Holland America Zaandam Review

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4 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4 out of 5

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Derek M Long's Review of Holland America Zaandam Alaska Cruises

5th Jul 2004

Overall Rating

3.5 stars
  • Value for money
    3 stars
  • Nights on board
    7
  • Cabin Type
    Deck 2 outside
  • Food - quality & variety
    4.5 stars
  • Date of Cruise
    06 2004
  • Itinerary Name
    Alaska Cruise
  • Group description
    Group
  • Entertainment on board
    2 stars
Good Points

Liner style, rather than floating gin palace. Excellent service from hotel side. Captain handled ship so that the pax came in very close to ice & notified of wildlife etc.


Bad Points

High cost of beverages. 'Compulsory' gratuities.


General Comments

My wife & I have just had an excellent holiday via a UK tour operator, 'Travelsphere' which included an Alaskan cruise with Holland America Lines out of Vancouver, Canada. It appears that the predominately Indonesian/Pilipino onboard hotel staff recently had their contracts amended from 7 days x 12 months fulltime (no leave) at US$400/mth all found, plus passenger tips, to US$50/month and a share of passenger tips that are charged at a mandatory $10/per day/pp from ones account.

Thus on a 1400 passenger ship, the passengers end up paying the crew US98K/week and the shipping company profits to the tune of US$350/per crewmember that it previously had as an overhead. If this is true then it would seem that effectively this is a levy on the clients over and above the real advertised cost and that the crew members are at the whim of the tourist - if they make a declaration not to pay the 'mandated' gratuity.

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