holland vista first time

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holland vista first time
Reviewed By: barber, HIGH WYCOMBE on 19th May 2009
Cruise Line: Holland America Cruises	Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: MS Westerdam	Sailed: April, 2009
Destination: Panama Canal	Age: 46-55

this is our 10 on holland america and second on a on a vista ship. first the negatives. the ship is very well laid out and there our lots of lounges, but i found it hard on this cruise to find a quite area to read in. as there was always it seemed somthing going on and the libary now is closed and you now have a internet center, libary,bar, cafe and bingo hall all in one room crazy, the queens lounge which is a sinema demenstartion kitchen is very badly designed as only as few lucky people can see the screen or the kitchen display as not at all ramped like a proper cinema as on older ships and so some our lucky and most our not, it seemed nearly every day we had art auctions which seemed over the top to me. on a three week cruise we managed two production shows where on a older ship we had 4 in sixteen days, and i felt they were a little poor as the dance and sining group had just arrived. and a couple of the entertainers were very poor one evening being joked about by tha captain that he could do a better job. they have removed al trays in the buffet called the lido so now one plate at a time so now numerous visits to get starter bread drinks main course and desert and if like me you have to do it for some one else who is disabled its hard going and there did not seem to be the offers of help like we have had on the smaller ships and that was when they had trays. the food is subjective but thought was very good and would have beeb exceptional if had been served hot. fed up with sending back nearly every day through waiter section manager and even speaking with head chef on his own after kitchen visit as found it funy that room service could provide very hot foof five floors away but only warm in kitchen to dining room ajasent. to me it seem there was a lack of things flowing smoothly, like you would order tea with milk some times you would get the pot with out the tea or with out the milk and then would have to wait five or ten minutes for the item it just seemed that things did not flow smoothly. and it seemd there was a lack of planning activities as far more things seemed to clash and stop you seeing one thing after another. one thing would start half way the middle of somthing else so you could not see that.even though there were empty rooms that could be used. and there were que for the next avent in the same room and another would be empty. the positives. the cabin was large and very comfatable very nice spa and helth suite onboard. no crowding could flow of movment. the crewe were freindly and happy. very good childrens club if required. very good bands and music. i hope this gives you a idea of a vista ship i will look myslef at smaller ships as have traveld on larger ships celebriaty and carnival and found them far better in this size and will return to holland on a smaller ship 1300 passengers next year. maybe its just the westerdam or me but felt more 3 star that the usual 5 star that i have recived in the past.
Quality of Food

Entertainment

Shore Excursions

Staff
slightly disapointed from the past inpresions
Children's Facilities

Onboard Activities

Cabins

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Comment by barber, HIGH WYCOMBE (19 May 09 18:39) about this REVIEW

i glitched on the stars staff 4 star food 3 star overall 3 star entertainment 2star my mistake and it froze when i tryed to submit so think i goofed but the review is right

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Comment by Morton, Cheshire (19 May 09 19:56) about a COMMENT by barber (19 May 09 18:39)

That's OK. I too am a seasoned HAL cruiser and I just felt your * awarding was suspect, Cheers for replying. [What will it take to improve the entertainment!!]

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Comment by Morton, Cheshire (19 May 09 18:20) about this REVIEW

We too questioned the lack of trays and were told it was due to the fact they cannot be disinfected after use and considering the attention paid to hygiene, we accepted that explanation. Shame about the food. We had fabulous fare last Feb. Entertainment on HAL has been dreadful in our experience over the last 20 years, so no change there then. Don't you think considering the number of *'s you've given in some areas and the fact you said 'more 3* than 5*' that 1* is a little harsh?

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Comment by Mike, Durban South Africa (21 May 09 15:22) about a COMMENT by Morton (19 May 09 18:20)

Of course trays can be sanitised, they simply go through the dishwasher - the same as they always have done. Someone is fobbing you off with rubbish excuses. Princess do not supply trays either and it is a pain. I see Celebrity are also getting rid of them, of course they also used to carry your tray for you but they have stopped doing that as well.

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Comment by Morton, Cheshire (22 May 09 09:17) about a COMMENT by Mike (21 May 09 15:22)

Nobody is saying the trays can't be sanitised. It is the logistics of continually sanitizing every tray after every single use that the cruise lines are dealing with. Yes. the answer is more trays but then you have the man power problem which translates into hard cash and there lies the main issue......Smiling staff were always on hand to help.So no, I don't think we were 'fobbed off'. We are sensible enough to see the real underlying issue, health and cash.

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