We came back to HAL after a five year absence when they offered a great casino rate for a Panama Canal cruise which had been on our "someday" list for a long time. Eurodam fits through the old locks on the canal, which makes for a more interesting transit. We kicked in for the Club Orange to let us choose one of the CQ cabins in front on deck 10 instead of the guarantee oceanview in the base ...
We are HA fans after multiple cruises but as others said their reputation is not what it once was. We had never done a cruise with so many sea days in a row so was uncertain if that was for us. While we survived there was not a lot to do on sea days except eat and for some to complain; the trip back to San Diego was more stressful than the trip from SD to Hawaii. Much had changed in just a week as ...
We were on the Eurodam from San Diego - 3/1 - 18/20 to Hawaii. This was during the Grand Princess from Hawaii to San Francisco, that docked finally in Oakland. We were all concerned about corona virus positive crew or passenger(s) being on board our ship. The Captain gave us daily updates, changes in hand sanitizer use, cleaning, food being served only in buffet, etc. and lack corona cases. ...
We like long cruises. It was depressing wh the number of wheelchairs and walkers. Men coming to dinner in faded jeans and baseball caps. They are very very stingy with food in the dining room. Vegetables were usually mushy spinach. One day I had one half of a Brussel sprout. The next day I asked if I could have extra sprouts, I received 2 halfs! My husband received a pile of mashed ...
Location of travel. Not a good experience with room staff that took an item from the room, Onboard shops pushy, harassing and unethical. Food was average and allowed many people on excursions and onboard move around the ship that were sick in lite of the Corona Virus issue. Almost on a daily basis, I was standing in a food line while someone was sneezing, on a bus or tender coughing and sneezing, ...
Very clean, well appointed ship.
Dining @Lido and Dining Room was usually top rate. Lots of variety, well presented, variety of options through the cruise.
Staff, without exception, were terrific for the whole cruise - friendly, responsive and efficient.
Cabin steward was very responsive and helpful - very knowledgeable.
On board entertainment - numerous and varied - from magicians ...
We’ve sailed in HAL and I find they have excellent service. This was no different. I really loved the itinerary (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and the Bahamas) and they had great choices for shore excursions. It was a lovely way to experience the canal and parts of Central and South America. Delicious food too. The ship is a little dated. Wonderful entertainment ...
My sister is a 4 time mariner and after the loss of her husband of 56 years asked me to join her for a cruise that she and my brother-in-law had wanted to take during Thanksgiving. I did! I am 58 and had such a great time. I went without picking up any internet packages (no phone calls/texting, no FB...., -I called my husband 3 times in 16 days to check in. I was able to relax like I ...
This is our 4th cruise this year. First cruise with HAL. We were in a Neptune suite.
I will start with the things that were nice - friendly people, efficient embarkation and disembarkation, the food in the Pinnacle (cost extra) restaurant was good.
MY opinions:
Food and dining: Overall choices timing and availability of food was poor. Whenever I went to the Lido Market they were ...
I cruise on holland america because they are the line that Legendary Blues Cruise charters. I would NEVER pay to go on this line otherwise. This last trip, end of october 2019, was especially bad. The food, especially the desserts and baked goods, were a travesty! While there was occasionally a decent item- flourless choc. cake, the popover rolls on the salad bar, I found most items to range ...