We love Holland America and will certainly cruise with them again BUT until this ship is renovated please take another newer Holland America ship. Also, the Tour Department has very pushy (literally) staff and the very young Cristo who heads up the department speaks as if he has marbles in his mouth making no one understand him -- and, he has very little enthusiasm for his job. Emily Miller who is a staff member should be walked off the ship and never be allowed to return -- her job is obviously too stressful for her.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was handled with speed and professionalism -- however, the space between passengers while they are speaking to agents is very tiny! Most passengers travel in groups of at least two people BUT the space is really only for one!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Speciality restaurants were ok; main dining room was ok; buffets were ok. Cuisine was ok all over the ship.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Fitness center is ok; locker room could certainly use an update.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
Holland America is not known for it's superior entertainment and we know that going onboard.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Staff were ok. With one particular incident the front desk totally ignored my even approaching them and it was only settled by making an additional three (!) phone calls to the Guest Services Dept.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
The ships cleanliness was fine but the the design is absolutely in need of a total overhaul. The bathtub is 1/2 the normal size and I'm 5'10" and I could touch the ceiling in the room and bathtub. Design fo the ship is from the 1990's and it needs to be updated.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
A spa balcony room with a room smaller then other balcony rooms that we saw. the balcony did have two chairs (no table) but when two people were sitting on the balcony it seemed crowded.
Ship tip
Sail on other Holland America ships until this one is renovated.
We did three excursion -- Hemingway's House; Walk About the Old Town and a nightclub visit to the Hotel National. All were a bit overpriced but supposedly we needed them, according to Holland America, to obtain a visa for entry to Cuba which is not true!
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