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Holland America Line

MS Westerdam

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Jerry Robinson
# previous cruises: 9
Date of Trip: March 15, 2005
Itinerary: Caribbean

This a wonderful ship with a friendly, courteous and efficient crew. The Holland America Line experience was as good, if not better, than any I have taken including Princess, Royal Caribbean and Orient.

All public areas were well appointed and pleasant. The three deck Atrium at midship was smallish, but large enough for the front desk and shore excursion desk on deck 1. The Atrium also opened on deck 2 which housed the lower level Vista Lounge (Show lounge also), the Casino, several bars, the Odyssey restaurant ( a $20 fee per person), and the lower level Vista Dinning Room. My wife and I enjoyed the Explorer's Lounge where a Hungarian String trio played beautiful music from 9:15pm until 11pm. The atrium also opened on deck 3 which housed the upper level Vista Lounge, shops, photo gallery and upper level Vista Dinning Room. Most of level 1 was passenger cabins, all of decks 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were passenger cabins. Deck 9 had the casual Lido restaurant, Lido Bar and pools midship and aft. Deck 10 had the Crow's Nest lounge and Kid's Zone. Deck 11 was an observation deck.

Food was outstanding. The Lido had excellent breakfasts and lunches, and casual evening dinning. The main dinning room also had excellent food, a varied menu and courteous, efficient service. Of course, our opinion is based on our tastes, but I never heard anyone complain about the food.

We had a Veranda cabin with bathroom (shower only), Queen Bed, sitting area, mini-bar and balcony. The cabin was large enough for us and had sufficient closet space and shelves. We did not have many drawers, but that did not give us any problems. The cabin was extremely quiet, we never heard our neighbors. The shower was easy to use and adjust for hot or cold water.

We attended most of the shows and the entertainment was good. The singers and dancers were beyond excellent, they were the best we have ever seen in 9 cruises.

We went ashore at each port, Half Moon Cay (the Line's private Island); Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. Since we had been to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel before, we did not do any shore excursions, but did enjoy visiting the ports and shopping.

We had a good cross-section of passengers from families to young people to mid-life to seniors. I had read that Holland America would have a majority of seniors (I am), but this was not the case. Everyone was cordial and obviously enjoying their cruise.