Rating: ⭐⭐ Taking a seven-day cruise vacation with the family has always been a dream and that's why we booked a journey with

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 20

Review summary

**Title: Great Potential But Severely Lacking Execution & Communication - Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam Seven-Day Cruise** Rating: ⭐⭐ Taking a seven-day cruise vacation with the family has always been a dream and that's why we booked a journey with Holland America on the Nieuw Amsterdam ship. Sadly, this dream didn't exactly turn out as we had imagined. Embarkation was chaotic. There wasn’t clear communication about needing to bring a birth certificate for proof of US citizenship. Consequently, we had a frustrating two-hour wait at the port without even being allowed to sit while we sought permission to board. A rocky start to say the least! After a tiresome start, the stateroom with a view was a pleasant surprise, a refreshing sanctuary amid the embarking chaos. However, our delayed boarding meant we missed the critical muster check, and the letter left on our door felt more accusatory than helpful. We started our voyage on a hopeful note, eager to explore the amenities, especially the teen group room for our son. The first-day information was scant at best. The private island stop on day two was indistinguishable from other cruise port private islands - immaculate yet sterile beaches with exorbitantly priced chairs and umbrellas. The snorkeling shined as the highlight with a low-key encounter with a sea turtle, a flurry of silver fish, and a few petit barracudas. The third day downfall was realizing that not only were organized activities for youths absent but also parents were barred from accompanying their kids in the teen room while the ship staff freely used the premises - a puzzling paradox. Another repetitive element was that the dining hall echoed the fare on the Lido Buffet, with many meals carrying an additional charge. The onboard app failed us too. We did not receive a confirmation for our first shore excursion in Grand Turk, thus missing a golden opportunity to snorkel with stingrays and turtles. We found solace on the overcrowded beach, which could've done with food service and better beverage options. On the lighter side, we did average over 12,000 steps daily, yet the entertainment choices were lackluster, to the point where the bars were tempting. The scheduled shows were uninspiring and seemed hastily patched together, with one brilliant exception - the onboard comedian. He had us in stitches, a redeeming spark in an otherwise disappointing lineup. In conclusion, the Nieuw Amsterdam seven-day cruise had moments of beauty and the potential for greatness but was ultimately marred by poor organization, weak communication, and seeming disregard for creating a 'value for money' experience for its passengers. Additional cabin surcharges were a total of $1100 on disembarkation, that was 1 'fancy meal' and a 3 drinks and 5 sodas and coffees

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

Grand Turk Island

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic

Nassau, Bahamas

Disembarkation

Other reviews of this sailing