Volendam Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Any relationship is based on trust. After close to 200 days sailing with HAL, I expect that I will be treated with respect and the trust I put into the company to work in my best interest be upheld. I do not know how HAL will heal the distrust I hold after this trip. I realize that Carnival, the "mother-ship" holds all the cards. But as an "almost" 4 Star Mariner, I will not be back on board for quite a while.
I went through 4 cabins (Deck 2 forward... brown water; Deck 1 midship...vibrations; Deck 3 aft...a constant "thumping"; Deck 2 forward...brown water) before realizing the situation had no remedy on this cruise.
The "GI" outbreak began about 4 days into the cruise (and must be noted that it was held in check by immediate attention).Though there was no handling of common items as newspapers and books, salt and pepper shakers, handshaking...the casino stayed open. Though the staff did disinfect the casino before and after operations, the cards, chips and slot machines were handled by any number of possibly contaminated people. I guess there is a price to the passenger's welfare!
Cabin Review
Large Ocean-View Stateroom
On March 2, I walked into the (upgraded) cabin I was assigned to find "brown water" coming from my sink, tub and settled in my toilet. When I asked the cabin attendant he said they were working on the pipes. As days go by, I find the probable was quite pervasive on the ship, not limited to one area or deck. Why was I assigned an "unprepared" cabin?
Two weeks and three cabins later, I accepted the fact that I would be dealing with contaminated water. I didn't just "let the water run until it was clear" as suggested, I asked for a supply of bottled water. Though the GI breakout was put on the guests, I wonder if the unclean water people drank and bathed in was a contributing factor.
The travelers coming onto the ship in Singapore were offered their money back or rescheduled cruises if they decided not to cruise. The guests on the ship were made no such offer, we were just considered "trapped rats".