This was our second time on the Veendam (last time: November, 2002 to western Caribbean), and this experience was so different (and not just because of the destination:Alaska!), I felt I needed to say something.

The good: there are great new beds: thick, comfortable mattresses, the best we've seen on any ship in 20 cruises. The same: friendly, happy crew especially in the dining room. Mediocre shows and activities; this is never HAL's strength, and this cruise was no different or maybe a little worse than usual. In several ports, local talent who just came on board for the evening was used...I don't think most of them will be sought after for engagements in the lower 48 anytime soon; enough said... Great breads and stirfry in the Lido. We didn't go to the Pinnacle (alternative dining room, $20 a person charge), but others who did go said it was quite good.

The bad: This was where the real difference was; and we talked to others with similar complaints, so it wasn't just us. To begin with, this ship WASN'T shipshape! Three elevators out of eight were out of order all week, and we never saw anyone working on any of them. The laundry room on our floor was also out of order all week. A chair in the Crow's Nest not only had split upholstery, but the stuffing was hanging out! Not at all the way this ship used to be. We were given one small bottle of shampoo that ran out on Tuesday and was never replaced; since we heard others whose cabins were on other floors say the same thing, we know it wasn't just our steward...Food portions were small; on formal night, we got HALF a lobster tail (that's actually what the menu said: "HALF a lobster tail"...) One man at our table complained that portions were so small, he automatically ordered two to start with at each meal...We couldn't help but wonder: Is this cruise line in financial trouble? Why the poor maintenance and stinginess? Read more