I only chose this cruise because it left from my home town so no planes or hotels required. It was something I wanted to try ever since we moved to San Diego in 2015. Husband didn't want to go so a friend went instead. I had been on one HAL cruise a few years ago, and several other cruises before that over the years. My mom had cruised extensively and was a 4 star Mariner. I went on her last cruise on the Noordam five years ago and she would have been appalled at the decline on this line.

Service appeared to be at classic cruise levels, but much of that was just on the surface. Almost all the staff were polite and responsive, but there were definite comprehension problems. If your request or question was anything outside the norm, staff often seemed confused. The room was cleaned every day but dirty dishes were not removed if not on a room service tray. Wine glasses were not replaced towards the end of the week. The chef parade at the end of the second gala night was really a joke.

We went to tea - the little sandwiches and pastries were good. I don't really drink tea but if I was a serious tea drinker, might not have liked the one kind of tea being poured from a pitcher rather than brewed to order. The other food experience I did enjoy was the Chocolate Surprise, as it was described in the program. It was on formal night and turned out to be waiters ranging all over deck two starting at 9:45 pm with mini chocolate desserts. I guess this replaced any kind of midnight buffet or the dessert buffet we had on the Noordam several years ago. Read more