First time on HAL - Very nice trip - We will be back

Noordam Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 48

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Noordam

21 Night Southern Caribbean Seafarer/Wayfarer (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 20, 2015

Ship: Noordam

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 4153

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 9 years ago

Review summary

This was our first cruise on Holland America Line (HAL.) We are a middle-aged (55 & 60) long-term (20+) gay male couple.  We had heard that HAL was for "older" people, and had a reputation for being "stodgy", but what we found was a more mature behavior, a bit more formality, and we liked it.  A better class of people than we have seen on other lines.  Even though we usually keep mostly to ourselves (we're not outgoing,) when we were out and about, we were treated with complete dignity and respect.

The decor on the Noordam was understated elegance.  The food was the best we've had on a cruise.  We especially appreciated the made-for-you items in the "buffet" restaurant.  And the itinerary was fantastic.  I really love warm, sunny, clean, safe tropical beaches and I was not disappointed. Half Moon Cay is a treasure!  And Cayo Levantado in Dominican Republic was a nice surprise.

The only minor complaints...

Why *DO* they close the pools and hot tubs so early?  Why do they close them at all?  Other lines don't.

There were not enough shore excursions on Curacao and Aruba, and they filled up very early. Even just the "Beach Escape".  Book the first instant you can!

While the Noordam is beautiful, it's showing it's age.  I'm sure that will be remedied during its April 2016 dry dock.

Alternative dining was not available as often or as long as we would have liked.  Too often, we would return from a shore excursion very hungry, only to find most things closed.  And full dinner only from 6-8 PM???

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
n/a

Entertainment

3 out of 5
n/a

Children's Programs

3 out of 5
n/a

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Ship tip

Book shore excursions early!

Ports of call

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

5 out of 5
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL

Grand Turk Island

5 out of 5

Samana, Dominican Republic

5 out of 5
Cayo Levantado

Kralendijk, Bonaire

5 out of 5

Willemstad, Curacao

3 out of 5
The port/town was little too industrial for my tastes

Oranjestad, Aruba

3 out of 5

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

3 out of 5

Castries, St. Lucia

5 out of 5

Soufriere, St. Lucia

5 out of 5

Bridgetown, Barbados

5 out of 5

Basseterre, St. Kitts

5 out of 5
Nice beach

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

5 out of 5
Megan's Bay!

Nassau, Bahamas

1 out of 5
I hate this port. Ugly. Panhandlers. Only an excuse to sell you on "Atlantis" rerosrt.
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