Rotterdam

Rotterdam experience

February

Pros: Beautiful ship easy to get around on!

Cons: Not enough lounge chairs around indoor pool, small cabin bathroom

Recommended: Yes

Good variety of food in Lido Market. All staff were friendly and efficient. We enjoyed our meals and service in all the specialty restaurants. Great entertainment throughout the ship.

Panama Canal Cruise

February

Pros: Clean, wonderful staff, food was good, helpful guest services

Cons: Internet was ok, excursions were too long and ok, too many days at sea

Recommended: Yes

The cruise was good and I would recommend it for those destinations. The average age was over 60, which was good because there were no rowdy crowds.

Beautiful

January

Pros: Nearly new; nice rooms; very clean; good food; good entertainment

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

We had a really nice time on the ship.!

Panama Canal

January

Pros: Food was very good, lots of choices, immaculate ship, friendly and courteous staff

Cons: If more than 1 device, needed to pay more.

Recommended: Yes

Disappointed that 1 internet package was not for all devices. Unless you were willing to switch all time. Irritating to me. Needed more than 1 time to learn about ports. Needed am and pm.

Rotterdam Cruise

January

Pros: Beautiful ship. Friendly, efficient service. Good food & entertainment choices.

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

See Pros comments

Holland America Line Rotterdam Ship

November

Pros: Awesome 1st class accommodations, Excellent Customer Service from Guest Services, Food Services &StewardExcellent food, Variety of Excellent Entertainment

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

We had a Great time and it was well worth it.

Unfortunately, a disappointment. Willing to try again on non-Pinnacle class ships.

November

Pros: Wonderful service staff is great even though staffing reductions are evident. They still treat us like welcome guests in their home. Embarkation and disembarkation were very efficient and speedy.

Cons: Reduced service staff in all areas. No live music at cocktail hour, no hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour, turndown is optional, numerous uncharges in the Main Dining Room and even alternative dining venues. Overall decor is not typical HAL. The MDR is poorly done, curved sections look like a fish ribcage, the light fixtures look like a poor Chihuly takeoff. Bronze medallion recipients no longer invited to Medallion presentation gathering.

Recommended: Yes

This was our tenth sailing with HAL and third on a Rotterdam (current & 2 on VR-O). It was very noticeable that HAL has made numerous cutbacks while adding surcharges in all dining venues. There was no Lincoln Center ever presented even though in its listed as a venue. Before we ever boarded the ship, we had three port changes due to "operational" issues. We would not have booked the cruise with the revised ports. While on board, we had another port change that was out of the control of HAL but dictated by Panama due to demonstrations in Colon. Safety was HAL's priority!!! HAL's Mariner program has two sections, stars that you get by spending more and moves you up the star level. The there is a Medallion program that is dedicated to ACTUAL sailing days not money spent. HAL decided that Bronze medallion recipients were no long worthy to be invited to the Medallion presentation. The bronze medallions are now delivered to your room, put on your bed or handed to you by your room steward. What a slap in the face. Medallions were returned to guest services since they don't mean anything. Our stateroom had lots of storage and comfortable. Great shower.

21 day Southern Caribbean

March

Pros: Beautiful Ship, wonderful staff, excellent meals w/ many food choices

Cons: Chairs in Lido Cafe are uncomfortable, port talks on TV not as informative as past experiences,

Recommended: Yes

All in all it was a wonderful vacation experience. We love sailing with HAL! In fact we've already booked our next adventure to Asia with Holland America.

A Wonderful Ship with Many Venues

December

Pros: Many venues with good entertainment , Good Food in main dining room and Asian Specialty, Layout of ship was great

Cons: Beverage Package did not extend to their Private Island’s drinks

Recommended: Yes

Great ports, wonderful crew and the passengers were a nice mix of age groups.

A Wonderful Ship with Many Venues

December

Pros: Many venues with good entertainment , Good Food in main dining room and Asian Specialty, Layout of ship was great

Cons: Beverage Package did not extend to their Private Island’s drinks

Recommended: Yes

Great ports, wonderful crew and the passengers were a nice mix of age groups.

Three weeks of Norway. Iceland and Scotland

August

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Crew on board had exhibited 100% effort to keep the ship environment sparkling clean and making sure operations throughout the ship are running smoothly excursions were run super smoothly including crews on board’s assistance as well as the local tour company. ( the prices were very much on the high side , but so expect that in Norway and Iceland . Very enjoyable three weeks Thank you Holland America