Overall, my husband and I enjoyed Holland America and this Panama Canal Cruise. It was not our favorite cruise, as the scenery was not as beautiful as anticipated, but we can recommend it.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Overall it was good; however the Holland America staff who met us at the airport were not as helpful as I felt they should have been for a person, like my husband, who needed a wheelchair assist. They would only help move one suitcase.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food in the main dining room was good. Some of the dinner menus were unappealing, so we ate more often in the buffet than we normally do. However, the grill specialty restaurant was excellent.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
The hot tubs were nice and hot. We really liked the fact that the ceiling could be closed over the pool/deck area as needed. I liked the art class!
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We enjoyed the pianists who played in one of the bars and accompanied the dance show. The comedians were both very good. The classical music was also good.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All the staff were friendly and very helpful. The service was excellent. As it had been a long time since we had cruised with Holland America, it took us awhile to figure out how they were handling excursions; their communications regarding getting off the ship could have been clearer
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
I like the ship design. The Christmas decorations were pretty. Everything was clean; however, the floor in the buffet was cracked in many places, and the ship appeared to be in need of paint.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The room was very comfortable. The size was just fine. A chair rather than a stool would have been appreciated. The room did get hot, I am not sure that the air was operating as efficiently as possible. The mattress was hard; my husband and I prefer a softer mattress.
Ship tip
Make sure to download the Holland America app before getting on the ship. This allows a person to stay informed about upcoming excursions and events.
We booked an excursion in Florida; this made getting off the ship and to the airport easy. The ship offered direct booking for our luggage and flight. That was very helpful.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
