My wife and I have sailed with HAL several times and have enjoyed them. We were on the Noordam when she first came out and had a great time. This cruise was not good from day one.
Embarkation: Was a disaster. According to HAL officials, we were embarking at a pier that HAL does not usually use. The Gang Plank was not steady, so only a few people at a time could embark. Also the computer that reads room keys was not fully functioning so again this limited how many people could embark at one time. We waited over two hours to embark.
Lido Buffet: Once on board everyone went to get lunch. The buffet was utter chaos. Due to preventative measures we were not allowed to get our own drinks or food. This went on for three days. Patience and nerves were strained already. This was supposed to be a vacation.