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Holland America Line

MS Volendam

Your Rating:
Reviewed by:Margaret McGeown
# previous cruises: 10+
Date of Trip: January 6, 2001
Itinerary: Caribbean Southern

To travel with HAL is a wonderful experience. Friendly personnel, superb accommodation, great itinerary - all in all a most memorable experience. After 18 cruises on HAL we would sincerely recommend the Line to one and all.

Our 'Special' room on most of the ships of the line, is the Crow's Nest. It is always an attractive room with wonderful ocean views during the day, and excellent entertainment in the evenings.

The food on HAL is usually the very best - especially when they serve Alaskan King Crab legs. The beef - and this pleases us as Canadians - was the best Alberta beef and really delicious. The buffet is wonderful but we really can't take advantage of it due to one of us being completely blind.

Anyone who complains about cabin size really does have a problem. The state rooms are always quite large with wonderful amenities - great showers and baths, and, as for noise, that depends greatly upon location.

On board entertainment is usually very good. The young people of the cast are very talented and very personable when not performing. There is something for everyone and if the theatre is not your bag, the lounges offer excellent musicians for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Having a handicap limits our on-shore activities but really what we go for is the times at sea - the relaxation. The games and tournaments conducted by the Cruise staff affords lots of fun and also helps make friends for the remainder of the cruise.

On only two occasions did we have non-compatible table-mates. We always like to have a table for four again due to the handicap. and mostly, have had enjoyable companions. To-day we don't exchange home addressed but rather our e-mail addresses. Progress.