Noordam Review
Rating by category
Additional details
We decided to take a slow and indulgent route back to Canada from Australia and this cruise seemed perfect...and in general it was. Embarkation was quick and easy and the crew very welcoming. The ports were excellent with a great mix of culture thrown in for good measure. The dining experience was very good, thanks mainly to 2 very attentive waiters and a section manager who really seemed committed to ensuring the best service for his passengers. The ship was good too with a fair mix of things to do in the evening...not always to our taste, but you can't please everybody.
Without doubt the staff, as is usual for many cruise lines, are the stars of the show, making our time on board a very relaxing experience...until we went back to our cabin each night. As we readied ourselves for bed we would wonder what time the noise would begin in the morning
For some reason HAL decided to upgrade us from the large inside we'd chosen at booking to an obstructed outside, despite us requesting 'no upgrades'. Most mornings we were woken by either Deck Hands noisily rearranging furniture, engineers carrying out maintenance on the lifeboat or gear outside our window, or others readying the lifeboat for tender duty.
Cabin Review
Large Outside Stateroom (fully obstructed views)
Apart from the noise the cabin was very comfortable, clean and generally well maintained. Stewards were very good and very quick to get any housekeeping issues sorted.
Port Reviews
Sydney (Australia)
Sydney is just great, with so much to see and do. Even docking at the White Bay Terminal it's easy to get to the heart of the city via a water taxi to Kings Street Wharf in Darling Harbour. From there a walk takes you to Queen Victoria Arcade for some great architecture and shopping, or another water taxi will take you round to Circular Quay.
The Opera House and the Botanical Gardens next to it are a must see, not forgetting a walk around 'The Rocks' district and maybe a beer or two. Of course a trip to Bondi is also a must and the Hop On Hop Off buses were great value for money.