HappyTwosome
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.
joem124
Book specialty restaurants early
mffitz45
Typical modern ship. Elevators get crowded. Pick a cabin near where you will spend most time.
NuclearRoy
Royal Dutch Cafe. Everything is better from there :)
ktmartin
Try to get a mid-ship room low in the ship. When in port, expect the street vendors to offer you goods at a price higher than identical items in the local shops.
danflick1
Book excursions prior to cruising and don't count on the Navigator App to be on time.
Zanne208
Remember on any cruise, be kind to people and smile. You yourself can make or break your trip by letting little things ruin it. Learn for next time and move on.
JoySea
Be open to meeting lots of people. You might be surprised and actually met someone you know. We did and had a lovely time catching up with each other. Avoid the casino if you're not a smoker.
Shawn0427
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.
Srkl2l6
If you have kids choose a different line. This is a great cruise line for older retired folks or those who want a more quiet cruise. The music and entertainment is toned down. The food quality is however better than say Carnival.
fbaranson
Plan for specialty dining and excursions well in advance of your trip they fill up quickly.
DeedeeJane
Know the demographics (older) and that the ship lacks the glitz and high octane activities of Royal Caribbean or NCL. Its a ship that delivers a traditional cruising experience--relaxing.
Lshug
Do your research about the ship before you board. You are on your own once you get on.
cruisebuddies2
Pack less. You won’t need it all.
exnasm68
Holland America Line is still an outstanding product. We are seniors, so we like the fact that they don't have the rock-climbing walls, water slides and such.
bgm
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.
Feggie
If you like production shows, you’ll be disappointed.
ScubaDaveHash
Great view from the Exploration central and Cafe
Cal1964
So if you're not in a suite and you want to up your experience, I truly believe club orange was worth it. The upgraded our room the category that we were in, The food in the club orange dining area was outstanding and so was the service. Priority embarkment, dedicated customer service on board. It's worth the extra money!
pjones1330
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