The ship is beautiful - not so crowded - easy to get around - good for my parents, just not for me. I really wanted to like Holland America, but I've experienced better service on other cruise lines. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be choosing Holland American for my next cruise.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived at Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades at about 11:30 a.m. The process was relatively smooth. Not much waiting around. It took maybe 30-40 minutes before we were on the ship. Our room was clean and ready for us and our luggage arrived shortly thereafter.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
We were travelling with a group of ten and had the "As you wish Dining" which I liked. We usually met for dinner at 7pm - there was a short line for a table but we were seated rather quickly. I wasn't very impressed with the food or the service. At every meal our service was slow, our food was mixed up, prepared wrong or something forgotten. One evening, we arrived at 8:30pm for dinner and didn't get our entrees until after 10pm.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We booked this cruise line for my parents, so I knew there wouldn't be as many activities as say Carnival or Norwegian. The activities were okay, we participated in most of them. I was disappointed in the nightclub. You would think that because Holland America attracts a more older crowd, that they would play more age appropriate music, but no so - in fact, they wouldn't even play any of our requests. Unfortunately, the dance floor was almost always empty. The nightclub ends at 12:30 am and you can't find any food after that time, unless you order room service.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The shows were good. The comedian was lacking but the illusionist was great!! The dancers and signers were also good.
Crow's Nest
5 out of 5
I enjoyed the crow's nest. A nice place to relax with a book. My teenage daughter and I often went up there for a cup of coffee and game of cards (which they have a nice supply of games on hand.)
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
I have been on other cruises with other cruise lines and I REALLY wanted to like this one, but unfortunately, the customer service, in my opinion, was lacking throughout. The waiters in the main dining room seemed over worked and not as accommodating. We didn't actually meet our room steward until the very last day, which I found very strange. I was travelling with a group (all on different floors) and I thought maybe it was just my section, but unfortunately, it was the same throughout.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship is beautifully decorated and easy to navigate. It was a bit frustrating because near the main dining room and near the casino, the ceiling/floors were constantly leaking and they had buckets here and there to catch dripping water and fans throughout drying the carpet making it a tripping hazard. Not sure why so many leaks, but it was every evening.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We were on the fifth floor, towards the front of the ship with a verandah/balcony. We were next to my parents and had our balconies opened up, which was very convenient. Our room was very clean and spacious and I thought the balcony was also very spacious.
Ship tip
Although I've had better service on other cruise lines, we made the best of our vacation and had a wonderful time.
The ship is beautiful!!
Make the most of it...
I truly enjoyed this port - I wish we could have seen more of it. We went snorkeling, which was fun. Unfortunately, on our excursion, our boat ran out of gas and we had to wait awhile for someone to rescue us and when we finally got back to the pier, we had to rush back to the ship and didn't get to see much of the port.
I really liked this port. We did a tour of the city and learned a lot of it's history. The city is still recovering from the recent hurricane but seems to be doing better.
My only complaint is that we didn't have enough time here. The water is breathtakingly beautiful. We spent most of our time in the water, except when it was time to eat. They provided lunch (try the bbq chicken) which was very good. Everything was clean and well kept. We wanted to rent a clam shell for shade, but they were all sold out, so were found some beach chairs and moved them under the shade and it was perfect. Loved this port!
Our flight out of Ft. Lauderdale wasn't until late afternoon, so we booked the land and sea tour with transfers to the airport. It worked out perfect. We were off the ship by 8:00 am and onto a coach bus for the tour.
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