I wouldn’t recommend this ship. I like Holland America but not this particular ship. Find some activities for your cruisers!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was fast with no waiting.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The main dining room service was great but the food was just ok. Small selection with just ok entrees. Things I would not normally order if I was in a restaurant but I had to choose something. Deserts were not good. They don’t know how to make a descent chocolate martini. It was clear. Not the way we make them in the USA. It didn’t taste good. Buffet food was the same each day. Why ?! Breakfast was good except for the scrambled eggs.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
Activities, what activities? Shopping, the spa, gym. The activities were almost nonexistent.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
The comedians were good but the venue was so small you had to get there a hour early to get a seat. The same for BB King show.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All the service staff in every department was was wonderful.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
Hated the layout of the ship. They made the casino a small shoebox. The. BB King venue was tiny. Only a few could go. They did keep the ship very clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We had a Neptune Suite which was a good size with plenty of storage. The bed was not very comfortable. It had a very small shower, nice tub, double vanity.
Ship tip
If you like to go to the casino this is not the ship for you.
Not much that interest us. Was warned by the Cruise director that this was a very dangerous place and to remove your valuables and jewelry if you plan to venture out.
My last cruise was a 2 week Alaska Cruise on the Amsterdam (sold during pandemic) and had none of those problems.
I believe the problems you encountered were due to several things.
1) Supplies are limited
2) New crews and training on real passengers
3) Entertainment is going to be limited for awhile as people are not entering the work force at an acceptable rate.
I've always been happy with the MDR, the Buffet, the Dive in and other food venues.
Your expectations might have been a might high as cruiselines begin to cruise.
Sorry this ship didn't please you. HAL is not known for their activities, tho, as you may well know. We have hit sales on this one, but 3 others with HAL, and I know MULITPLE nights there was trivia, multiple bars/music venues, and the nightly movie. Our sailings were pre-COVID, so things may have changed.
We were on the Nieuw Amsterdam in March 2018 and loved it. Beautiful ship. Delicious food in the MDR every night. Best burgers we ever had at the Dive-In. Fantastic cabin steward and crew in the buffet. Our ports were wonderful. Only complaint was not enough to do at night. But we had our Phase 10 card game and that kept us busy and also with my brother and his wife. Fantastic cruise.
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