I have written before in this space that Holland America compares unfavorably with Viking, primarily due to items that are INCLUDED in the price of the Viking cruise that Holland America charges extra for. I'm speaking of soft drinks, beer, table wine, basic excursions, and things of that nature. Having completed my current 12-day Mediterranean cruise, this is all borne out. Indeed, H-A virtually bombards you with requests and demands for more money constantly during your cruise. The entire transparent purpose of this charade is to enable them to advertise a "low" price for their cruises, while requiring an additional 25% or so in bullshit fees to cover the actual price.
For example, the suggested gratuity for all the Little People who make your cruise memorable is $16 per person, per day. 12-Day cruise...do the math...$384. Internet service (which I understand is neither constant nor reliable ranges from roughly $12/day to more than thirty, depending on how serious you are about your internet.
I'm told that we will be getting a customer satisfaction survey by email sometime during the next few days. The several staff members who spoke on the subject made it clear that nothing short of a 10/10 would be satisfactory, and we should make a note of the names of those who worked with us best. In fact, the waiter who served our table in the (sort-of formal) dining room was possibly the best of his station that I've ever experienced, He knew our names after one day, our preferences for both food and drink as soon as they were expressed by us. Since I will never cruise with them again, I wonder if it makes any sense to even complete the survey.
For example, the suggested gratuity for all the Little People who make your cruise memorable is $16 per person, per day. 12-Day cruise...do the math...$384. Internet service (which I understand is neither constant nor reliable ranges from roughly $12/day to more than thirty, depending on how serious you are about your internet.
I'm told that we will be getting a customer satisfaction survey by email sometime during the next few days. The several staff members who spoke on the subject made it clear that nothing short of a 10/10 would be satisfactory, and we should make a note of the names of those who worked with us best. In fact, the waiter who served our table in the (sort-of formal) dining room was possibly the best of his station that I've ever experienced, He knew our names after one day, our preferences for both food and drink as soon as they were expressed by us. Since I will never cruise with them again, I wonder if it makes any sense to even complete the survey.
