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MS Noordam
Noordam Overview
The ms Noordam, which is the first ship to be launched with the full complement of Signature of Excellence enhancements, exemplifies the classic style of the golden age of ocean travel with contemporary amenities and modern enhancements. In addition to excellent service and an incredible range of elegant dining choices, the ms Noordam has over 50 scheduled shipboard activities allowing you to do as much or as little as you please.
Dining
Pinnacle Grill
Vista Dining Room
Entertainment
Casino
Crow's Nest
Explorations Café
Explorer's Lounge
Northern Lights Nightclub
Ocean's Bar
Piano Bar
Pinnacle Bar
Sports Bar
The Loft
Vista Lounge
Other Areas of the Ship
Atrium
Club HAL
Culinary Arts Center
Fitness Center
Hydropool
Lido Pool
Thermal Suite
| Ship Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Year Built | 2006 |
| Year Refurbished | N/A |
| Year Entered Present Fleet | 2006 |
| Previous Name | N/A |
| Country of Registry | Netherlands |
| Tonnage (GRT) | 82318 |
| Passengers | 1,918 |
| Max Passengers | 2,457 |
| Passenger Decks | 11 |
| Number of Crew | 820 |
| Officers Nationality | Dutch & British |
| Cruise Staff Nationality | International |
| Staterooms | |
|---|---|
| Total Staterooms | 959 |
| Suites with balcony | 0 |
| Suites without a balcony | 0 |
| Oceanview without a balcony | 0 |
| Oceanview with balcony | 0 |
| Accommodations inside | 28 |
Select a deck to view the deckplan.
Sports Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Observation Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Lido Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Navigation Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Rotterdam Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Upper Verandah Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Verandah Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Upper Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Lower Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Main Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
Activities & Services
Every day aboard a Holland America cruise ship brings a wealth of activities and indulgences, along with the freedom to partake in as many - or as few - as you please. With so many choices, there's a perfect onboard cruise activity experience for everyone.
Click HERE for information about Holland America's "As You Wish" Dining.
| Tipping Policy | Additonal for all guests. |
| Onboard Ambiance | Elegant |
GG - Large Outside Stateroom
N - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
SA - Deluxe Verandah Suite
SB - Deluxe Verandah Suite
SC - Deluxe Verandah Suite
SS - Superior Verandah Suite
SY - Superior Verandah Suite
SZ - Superior Verandah Suite
VB - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
VC - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
VD - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
VE - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
VF - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
H - Large Outside Stateroom
NN - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
VH - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
PS - Penthouse Verandah Suite
VA - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
C - Large Outside Stateroom
D - Large Outside Stateroom
E - Large Outside Stateroom
F - Large Outside Stateroom
HH - Large Outside Stateroom
G - Large Outside Stateroom
MM - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
I - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
J - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
K - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
L - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
M - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
DD - Large Outside Stateroom
Reviewer Ratings
3/5Reviewer Scorecard
Staff
Dining Entertainment 
Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Holland America's Rotterdam Holiday Sailing roundtrip Hawaii
Hawaii - 1/2012
The Rotterdam has some very good attractions. This cruiseship offers a very solid Premium Cruise experience.
My opinion of HAL's Rotterdam is that it offers a very solid premium cruise experience.
The positives: The public areas of the ship are very attractive. The bars and lounges offer very good lounge style entertainment. The staterooms are comfortable and have ample space. They are not luxurious but they are comfortable. The food in the dining room was good if you know how to order. Keep it simple and choose things that require braising or slow cooking.The wine offerings were good although expensive.
The negatives: The service is lax and random. Some of the crew tries hard but the service is very inconsistent and lacks management. They have good ideas but they are not implemented (managed) properly.
Pros: Public areas, lounge entertainment, cabins, dining room
Cons: lacks management, random and inconsistent service.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities 
Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Zuiderdam Aug 13-20, 2011 Alaska
Alaska - 8/2011
Host Report on Zuiderdam Aug 13-20, 2011 Alaska
Arriving to Vancouver airport on a Saturday presented long lines in custom area. With international flights from Beijing and Sydney and several others, at the exact same time as ours, it was at least 1 1/2 hour zig-zag line. I must say the airport was beautiful. Seems since the Olympics in 2008, the airport and city improvements really shined. Just adding a few more customs agents in the empty stalls would have expedited check in for hundreds of us!
Upon arrival to Canada Place 1, we found the Zuiderdam and Golden Princess awaiting new guests. With that, there were lots of passengers in 1 long, long zig-zagging line, again! Once through security, Canadian customs and US customs, passengers were separated to their respective cruise ships for another line to check in.
One positive about this check in on arrival, our return to Vancouver the following Saturday was most pleasant.. very short line for Canadian customs and zipped out with luggage within 1/2 hour from disembarkation.
About 300 guests disembarked in Skagway and proceeded with a land tour of the Yukon to complete their trip. And then of course, 300 new guests came aboard from their pre-cruise land tour. It was interesting to hear their stories and you could tell who the newbies were as they were the "lost" ones, trying to get their sea legs!
Ship status....
The outside of the ship is showing it's wear, but a nice coat of paint will take care of that.
Inside, at first it looked quite shiny and clean, but at closer look, we noticed lots of tables in the showroom with lots of nicks and paint chips. Many of the popular seats in the show rooms/lounges are quite worn, especially the leather seats with best views.
Breakfast in main dining room proved to be a long wait from ordering to receiving plate. The food was good, but just too way too long.
Hint... 24 hour room service is complimentary.. from 2nd day on we ordered in room breakfast ... that was the best thing ever.. !
Deserts included several sugar free choices as well as ice cream.. different everyday.
Late night at Lido offered pizza, pasta and cookies. The chocolate extravaganza buffet was beautiful, around the pool area which is held once on the sailing.
Our experience of dinner service presented a disappointment 4 out of the 5 times we ate there. Not sure the problem, but on our anniversary, we had a reservation for 745p. We arrived promptly, were seated and after 10 minutes, our waiter still had not introduced himself. The wine sommelier saw our faces and asked what was wrong.. he eventually brought us water and bread. Still after another 10 minutes or so, my husband went to the head waiter and complained. It was not the fact it was our anniversary, but no guest should have to wait that long for a menu and a little attention. As an experienced cruiser on Holland that service was unacceptable.
Our visit to the Pinnacle Grill was on the special night called "Le Cirque". Menu items included a unique pate w/raspberries, special cuts of Pork Chops, Beef, Sea Bass and exotic deserts. Service was much better than in dining room, which was refreshing. The cost was $39pp.
One of the favorite places to be was up at the Crow's Nest. This offered 180 degree views from the front of the ship. Very lively place for viewing whales and enjoying the drink of the day. Just as you enter, there is Explorations Cafe, offering coffees/pastries/soda. The pastries were complimentary, but there was a price list for the beverages. And just across was the Internet area. Lots of stations offered. Price list was "as you go" .75 per minute. And 2 pre-paid packages for 50 and 100 minutes. Initial set up fee was $3.75. Connection was slow at best when out to sea and in inside passage. Since we were mostly in US ports, we used our iPods / phone texting for communication when needed. Internet personal did offer free assistance / printing for guests trying to check in online and print out boarding passes the day prior to disembarkation.
Once of the highlights of the cruise was in Glacier Bay. We were close enough to hear the clack and thunderous sounds when the glacier starts to calf. It was a glorious sunny day (very few indeed!) from what the park ranger said. If you had a balcony, it was the perfect place for viewing as all the outside deck areas were always congested. The ship did 2 360 turns so everyone had a view. And we did see several bear sightings and orca whales along the way. (take binoculars!!)
1. Suspension Bridge, 2. meet and feed one of the dogs and learn about their life, 3. musher explains the gear required for the races and race details, and the 4th, and best.. being pulled in a converted golf cart by a team of 16 dogs. This "ride" lasts about 10 minutes through the trails. The musher explains the calls and stops several times for resting. And 5th, but not least.. holding the new puppies! Tour cost is about $129pp for nearly 3 hours.
Another popular tour is the White Pass and Yukon Narrow Gauge Train. (Our Signature comp. excursion). This departs at sea-level in Skagway and traverses switch-backs and trussels up to over 3000 feet at the White Pass. This train was used over 100 years ago for the transport between the sea and the Yukon. Gold was the goal and we learned much about the history from the docent aboard.
In Ketchikan, in addition to many fishing, wildlife and float-plane glacier tours, we participated in a combination boat ride to where they catch the Dungeness Crab and lunch at a beautiful lodge outside of Ketchican. Of course it was an all you can eat Crab lunch! The cooks were quite animated and very welcoming! This was over 3 hours and about $159pp. We were treated with eagle, humpback whale, bear and seal sightings along the boat ride!!
Pros: Noted in body of review
Cons: Noted in body of review
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Christmas Cruise
Mexico - 12/2011
What a great way to spend the Holiday!
24Dec11 - Holland America "Oosterdam" 7day Mexico Cruise
The cruise departed out of San Diego for a 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise. The embarkation process was very organized and easy, we were onboard in no time. Our cabins were ready as soon as we boarded. We took a quick look around the ship and when we returned to our cabins our luggage had already arrived. The ship was all decorated for Christmas and quite festive. Even though the ship was 100% full, it didn't seem crowded. We made a visit to the Spa and scheduled our spa treatments for the week right away. The Spa is really nice and all of our treatments in the coming week were enjoyable.
The food in the Lido dining room, was only average, but the Dining Room was excellent. The Pinnacle Grill was beyond excellent. Also room service was very good.
I was very impressed by the beds and the bedding in my cabin. My bed was one of the most comfortable and cozy of any ship that I have ever sailed on, and I'm pretty picky about my bed. Also my cabin was very quiet.
Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas were our port visits. The weather this time of year is perfect, not too hot, and not humid at all, about 75 to 80 degrees. Coming and going from the ship in both ports were also very organized and easy.
The Casino and the Bars were all hopping every night, so it was a very festive atmosphere. But not so crowded that you couldn't find a place to sit and enjoy yourself.
Holland America really knows what they are doing. Departing the ship was also a breeze. They are just so organized about everything!
All in all, a Holiday cruise with friends or family is a great option if you want to travel that time of the year. I would definitely go again!
Pros: Well run ship!
Cons: Lido Restaurant
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Holland America Maasdam Canada/New England October 2011
Canada/New England - 10/2011
We cruised on Holland America’s newly renovated Maasdam from Montreal to Boston, a pleasant 7-day itinerary that left October 1, 2011, returning October 8, 2011.
This cruise was certainly an experience. On the one hand, we had this fabulous ship, newly renovated and updated. On the other hand, we were plagued with bad weather.
We left Montreal in a pouring rain. Quebec was so windy you were nearly blown off the top of the hill. But then Halifax was even worse! Not only was it windy, it was COLD! Oh, and did I mention the hurricane? Yes, we skipped our port on Cape Breton and spent the day rockin’ and a rollin’ as we hugged the coast of Nova Scotia, and hugged anything firmly fixed to the walls as we made our way around the ship.
But other than that, a good time was had by all. We were all snug and well attended to aboard our ship. The service was quite outstanding from every level. We were always received with a smile and many went well above the call of duty to make the passengers feel extra special. One in particular needs to be noted: a woman who worked in the Oceans lounge. I was collecting the cordial glasses that were complimentary when you ordered an aperatif. I wanted a complete set, one of each color. She made a point of saving them for me throughout the cruise to be sure I would not have duplicates. And on the last night, she outdid herself by even finding me a box to carry them home!
We expected the food to be good but it proved better than anticipated, not just in the specialty restaurants but in the dining room as well. To start off our journey on a good note, we began with a night at the Pinnacle Grill. VERY nice! The meat was done perfectly, as well as the prawns. As the week progressed, we found this same level of quality almost nightly. The only night that did not measure up was the second formal night when I ordered the filet mignon with the lobster tail. It was fine, but not what I had become accustomed. And I must excuse myself as a judge as I live in Maine, a 15 minute walk to the fish market on the wharf. I am probably a little hyper-picky when it comes to lobster. Everyone else was certainly enjoying it!
Ah, the shows! Here was another fun surprise. We attended most of them and some we of course enjoyed more than others. But we were impressed by the overall quality of the productions and the downright talent exhibited on the HAL stage. The absolute hands-down favorite was “Encore,” a collection of stage favorites, that was the talk of the ship all the next day. Also of note was “Bob Mackie’s Broadway,” with the music complimented by fabulous Mackie-designed gowns. Good for light entertainment but not great was Road House, a show that could not decide if it wanted to be rock-n-roll or country and did not quite make either.
The ports were a roundup of the usual suspects for a Canada/New England cruise. Montreal is a bustling, trendy urban center, full of students from McGill University. It has a respectable assortment of fine restaurants, galleries and shops large and small. Its old town is small enough to be walkable and large enough to occupy a good part of the pre-cruise day. Quebec is magical even in gale-force winds. Prince Edward Island is well located for any cruise itinerary in this region. However, it does not have much to offer in terms of tourist attractions. As a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables, I overly anticipated my first visit there, but became disillusioned by midday. Local folks were clearly making quite a stretch to make something real that really wasn’t. Fiction is fiction, and trying to design and decorate a house according to a book came off contrived. But we did visit places that were the inspiration for the novels so I took some value in that.
Our Cape Breton stop did not materialize as noted above. So we all waited out the storm patiently and our arrival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here we journeyed to Peggy’s Cove, a gorgeous little coastal village, and crammed into the gift shop/restaurant with the dozens of other tourists who did not care to venture outside in the freezing cold and wind. We warmed ourselves with tea and gingerbread, one of the specialties of the area, and picked up some souvenirs.
Then finally, finally, the weather began to change! We arrived in Bar Harbor on a lovely sunny, clear day. Not hot, but not cold either and we were all joyous as we tendered to the town for a day of sightseeing, shopping, and seeking out the perfect lobster rolls.
By the time we reached Boston and the end of our cruise, an autumn “heat wave” had come in and temperatures climbed to over 80 degrees!
I have heard that the following week was spectacular throughout the whole region, with perfect, HOT weather, and an ocean smooth as glass! C’est la vie!
Summing up the cruise, Holland America did a great job. People were happy on board and went home feeling good about the cruise line.
Pros: Great ship, excellent food, wonderful service and fabulous shows
Cons: Weather and other things outside of Holland America's control
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Canada/New England Cruise
Canada/New England - 9/2011
Overall a wonderful experience on the HAL Eurodam cruising to Canada/New England. I would highly recommend the ship and itinerary. The best onboard Entertainment that I have experienced on any cruise line. Wonderful delicious food throughout the sailing. Good variety of food at meals.
Pros: Entertainment and Food was the best
Cons: More staff helpfulness in disembarking ship at ports.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Scandinavia & Baltic Cruise 8/12-24/2011
Scandinavia/Baltic - 8/2011
The ports of call on this itinerary are among my favorite ports. Each capital city has its own unique ambiance and the history in each is truly fascinating. On board the Eurodam, the dining and service was very good, but the show lounge entertainment was not up to some expectations.
The Baltic itinerary is overall a great itinerary. Copenhagen and Helsinki are wonderful capital cities to visit and very easy to get around. With having to tender in at Nynashamn, Stockholm is a bit more difficult at an hour's drive away, but well worth seeing this beautiful city. Tallinn is absolutely charming with its old city flavor and it is very easy to just walk around Tallin on your own. Warnemunde, of course, is the port for a visit to Berlin and most folks took one of the many Berlin options that were offered. These tours made for a long day, but all seemed to thoroughly enjoy their visit to Berlin. Warnemunde itself is a charming seaside town - very easy to walk around and you can even stick your feet in the Baltic Sea if you wish!
St. Petersburg, of course, is the gem. There is so much to see and do there, that it is impossible to do it all in two days. Most folks tried to pack it all in (three tours in one day) and by the end of the day they were so tired and hungry, I'm not sure that they really enjoyed themselves. Travelers must be made aware of the fact that the traffic in St. Petersburg is terrible and it does take some time to get on and off of the ship due to the Russian Border Patrol (you get stamped in and out every time you go ashore and when you come back to the ship). Between this and the traffic, some excursions departed late or returned late, leaving very little turn-around time for the folks doing multiple excursions.
About a year ago, Holland America decided to do away with the trays in the Lido Restaurant. I found this to be problematic as the guests had to make multiple trips to the buffet lines and/or beverage stations to get their selections. On several occasions, I would leave my table to get something and come back to find that my table had been cleared, including my flatware. This happened even if I left signs that I was not finished with my meal. I have commented on this to our HAL Sales Rep.
The dining and service in the main restaurant was very good. I don't think that they have as many offerings as in years past, but what was on the menu was very good and the service provided allowed for a leisurely meal without taking an enormous amount of time.
Several clients felt that the show lounge entertainment was not up to what it used to be on HAL. There were several singers and musicians offered, but not of the caliber expected. I will say that the piano player in the Piano Lounge was fantastic. He had a packed house every night. If anything, HAL needs to make the Piano Lounge larger. Also, HAL offered a movie (The King's Speech) one night in the show lounge, as well as two themed evening dinner parties poolside. Everyone enjoyed these options.
Pros: Overall itinerary, main dining room, smaller entertainment venues
Cons: Lack of trays in the Lido, quality of show lounge entertainment
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Venice roundtrip to Greece and Turkey and Croatia
Venice roundtrip to Greece & Turkey - 7/2011
Holland America provided a truly wonderful cruise to Split, Greece and Turkey. The staff was great and they definitely paid attention to detail and it was definately important that the passengers enjoyed themselves and were happy.
I have been on Holland America before and had sailed a very similar itinerary. The Nieuw Amsterdam is a larger ship and I did notice differences since the last time I sailed.
I thought that the food was excellent and I enjoyed the Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind Restaurant as well as Canaletto. In the main dining room they offer first, second and open sitting. Open sitting is not very organized and we had a hard time getting a reservation for any time other than 5:30pm. If you didn't have a reservation you needed to show up and they would give you a buzzer and sometimes a wait of up to an hour. There were a lot of passengers upset about the way that was handled.
The itinerary was fantastic. I know that the majority of the passengers wanted basic city tours in most of the ports but I think that some excursions with a bit more adventure in mind might be worth adding.
Pros: The staff.
Cons: The coffee was horrid!!
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Alaska Hosted Cruise
Alaska - 7/2011
Travel agent and clients have a wonderful first time Holland America experience.
From my first impression upon arrival at the port in Seattle with the check-in procedure to my easy working relationship with the staff; everything went as smoothly as it could.
The Shore Excursions staff were always friendly and helpful.
The different activities onboard ship were numerous and varied enough to offer something for everyone. I tried everything from the Cooking Class to the Pinnacle Grill Le Circque dinner and was never disappointed. I will be highly recommending both to my clients.
Holland America has a very satisfied new customer and one who will be able to speak from experience now on the value and service this cruise line offers.
Pros: Wonderful staff onboard to work with---the best yet!
Cons: None
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value VEENDAM
South America and Cape Horn - 2/2011
This vessel does not show her age at all. In spite of having sailed some 15 years, the VEENDAM is spotless. The crew is constantly scrubbing, polishing and keeping her lovely looking. The public rooms and the staterooms are very well appointed and comfortable. All crew and officers are polite and accommodating at all times.
One more evening Broadway type show would have been welcome.
Pros: A very good value for the money.
Cons: There are none.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Circle Hawaii 14 Day Cruise
Hawaii - 11/2010
Overall an excellent experience from the moment you arrive on the ship until the moment you disembark upon its return. Staff is very personable and at all times makes certain that the client's immediate needs are met and corrects any problems to satisfaction without any second guessing.
The 14 day Circle Hawaii cruise that sails round trip from San Diego is a very relaxing and stress free way to see the Hawaiian Islands. The smaller size Zaandam ship allows for several members of the crew aside from your cabin steward, dinning room waiters to know you by name. I found this to be very warm and gracious as several times, we were greeted and spoken to directly by our names by members of the activities team and the front desk staff. The staff at the ship's photo studio also spoke with us personally by name and inquired several times as to how we were enjoying the cruise.
We had a FANTASTIC and memorable dinner one night inside the specialty restaurant "Pinnacle Grill". I don't know how Holland America can serve such bountiful and gourmet type meals like they do for the mere price of just $20.00 per person. I would HIGHLY recommend that you eat at the Pinnacle Grill at least one time during your cruise. It is well worth the price. You will not regret it!We enjoyed the experience so much that we returned another day and ate lunch with them. The cover charge for lunch is $10.00 per person, but again the service and warm personalized attention the staff in the Pinnacle Grill provide are worth it!!
Other nights the entree selections in the main Rotterdam Dinning Room along with the service is great. If you want more than one appetizer or dessert all you do is ask .
The nightly shows in the main theatre are lively, colorful and extremely entertaining. I could not believe that there was a new and different show every night of the cruise. I thought that given the cruise length of 14 days that possibly one or two shows would be repeated, but NO. As a matter of fact, the series of theme shows with the cast of the Zaandam singers and dancers is unbelievable. The energy and enthusiasm they deliver in those shows makes you want to get out of your seat and join them on stage.
The only CON I can think of for this entire cruise is the time that you are given to spend in each island port. Except for Honolulu where you have ALL DAY, the other island ports offer you limited time. If you elect to do shore excursion, it leaves you little time to go back out and explore more on your own. It would be nice if one of the other island ports, possibly Maui or the Big Island had the ship staying in port overnight. I realize this might be hard on Maui, seeing that you use the tender boats to get to shore, but on the Big Island, after you leave the Hilo port, you could sail over to the Kona port in the evening and drop anchor there the next day.
Pros: Wide selection of entrees at all meals; Complimentary culinary and digital photo studio classes
Cons: Not enough time on some of the Islands. The long "at sea" days on the way back to San Diego
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Nieuw Amsterdam
Spain, Greece, Croatia and Italy - 8/2010
Mega ship, size, customer satisfaction, food and service
Holland America has changed my mind about large ship cruising. The concerns were: disembarking in ports, reboarding times with lines. The ship has this operation down to a science. Customers pick up boarding cards and wait in the comfort of their cabin or lounge until called..The experience was startling, no line...off the ship in minutes.
Expecting crowds at meals never occurred, even for the anytime dining...longest wait was 10 minutes, champagne was served with that wait time.
The front desk was amazing, so helpful with small details and BIG ones too.
Service was extremely well done...Applause to the entire staff!!!!
Pros: Lovely public areas, well designed staterooms, restrooms large and fairly well lit.
Cons: FREE shuttles did not meet the returning passengers in a timely manner or not at all.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value What a Beauty!
Alaska - 8/2010
The Signature of Excellence at its best!
What a joy it was to experience Holland America Line as it used to be some 15 years ago. I have to say that Holland America Line became somewhat mass market some years ago but that has all changed and they really excel at providing their Signature of Excellence. Everything about the Rotterdam was wonderful. The service was exceptional, the food was outstanding and the overall experience was awesome.
Our stateroom was spacious, well appointed and very comfortable. We seldom saw our room steward but everything was always perfect.
We ate in the dining room most of the time because it was great. The breakfast menu was unbelievable with its extensive choices. There were over 25 varieties of breakfast foods. I cannot say enough about the dining. The highlight of our dining experience was the Winemakers Pinnacle Luncheon, which was part of our cruise package.
One of the things that we've gotten away from over the years of cruising was the nightly entertainment. NOT SO on this ship! All I can say is wow - wow - and wow! The variety, versatility and talent of the entertainers was a joy to enjoy!
The cooking demonstration was another highlight of the cruise. So interesting, entertaining & delicous!
One point I'd like to express also is the size of the Rotterdam. With only 1200 passengers it is so easy getting around - no crowds, on & off the ship was easy & no lines to wait in. Marvelous!
I could go on and on but I think you can tell I really enjoyed the Rotterdam and highly recommend it.
Pros: Service, dining & entertainment
Cons: Can't think of any
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Inside passage, Alaska, 7 Day cruise
Alaska, Inside passage - 8/2010
Loved the itinerary.
embarkation and disembarkation were very efficient, kudos for that.
The ship is a bit dated, especially the dining area-would certainly recommend a more updated look throughout.
Dining, food in the dining room was good, and special requests were attended to.The price for bottled wine was excessive and the wine list unimaginative. there should be better wines at an affordable price and more extensive selection in that category.
The food in the Lido was less satisfactory, especially at non-dining times. Liked the Canaletto restaurant-when I finally found it!
the Stateroom was adequate in size, but also could use updating, would have liked some more amenities, such as a sewing kit. I only did 2 small shore excursions, they were satisfactory.
I never saw any security personel, although I was mostly roaming the ship-nothing went wrong, as far as I could tell, but in today's circumstances, I would have liked to know, that there was some security. Maybe its so there, just not visible?
Pros: Itinerariy, size
Cons: old,dated ship interior
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Zuiderdam Alaska Sailing
Alaska - 8/2010
Pros: Food and Service everywhere on the ship
Cons: None that I can think of.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Scottish Seranade (12 Days around the United Kingdom)
United Kingdom - 8/2010
Very Port intensive Itinerary covering the United Kingdom. This Trip covered Hundreds of Years of History in Ireland, Scotland & England.
This was a very well thought out Itinerary offered by Holland America Line.
The varied ports of call covered the majority of the Untied Kingdom. A lot of people look at the United Kingdom as England which is wrong. The United Kingdom is comprised of several countries. Guernsey in the channel Islands, Northern Ireland, Scotland , Wales & England . Ruled by the British Monarchy
But have some self rule. Each Country has its own National Flag & National Anthem.
Holland America Lines handled embarkation & Disembarkation perfectly in Rotterdam & all of the ports of call along the route.
The real Highlight of the trip was attending the Edinburgh Military Tattoo the the massed pipe bands of the Scottish Regiments.
This was a very memorable trip for all the Guests on board the Westerdam.
A foot note . Two Thirds of the Guests on Board were Dutch so the primary language used was Dutch & the Secondary Langue was English.
Pros: Great Itinerary ,Shuttles provided for a fee from the Ships Location to City Centers
Cons: Tendering ,This was difficult for some Guest's & some time a longer wait to disembark & embark
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value What a cruise
Alaska - 8/2010
Holland America's ship the Oosterdam has it all. Beauty and dignity everywhere!
Holland America was a nice surprise for me. I have sailed many times on many lines and had shied away from Holland. No specific reason. But I cannot tell you how glad I am that I finally went. The service was some of the best I think I have ever experienced. From the room steward up to the Maitre D there was no one on this ship that did not stop and say hi and ask how you are. That made you feel wanted.
My cabin was a partially obstruced view and I was shocked when I arrived. I had a window from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. Just like a balcony door but just a window!!! We did have a partial view of a lifeboat but still there was plenty of room to see past that and enjoy the ocean.
The bathroom was much larger than most ships in that category of cabins. They even had a bathtub.
There were 3 closets. Plenty for us and possibly more if needed. Lots of shelf space. Not to many drawers but the shelves helped.
The lighting at the desk was not the greatest for fixing your hair and or makeup but that is where the hair dryer was. So I made do and did just fine.
The first night in the cabin the A.C. was not working and so they brought us a fan and they continued to work on it until it was fixed, which was around midnight.
I really don't think I could have asked for anything that they could not bring me or fix for me etc. Such an awesome crew.
The dining was second to none. I loved every meal and I loved that they were nice size meals. Not an over abundance of any thing.
The open seating for dinner was especially nice. The first night we really enjoyed our waiter and so we made reservations each night to be at any one of his tables. We got the same table 4 nights and it was pretty special.
We at at the buffet for breakfast and I was pleasantly surprised as to the freshness of everything and it all had great flavor. Most buffets get bland and old after a while but not on the Oosterdam.
The burgers and the taco bar were excellent as well. And the ice cream every afternoon. YUMMMMMY
Thank you for a memorable cruise.
Pros:
Cons:
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value 10 day Rome Empire 8/19/2010
Rome - 8/2010
We had a wonderful time. Everyone on board the ship was outstanding. The food was excellent. The ship was very clean. The extra care given to keep the germ level down was noticeable and appreciated.
I would have appreciated free water in the stateroom either by pitcher or bottled water. I would have liked to see more destination narration. We did have a lecturer on board but I found her not spending enough time on critical points of interest. Would like to see smoking banned or given only limited areas of the ship. One evening I believe it was for a special function in the queens lounge it was so smokey you couldn't walk through that deck without coughing.
I would have liked to be able to get a cup of coffee in more convenient places. Only found it in the dining area and the one coffee shop. They needed to have larger glasses for iced tea. I found the shops on board did not provide good quality merchandise. On the nights they were promoting Items from Turkey & Italy they didn't have much but they already had put merchandise out for Spain which we were not going to. Realizing that was part of the next cruise itinerary but I think they should wait and put that out when they are already there.
My beverage package never got delivered. They researched it with Seattle office but did not get an answer until the last few days of the cruise. Some how it did not get processed. Although it gave me a total and said it was ordered. I think Holland's web site times out and maybe that is what happened. It just didn't tell me that.
Pros: food, service, staff
Cons: on board lecturer, on board store
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Alaska 7 day Inside Passage
Alaska - 7/2010
Beautiful scenery, great staff. The very best way to see Alaska.
White Pass train ride excellent from Skagway - recommend it for anyone. Mysty Fords scenic flight - truly amazing. Excursions desk most helpful. Ask for Debbie.
Pros: Ship food great, staff wonderful, Beautiful scenery
Cons: My Deck had a air conditioning problem
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Mediterranean Glamour
Western Med - 7/2010
Great 7 day Western Med itinerary on a traditional Holland America ship.
This seven day Western Med itinerary gives a good histoical prespective of the region starting in Barcelona, Spain on to Monte Carlo; Santa Margherita Ligure (Potofino), Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Trapani, Sicily, Italy; La Goulette (Tunis and Carthage), Tunisia and finishing in Barcelona. The Noordam is a traditional 1,918 passenger sized Holland America Line ship offering a good variety of activity and dining choices for the whole family. Dutch officers compliment the Indonesian/Philippine trained staff.
Pros: Port intensive with one day at sea.
Cons: One day at sea.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Westerdam
Norwegian Fjords - 7/2010
The overall cruise experience was quite good.
The Westerdam is run with much efficiency. The staff is friendly and quite helpful. Any questions and/or concerns were answered quickly and to our satisfaction.
In working with the food and beverage manager, the head of dining, the shore excursion team and the hotel manager, we were very pleased with their prompt and courteous assistance.
There are some parts of the ship which need a bit of a lift. The lounge chairs near the elevators seemed out of date and worn and looked as though they came from Tijuana! They looked oriental, but the "boys" at either end of the lounger were worn and gaudy looking.
All other areas were nicely appointed.
The check-in procedures in Rotterdam were less than satisfactory. People were literally both coming and going and one had to be very careful with the luggage that it went on the ship instead of leave the ship! However, the embarkation staff did their best to see that everyone got to where they belonged.
Pros: Great staff, good itinerary, clean ship, very health conscious
Cons: Buffet never changed, food was mediocre, some furniture needed to be replaced. The Ship entertainment group was not up to the quality of Holland America Cruises.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Inside passage from Seattle
Alaska Inside Passage - 7/2010
This was a nice itinerary with stops in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, a lovely day cruising Glacier Bay. The last port stop in Victoria is at night and not long enough to see this beautiful city as it leaves you wanting to return again for a longer stay.
The Zaandam is a nice size ship for this itinerary. There are several public areas and an open deck for good views of the glaciers and a chance to whale watch on board. A good area to read and relax with a nice latte is the Explorer's Cafe. Though the staff was friendly, I did note a drop in service from my last experience on Holland America. Cabin stewards took longer to make up cabins and there were less staff available to assist in the Lido Restaurant by the pool areas. This is no doubt due to the economy and the line's need to make some cuts.
The food was good but not great in the Dining room. There was often a wait for open dining. The wait staff did their best to be attentive and friendly. The new Caneletto restaurant is a nice alternative dining option for some good Italian cuisine.
Entertainment was great in the small lounges allowing for nice after dinner cocktails for those who prefer a relaxed atmosphere over the big shows in the theatre. The casino is a challenge if you are a non-smoker.
Pros: Multi dining options, especially Pinnacle Grill, in-room DVD rentals
Cons: Cabin steward service, slow room service, staff language challenges
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Alaska - Inside Passage
Alaska - 7/2010
July 3-10, 2010 Roundtrip Vancouver
Holland America had quite a few Families on this sailing and approximately 600 children, which is quite unusual for Holland America. Itinerary was great and the Shore Excursion offered by Signature -tops-
Dining Room service was excellent--Room service - could not have been better- The Special Theme Menus --wonderful--Lido--not so impressive- somewhat unorganized and some of the Servers looked like they did not want to be there. - Coffee-Tea-Water service up at the Lido --could be better--
Overall- the Staff was friendly and very helpful towards the "Elderly"
Entertainment was very good and the Casino was busy with games out of the ordinary.
Pros: Would recommend --
Cons: Non--
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Eurodam July 9, 2010
Baltic - 7/2010
Excellent value, exceptionally clean vessel, attractive staterooms, accommodating staff, meals well prepared with the best ingredients. Lido dining room staff need more training. Interesting ports, Warnemuende, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm . The last port, Kiel, uninspired. The entertainement entertaining - one more Broadway show would have been nice.
A very good product!
Pros:
Cons:
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Alaska Cruise July 28, 2010
Alaska - 7/2010
Holland America stands for service and this cruise was no exception.
From embarkation to disembarkation, the crew takes care of your needs. The staterooms are lovely and the public areas well maintained. I especially enjoyed the fresh flowers throughout the ship. The food is always above par and the specialty dining room, Pinnacle is exceptional and makes for an enjoyable evening. Canalleto also offers Italian dining in a relaxed atmosphere.
For activities I especially like On Deck for the Cure which Holland America has sponsored for many years.
The narration during our day of sailing in Glacier Bay is very good. The captain points out whales and other marine life during the cruise. Both of which makes for a wonderful experience.
Pros:
Cons:
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Nieuw Amsterdam July 14-26, 2010
Mediterranean - 7/2010
I was on the second sailing of the new "Nieuw Amsterdam" and sincerely expected to find some flaws but no matter how hard I tired, I could not. I was told by several staff members that the very best personnel had been chosen to serve on this new ship and it definitely showed.
My cabin was category GG (outside with view obstructed by lifeboat) on the Upper Promenade deck. The cabin had plenty of closet space and more than enough hangers. The beds and pillows were wonderful. The bathroom was very comfortable for one person at a time. The hot water was plentiful and the shower pressure very good. My clients who were also on board had a deluxe verandah suite and it was extremely large and tastefully decorated.
The cabin service was impecable and of the service personnel in all areas of the ship went out of their way to be friendly and helpful. The Lido dining room is laid out very nicely and there were always plenty of servers available to assist you with anything you might need. The dishes were removed immediately and the Lido was always neat and clean. I had "open dining" which meant that I dined in the lower level of the dining room while those with assigned times dined on the upper level. However, one evening we were seated on the second level as they had space. On nights we did not have a reservation, we were given a beeper and never waited long. I had lunch and dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. It was very good and the service flawless. I also dined in Tamarind and found the food to be exceptional and once again the service was good. The Silk Den lounge across from the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous although I rarely saw people in it. All of the lounges are very attractive and welcoming. The Crows Nest was very popular. The adjacent library and computer center were also popular but I never had difficulty finding an available computer. I was surprised that the Explorations Cafe was not open in the evenings.
There were many nationalities on the ship and many families. The ship was totally full and never seemed overly crowded. There was space for everybody. The ship has two pools, the Lido in the center of the ship and the Sea View is aft and adults only. The lounge chairs are more comfortable and attractive at the Lido pool whereas the adult pool has standard, non padded lounge chairs. Towels were plentiful and so was the attending pool staff.
The front desk was always opened and the staff always cheery and chipper. The people working the shore excursion desk were very knowledgeable and helpful. Disembarkation for the shore excursions was handled very efficiently. Our itinerary was very port intensive so I did not have the opportunity to take advantage of all of the various activities offered. There was always something interesting going on day and night.
The spa was very popular and was always brimming with activity even in the evenings.
Everyone I spoke to on the cruise seemed to be having a wonderful time. Prior to boarding the ship, I met several people at my hotel who had just disembarked and they had nothing but rave reviews for the first voyage as well.
The evening shows were very good. There were 2 shows each evening each lasting one hour. They do not have huge Broadway type shows but the entertainers were varied and talented. The showroom is very high tech so the shows feel very modern and upbeat.
I hope that the Nieuw Amsterdam maintains this wonderful level. I feel extremely confident recommending this ship to all age levels. With the fine service and the various levels of accommodations, this ship is definitely attractive to all levels of age and income.
Pros: Service level, beautifully decorated cabins and public areas
Cons: None
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
3/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports 
Value Alaska Inside Passage - July, 2010
Alaska Inside Passage - 7/2010
Holland America does a good job for a variety of clients. The average age of the passengers has declined from the previous perception. There were a few negatives expressed below.
Our cruise of the Inside Passage had great weather and our group had a good time. The food was very good, the room steward did a great job without being noticed and the ship was easy to get around. The gym was adequate, the salon seemed booked and the casino was fairly busy when open.
The ports were good except Ketchikan (6 hours stop) and VIctoria (4 hours stop). Too short!! The first 2 - 3 days, Holland America would not let guests serve themselves in the coffee/water area or the dessert area. There were ropes up and guests had to be served by a crew member. Also there were no trays for carrying food. Trying to carry a plate, a bowl and a drink can be tough, especially for the elderly. Sometimes, the tables weren't bussed as quickly as they were in the past. Maybe they were short staffed. The casino staff was not very friendly which is poor in a place that should be fun and uplifting.
Pros: Not a large ship like some other cruise lines.
Cons: Food service in the Lido.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Holland America Vendam South America cruise from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso
South America - 2/2010
A nice cruise experience. Some things need work to make it an exceptional experience.
The staff and the crew were helpful and friendly, as always. I have been on over 8 cruises with Holland America and am noticing some cutbacks in quality and service. For instance, the windows were dirty on the entire cruise. I know it's hard to keep them clean while cruising, but they started out dirty and ended the same way. The AC system wasn't working when we boarded and was still having problems several days later.
Pros: Nice size ship for this itinerary
Cons: Personal choice dining needs more work
Reviewer Recommended? y
Ratings
3/5Reviewer Scorecard
Staff
Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Miss the 'Olde' Days
Caribbean - 12/2011
We miss the "olde times". Stanley Shotz- West Palm Beach Fla.
Pros: Activities;Cabin;Clean;Entertain;Food;Staff;
Cons: Activities;Entertain;
Reviewer Recommended? N
Ratings
1/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Great Ship Except for Smell
Eastern Caribbean - 9/2011
On the first day we felt like we had found our ideal cruise line. Then we began to notice an odor in the room. We complained twice without relief. That odor cured me from ever wanting to use Holland America again.
In September 2011, my wife and I boarded the Holland America ship, Noordam, for a 10-day cruise to Greece. This was our 19th cruise but our first on a Holland America ship. We had been upgraded to a suite and were happy about the spacious accommodations. In fact, on the first day we were talking about becoming regular Holland America cruisers.
On either the second or third day, we began to notice the smell of sewage in our room and in the passageway outside our room. It seemed to get worse as time went on. I began to make sure that the bathroom door was closed at all times thinking that the smell was coming from there. It did not help and I became nauseous from the smell. I called the room steward and he said the smell was coming from the AC unit and he would notify engineering. Engineering came and said that they would notify housekeeping.
The odor seemed to go away for a day and then came back as bad as ever. Once again, I called to complain. Some people came to investigate but I got no relief from the problem. I was only able to tolerate being in the room by using a chair to hold the door open to the veranda. On the last day, before we docked, the odor went away.
We took a land tour and sat at a table with another couple that were on our ship. We all said we were having a nice time on the cruise until I said that I had only one problem: “the smell in our room.” With that, the man went into a rant about how awful the smell was in his room and that he would never go on another Holland America cruse. I asked if he had complained and he said no. I told him that I had and it did no good.
I know that there is a tendency to blame the cruise staff for these problems and I want to say that I place no blame on any of the crew. In fact, at all times, they were friendly, courteous and respectful. Clearly, the blame for our terrible experience rests on top management for allowing such conditions to continue.
Pros: Spacious, good food, friendly staff.
Cons: Sewage smell in room.
Reviewer Recommended? N
Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Noordam Atlantic Crossing
Transatlantic - 10/2010
We booked our cruise at a specialized cruise agency, which helped us at many of our first-timer questions.
Prior to our cruise, we booked a hotel in Rome for the weekend and travelled from Rome Termini train station to Civitavecchia on the day of our departure by train. Before our departure to Rome, we booked tickets for the train by internet, which cost us only 8 euros each, for first class seating. We choose to walk from the train station to the harbor entrance, which was not a problem. At the harbor entrance, a bus to bring us to the ship was awaiting, and soon delivered us to the check-in terminal.
After handing over our luggage, the check-in process started, which was surprisingly smooth, efficient and fast and got us on board quickly, where we made our way to the Lido restaurant, to enjoy our first lunch on board. Directions on board were clear, also for us first timers.
Soon we were given the signal that our cabin was ready and, after a short stop in our verandah stateroom, we went to explore the ship. We were surprised that so many people seemed to disappear in a blink into the ship, because not only that day, but all through our cruise, we never had the idea that we were with about 1900 other passengers on board. Overall we were probably one of the younger couples on board, since the majority of the other guests were well over 60 average and maybe even well over 70. We were not bothered by that at all, nor that there were only about 20 to 30 other guests from Holland. We all knew that from all of the reviews we read, prior to choosing this cruise. We were not looking for night after night late entertainment, disco and other late night extravaganza and were very much pleased with the relaxed atmosphere.
Staff was friendly throughout our cruise and helped us with our first-time questions in the beginning. We chose a pre-booked early seating in the Vista dining room, with a table for two. Food was excellent and varied every night, with enough choice for everyone. Staff in the Vista was very friendly and helpful, but this could be said for everyone on the ship, at every level.
Although other reviews on the web are not always completely positive, we have a hard time finding any negative points about the Noordam. The entertainment was good and with a lot of variation. Broadway style, singing, stand-up comedy, classical strings, never a dull moment.
Our cabin was almost spotless, larger than expected and with a large balcony. At night, we dozed away on the sound of the breaking waves, through our open balcony door. We were very lucky with the weather which was excellent during our 7-day crossing.
Our first port was Livorno, where we took a HAL tour to Lucca and Pisa. We entered port about an hour late because of port authority problems, which was of influence to our tour, because staff was under the impression that our tour should be shortened by an hour to catch up, but at the second part of the tour this was corrected in Pisa. Unfortunately we ended up with only a very short visit to Lucca, which was our first stop. All of the on-board logistics to lead all guests to their booked tour is like a well-oiled machine and works extremely efficiently.
Second stop was Monaco where tender service delivered us in the middle of the beautiful town. We studied the maps before we left for our cruise and decided that everything worth seeing was well within walking distance (harbor, palace, casino, Formula 1 track, etc., so we made our own way into town where we had plenty of time to cover most of the sites. Monaco is a beautiful place to visit, with spectacular views from the palace down on the luxurious harbor with many priceless yachts.
After Monaco, we visited the beautiful town of Barcelona. Port authority buses took us to the Columbus monument at the base of the famous Ramblas for a reasonable 3 euro return ticket. Again, we studied before we went on the cruise and made up our own route through town, which took us through the Ramblas, past the first of the many Gaudi designed buildings, the Barcelona cathedral, through the Gothic quarter after which we took a short ride on the Red Hop-On-Hop-Off bus to the Gaudi-designed buildings on the “Paseig de Gracia”. After a short exterior look, we hopped on the Blue bus, to continue our route to the famous
“Sagrada Familia”. Unfortunately cues were immense at that time, so we decided not to enter and after a short while took another bus of the Blue line to “Park Güell”, another Gaudi highlight. The park is beautiful, again with buildings designed by the architect and also a museum in his former residence. We reentered the Blue line to “Placa de Francesc Macia”, where we changed back to the Red line which, after a tour along many more modern sites of Barcelona, eventually brought us back to the Columbus monument. In all, Barcelona in a nutshell, where we easily could have spent more than a week to thoroughly cover all the sites in depth which was not possible during our short stay in port.
Next we visited Cartagena, where again we chose to make our own way into town, which started almost on the gangway. Downloading tourist maps before the start of our cruise, we found our way with no problem and took a self-guided tour to visit the ancient Punic walls, Roman theatre, old Cartagena castle with beautiful views over the city and the pedestrian friendly centre of Cartagena, all within easy walking distance of the Noordam.
Next port visit was Malaga. We were scheduled for an afternoon cruise tour we pre-booked at HAL to Mijas, one of the “white villages”, about 45 minutes northwest of Malaga. Time in the morning was too short to walk into Malaga itself, HAL announced that the bus service which would take you from the location we were docked to the harbor entrance would cost 14 USD each for a round trip, which we found rather costly for the limited time we had in the morning prior to our tour in the afternoon. Later we heard that next to the HAL bus service, there also were buses from Malaga port authority, which only cost 3 euros each, so always watch out for the HAL offers in port. The tour itself was okay, the guide was not, terrible in English and to clarify herself using all words twice, which was extremely annoying. Leaving the guide in Mijas and touring the small village of Mijas ourselves soon took care of that problem.
Last port on European mainland was Cadiz, again with beautiful weather, something you cannot plan ahead. With the aid of a pre-downloaded map of the city, we again made our own way through the city. Not a spectacular town, but there are several places worth visiting. We were there on a Sunday, so shops were mainly closed. Cadiz has remains of an ancient wall, several churches and other buildings from early Cadiz history and a beautiful cathedral. From its tower, you can admire a spectacular view over Cadiz.
After Cadiz, finally we were ready for our first full day at sea. Traveling further southwest every hour, weather increasingly got warmer and we experienced a smooth ride throughout. If you want, there is something to do every day, every hour on board, with lectures, information regarding port visits, dancing classes, cooking classes, tours around the kitchen, you name it, the crew will organize it. On the other hand, if you just want to lay back and be pampered all the way across the Atlantic, nobody will stop you. Of course crew will try to persuade you to buy a cocktail or something from the bar during every moment of the day, but never in an annoying way. If they understand that you find it a bit too early, or enjoying something you got yourself from the Lido, they donÂ’t insist. They remain friendly and always have time for a short talk or remark.
Lido mid pool was mainly the area for the elder guests, whether the sliding roof was closed or not. In the case of our crossing, the roof was mainly open because of the extremely nice weather in the Atlantic autumn. Lido back pool was attracting the relative younger part of the guests, with some live entertainment during part of the day by a guitarist or the HAL Cats. Almost every day there was the highlight of “name that tune” with the DJ, which was a very popular event. Because of the elder clientele on Noordam, the DJ was not exactly overworked since not many people managed to find their way to the “late night” events in the Northern Lights club.
Our last port of call was Funchal, Madeira, a beautiful green island. Again we went our own way through the city, took a cable car ride in to the mountain overlooking Funchal and its port with astonishing views. In Funchal, some extra entertainment boarded to accompany us for the seven-day crossing to Fort Lauderdale, so the entertainment was again with much variation for the remainder of the cruise. During the crossing, the crew never ceased to offer a full day's program with things to do for everyone, or with an inviting deckchair, just relaxing in the sun. On the culinary front, highlights were afternoon tea, several extra buffets and other food extravaganza offered. Crew from the exploration team offered highlights everyday on computer knowledge, dancing, sports activities (next to the well-equipped fitness room) and a wide range of other activities. Although losing track of time quite quickly during our crossing, the final destination in Fort Lauderdale, came much too soon. Disembarking again was enormously efficient and we were promptly sent off in our allotted time slot, reunited with our luggage and quickly on our way to our hotel in Boca Raton, where we stayed another four nights before flying back to Amsterdam.
We had no problem at all to rate Noordam in the highest possible way!
Pros: Activities;Cabin;Clean;Entertain;Food;Tours;Staff;Itin;
Cons:
Reviewer Recommended? Y
Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value First Noordam - 10 Day S.Carib
Southern Caribbean - 4/2010
Avoiding the stress of missed connections when flying in on Embarkation Day, we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale a day before and stayed at the Hilton Marina on 17th. We had a nice stay last year, but this year we found it cold and impersonal. They have changed the check-in procedure so that more people get tips. Now after you tip your driver, you tip someone to take your bags to another porter who gets a tip to take them to your room. We had a mini-suite with a view of the Marina and pool from the balcony. The access door lock was broken, and after several attempts to fix it, the Manager offered us drink coupons to enjoy while Maintenance did some noisy work. We don't drink, so we had some fruit juice and gave the other coupons away to someone who could actually enjoy them. We asked for a different room, but apparently the hotel was full, and this was the best they could do. I booked a smoking room, but at check-in they said it was a smoke-free hotel, but would send an ashtray to our room. Actually, we asked FOUR different people for an ashtray and got four promises, but no ashtray. We had to appropriate one from the pool area. Although the suite had a lovely spa shower, what we needed was a soak, and we're not hot-tub people, so this was a drawback. In the morning we splurged for the Sunday Buffet, which was the highlight of our stay. After two more unnecessary tips, we were outta' there, never to return.
Embarkation was a breeze! We arrived at Pier 19 at about 12:30, seeing maybe 300 cruisers in the serpentine line to check in. We proceeded to the Suite Line for our stateroom keycard and deck plans, and 15 minutes later we were aboard the Noordam. We went straight to the Neptune Lounge and had some snacks before making our way to our cabin.
Located just forward of the aft elevators, Suite 7085 on the Rotterdam Deck was huge (510 total square feet); a generous room, spacious veranda with two chairs and ottomans and a little dining table and four small chairsÂ… plenty for two. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub, separate shower and double sink with two corner medicine cabinets and storage shelf below. A variety of Elemis products was provided, and refilled daily as we used or stashed them. There was also an umbrella, laundry basket (service is free in full suites) and two fluffy cotton robes and slippers. The dressing room had a built-in dressing table with three drawers, hair dryer and lighted magnifying makeup mirror (1X/5X), three closets with mirrored doors and a safe (three more closets are in the hall by the door). In the sitting area were a large couch, two occasional chairs and coffee table, desk with flat screen TV, cooler with loaded minibar and CD/DVD player, binoculars, two telephones with voice mail and wake-up service, and a wall of mirrors behind the bed, making the room look much larger. True to HAL's Signature of Excellence program, the bedding and linens are undeniably top of the line! This explained why we slept so much!
Among the usual Daily Program (tear-offs are back!), gift cards, invitations and brochures, we found a bottle of Fre Champagne and a beautiful arrangement of roses from the Hotel Manager, Mark Pells. Later in the cruise, as the roses began to nod a little (you can't water them with the desalinated water), they were replaced with an even more beautiful arrangement of roses and lilies. Our luggage began to arrive shortly after we did, and we were nearly unpacked by the time the safety drill began. HAL has thankfully switched over to a non-lifejacket drill, eliminating the safety hazard from people dragging the jacket straps up and down the stairs. During the drill there is a detailed demonstration of how to wear the jacket, and a similar demo is run on TV throughout the cruise. After the drill, I donned my ZuiderPrincess crown and made the rounds of the various bars in search of my CruiseCritic group.
That evening we attended a cocktail party in the Neptune Lounge where we met Captain John Scott, Hotel Manager Mark Pells, and other officers and staff. We enjoyed lovely hors d'oeuvres and juice (champagne for others) and wandered down to the Vista Dining Room for our first of many dinners.
We were confirmed for 'As You Wish' dining, but were assigned a late seating, upper level table for six by an aft window. The first night we were the only diners, so we invited a couple who were also sitting alone at a big table to join us. Frank and Marilyn from Texas were a delightful couple who shared our love of cruising and general laid-back cruising style. As no one else ever showed up at our table, and except for occasional trips to the Pinnacle, Frank and Marilyn became our permanent tablemates. We found the service to be excellent and the food very good. I wonder, though, with so many cruisers complaining they could not get traditional seating, why were there so many empty - completely empty - tables? For the entire cruise?
The Lido Bistro is the place we eat breakfast and lunch. It is taking time for us to re-adjust to the lack of trays, but the upside is that it encouraged us to take smaller portions. The stewards were happy to get us drinks or forgotten items, but were a little slow removing the dirty dishes. I must rave about the food selections! For breakfast try the made-to-order omelets or various types of Eggs Benedict, waffles, hot meats, Lox 'n' Bagels and so much more. For lunch there are many choices between salads, sandwiches, hot dishes, Asian and pizza and pasta. We also tried the burgers, hot dogs and tacos at the Terrace Grill, which were just okay. We did try the Lido Bistro for dinner one night. We arrived 15 minutes before closing, and had to get all of our courses at one time. By the time we got to the main course, it was cold. If we eat there again, it will be early enough to be served properly.
Canaletto is a new dining venue for HAL... a small area of the Lido accommodates 40-50 diners and offers Italian cuisine. There is no surcharge for this dinner, but reservations are strongly suggested.
We purchased a 10-day pass to the Thermal Suite and HydroPool, $199 for both of us. We should have just bought daily passes, because we only used it twice. Jim bought a 10-20-30 discount package and had two massages (Nora), but when it came time for his facial he wasn't feeling well, so they let me take his facial (Monique) at the 30% discount. After I told her what Elemis products I already use, and the facial was finished, my esthetist kindly calculated how much I needed to spend to treat my face properly for the next six months. I thought $1,834 would almost pay for a 7-night cruise, so I declined, buying only one cream which I was running out of anyway. A few days later, as I desperately needed a haircut, Salon Manager Milica (from Serbia) created a masterpiece.
Much like her sister Zuidy, the Noordam is really quite comfortable and well maintained. While the deck plans are essentially the same, there are a few exceptions. The Explorations Cafe is still located on Deck 3, and the Oak Room is still intact near the Crow's Nest.
As mentioned earlier, our daily activities focused on rest and relaxation, but there was plenty to do!
Night Life - Music, whether the dancing or listening sort, was offered in the Explorer's Lounge (Adagio Strings), Crow's Nest (Gary T'To, Kat & the HALCats), Northern Lights Nightclub (DJ Troy), Ocean Bar (The Neptunes), and the Piano Bar (Lee Strubeck).
Main Showroom - CD Mike Connachan hosted a number of stage productions nicely performed by the Noordam Singers & Dancers: "Opening Night", "If Walls Could Rock", "Ballroom Blitz", "Simply Broadway", and "That's Vegas". Sax Sensation Craig Richard, comedians Mark Eddie and Kevin Jordan, and vocalist Tony Cherry not only performed individually, but reprised their acts on the final evening.
Movies - The Queen's Lounge offered (complete with complimentary popcorn) "Up in the Air", "The Blind Side", "All About Steve", "The Young Victoria", "Old Dogs", "The Spy Next Door", Sherlock Holmes", "Nine","Pirate Radio" and in the Vista Lounge, "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus".
Casino - I love the energy of the casino... the smoke, noise, shuffling of cards, cheering when the dealer says, "Winner, winner - chicken dinner!" One thing I miss is the sound of coins being released into a paper tub. Now that HAL is making the transition to electronic everything, some of the room's cachet is gone. Even the poker table is electronic, and has been banished to a dark corner of the Sports Bar... so sad. The Casino seemed to be underutilized until the evening show let out. Daytime found few players and many tables closed. They did, however, offer the usual tournament fare: Texas Hold'Em, Blackjack, Slots, and had a festive Caribbean Night where they provided prizes.
Shopping - The Signature Shops offered a reasonable variety of gift items, cruise wear and logo items, cigarettes, alcohol and cosmetics. They offered the usual Liquor Tasting, Watch Extravaganza, $10 Deck Sale, Swarovski Crystal, Taste of the Caribbean (rum and rum cakes), Venetian and Roman glass in sterling silver jewelry, Rock Candy (custom designed glass and leather jewelry), World Amber Event (including a 'spot the fake' contest), Caribbean Topaz Raffle, Watch Sets, Sea Glass ornaments, and the famous Deck Sale.
Art Auction - This has thankfully been taken over by British American Auctions, who quietly hold their auctions without inundating passengers with flyers and announcements. I haven't talked to anyone who may have attended, so we'll have to see what other reviewers say about that.
Greenhouse Spa - A great variety of indulgences and therapies are offered by Steiner, and the Salon offers services for hair (Salon Manager Milica is a true artiste!), nails and waxing. For $199 we bought a couple's pass to the HydroPool and Thermal Suite, but didn't use it enough. The HydroPool has the typical Jacuzzi jets, only much more powerful, and a metal kind of rack that you can lie on and the whole thing vibrates... so relaxing! In the Thermal Suite, I head for the Eucalyptus Steam, which really clears your head while it forces all those nasty 'toxins' out of your body. Follow that with a nap on the heated tile chaises and you're in heaven.
Culinary Arts Center - This is the primary function of the Queen's Lounge, and I must say it's about time they found something outstanding for this formerly nearly vacant venue. You'll find lots of demonstrations (some of them hands-on) of food preparation and serving (including some items from the Pinnacle Grill), wine tasting, mixology, napkin folding, flower arranging, and fun stuff like cooking trivia and a Celebrity Cook-Off... there's something new every day.
Digital Workshop - New to HAL, this program will take you through your digital photography adventure from taking the actual photo to editing, enhancing, emailing, posting it on the web or burning a disk.
Considering Jim and I didn't DO anything, this ten days on the Noordam was a wonderful experience. We found the officers (particularly Hotel Manager Mark Pells and Captain John Scott), staff (especially Cruise Director Mike Connachan and his lovely wife, Future Cruise Consultant Leah) and Beverage Manager Hans Becker (who meticulously coordinated our CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet) to be personable, professional and available. The public areas were gleaming, and the floral arrangements we found throughout the ship were gorgeous. We found the food and service in the Vista Dining Room to be excellent and enjoyed the comfortable seating and prompt attention to our requests.
I'd absolutely recommend the Noordam for anyone desiring a laid-back, relaxing cruise with plenty of adventures as options. Because of their consistency of service and understated luxury, Holland America Line is our cruise line of choice.
Pros: Activities;Cabin;Clean;Food;Staff;Spa;
Cons:
Reviewer Recommended? Y
Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value 10-day Southern Caribbean
Southern Caribbean - 4/2010
Pros: Activities;Cabin;Clean;Entertain;Food;Staff;Spa;Itin;
Cons:
Reviewer Recommended? Y
Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value 10 day Southern Caribbean HAL
Southern Caribbean - 1/2010
We did the Catamaran/Beach excursion in Grand Turk and it was probably the best shorex we have ever done. However, the whale watching shorex at Samana, D.R. was a bust. Very poor. The boat was too small for chasing whales, we could not stand as there was nothing to hold onto in the rough seas, thus we could not see very well, and we could not hear one word the guide said over the engine noise. We did see whales - a glimpse at a time. AVOID this tour. And then in Aruba we did the Catamaran/snorkel/beach shorex (again) and it was good (though a little long). We were disappointed that by the time we returned from the tour, everything in Aruba was closed as it was Sunday and the shops closed at 1 PM. It would have been nice if HAL had warned us ahead of time that Aruba rolls up the sidewalks on Sunday. We were also disappointed that we had to skip the stop at HAL's private island, Halfmoon Cay, due to high winds. That has happened to us now two years in a row. The day at Halfmoon Cay is usually the highlight of our trip, but it was not meant to be again this year. But, that's not HAL's fault as none of us can control the weather.
The nightly shows on this trip were average. Not great, not bad. We were a little disappointed because the song and dance production shows on this voyage were the exact same ones we saw on the Noordam in 2009. Same lead singers, same sets, same routines. I guess we learned not to the repeat the same ship in consecutive years.
However, overall we had a great time, met some very nice people, and enjoyed ourselves. It's a very good value for the money spent, except the shore excursions. They are rarely worth the money, but we find if we don't take some of them we end up doing nothing in port but shopping.
We are thinking Maasdam for 2011. We enjoyed that ship once before and on our cruise this year I overheard several guests remarking about their fondness for the Maasdam.
Pros: Cabin;Clean;Food;Staff;Spa;Itin;
Cons: Entertain;
Reviewer Recommended? Y
