We LOVE Holland America but this cruise and this ship makes us want to change despite our three-star Mariner status with only a few days to make four-star it would be a shame to change cruise lines. Also, we sent our customer survey to Holland America two days after docking in Tampa and have as of nearly two weeks later have never received a reply from them...I'm thinking that instead of hiring a CEO that never worked in the cruise industry that they need to replace him -- Orlando Ashford certainly is leading this cruise line down a path that it will never recover. Just my opinion.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Late due to weather -- that's ok but the communication from Holland America was not updated nor was it a smooth check-in process at 11pm!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Main dining room time was over two hours for the second night on the ship -- seemed like the kitchen staff just couldn't get their act together...wait staff was WONDERFUL!
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
Very few activities on board this ship that needs at total renovation!
Entertainment
1 out of 5
Holland America is certainly not known for it's entertainment and they did not disappoint anyone on this cruise -- two comics who just weren't funny!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All dining room wait staff, room stewards and other ship personnel were great...with the exception of the Future Cruise Consultant Sara -- she should not be in this position. We made a joke of her rolling her eyes and sighing heavily during our 10 minutes with her but honestly it wasn't funny and we did not book another cruise with her -- we came home and did it with a true professional.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
Cleanliness was fine but guests are dealing with a ship that is long overdue for a total renovation. It's like stepping back into the 1980's!
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Size was perfect for our needs but again, the ship needs a total overhaul -- bathroom was clean but how clean/updated can it be if it was designed in the 1990's?
Ship tip
Take another Holland America Ship -- You'll be happier.
While this port is exactly what you would expect -- not really developed, the friendly local people make it an excellent stop but wait until it's more tourist ready.
Not sure why Holland America stops here -- after a long walk from the pier (after a five-minute tender ride) there are a few local restaurants that sit right on a lovely beach but after a climb up a hill all you see is again local stores and shops and a church. If you want tourists to visit, make it more tourist friendly.
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