I'm faced with a predicament for this review. Do the positives aspects of my stay mitigate the negative experiences I had while on board?
I really want to give this place a glowing review with a high rating because the idea of staying on a boat while in Amsterdam is appealing; unfortunately, a few things have greatly troubled me during my stay.
The best way to be fair is to list the positive and negative aspects of my stay.
THE POSITIVE: location, location, and location. The Cabin is close to everything. Central Station, the red light district and museums are all a short walk or Uber ride away. My wife and I waked to several places--both day and night--without any issues, and our stay was in January.
The breakfast that's served onboard is pretty decent. It's service is limited to certain hours, so you need to be sure to take advantage of this benefit.
THE NEGATIVE: I can't tell if this business is owned by a group of friends or the hosts are the beneficiaries of a family owned vessel that they manage. Either way some improvements are needed in several areas. Some of the hosts are very helpful and friendly, while others seem aloof or just plain irritated when asked for help or to resolve an issue.
The hallways in the lower decks are clean, but they could be treated or more throughly washed so the musty smell will not be present.
The internet was an issue too. It's fine if you're in the common area on the upper deck, but very weak and sporadic in the lower level rooms.
FINAL THOUGHTS: The problems I've encountered will probably not be an issue with a person who frequents hostels or low-end motor hotels, but if you're into Airbnbs or 3+ star hotels, this place may disappoint you.
The final straw for me was on our last day. We told the main host that we were gonna leave at 4:00 am the next morning to catch our flight. He said he'd set some food out for us since we couldn't make breakfast.
I thought that was a nice gesture on his part and on the part of management. However, the next morning nothing was left out for us. When we told him we'd be leaving the next day, we weren't expecting anything, but to be told something and not have it followed through is aggravating.
Hopefully the crew matures and develops into great managers that will allow this business to reach its full potential.
For now, I can't give this place a review I wish I could.
Updated thoughts:
https://acrowsview.wordpress.com/2018/09/28/noorderzon-the-cabin/ read more