Pleasant cruise

Veendam Cruise Review to Bermuda

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 0
Helpful Votes: 20

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Veendam

7 Night Bermuda (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 10, 2011

Ship: Veendam

Cabin type: Oceanview

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 13 years ago

Review summary

The ship carries about 1200 passengers, so it is not one of those behemoths we see in advertising brochures. This means that getting into and out of the ship is an efficient and fast operation. On the minus side, it means that there is less variety in the facilities onboard. The Holland America Line caters to a rather sophisticated crowd, so there is emphasis in certain degree of formality: on a short, week-long trip to Bermuda there were two formal-attire nights when tuxedos were suggested or formal suits at a minimum, and although the ship had the usual contingent of bars, casino and shows, it also had an excellent quartet playing classical music three hours each evening. Very good library and communications center. The crew was obsequious and helpful (faulty toilet repaired within 10 minutes, shoes shined in 5). Food was excellent in the dining rooms, but lagging somewhat at the Lido cafeteria (stale bread once, spoiled strawberries once). Overall, a very pleasant voyage.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
A bit cramped, and some rust in the porthole and bathroom door.

Ports of call

Hamilton, Bermuda

3 out of 5
Everything is more expensive than in the US. This is a place to window-shop,o enjoy the beaches, rent a scooter, roam around and go back to the ship to eat. Highly recommended: Horseshoe beach. Perhaps the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. You can go to the bus terminal (about 4 blocks from the ship), get bus tokens (about 4 dollars), take the #7 bus and be at the beach in 20 minutes. Rental of chairs and umbrellas: $11 each. Or you may go by taxi.

St. George's, Bermuda

3 out of 5
Very little place, reached by tender. Go to the beach and visit the small boutiques but these are expensive.

Pros: Food in the dining rooms was excellent, classical music quartet was outstanding, ship's decor was very tasteful (in a conservative way)

Cons: Rectangular jacuzzis were the worst I've ever seen: to uncomfortable nobody used them. Ship's showing its age: rust spots here and there.,

Recommends Veendam? Yes!

Was this review helpful? 23

Be the first to comment

Other reviews of this sailing