Relaxing, enjoyable cruise with an older group of passengers.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Holland America had notified us in advance of what specific time to show up as another ship was to be at the terminal. We arrived at our given time slot and were in the ship within 40 minutes. Everything went smoothly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We ate breakfast and dinner in the Dining Room on deck 2.
Having breakfast there was pleasant as you didn't have the crowds to deal with as you would in the Lido Market buffet. I'm not sure why more people don't choose this venue in the morning as it doesn't cost extra. They offered a varied menu with waitperson service. The portions were on the small side (you can order as much as you want) but everything was delicious and satisfying.
A big difference in this Dining Room from breakfast to dinner was the menu. While the breakfast menu was consistent day-to-day, the dinner menu changed every night. There were many choices that you wouldn't normally have at home because of cost or involved preparation, so it was nice to try those out. They also had a selection of items that were offered daily. You choose a salad/appetizer and entree. Dessert comes from a separate menu. All of the meals we had were terrific. They focus on quality and presentation.
We ate our lunches at the Lido Market buffet. It offers a big selection of tasty food. We appreciated that the food was dished out to you. You told the server what you wanted and it went on a plate to be handed to you. I'm sure this is a health conscious decision on their part. One section we enjoyed was the salad station where you instructed the server what you wanted in the large salad bowl they gave you.
We don't drink alcohol and didn't bother with any other drink package as they charge too much. We saw many passengers bring along water and 12-packs of soda.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We used the fitness center daily. For this particular cruise, it seemed that many onboard were not there for the gym, even on the at-sea days. There was never a wait for anything. The equipment was newer, but a couple machines needed attention as the weights didn't move smoothly. The space was large enough to do what was needed.
The Promenade deck was great for after dinner walks. Three times around and you've walked a mile. (Not too sure about that distance, but that's what the sign said.)
The pools (and jacuzzis) were always filled with children, but that shouldn't ever be a surprise.
Table tennis always seemed to have a crowd watching.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Only went to the Casino for entertainment where the selection of slot machines was better than most. A lot of newish games and some old standards. While not exactly the largest casino I've seen, it did the trick.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Our room stewards, Putu and Bang, were terrific. They were always polite, helpful, and careful not to disturb us unnecessarily. The room was made up when we came back from breakfast and set up for the evening after returning from dinner. (However, if I never saw another towel animal in my life, I'd be fine with that.) They kept the room looking brand new.
All other staff on the ship were kind. It was rare to walk by a staff member who did not greet you.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I read another review of the ship where the reviewer was disappointed that the main atrium in the ship was only three stories tall and had no winding staircase or glass elevators. Yes, having an oversized atrium with a presentation staircase can add drama and glamour. But I can still have an enjoyable cruise without it. The Nieuw Amsterdam atrium was fine.
The rest of the ship is in tiptop condition. Most of the ship's interior design is pleasant and tasteful, not gaudy and in-your-face as some other ships I've been on. There's a great amount of artwork throughout.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We had a verandah stateroom on deck 7. The size of the room is comparable to many other verandah staterooms we've had on other ships. These rooms only feel tight when two people are walking around at the same time. There's plenty of storage in the closets, under the beds, and above the sitting area. There's three small shelves in the bathroom and some space on a shelf under the sink, which makes it cramped if you both bring a lot of toiletries. USB outlets were installed above the night tables, and one at the desk. This was a welcome feature for the devices we brought.
One thing we were very happy about was emergency announcements were the only messages broadcast in the room. We could hear other, nonessential messages out in the hallway, but they were quiet enough as to not disturb a nap.
Ship tip
My luggage didn't arrive to the room for many hours. Turns out it was being held because I packed a power strip to use with the many i-devices we brought. They held my luggage on the first deck to be picked up. They confiscated the strip to be picked up after returning to San Diego. I had a good chuckle finding out that there was a lot of luggage beside mine that was being held because passengers packed questionable items. I even saw an electric tea kettle on the table, along with many other extension cords/strips. If you're not sure, call Holland America and ask before you're disappointed. By the way, it turned out that we didn't need the power strip after all because of the installed USB outlets. Lastly, eat breakfast in the Dining Room.
Puerto Vallarta was the only port where we got off the ship to walk around. Having done this cruise other times, and seen the ports of call before, we just stretched our legs by walking over to visit the spacious and modern Galerias Vallarta indoor mall, the Walmart next door, and then back to the ship. The ship offered good views of the city, showing many tall buildings and new construction.
Because we live in San Diego and could handle our own luggage, we chose Self-Assist disembarkation. This allowed us to exit the ship between 8:00 and 8:30.
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