Reasonable fares, new and well conceived programs and a decent ship do not make a for a good cruise, it is really about the experience provided by the staff and crew.

Seriously disappointing, that is the only way to describe this cruise and it is all on HAL and the Eurodam leadership. Note that this is after giving them a pass on choppy seas, the overflowing toilet in our cabin, non-working toilets in public area restrooms, two safety alarms (one for an incinerator flue fire and the other for what sounded like a burst sprinkler head in a food storage area) and evenings on board that ranged from subdued to somnolent.

Despite a decent and low key itinerary, the delightful “Music Walk” experience, a quality dining experience in the Pinnacle grill and the absence of upselling, this cruise was marred by, with few exceptions, a failure of the Eurodam crew and staff to understand that they are in the Hospitality business (like a hotel or land based resort). The ships officers were aloof and arrogant (more on this later), and staff generally clueless as to their importance in delivering service. The any-time dining was poorly executed with widely variable wait times, poor estimates on such times, and a lack of intimate seating available. In addition, seating was cramped and the staff seemed more concerned with turning the table than providing an acceptable dining experience. Activities, relative to other similar sized ships, were sparse. Staff often seemed to be more interested in social interactions with other staff members than doing their jobs (as an example on each of my daily visits to the Explorations Café, I observed and heard the same children’s program staff member talking to any other staff member that would listen to her, including when she was allegedly running a scavenger hunt for the children)…note that off duty staff/entertainers appear to congregate here for their morning latte. Ships officers were only visible when they were present in the Lido market, forcing passengers to search for the rare open table. The passenger fronting staff only exacerbated this problem by also grabbing tables and lingering over their meals. Given that this was a full ship, such behavior was unconscionable and showed a direct and unmistakable lack of concern/disregard for the people that are paying their salaries. Read more