Oustanding service and beautiful itinerary

We loved sailing the Oosterdam and the crew provided exceptional service! 

Everyone we met was friendly and warm.  Our balcony stateroom exceeded expectation in terms or space, amenities and views.  I was so surprised at the quality of the linens and the size of the bathroom! 

Dining was good and specialized dining was exceptional.  The Casino, Lido Deck, and Crow's Nest bar were a lot of fun.  The Gallery Bar was my favorite spot and really elevated the experience.  The barmen in the Gallery Bar were tops. 

We had services at the Greenroom Spa and those were outstanding.  Each therapist was phenomenal and far exceeded our expectations.  Who knew that one of the very best massages I'd ever have was on a ship with a view!  One missing amenity in the spa was slippers and larger-than-average robes.  On my second visit to the spa, my robe wouldn't fit and that's embarrassing.  Considering I am about the size of an average cruiser, that really surprised me.  I also forgot to pack slippers/sandals because I didn't plan to visit the spa. So, it required that I wear my boots or go barefoot.  The barefoot option seemed to be what most people took, but that is pretty dangerous on a ship.  I am surprised the line doesn't consider this to be a potential risk/liability from a health and safety perspective.

Journey's Ashore were nice and well-timed. 

Our cruise was very enjoyable overall. 

I wish I could award a half a star, but alas, this cruise misses one star because of the erratic climate in our stateroom.  For days 1-4, it was easily 80-82 degrees in our stateroom and there's placard discouraging propping the balcony door open, so we didn't do that often.  Sleeping was hard.

We finally complained and then days 5-7 were about 60-65 degrees in our stateroom.  When we addressed it with guest services and our steward, nothing changed.  There was a thermostat in the cabin, but I think it was just for show.

Needless to say, we never felt really comfortable while in our cabin.

Lastly, embarking and disembarking were a breeze and we were so pleasantly surprised by how well things went. 

Minus a few small things, we'd definitely sail with HAL again.