This was a wonderful cruise in celebration of my 70th birthday and also a nod to thankfulness for a so far successful battle against cancer. The cruise was relaxing and fun, and the excursions were interesting and entertaining. There were no excruciatingly long bus rides (as with other cruises) to get to excursions--most were accessed within 30 minutes or less. The staff of the Rotterdam was great.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was easy--but after the dock worker took our two bags, he held out his hand and said, "Aren't you forgetting something?" and made a motion with his fingers that he expected a tip. It was off-putting to say the least. Little did he know that he would have gotten a tip without making the obnoxious gesture request--and because he did, he got much LESS of a tip than what we would have given him. It was annoying.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Everything was great! So much food and such friendly staff. Only complaint is that the salmon in the dining rooms was prepared almost raw. It had to be sent back for further cooking. The first time I had salmon I just didn't eat it all--just ate the "cooked" portions. The next salmon I got was in the Pinnacle Grill--it arrived barely cooked, so I asked that it would be re-cooked. They happily did that, and it was delicious.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Activities were plenty. I only really wanted to spend time at the pool--but couldn't due to the HUGE crowds , no chairs, people standing in the pool so no place to really swim.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Main stage shows were great, although they featured the same musicians and singers each time. Comedian was hilarious but he was in the Lincoln Stage area, and there were not enough seats for viewing.
Children's Programs
No kids with us.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Top notch service by room stewards and waiters. Everyone was so friendly and always smiled and said hello as you passed them.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Beautiful ship. Everything clean and maintained.
Would have been nice to have bigger pool areas sine that's where everyone gathered on sea days.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This was a beautiful cabin. We loved the balcony. We really appreciated the large, new shower and water faucets that were easy to control.
Ship tip
Be prepared for ports to be closed due to weather.
Island Vibes and Beach Swim was a great excursion. LOVED the beach--Donkeys roam around looking for food from tourists. The guide for the Island Vibes was very informative.
This was gorgeous! We visited the Ostrich Farm and Aloe Plantation. The guide "Hetty" was very knowledgeable and fun. After the excursion, I walked around Curacao for several hours and enjoyed the beautiful buildings and scenery.
Aruba is gorgeous. Was surprised to see so many cactii! We did the Kukoo Kunuku tour with "Carlos", who was great. We ended the tour with a couple of hours on Palm Beach--wonderful!
It was orderly and quick. Only problem was that after being told on the ship to have our passports ready to be shown, they were not needed at all because of facial recognition screens.
Looks like you boarded when we disembarked. Salmon is best served medium rare which is off putting to some. I appreciate that I was served perfectly cooked salmon on Rotterdam and not dry and overcooked. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.
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