Cruise that was Ok
Rotterdam Cruise Review
Review summary
We have sailed with Holland America before and were disappointed as the experience was not at all like the first cruise. There really did not appear to be enough staff for a lot of the areas and/or staff changing mid voyage. Lots of issue with the 18% tipping automatically applied in areas on top of crew appreciation fees. The cost of drinks was very expensive as well as were most things on board.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Pinnacle Grill
It is disappointing that in order to get a great meal you have to do an upcharge. This was the best two dinners for the cruise and worth it. The serving staff were excellent and cheerful.
Explorations Cafe
Overly popular and tough to find seating. Coffee did not meet expectations from previous cruises.
Grand Dutch Cafe
Great place for good coffee.
Canaletto Restaurant
It was OK, nothing spectacular.
Onboard Activities
Half Moon Cay
We had two trips to Half Moon Cay. The first was totally chaotic with no process in place for effective tendering. Crowding people into the hallways in front of rooms was not good process. Furthermore, the first time was limited time on the beach due to schedule. Could not get my clamshell money I did not use because waiting 2 hours to get to the tenders was unreasonable when the entire time was 5 hours at the Cay. Excuse was it was the end of one portion of the cruise. Shame shame, Holland America.
Guest Services
The staff were always cheerful. Only concern was that they did not seem well prepared to address all concerns in one visit.
Entertainment
Billboard Onboard
Unfortunately, the singers were not all that impressive. Their music interpretations tended to not do the original songs justice.
World Stage Theater
For a 21 day cruise, there really could have been more shows and better acts. Really enjoyed the Knights and Dancers. Wish there were more creative shows. Comedians ar BB King should have been here to afford more seating for the crowds.
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Be ready for a lot of upcharging. If you had sailed pre-pandemic, the experience will not be like that. Be ready to experience your expectations differently. Pack your patience as the second part of our voyage saw a lot of very rude people who had no self-awareness. The flow all around the ship from food to just getting around can be very crowded and frustrating. There is no clear flow with the food services in both the dining room and Lido.
Ports of call
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
Daylight Cruise Past Mount Pelee
Willemstad, Netherlands
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)
Disembarkation
6 Comments
ahawk20 1 year ago