Added Maasdam Review

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sail7seas

Guest
Thank you, John ....on my way to read it right now. Goody...it's a long one. Can never hear (read) enough about that "dam" ship :)
 
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sail7seas

Guest
Just read your review, John, and I thank you so much for taking the time to write such an excellent, well considered, comprehensive report.

I agree with a great deal of what you wrote...Particularly re: the stewards, Rotterdam dining room, and...Petrus.....He has been our wine steward several times (including our last back-to-back in August. We adore him.

I smiled as you related some of the various entrees etc you particularly liked. Sounds like you and I ordered (and enjoyed) many of the same offerings....like the Black Bean Quesadillas. lol I, too, enjoy their pizza and think their Filet Mignon excellent...and the green pea soup. Arghh...I'm getting myself hungry.

Like you, we have been to the Caribbean dozens of times and most of the ports are not important to us. Grand Cayman and Ochos Rios are, to us, a chance to have the ship mostly to ourselves when everyone disembarks. We grab our lounges at Navigation Pool and enjoy the quiet....and the extra play time with those darling stewards. I agree that it is a good idea to consider dropping one of the ports to allow a decent amount of time in the other.

Did you by chance have any encounters with the delightful Guest Relations Manager, Paula, or Bar Manager, Twinkle? They are fabulous ladies and folks we always enjoy sailing with. Maitre d' Jodie ...such a delightful gentleman. Exec Chef Mike Mahn is amazing....terrificly talented IMO and a wonderful sense of humor...very friendly. He looks so impressive (and handsome :) )standing in his chef's jacket and toque when introduced in the dining room. Really tall/ powerful guy!! Can easily picture him lifting huge pots off his stove!

I love your descriptions of Maasdam...to my eyes, she is a beauty and just the perfect size.

I am mostly glad that "MY" ship and HAL didn't disappoint you. :)
 
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Keith & Rita

Guest
Hi John,

Great review of the Maasdam. Having sailed her for our anniversary in Feb, 01 it brought back fond memories. HAL is our favorite cruise line, and the Statendam class is our favorite size cruise ship.
Happy cruising!
 
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sail7seas

Guest
Keith & Rita...It's embarrassing to admit we have been on more than thirty HAL cruises. We had six cruises (several back-to-backs) on Maasdam in the last fifteen or so months and twice on Zaandam in that same time period. Prior to that series of cruises, we had been on Maasdam maybe four times previously?? I've lost track lol

We adore Maasdam and her wonderful crew...and Zaandam is right up there high on our list.
We have been on her about five times total...but cruised Zaandam last Thanksgiving and again Feb. 2002. She's a wonderful ship...slightly larger than Maasdam but all of the public areas are layed out exactly the same.

Biggest differences between Maasdam and Zaandam are a "really ugly atrium" (in our opinion---but many agree :), and both pools are on Lido deck...instead of the back pool being on Navigation. It is very much the same but one deck up as they added more cabins on Zaandam to the aft of the ship.
 
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sail7seas

Guest
Keith & Rita...It's embarrassing to admit we have been on more than thirty HAL cruises. We had six cruises (several back-to-backs) on Maasdam in the last fifteen or so months and twice on Zaandam in that same time period. Prior to that series of cruises, we had been on Maasdam maybe four times previously?? I've lost track lol

We adore Maasdam and her wonderful crew...and Zaandam is right up there high on our list.
We have been on her about five times total...but cruised Zaandam last Thanksgiving and again Feb. 2002. She's a wonderful ship...slightly larger than Maasdam but all of the public areas are layed out exactly the same.

Biggest differences between Maasdam and Zaandam are a "really ugly atrium" (in our opinion---but many agree :), and both pools are on Lido deck...instead of the back pool being on Navigation. It is very much the same but one deck up as they added more cabins on Zaandam to the aft of the ship.

If you enjoyed Maasdam, I am quite sure you would also enjoy Zaandam. They both have outstanding crews IMO and we have had many truly wonderful cruises on each.

If you have any particular questions, please feel free to ask...

Happy cruising.
 
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sail7seas

Guest
Sorry ...I hit post by accident :( before I added the last paragraphs to my post....so most of the second post is a duplicate....except for the end.
 
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linon1968

Guest
john, thank you for you honest and great review, I agree with you after several cruises with Hal and Celebrity, IMHO Celebrity is much better at dinner, but the breakfast and lunch buffet at Hal is by far the nicest!
 
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WindyCity

Guest
Loved your review. I am new to this site & to cruising and am trying to glean as much information as I can. We still have 6 months until our cruise, but I guess I am truly a cruise addict (my family calls me that). Although we are sailing on the Zaandam to Alaska, I think HAL is basically the same with all of their ships. Thanks for the review.
 
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Keith & Rita

Guest
sail7seas,

>> Keith & Rita...It's embarrassing to admit we have been on more than thirty HAL cruises. We had six cruises (several back-to-backs) on Maasdam in the last fifteen or so months and twice on Zaandam in that same time period. <<

Don't be embarrassed, we are envious of you! We just completed our ninth cruise, which was on the Rhapsody out of Galveston. It was a great cruise, however, we are ready to plan our fifth HAL cruise. They, in our opinion, are still the best when comparing them to Celebrity, Carnival, & RCI. That is not to take anything away from the others, as all of our cruises have been great!
 
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sail7seas

Guest
Happy cruise planning, Keith & Rita. To @ddicts, there are few things that give us more pleasure than planning a cruise. :)
 
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