Christmas Cruise
Oosterdam Cruise Review to Mexico
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 3
Helpful Votes: 139
Review summary
We enjoyed getting away from the cold and visiting with friends that went along with us. Cruise itself, well certainly been on better.Embarkation
The Amsterdam was sharing the pier with the Oosterdam and it was pangoingnfusing and we were uncomfortable dropping our bags off. Weren’ t sure that our bags were owing to go with us, or end up on the Amsterdam. Seemed disorganized, and too many Generals and no troops. The holding pen we were in was cold and dark with people just milling around.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
We went to the main dining room twice. That’s unusual for us. We normally enjoy the dining experience but this time it was awful. Service was exceptionally slow and our main waiter was surly. I think they were way too understaffed and the head waiter sorta bristled with an undercurrent of resentment. Nobody asked our names, so obviously we were never addressed by name. The food was unwhelming, bland in taste, and not served at correct temperature. Lukewarm French Onion soup? We went back for formal Christmas dinner, more of the same. They had food offerings from the “Culinary Council”. It was just awful. A shrimp and crab martini that was inedible. I took one bite and spit it out! The lobster bisque tasted watery and thin, predominantly tasted of salt. Waiter picked up the uneaten portions, never asked if there was a problem with the food or if I wanted something else, and to be candid, I was uncomfortable having any further communication with him. He was rushed, no eye contact, and gave us the brush off. We just didn’t go back.
Onboard Activities
We played Trivia a couple of times. The pool area situation is one of the reasons we have probably sailed with Holland for the last time. Choices are: covered central pool area with screaming, ill mannered, feral children and no room in the hot tubs for adults, or the back pool area that is windy, cold, and air quality is compromised with all the smokers. Not a lot of fun.
Service and Staff
Got a little tired being run over by the staff. Always in a hurry, I felt I was always in their way.We got the drink package and felt like that was a big mistake. The person that sold us the package got the 15% gratuity and we felt the other servers didn’t want to make much of an effort to serve us because there was nothing in it for them and they would rather serve people that they got the tip for.
Ship Quality
Didn’t like it, it was clean enough.
Cabin / Stateroom
It was ok, small obviously, but there seemed to be plenty of storage.
Ship tip
Try Celebrity
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Wish I had a lower rating than one star. Dirty, port is in industrial dock area, you have to be shuttled out for excursion and we had a nightmare returning to the ship. We returned by taxi and our driver spoke very little English. When we arrived at the entry to the shopping/shuttle area, a guard at the entrance would not allow us out of the cab. Shouting match with cabdriver ensued, we weren’t privy to discussion, but driver got back in cab and drove us around to the area to the north that was where we had exited the dock. We were met by a uniformed soldier with an automatic rifle. He was joined by several officials who once again got into a heated discussion with our driver. After much consternation, driver got back in cab and drove us back to the cruise shopping/shuttle area. Same guard, same shouting, we just got out. He started screaming at us and tried to shove my husband back in the cab. We had showed him our our ship ID card, and Driver’s lic. But he was having none of it. Couldn’t understand a word he was saying and soon there after the loud confrontation attracted another guard that over ruled the first and let us in. Unbelievable.
Disembarkation
Traveler Photos
