuda from New York on August 8 did not measure up.

We enthusiastically boarded Sunday afternoon. Instead of a friendly welcome by an HAL officer, we were handed a "discount coupon" by spa personnel and directed to the Lido deck until our cabin was ready. (Where was the live music, a friendly hello, or a flute of champagne to welcome passengers that we experienced on many other boardings?) We immediately saw that the Lido pool area looked tired and worn, unappealing! We were glad we no longer are sun worshipers and would not be using the pool. YES, FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING.

When we reached our cabin, it took 4 tries to get the key card to work before realizing the computerized door lock unit was loose. We had booked a BA Veranda Suite and on past first-class fare cruises we found a welcome gift of wine waiting for us, but this cruise we entered a dark,drably decorated cabin with all 9 drawers of the vanity hanging open and A TERRIBLE SMELL - like a musty basement, or moldy wet towels or a stagnant pond in summer! We opened hallway and balcony doors for fresher air then went immediately to the front desk to report both problems. (At least HAL front desk staff showed interest.) Read more