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Lars Nordstrom

Age: 52

Occupation:Pilot

Number of Cruises: 2

Cruise Line: Holland America

Ship: Veendam

Sailing Date: 01-18-2009

Itinerary: Southern Caribbean

Bad experience. Cruiseline allows smoking onboard in the Bars and Casino. Ports of call were Key West (good) Belize City (OK 15 min Tender into land), Santo Tomas de Castille (commercial port - waste of time), Costa Maya (hurricane ravaged village, BAD STOP ). Older ship, ok condition, weird floorplan - no flow (corridors would just end into a wall. Had to backtrack and go either up or down a floor to continue). Food was OK, but fairly bland. Needed more variety. Found out about wine, beer, soda clip cards, but too late into the cruise to make it worthwhile to use. < Stateroom was OK... Adequate for two people. Entertainment was Great. Bingo was expensive ($25/card). Personnel was friendly and always had a smile. Belize City - Fun zip line tour, repelling and suspension bridges....easy excursion, but a 75 minute bumpy bus ride to get there. Instructors were great. Port in Guatemala and Mexico were a HUGE waste of time....Cruiseline must get a kickback to go there. Commercial port in Guatemala.....Hurricane torn village in Mexico that has not recouped from the hurricane of 2004. Looking forward to getting off the ship. Ship was old and worn. Smoking was allowed 24/7 in the bars and casino. When we asked if during the 8 days of cruising if they would allow 2 days as smoke-free they said NO. This cruiseline needs to get with the times. Captain was not noticed at anytime throughout the cruise. Bad for PR. As a Captain myself, the ship's Captain would not give me as a professional courtesy to talk to me about the smoking policy. Ship's personnel were NOT allowed to approach the Captain! WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS CRUISELINE......Looking foreward to my next ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE !

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