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Holland America Line

MS Volendam

Your Rating:
Reviewed by:Marie Effen
# previous cruises: 7
Date of Trip: February 25, 2001
Itinerary: Caribbean Southern

This was a fantastic cruise. The Volendam is a beautiful ship. Service is excellent. The staff is so nice. They remember your name and your drink.

The public rooms are all beautiful. The piano bar is too open for my taste, but a lot of people seemed to like it that way. The Crow's Nest and the Ocean Bar both had very good music. Both pools are fresh water. Two hot tubs are in the indoor pool area, but the only complaint was they were not very hot at 9:00 AM. They did heat up later in the day. The casino was great since both myself and my husband won.

Food was great. I think it was a tad better than last year on this ship. Menu's were slightly different. I loved the coconut ice cream. We had breakfast in the Lido or room service, both very good. The Lido has a good selection, french toast, pancakes, eggs any way you liked, bacon, sausage, pasteries, bagels, lox,fruit and an omelette bar. Lunch was also either room service or the Lido. Selections were also very good, fish, beef, sandwich bar, salads. We had dinner in the dining room. It was always very good.

We had a suite. It was huge. The verandah has a big table with 4 chairs, 2 lounge chairs and a table. I was a little worried about hearing an infant in the next cabin, but we never heard anything in our cabin. Lots of nice things come with the suites. Fluffy terry cloth robes, chocolate covered strawberries, candies, bottle of champagne, vcr, suite dinner with the Captain at the Marco Polo, suite lunch in the Crow's Nest, 3 cocktail parties, priority boarding,jacuzi tub.

I only saw a few, and they were pretty good. The passenger show is my favorite. Music was very good in all the lounges.

Ports were good. Bonaire is a very clean island. A couple of shops which were nice. The people who snorkeled said it was great. This island is a divers heaven. The island had lots of flamingos and some salt flats which were unusual. Lots of cactus, which were even used as fences. Isle of Margarita. We did not get off the ship. 45 to 50 minute ride to town. The people who went, did not like it. My sister-in-law took the La Restinga Lagoon tour and loved it. There was a small beach that you could see from the ship, but you could not swim there. Too many sea urchins and the gulls were making a real mess. I enjoyed my time at the pool on board. St. Kitts Been here before so we took the 3 1/2 hr catamaran snorkel tour. Had a good time. The people who went to Turtle Beach said it was nice. St. Lucia We took a cab down to the "Stinking Volcano" and Soufiere. It was a nice drive but very long. We stopped to see Marigot Bay the Eudovic's Woodcarving shop on the way back. Very interesting wood carvings. We also enjoyed a beer with Eudovic. The shops at the dock were expensive compared to the vendors on the road. The shops want 5 to 10 dollars more on some items. You can bargain with the vendors on the roads. St. Thomas I shopped. We were in on Sunday so the shops in town only stay open until 1:00. We had lunch at Green Doors. The food is very good and reasonable. Excellent shrimp platter. Activities on ship were the usual. Bingo, horse racing,movie theater.

Ages ranges are mostly 40's up. I did meet a couple of people in their 30's. All the people I met were very nice. I would invite all but 1 for dinner. I guess every ship has one passenger from hell.