22 Night Caribbean/ Azores / Normandy - Expedition Collectors Voyage (Tampa To Rotterdam)
Sail date: April 07, 2019
Ship:
Rotterdam Retired
Cabin type: Suite
Cabin number: 6223
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
I have sailed on over 100 cruises and this was Holland America's last roundtrip sailing from Tampa so I decided to give it one more try. I am glad I did as it was very relaxing and smooth sailing. Food was way above average. Hardly any kids on board but many older people. The onboard stores were pitiful as there was nothing to buy except expensive jewelry, liquor or HAL cruise clothes. They did have "happy hour' every night where you could buy your second alcoholic drink for $2. I hope HAL comes back to Tampa again.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
very easy
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
food was the best of any cruise line. Wonderful and very tasty. No cafeteria taste but homemade.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
Nothing to do but trivia. Very boring. They literally "rolled up the sidewalks at 8pm"
Entertainment
1 out of 5
No stage shows!!!! Only a comedian who was so so. There was a singing trio but I left after the first song as it was sad to listen too. I waited for a "broadway style show" but there was nothing. HAL needs to do something about night time entertainment as this is a big decision of mine to go to another cruise line next time.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone was very helpful and very courteous. Always there to help out. Waiters in Lido buffet always serving you juice and coffee in the morning. One never touched a serving spoon as you told them what you wanted and they served it up for you.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Very clean but in order to go to "open dining" room you had to go up to go down. Layout was bad planning and seems like many people could not understand this . Many were always lost. Ship was spotless and refreshing to be on.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
This was a handicap vista balcony suite located on the very back of the ship. It was large enough to enter the cabin and for my scooter to turn around in. Bathroom was big due to "roll in shower" but it always had a musky smell to it. Cabin was very clean. It had a small refrigerator and DVD player. Large couch and chair but very small desk/counter area. My outside slidding glass door to the balcony was constantly smashing back and forth whenever I was on the balcony. I complained numerous times and was always told it was fixed, but it wasn't. Finally on the day before the cruise ended, they installed a hook device on the outside to latch the door closed. Kind of stupid as no one else in the cabin could go outside with the door "latched closed" from the outside. The bed was extremely hard and way too high up. IT was very difficult to get on the bed especially being handicapped.
Unfortunately we had to dock at the Navy base called The Mole. There was a trolley that took us into town but not as convenient as docking at Mallory Square where we could walk on and off the ship as we wanted too.
Stayed near the terminal as there was a large terminal with a band playing and many local crafts to buy. This was ideal for many people as they did not feel comfortable traveling too far away.
Wonderful port. They just built this port and it was beautiful. Many stores located at the pier. There was a water park located here at the pier if you wanted to go swimming.
Very long walk to get to any of the shops. There was a small trolley but could not take wheelchairs or scooters. There was a free swimming pool in the middle of all the stores. Lots of silver and local craft stores. There was even a display with real flamingos !!!!!
Very easy and even though everyone had color coded tags, you basically could get off anytime you wanted. Not much of customs but you needed to show your passport.
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