Koningsdam Review
NOTHING can compensate a Guest for an Excessively Noisy Room
Review for the Southern Caribbean Cruise on Koningsdam
Traveling Architect
10+ Cruises • Age 60s
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Additional details
Sail Date: Feb 2020
Cabin: Verandah Stateroom
Boarding:
Not an ideal situation. The evening before our departure we received notice that due to norovirus our boarding would be delayed. Good news is we were getting a nice clean ship!
They did NOT, however, delay departure. So when we arrived, hours later than scheduled, we had a LONG, LONG, LONG, and hot line.
Cabin Review
Verandah Stateroom
Upon arrival the room as ready, clean, and as expected. We booked an obstructed veranda, to save a buck. DO NOT pick a spot between life boats, as the obstruction is LARGER on this ship. Looking over the lifeboats is barely obstructed in my opinion, and well worth the savings.
Room was roomy with plenty of storage. Even drawers under the bed. Four pieces of luggage fit nicely under our bed too. The hall closet doors are an area of conflict. They do not fully open, and you can’t pass by them. Using the closet is a one-person proposition. Our friends oceanview was wider (and less money) - annoying. We had already heard complaints about the angled toilet. What we did not understand is you can’t sit on it at an angle. Your knee hits the shower wall. #stupid. But that shower was WONDERFUL - the largest of any we have had in almost 30 cruises. Our room stewards were FANTASTIC. Some of the best.
THE AWFUL!!! Room was great UNTIL - we wanted, no NEEDED to go to bed at 10/10:30. This room is NOISY. And not just a little. I believe the ship has a defect. It is louder IN the room, than in the hall or the balcony. THUMP THUMP, BANG. Lasts until midnight or later. They must KNOW they have a problem. This room should NOT be sold - but be used by staff, or those sailing free. Perhaps a deaf person could be accommodated. IF HAL insists on selling the room it MUST come with a significantly reduced price - AND - a fair warning. Yes, we complained LOUDLY. They were NOT sympathetic, but The next to the last night we did receive $300obc. But since it was so late in the cruise all we could do is book one specialty dining the next night. IMO - this noise should have resulted in a 50% future cruise credit, as 50% of our vacation./sleep was ruined by the noise. But more importantly the situation needs to be addressed, and corrected. People don’t vacation to be bribed into happiness - they ask, expect, and demand a satisfying and relaxing time. fyi: there are COUNTLESS complaints about the noise on Cruise Critic and the Web.
Port Reviews
Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay = STUPID. Can’t even use your drink card here. Food is barely edible. We walked the remote path, as we had been here on prior cruises. Got started late, quit early, and did not eat here.
Grand Turk
Grand Turk. Love this stop. Our third time here. This time we caught a cab ($10 for 2 each way) into town. Wandered about. Had a beer on the beach. Purchased some local art.
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
We used this stop to visit a friend living here. Used our connection to get Alfred for a cab. Enjoyed local food, and friendship.
If this is your first time I have two recommendations. For the adventusome, Damasque Falls. For the tourist, catch a private cab for a day. See the tram, downtown, distillary, eat a meal, walk the boardwalk. And enjoy a day like a local
Aruba
Curacao. Self-guided wandering of the beautiful and quaint Dutch Port. The ONLY “Travel Like an Architect” stop. Don’t miss the rotating bridge. This was the surprise shopping stop. We got unusual, and cute clothing for ourselves, and our grandchildren.
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