This was our second HAL cruise and the 1st on the Maasdam. It is easy to see why some like her, she is compact and easy to navigate but she badly needs her re-fit.

Embarkation was a breeze and our luggage was in the cabin as we finished lunch - nice cabin but showing signs of wear. Air conditioning seemed to be stuck on a comfortable temperature but this was not the case for others near us who were constantly cold and one couple needed a heater to keep warm at night. There were also problems with the plumbing in nearby cabins but ours was fine. Our big problem was with the doorlock which rejected our cards on an almost daily basis and we lost count of the times we stood at the front desk to get them replaced - eventually, the locksmith managed to fix it [after 3 days] and Seattle gave us a $100 room credit for our trouble.

The staff throughout were excellent and a credit to HAL. Entertainment was hit and miss - overall just ok. Food was disappointing, especially the main courses which often arrived cold [we had 8pm seating] and tough - starters, breads and soups were good but we all agreed that deserts were poor. Breakfast in the Lido suffered from overcrowding and a lack of choice and in the MDR from a lack of speed! Lunches were ok. Read more