Maasdam Review

4.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

My first HAL Cruise – Good but not the best

Review for Canada & New England Cruise on Maasdam
User Avatar
jp2001
6-10 Cruises • Age 20s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: May 2011

In this review, I will give you my honnest impressions for different aspects of this Canada-New England Cruise on the Maasdam in May. Every section of my review will include my overall impression and then some details. If you want the long story short, just read the first paragraph of each section.BACKGROUND My name is Julie (32), I'm from Quebec City, Canada and this was my 8th cruise, 2nd with a roomate found on the internet, and first on HAL (others have been with NCL and one B2B TA on Cunard). Also my first Canada-New England cruise but I knew all the ports from previous road trips.THE BARGAINI got this cruise for only 520$pp taxes included, and this is a great deal for a HAL cruise and I needed a vacation very bad so I jumped on this deal.I was looking for a one-week vacation and was lucky enough to find a roomate on the internet. We agreed on certain things and talked over the phone prior to book. It worked out very well and, as a bonus, this lady's son is in the travel industry and got a good price for us.TRAVELLING TO BOSTONI opted for the train from Quebec City to Montreal and then the overnight bus to Boston. Everything went very smoothly.I live near Quebec City, QC, Canada and when I take a cruise out of New York or Boston, I always take the overnight bus. It's definitely more affordable than the plane and the schedule works better than the train. I had VIA Rail points to use so I splurge for the business class train ride, which included a good meal with wine - What a great way to relax to start the vacation!EMBARKATION PROCESS I was at the port quite early (around 10:30 I think) but had to wait longer than on any of my previous cruises.I had only a carry-on size suitcase plus a backpack so I didn't check any luggage and went directly inside the terminal. The security lines were not very long but then it was a little confusing what you were supposed to do. Actually, you were supposed to receive a number to check-in but didn't get one. Then I saw it, asked for one and they called my number for check-in quite fast. This is where it gets worse.I am with the check-in agent, tells him the room number they assigned me over the phone the day before (and for which I never got a written confirmation). As per his computer other people are in this room. One good thing though, my roomate is with the agent right beside me so we get to meet right there at the counter. We had to stand at the counter about half an hour before they would finally confirm that we have a cabin. I was getting scared since I knew the cruise was fully booked. But they couldn't give us our room keys, we would have to go to the reception desk to get it. Then I asked if there is really nothing they could do because the reception desk is usually a mad house on embarkation. After a little while, they said they could give us VIP boarding passes so there would be no line at the desk when we would board. Thank you, we really appreciated that and the VIP lounge had nicer chairs that did put a balm on my stress not to get a room.THE SHIP The Maasdam is a very nice older ship that was in drydock just a few weeks before so it was spotless and didn't feel crowded (except on embarkation day, at the Lido). We had an inside room, deck 5 aft. It was a nice room with plenty of storage space for 2 (8 drawers, 2 sections of the wardrobe with place to hang clothes and a shelf at the top and at the bottom + a third portion with the safe, some shelves and a place to hand shirts or other shorter clothes. There was also a long sofa but from there, you couldn't use the TV remote due to the TV shelf angle, you had to stand up (minor thing for my roomate - I don't watch TV on vacation).The bathroom was roomy for cruise ship interior stateroom standards. Beige walls and floor tiles, chocolate brown with metal flakes counter. There was 3 small shelves on each side of the counter + a bigger shelf under the counter, plenty of space for us, but we packed light.FOOD Food is very subjective, but here is my opinion: Good to very good but it's the first cruise where I can't find food when I want it.I'm not a buffet person and it was a disappointment for me that the dining room was not open for lunch on embarkation day (HAL is supposed to have a Mariners lunch but it was not open due to some water problem they had; they just had enough time to make food for the buffet). NCL, which is supposed to be a lower category cruise line does this better, offering you both options no matter your Lattitudes status). I went to the buffet and the only reason I didn't leave is that I was starving. It was extremely crowded but at least the food was decent. What I found very annoying is that there were times where you couldn't get anything to eat (unless you call room service). One day, I woke up at around 8am, went to the gym, used the sauna, showered and got ready just to find a buffet that had just closed (at 10:30), they would serve no food before 11:30 when lunch would be served. I was very happy to have a banana in my room because I was very hungry after my good workout. Same thing at night, if you have fixed seating but think you can go to the buffet instead, you have to go before 8pm otherwise it's closed until late night snack (around 11pm if I am not mistaken). Good thing, I was with a friend I met on the cruise and he had anytime dinning so we were able to go there. Otherwise, the only option would have been room service. I don't like that, I want to eat when I am hungry. One good thing though, the buffet quality was better than on my previous cruises.The dining room food was good to very good but the very slow service sent me away from the DR a few nights. The portion were perfect for me. Canaletto was a very good experience with excellent food and great service.I ordered room service one morning and it was delivered on time and I even got peanut butter which I asked for but was not on the card - Good. SHIP ONBOARD ACTIVITIES Since there were only one sea-day, I didn't get bored but HAL doesn't compare to Cunard in regards to activities. I went to both CC get together (one for sailaway which was very quick and the formal one that I organised for the only sea day. I am sorry to report that despite that I sent many personnalized invitations, not one officer showed up at our meeting; this was disapointing. On NCL, you always have MANY officers who come to the meeting and answer your questions for a good half-hour. Of course, it was still very nice to meet fellow CC. I missed the art auctions (they don't have them anymore) but it's probably better for my wallet. I played bridge with fellow guests a few times and had fun. I enjoyed the Indonesian tea time in the DR and it was a nice experience with the best tea I ever had (sorry, can't remember the name).The jewellery shop had very nice costume jewellery at very decent price; I bought a necklace and I was happy because I had been looking for a necklace to go with a specific dress and found it there. I used the gym most mornings and it was the best view on the ship and well equiped. I also purchased a thermal suite pass (I found another woman who was looking to share a pass for 2 - no, you don't have to be in stateroom; it was 150$ for one or 180$ for 2). For 90$ each, it was really worth it. One word of caution in using the heated loungers. Use a towel under you or otherwise you might burn. I had been in the hot tub so thought my bathing suit would dry faster without a towel under me and got asleep on this chair for about 40 minutes but when I saw my back in the mirror, it was very red and itchy (like a minor sunburn, nothing major).At night, except for the show, it was a dead ship. I am not a party girl but on vacation, I like to dance a little but there were only a few people in the Crow's Nest and definitely not a party atmosphere. The quartet was excellent, as was the opera male signer.FELLOW PASSENGERS I was expecting an older crowd and it was for the most part but people I met were very nice and most were also young at heart. One thing that bugged me a little is that I was expecting HAL passengers to put a little effort in the way they dressed for dinner but I have to admit that most people really didn't care at all (especially women... what are we becoming?). I was glad I didn't bring my long gowns, I already felt overdressed with my fancy cocktail dresses on formal nights and regular cocktail dresses for other nights. but it was not at all.Unfortunately, I didn't get to know my tablemates that well because the first night only my roomate and another gentleman showed up, then we were 5 one night, then I wanted to try Canaletto (I was getting tired of VERY SLOW service in the DR). When I came back to my table the following night (4 minutes late), there was another couple who was asking if they still had room for them so I let them sit there and asked the Maitre D' to find me another table for that night and those tablemates were a little younger and we had a lot of fun.Another night, I just wanted to go to the buffet but ended up in the DR with a friend who had Anytime Dinning since the buffet was closed (as mentionned previously). SHIP OFFICERS/CREW The ship officers were nice but I was disapointed that not one of them showed up a the CC meeting. Crew members were mostly excellent.PORTS I had been to all of these ports in the past so it wasn't a big deal for me that many days were rainy but it must have been disapointing for people who were in the area for the first time.CONCLUSION This cruise was a nice vacation, mostly due to the people I met, but I don't think I will cruise HAL again since the are usually more expensive than NCL and I didn't like the atmosphere as much (and I think I just like Freestyle cruising too much).

Cabin Review

previous reviewnext review

Find a cruise

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.