This was our first transatlantic cruise, and we loved it. Started in New York and ended in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It was Holland America’s 150th year anniversary celebration crossing which made it even more special.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Ship was in port for the night so walked on board around 7 pm.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Obviously, not all dishes were five star dishes, but choices were plentiful. Lots of healthy options available, and the no sugar added desserts were delicious, as were the regular desserts!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
My favorite activity was listening and dancing to the music at both live venues, BB King and Rolling Stone at night. They had excellent guest lecturers, including a gentleman who was an expert on cruise lines, especially Holland America. We made sure to catch his lecture every one of the sea days he spoke. Dancers and singers were also excellent. Only criticism is the movie was always shown at night the same time as the live show. Would have been a nice option for one of the eight afternoons we were on the open Atlantic instead of the 9 pm time.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
By far the best guest services I’ve ever had on a ship. Never had to wait long for a question to be answered over the phone. Entire wait staff were so hardworking and cheerful, in both the dining room and Lido deck. Little Dutch cafe was my go to every morning, and I was always met with the cheeriest team. Room stewards were also great. The only staff I would critique would be the ones in the salon. Would always make me wait, and they seemed to have plenty of people just sitting around doing nothing. I guess to me it was a bad look compared to how hard working everyone else on the ship was. Finally, the cruise director went beyond and was visible from earl morning until late at night. She was amazing.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
It’s a brand new ship, so everything was clean and fresh. Perfect size compared to some of the new giant ships. Could always find seating for shows and in bars.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Bed was comfortable, room was spotless, and balcony was a good size. Balcony chairs had foot rests.
Ship tip
Be sure and visit the observation deck on deck 12. Nice, quiet bar with 360 views. I would also recommend bringing lots of single dollar bills for tipping. It makes the staff so happy when you show appreciation, even a dollar or two.
Yes, thank you for sharing! We have never been on Holland America and I feel we are going to love it by all the great reviews…
Has anyone ever been in one of the sideways verandah cabins? I was just fooling around one night last week and saw one available on the Rotterdam for the Panama Canal cruise I was interested in and grabbed it!! It looks like the balcony is a lot bigger than the regular balconies on the 4th deck…it is an obstructed view but I still think it is going to be nice…the room is different also from the other balconies as far as the lay out???
Thanks for your review. I boarded the Rotterdam in Rotterdam, so after your transatlantic. Only one day on the ship, but so far so good, as good asy other HAL cruise. Unless there is a major change, HAL will be our go to cruise line.
Great to hear you had a fantastic trip. We will be doing the transatlantic reverse on this ship in October. Your tip on the dollar bills is a good one. We do it all the time. It’s much better than adding $1 to the receipt as that money is pooled but the cash tip stays with the person. Your observation on the deck 12 lounge is right on the money. We go on many Holland America cruises and it’s our favourite spot.
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