Holland America Is Still The Best Overall Cruise Value
By Gregg Eppleman • Dec 30th, 2007 • Category: Holland America LineHolland America Line has once again been named as the 
Best Overall Cruise Value, making it 16 years in a row for the premium level cruise line. The award was given by World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS) members, who by most standards would be considered cruise experts as they all have cruised at least twice a year. That’s more than some travel agents who sell cruises on a regular basis. This award is justification that the new Signature of Excellemce program is garnering worldwide acceptance among veteran cruisers. The program is an excellent example of top of the line amenties at value driven pricing. Holland America remains competitive in all aspects of the cruise market.
“I’m delighted and honored to again have Holland America Line recognized by the members of the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society,” said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer. “Our investment in Signature of Excellence enhancements has helped keep Holland America Line at the top of the premium cruise market and we will continue to advance our brand in the coming year with the addition of the new ms Eurodam.”
WOCLS is a 25-year-old organization comprised of thousands of experienced cruisers who average taking two cruises a year. The society reviews all cruise lines annually and noted in its monthly publication, Ocean and Cruise News, that “Holland America Line passengers continue to mention the excellent value that the line provides and with the most recent completion of their Signature of Excellence program, they easily win again within this category. Further adding to the sense of value is the consistency of the product across its entire fleet of ships.”
Thomas Cassidy, editor of Ocean and Cruise News, wrote, “Some of the elements that combine to make Holland America Line the best overall cruise value include its effort to continually improve such as its fleet wide Signature of Excellence upgrades, the impeccable appearance of its ships, its friendly well-trained Indonesian and Filipino crew, the extra effort to properly train and supervise its staff, the more extensive choice of dinner menus in its restaurant, alternative restaurant and Lido, and all the little extras such as canvas tote bags, hot hors d’oeuvres at cocktail time, chilled beer glasses, a no-charge ice cream bar and later lunch hours when in port.”
Signature of Excellence enhancements added features such as the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.
Holland America Line also received top marks in the High-Deluxe, 5-Star, Large Ships category during the annual Best Cruise Value awards by the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society.
Gregg Eppleman is Gregg is an 18 year veteran of the cruise industry, has sailed on more than 50 ships, and visited Alaska, the Bahamas, the East and West Caribbean, Europe and Mexico. He is a Cunard and Princess Commodore, Cruise Baltic Specialist, Cruise West Small Ship Partner, NCL Specialist Plus, Holland America 5 Star Agent, Celebrity Special Agent, Royal Caribbean Expert Plus, Alaska, Hawaii and Tokyo Specialist.
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Gregg
Want to hear about an unfortunate incident with Holland America Line? Where to begin?….I am shocked nobody from this cruise has spoken up yet..
I just returned last week from a 17 day cruise on the Prinsendam.. Dec 17th-Jan3rd.
I was travelling with my mom and we arrived at the port around 11:00 am. We were told the ship wasn’t there and we would be shuttled to the Westin Inn in Ft Lauderdale for a buffet lunch. Supposedly a 2 hour delay.. Well those 2 hours turned into 8.5 hours.. We boarded at 8:30 pm. (This is too involved to tell the gory details while there).
The stench on the ship was deplorable as we approached our cabin.. MOLD-MILDEW!!!! The lights didn’t work in the cabin so we just left because we were starved and headed to the main dining room. I guess the old adage misery loves company is appropriate. It was open seating that night for obvious reasons and the passengers were angry. The pork was inedible… Many passengers didn’t receive their luggage until well after midnight.. Day 1… It only gets worse.. we left the port at 1:00 am.
This ship had been in drydock for 3 weeks in the Bahamas undergoing 20 million in restorations. Sounds like that would be a good thing right? NOT!!!! In a nutshell.. The ship was filthy. I recall the next day at breakfast there was some moldy stuff under the table and things that looked like cat hairballs. The crew who normally are just the best were cranky.. I found out later they were being worked 24 hrs a day to try and get this cruise off. The cabin was dirty. The toilets flushed when they wanted to. The shower was either scorching hot or cold. no inbetween. It wouldn’t drain either and the shower curtain was too short so the bathroom floor was flooded. Nice start huh? As the cruise continued so did the horror stories. Friends that we met had a cabin that they paid over 13k and there carpet was soaking wet from the time they got there until the time they got off the ship.. His voice actually was not his own due to the mildew. They were so nice and brought them a dehumidifier 6 days before the end of the cruise which they had to empty. Then they were told to leave the cabin for 30 minutes because they were putting something in there that was toxic to combat the smell. They had to try and sleep with the Veranda door open all night. We lucked out. Only our closet carpeting was soaked and a leak under our sink. ahh before I forget the and I know this happened to many including us. Water would start coming up out of the shower drain with black things floating in it.. Later I found out from a passenger (a maintenance worker told him) it was feces.. I haven’t even scratched the surface here.
The pools weren’t filled until the 3rd night and the internet was down more than up and they didn’t get it up for awhile.. We had another day at sea because of the 1st day snafu. There were more maintenence workers on that ship then there were passengers to try and get the ship ready for the cruise after ours.. 4 month Grand tour. So we were the guinea pigs that put up with this crap and paid big bucks to do so.
They never did get rid of the mildew although they tried. Carpets were being ripped up out of the hallways and giant blowers running day and night. A total disaster.. Hope the people that booked the Grand Tour and paying 35K plus are enjoying it. We were ripped off and not even an apology from any of them including the captain.. He did pop on that 1st night and thanked us for our patience. LOL
As I said.. I could write a book about all the other sordid things that we encountered on this mess of a cruise but I will save that for Holland America. This was my 7th cruise with them and the first problem ever.. but I can tell you right now I will NEVER sail with them again. I heard of many that were going to sue them. Many emails being sent.. They offered my friends with the wet carpet $1.200. They were insulted.
I will make it known to as many as I can that they can’t be trusted and they lied to us since day one..
The many platinum Mariner members on that cruise will never go near them again..
I contacted Holland America on Mrs. Frey’s behalf, and they have sent a letter of apology from Stein Kruse, President of Holland America Line, along with a 30% cruise credit of the fare paid on this cruise as well as a $250 per person shipboard credit on their next Holland America cruise. Regardless of what happens on one of their cruise ships, Holland America has always had a reputation of making it right!
Hi Gregg,
I sent you email before reading your follow-up here. Neither my Mom nor I have received any communication from Holland America nor any others that I am in touch with regarding the cruise.
Again my thanks.
Pat
This is disturbing.. Stein Kruse, the president of HAL OFFERED US… 30% off the next cruise??? He must be joking. The last one was a horror show.. Never again and I will get the word out there how we were treated….. I am on a mission here now.. HAL sucks
All I have to say is Holland America blew a Cruise. It should have been cancelled. The ship was not ready to take on passengers but I guess they needed to make a buck.. you would think they would do more for this disastrous cruise.. Never again