We had open seating but it required a reservation. Once we decided upon our daily activities, we called for a reservation for the time we wanted. It worked out well and we were able to request the same table/waiter each night which was accommodated.
The ships crew was amazing. We were never sure when we were supposed to tip in addition to our daily 11.50$ per person charge. If I was wealthy, we would have tipped them constantly. Amazing crew on the Westerdam.
Seems like you had to do battle at the buffet. Crowded and pushing and shoving...plates were in the MIDDLE of a particular bar - had to get plate and entrée and then get back in line for bread, fruit...
The ship was great. Our only complaint was that so many of the staff did not speak English. The cafeteria did not serve food 24/7 and once we had to wait as a result. No that big of a deal.
There were a lot of people on the Westerdam, in the background that we never saw who made this an unforgettable experience, but the 5 guys that we had daily contact with made us feel like we were home. My wife enjoyed the spa, beauty salon, onboard shopping experience, and casino a lot.
Having heard about the slowness of dining in the dining room, we opted for the buffet (LIDO). The outdoor area of the LIDO deck did serve very good burgers of all kinds plus tacos. After several days
of LIDO food, we ate more frequently at the outdooor
We had open seating for dinner, and we found the flexibility of when we wanted to have dinner very convenient. We always had great seating and the quality of service was not compromised in any way. The dining crew was very helpful and couldn't do enough to provide excellent service.
Bring your own bed or pain pills if you decide to sleep in their bed.
Make your own flight , hotel and travel reservation before they leave you behind and do not believe their travel agency's will help you.
Have your passport and enough money to be able to come back home on your own.
Make sure you read all literature they send you prior to boarding. They hold a life boat drill before leaving your embarkation port. It is mandatory that you attend. People who do not pay attention to this cause other passengers to have to stand and wait while they try to locate where you are.
@ 900 feet long, the Westerdam is a huge boat. Do yourself a favor, and get acquainted with all the decks on day one. There are so many things to do, you'll thank yourself later as you won't arrive at any activities late!
The Vista Lounge showroom was so consistently uncomfortably cold that some passengers wore winter coats. The cruise director averted complaints by making jokes about it being a roost for penguins. Be prepared by bringing a warm wrap that goes with your evening clothes.
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