We are very experienced cruisers, but this was our first post pandemic cruise. It was surprisingly carefree with no masks and with easygoing policies both at sea and at the ports. The new Rotterdam is attractive with designs to ensure guest comfort. The music and entertainment are contemporary and of high quality, a change for the better by Holland America. Everyone dressed nicely but casually, even for the so-called Gala nights. Only the smallest minority wore neckties or “dressy” outfits to dinner. Then later when the entertainment began, most guests were wearing shorts.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
HAL wisely assigned boarding times that avoided long waits.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Excellent food all around. The beautiful but overpriced specialty restaurants were no better than the dining room and buffet.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We came to relax and enjoyed the privacy of our balcony mostly. The EXC enrichment talks were exceptionally interesting and well done.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Top notch. Arrive early to get a seat.
Children's Programs
We are a couple sailing without kids. There were very few kids on board, which would be expected for a ten-day cruise in January.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
They bent over backwards to please.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was clean and spotless. The design of the World Stage allows for much better visibility for the guests than the older ships.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The bathroom has a modern walk-in shower with glass door similar to what you get in a hotel. The room was centrally located and conveniently near to the elevator/stairs. The one negative for the cabin is that we could hear the neighbor’s TV through the wall day and night.
Ship tip
You need to arrive early for anything worth doing or you’ll be forced to stand. We wasted a lot of time sitting and waiting for showroom and Lincoln Center performances.
We were on the same sailing and I agree with most everything you shared. Thanks for sharing your perspective- happy to hear that you enjoyed this cruise!
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