We are also fans of HAL. Having sailed for on several different cruise lines, we kept coming back to HAL. Their service is one of the best in the price range. We were on back to back cruises starting in January, 2020 on the Westerdam boarding in Singapore. Covid exploded around the world at that point. While there was never any evidence of the virus being on board (we had frequent temperature checks and finally a Covid test), our ship was denied entry to almost all of the ports on the second cruise. HAL refunded our cruise fare for that cruise and gave us a future cruise credit for an equal amount. The efforts they made to get everyone home was extraordinary. Throughout it all, the staff was very professional, courteous, and friendly.
While we like the main dining room, we also liked The Pinnacle. If the ship you are on a ship that has The Tamarind, it is a great restaurant - fusion Asian cuisine. If you are going to use their excursions, check the reviews carefully. If you are traveling to more common ports, you can often get a local company to give you a great experience at a reasonable cost. However, I would be more cautious in less visited third world ports. Good Luck and have fun!
|