Nieuw Amsterdam

Great time great food

July

Pros: great food, pleasant employees

Cons: spa hydro package, reservations for dining rooms

Recommended: Yes

The hydro pool was 150 before the voyage and I tried to sign up for it and it wouldn't let me. I signed up for it the first day and was charged 150 and another charge of 50. They gave me a little jar of body scrub . We had unlimited use of the pool and the heated lounges. We had no problem with the pool, but people were reading books and on their computers or on their cell phones. I think they needed to put a time limit the lounges. We made dining reservations ahead of time for the Tamarind restaurant. I made the reservation through guest services. It was a party of 8. The operator told me she could link our names for 6 and the other 2 would be a half hour earlier. We needed to talk to the manager. They're only open in the evening. No one was there when we tried to talk to them. The manager did a great job and gave us 2 tables side by side.

Great time

July

Pros: Everything was wonderful

Cons: To much downtime in anchorage waiting for hotel

Recommended: Yes

Glad we got veranda room . Nice being able to see everything by ourselves if we wanted to

land and water Alaskan adventure

June

Pros: great crew and entertainment on the ship

Cons: very hard to just get water. had to purchase it

Recommended: Yes

water portion of the trip was great. land portion was not as good with our denali tour getting changed and 2 members of our party not getting to go. this was unacceptable. the train ride to anchorage was very long but senic

Nice trip

March

Pros: Friendly, great food, very clean rooms

Cons: More of the dancers and less comedians

Recommended: Yes

We have always gone on Holland America. They know how to make a cruise.

West Point Class of 1966 Reunion Cruise

February

Pros: Our Stateroom #7057 accomodations were perfect for our needs and the housekeeper took extremely good care of our room and needs. the dining facilities were great and we thoroughly enjoyed our meals in the main dining room where the dietary staff took great care of us at Table 95. the quality of the food was outstanding!! We also enjoyed meals at the Lido Buffet, We further enjoyed our experiences at the Pinnicale Restaurant and the new Japanese Restaurant.

Cons: Having to pay extra fees for food on regular restaurant menu. Limited shows to watch in the evening after dinner. Major confusion in terminal in locating and gathering luggage after leaving ship with very limited help available to assist passengers with their bags. We were willing to pay for this help but couldn't find any porters to help out. I am a double amputee in a wheelchair so my elderly wife needs all the help she can get.

Recommended: Yes

Overall, our experiences on this cruise which was a reunion for my West Point Class of 1966, was very enjoyable and we appreciate the efforts of both Holland America and Academy Cruises to make the arrangements for this event.

An outstanding cruise !!!

February

Pros: Staff

Cons: Ports - what happened to Key West ?

Recommended: Yes

We loved the access to the Neptune Lounge. Our Concierge hosts Angelica and Hazel were most helpful and friendly from the beginning of the cruise to the end. Holqi and his colleague assigned to our cabin (7059) were excellent. And we cannot forget the outstanding service from Betty, Noviar and Win in the Pinnacle Grill every morning for breakfast. Other outstanding crew members were Liberty, Anto, Irvan and Wayan in the main dining room.

Wonderful time with a great crew

February

Pros: Superb service. Great food and great entertainment

Cons: Should have made a stop in Key West

Recommended: Yes

I took my whole family on this once in a lifetime adventure. Everyone had a great time and we enjoyed getting together for dinner at a table for 10. A very enjoyable cruise

USMA Group Travel

February

Pros: Dueling Piano ladies, ship size

Cons: Nassau

Recommended: Yes

The dueling piano ladies were exceptional. Amber Cove was a pleasant surprise.

Delayed Journey

December

Pros: I enjoyed the sea days. Good service throughout the trip.

Cons: Maybe a bigger venue or more offerings for the watercolor class.

Recommended: No

The substitute locations for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise were fine. I also appreciated the Christmas tree lighting ceremony with singing.

Just the right size

November

Pros: Crew service, food, mid size ship, tamirand restaurant

Cons: Looking a little worn. Charging extra for certain menu items that used to b included

Recommended: Yes

I understanding this ship will be going to dry dock when finished in CARIBBEAN which will take care of the worn look. Service was outstanding in all departments, food was outstanding

Nieuw Amsterdam

September

Pros: Nice ship , great employees, great iteniray

Cons: Dinning staff in the liddo was not the beast

Recommended: Yes

Loved the ship and crew we had a blast!

Thank you for great sailing, good food, wonderful service, super transporting between excursions .

July

Pros: Great and very sharp communication during whole trip. Always someone to ask if you have a question about the ship routine or one of the excursions.

Cons: I had a soda drink package, wish it had been easier to take advantage of it.

Recommended: Yes

Our room attendants KT and Kendra were so happy to help us with anything we needed. They were great. Also the best waiter we had during the entire trip was a gentleman named Younus. Great service with great attitude.

Thank you for great sailing, good food, wonderful service, super transporting between excursions .

July

Pros: Great and very sharp communication during whole trip. Always someone to ask if you have a question about the ship routine or one of the excursions.

Cons: I had a soda drink package, wish it had been easier to take advantage of it.

Recommended: Yes

Our room attendants KT and Kendra were so happy to help us with anything we needed. They were great. Also the best waiter we had during the entire trip was a gentleman named Younus. Great service with great attitude.

Excellent Experience

July

Pros: Clean ship with spacious rooms. The Pinnacle Grill was our best meal experience, but the Lido deck food options were very good. The serving staff on Lido deck were very friendly and attentive. The main dining room was ok, but compared to my first cruise was substandard. Perhaps the anytime dining and not being with the same table server contributed to that. Yunus was our server on the last night and was exceptional!

Cons: Making dinner reservations was difficult to impossible for the 6 people in our group, other than at the Pinnacle Grill.

Recommended: Yes

Overall a great trip. The main dining room was not as good as I have had on other cruises. Anytime dining May have contributed to that. Lido deck dining options, especially breakfast was great. Mary and Melo made outstanding omelets and Raymond had great eggs Benedict. The Dive In had good burgers and dogs, but the wait times were long. Beverage package was definitely worth it! The Luxury Train from Skagway was awesome. Misty Fjords your highlight was our native storyteller and flute player. Discovery Paddlewheeler in Fairbanks was outstanding. Tundra Golf was a unique experience. The Zipline tour at Denali was too extreme for my wife. I went fly fishing for grayling. The fish were small but plentiful and Chance was a good guide.

Great Itinerary, Average Cruise

July

Pros: Crew, cleanliness, itinerary

Cons: Cabin location, food selection, drink service when dining

Recommended: Yes

We were on a 13 day, land first, 3 day Denali, 7 day cruise tour. Land side was well organized and we didn't have any real issues. Denali is amazing and even 3 days is not enough time there. Avoid the Black Diamond Covered Wagon excursion in Denali, not worth the time. McKinley Chalet at Denali was very nice. Sheraton hotel in Anchorage was our only below average/expectations accommodations. Nieuw Amsterdam was clean and crew friendly and accommodating. Our room, 8132 was under the pool deck tables. Very noisy with chairs/tables scraping across hard floor at all hours. Water pushed off the pool deck each morning soaked the veranda. Food was ok, selection in Lido was less than we had on prior cruises (1 on Oceania, 2 on Celebrity), MDR3 had significantly better service than open dining on MDR2 and all menu selections fewer and not as varied based on our other cruises. Biggest complaint is drink service when dining. Non existent in Lido and at all dining locations we never received wine until entrée was done and coffee served at least 10 minutes after dessert was served. Entertainment was ok but only the comedian stood out. Musicians played limited locations and nights around the ship and main stage act was a 6 person dance troupe with very little stage sets. Navigator App and WiFi were frustrating to use and at times, useless. That said, Holland America does seem to have the best itineraries and docking locations in Alaska due to their long service history there.

Neptune Class is worth it

June

Pros: Outstanding service including concierge

Cons: They charge for water

Recommended: Yes

Great trip to Alaska - Natalie was a great naturist with outstanding presentations.

Alaska cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam

June

Pros: Entire ship and our cabin were very comfortable. We had a marvelous cabin steward, Agus. All staff were very helpful and courteous. The food was absolutely the best - always. Entertainment was high-quality.

Cons: We felt some lack of communication and forewarning in some circumstances. First, that the transit from Seattle to Vancouver turned out to be a van, rather than a bus. It was less comfortable, but it was friendly with fellow passengers. Second, that the boarding process in Vancouver would be so massive and prolonged. We felt unprepared. Third, that we were completely on our own to find transportation from airport to hotel upon our return to Seattle. It was a stark contrast to the careful attention we had experienced at every previous transit point.

Recommended: Yes

.

ALASKA CRUISE

August

Pros: SERVICE OF CREW & FOOD WERE TOP NOTCH

Cons: INTERNET & TV SERVICE NOT SO GOOD

Recommended: Yes

THE OVERALL QUALITY OF HOLLAND AMERICA WAS EXCELLENT! WE HAD A MEMORALBLE & WONDERFUL TIME!

Best trip so far!

July

Pros: Treated extremely well

Cons: Covid tests still very confusing

Recommended: Yes

I would recommend Holland America for your cruise. Great people all friendly and helpful.

Treated like royalty!

July

Pros: Excellent service and accommodations!

Cons: No karaoke…

Recommended: Yes

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and visit to Denali, and then sailing down the Alaskan coastline with several stops along the way. The excursions were fun and well organized, except for the crab feed/lumberjack show in Ketchikan. There was supposed to be a person with a sign for us who got off the boat, but they never showed up! We walked to the lumberjack show on our own and saw it, and Holland America refunded the crab feed cost. We had an excellent week of service in the Lido Market, where we met a young man from Indonesia named Janna (John-uh). He was in charge of the section we sat in, and so we made it a point to eat in his section when he was working. He would ask us about our day, and he knew that even though I am nearing 68, I still drink milk at most meals like a kid! We tipped him nightly, because he went far above and beyond in providing excellent and friendly service. We also enjoyed coffee each morning brought to our room by room service! This was the first time my wife and I have ever been on a cruise, and Holland America did not disappoint!

Nieuw Amsterdam - Alaska Inside Passage

July

Pros: Very nice ship

Cons: Sleepy Entertainment

Recommended: Yes

Ship is very nice and tastefully decorated. Our stateroom on deck 10 was spacious and the bed was very comfortable. The food quality was overall very good, although the menu selection in the main dining room at times seemed a bit limited in choices. The staff on the Nieuw Amsterdam was the best staff we have encountered on any ship we have sailed since we have started sailing a little over 10 years ago. Staff was super friendly and very attentive. The only entertainment we liked on ship was the BB King Blues Club. The singers and band were excellent. There was a comedy show that was also good. The rest of the entertainment was ho hum. There were three major shows all centered around dance. We watched one and could not do another. There were also "Lincoln Center" classical music shows, each time passing by did not see more than a few couples watching, seems to not be very popular. Daytime events were talks/presentations centered around the itinerary, also pretty sleepy stuff. There were also a lot events put on by the shops day and night, which are a waste of time; the kind of events you learn to skip after your first cruise. This was the first time on Holland America, overall we liked the ship, service and food, but not sure if we would sail HAL again as I called this the sleepy cruise. I recommend HAL for overall experience if you are looking for quality and a low key relaxing time, but if you are looking for more nighttime activity and entertainment to keep the kids happy you may want to consider another line. Ports visited were Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau. Typical cruise ports with the same stores you see everywhere. Book activities to experience something other than the ports. Juneau had a lot of tour operators outside of HAL and you can save a lot of money by booking directly with them. Scenery was okay at the ports, but weather was a bummer during our cruise so could not take in as much pretty scenery as e would have liked.

Best cruise ever

May

Pros: Views of Alaskan glaciers & snow covered mountains, wildlife

Cons: None, even the occasional rain shower was welcome.

Recommended: Yes

This was the first Alaskan cruise fog Holland America post pandemic. The entire staff, from the stewards to the restaurant staff to the officers were very gracious and welcoming. We did two excursions, the dog mushers in Skagway and we rented a keep in Juneau. They were both wonderful and expertly managed. Embarkation and disembarkation went smoothly with no hiccups at all. It’s obvious that they’ve been doing this for awhile.

At long last!

May

Pros: Staff, service, cleanliness, CoVID protocol, embarkation/disembarkation

Cons: Retaining staff (CoVID related not ship or company related)

Recommended: Yes

Our cruise was fabulous!! We were on the first southbound cruise from Whittier, AK in 2022. There were only 800 guests onboard!! It felt like a secluded paradise! Staff were absolutely the best, just as I expected from previous HAL cruises. Our room stewards were great. Our dining room stewards were fabulous!! Food was a delight to see and taste. And in chatting with staff, one would never know the difficulties the cruise industry had to overcome to sail again, from staffing to sourcing food and goods to dealing with CoVID and yes, even isolating and quarantining guests and staff!! Yes, everything onboard and in port is more expensive this year, but that is not unique to the ship or company! Entertainment and staffing adjusted on the fly as needed to deal with CoVID. (HAL tested us prior to boarding because we had a land tour before embarkation in Whittier, but people still get sick.) Alaska had a long, hard winter this year and spring was late. But we still enjoyed wildlife viewing on our trip with whales, bear, mountain goats, otter, seals, sea lions, eagles, puffins and other sea birds. We did not let snow interfere with our vacation, and we were blessed with three sunny port days (unheard of in SE Alaska)! And we always love meeting new friends onboard HAL’s Dam ships! After a very long two years, we were ready to vacation and this trip fit the bill for us!!

Wonderful to be back on board

August

Pros: Great service and food options. Not too big but lots of options.

Cons: Not as many food venues as larger ship.

Recommended: Yes

We have enjoyed this ship and its sister ship, Eurodam, on a number of cruises. Nicely appointed and easy to get around.

Cruise

December

Pros: excellent service and people

Cons: disembarkment was a mess

Recommended: Yes

Trying to get off this ship was a mess, not organization, late getting off. Some people missed flights.

Ship

October

Pros: Beautiful ship

Cons:

Recommended: No

1 club could hardly get into there, same music. Piano bar singers were not good at all. No music playing out by pool. No activities out by pools let alone inside. Just seemed very dull. Had a great time with my friends, we made it work. Good thing we were at port alot, I would have been very bored if not.

our trip

September

Pros: Everything was excellent. Upgrade wonderful.

Cons: Queing to go on board through US customs. over one hour.

Recommended: Yes

We both had a wonderful trip. The Neptune Suite and lounge made such a difference and we will never want to travel any other way,

Nieuw Amsterdam Alaskan Family Vacation

August

Pros: Retreat Cabana Area, Dining, BB Kings Blues Club, Billboard

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Our family of 17 had a marvelous time. The staff was attentive and kind. The children could not have enjoyed it more. I recommend renting a cabana on the retreat level especially when you have a larger group. It was relaxing lots of comfortable outdoor space and 2 terrific stewards Ryan and Kelvin.

Nice ship to cruise through Alaska

August

Pros: small enough to find your way around, nice staff, food selections, nicely priced jewery, entertainment, comfortable beds

Cons: expensive internet packages for what you get, at time very slow. Not many TV stations to select from. much smaller promenade area than competitors

Recommended: Yes

We boarded this ship in Skagway after our Yukon tour, which anyone should consider. There was so much to see and by the time we got to the ship it was great to relax. Most of passengers were just cruisers. The ship was small enough not to get lost and easy to find things. The Lido deck had good food options. We only ate in dining room once, but the serviced seemed very good. The ship was well maintained and the staff was very friendly. The entertainment was spectacular. This was our first opportunity to sail on Holland America. Overall our entire tour was well planned and supported. We celebrated my wife's 75th birthday on this occasion. Definitely a #1 bucket item completed. Thanks.

Awsome

July

Pros: Great service

Cons: Having to dress up for gala evening

Recommended: Yes

First time on a cruise and Holland America exceeded our expectations.

Splendid

July

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

The staff were amazing and gave immediate attention to all requests. From the dining room staff to the housekeeping staff to the bartenders, all the personal were so gracious in every way.

Exceptional service!

June

Pros: Entertainment and food

Cons: Eating alone in dining room when we had hoped to always sit with someone

Recommended: Yes

Service was amazing from the time that we boarded the ship to the time we left. Entertainment was SO good!!! We loved all the entertainers.

A wonderful way to see Alaska!

May

Pros: Seven straight days of awe-inspiring sights; there was a huge variety of scenery; great opportunities to see wildlife

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Holland America offers top-notch, personalized service. This is why my family consistently chooses to sail with Holland America. The Alaska trip rose to a new level. We had seven straight days of awe-inspiring sights. The scenery that we could see from the ship and on the excursions exceeded my very high expectations. It truly felt like a once in a lifetime experience. I will never forget the experience of cruising through Glacier Bay. There was such excitement on the ship and each view was more breathtaking than the previous one. The captain and staff did everything possible to ensure that each guest had a great view of the many wonders in Glacier Bay. Having several park rangers on board enhanced the experience. Over the course of the cruise, there was a huge variety of scenery to see, from glaciers to mountains to forests to fjords. I highly recommend this cruise.

Nieuw Amsterdam

May

Pros: very friendly staff

Cons: activities a bit borning

Recommended: Yes

Nice staff, good services. Need to improve food variety. Room is a bit small. Not many fun activities on board.

Great cruise!

May

Pros: Beautiful room with front facing window to see all of the spectacular views. We didn’t have to be outside in the cold wind

Cons: The lunch buffet was extremely crowded and we often couldn’t find a table

Recommended: Yes

We especially enjoyed the Neptune lounge where we were treated very royally. Danica our concierge helped us find our passport that my mom had dropped in Juneau and looked after her when she fell and hurt her self. The dining experience was amazing as we had a beautiful table and the food was spectacular! We were very impressed by how friendly all of the staff on the ship were smiling and saying hello to us every day !

Alaska Cruise

May

Pros: Great staff, beautiful ship, very good food and choices, variety of dining options

Cons: No free WiFi

Recommended: Yes

This was my first 7 day cruise and it was terrific. The ship and crew were pleasant and scenery awesome. However, I do think WiFi could be free, very expensive.

Repositioning

May

Pros: Very courteous staff.

Cons: Lineups too long.

Recommended: Yes

Exceeded our expectations

May

Pros: Neptune Suite and Lounge, On-board entertainment: America’s Test Kitchen, Lincoln Centre, BB King Blues Club, Mainstage; Food - all specialty restaurants were great, laundry service

Cons: Lido Deck food, Internet pricing

Recommended: No

Pleasant cruising

April

Pros: Dining room, friendly staff, room service, Crow’s Nest

Cons: phone in room needs updating and illuminate the clock for night viewing

Recommended: Yes

Please replace the bottles in the bar refrigerator as they are used

Not for young families

April

Pros: Food, ship decor, staterooms, service, embarking process were all superb!

Cons: Entertainment was mediocre at best and there wasn’t much of it. Not a lot for kids, either.

Recommended: Yes

This line definitely caters to an older generation.

So Much Fun!

April

Pros: Reading lights by bed excellent. The Crow's Nest is a treasure. The adult pool area was fabulous. What a great idea to have a basketball court! Our evening dining experience was excellent, with our group of 22 together to get to visit with different friends at 4 tables side by side. (My table was #15, but our friends & we did shuffle around each night) The maitre d' was accommodating, cheerful, & made our experience even better. The service was impeccable. Putu Eka, Reyner, & Alex all efficient & cheerful & helpful. Our stateroom was perfect & ready for us as soon as we boarded the ship. Our luggage arrived very soon afterward so we were able to unpack right away. Plenty of good storage for our clothing and also to store empty luggage out of the way. Room 8126. Lovely room. comfy mattress. Excellent sheets & pillows. Fantastic service from Riben & Wayan, answering our questions & meeting our needs. Many thanks to them. The captain made us feel welcome. We enjoyed the piano & singing entertainment in the lounge & we loved the main stage show with Chris & Zoey. Getting on & off the ship beginning & end and at each port was simple & easy. My husband & I enjoyed our shore excursions at each of the 3 ports - fun, informative, & sometimes funny & delicious too. My husband enjoyed the excellent music on ship. He was overjoyed with room service coffee & breakfast.

Cons: My husband enjoyed the library, but wished it was better-stocked. Wished for better lighting at desk/makeup mirror.

Recommended: Yes

We had a wonderful time! We were traveling with friends (22 in all). The week flew by too fast.

Absolutely loved the Nieuw Amsterdam.

February

Pros: Ship extremely clean and looked brand new! Food great! Lincoln center wonderful.

Cons: Need to have a real sandwich making area at lunch. instead of soggy premade sandwiches.

Recommended: Yes

We stayed in a Neptune Suite and it was wonderful. Beds extremely comfortable!. Room spacious. (Think they should at least provide a free bottle of water per person each day.) Food quality and prep were much better than any Holland America ship we have ever been on. Really enjoyed the Lincoln Center concerts; the "clean" comedian show; the billboard pianos. The ship was just the right size; lunch and breakfast not too crowded in the Lido, could always find a seat. Really like the layout of the Holland ships where you can walk entirely around the promenade deck. Ship was sparkling clean with no signs of wear! Dinner food choices were excellent, except one night!.

Eastern Caribbean Cruise.

February

Pros: Room & staff.

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Room was outstanding. Service was superb. Food was good. Entertainment was good.

First Trip on Holland America

January

Pros: Priest on board and daily Mass, Dining service in dining hall excellent

Cons: Too many tenders.

Recommended: Yes

Will try Holland again.

First time with Holland America

October

Pros: Very friendly staff, lots to do onboard

Cons: Can not think of any

Recommended: Yes

First time cruising with Holland America and I was NOT disappointed. We had a wonderful experience!!!

Alaskan Cruise

September

Pros: Excellent service and spacious rooms with plenty of storage

Cons: Poor cell service.

Recommended: Yes

This was our first cruise. It was more than we expected We would recommend Holland American Line as a first class cruise line.

Wonderful experience

August

Pros: stateroom, food, excursions, activities

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

I have already recommended this tour and line to some friends!

Love Holland America

August

Pros: Exceptional Service

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Anyone I talked to on the ship only had rave reviews not only about ***** Star food, but *****Service. Everyone on the ship works so hard, that you think you were the only one's on the ship. It exceeded my expectations, Holland America, is a great example of customer service. If you run any kind of business, I would suggest you take some guidance from this company. I will definitely book another cruise with Holland. Thank you STAFF you are AWESOME.

Canada/Alaska travel

July

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Amazing Cruise & Yukon Trail

June

Pros: Excellent Itinerary, accommodation very satisfactory, ship having just come out of refurb was still smelling very new

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Fantastic cruise sector for 3 nights on recently refurbished ship with great staff everywhere. We had an excellent Journey Host from HAL (Justin Hendrix) on the land portion Excellent driver (Kyle) from Skagway to aircraft at Dawson City. Both crew members were extremely knowledgeable.

February Nieuw Amsterdam

February

Pros: Lots of good public spaces, rooms well appointed, good dining options, BBC evening program with live music was great

Cons: Sofa package should work on private island

Recommended: Yes

Great ship, great week

Time at sea

February

Pros: Friends/family

Cons: Missed the port we most wanted to see.

Recommended: No

Great Service

November

Pros: Abdul and Addi where fantastic. Really made an effort to make my son feel special and take care of us. Paul was outstanding up at the pool. He took care of my family all week and made our trip feel effortless.

Cons: The kids club was not good. I have been on many cruises and on this ship several times and this was the worst I have seen it. The kids played games and video games. They didn't have adventures or dress like pirates. The schedule said game play every day and night. My son didn't want to go during the day and went at night but said he was board.

Recommended: Yes

This was a great cruise and I know the focus isn't around kids, but it would have been nice for a fun program like when I was on the ship at age 11 years ago. I wanted that for my son and it wasn't there.

Wonderful Cruise

November

Pros: The cabana Stewart & room Stewart were the best. Very attentive. The food was excellent. The Tamarind Rest. Was so good we went back for another night. I

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

I highly recommend eating at least one meal at the Tamarind Restaurant. The food was wonderful and the service was excellent. We loved the cruise. I recommend Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. It was the best day ever. We enjoyed having a Cabana for the entire week. It made our Thanksgiving cruise even more special.

AMAZING!

November

Pros: Everything was perfect!

Cons:

Recommended: No

Anniversary Cruise

November

Pros: Food, staff, great embark and disembark

Cons: Entertainment, no poolside activities, nothing special on Gala nights.

Recommended: No

Panama Canal from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale

October

Pros: Nice weather - Hot/Humid - Canal the highlight

Cons: Some of ports - Tour department

Recommended: Yes

Many of the ports we in commercial area - shuttle to town - other ships in same port had better positions. Tour staff were kind at desk but getting from ship to tour gathering was a mess most of the time as all disembarked at same time, not by tour. Never had experienced that before on other Holland America cruises. All employees in dining and public areas were happy and very helpful and well trained. We were upgraded to Neptune Suite - first time to be upgraded after several Holland America cruises - and what a nice surprise.

Alaska cruise

July

Pros:

Cons: Did not go to Tracie's Arm & was disappointed not to see glacier.

Recommended: Yes

Enjoyed the three days aboard.

Great Ship

March

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Very pleased with the Nieuw Amsterdam ship. It was elegant and the staff were wonderful. The food was delicious and cannot say anything negative about our experience. Would go on another Holland America cruise!

W. Caribbean

March

Pros: friendly staff, cleanliness, great premium restaurants

Cons: Smoking allowed in very small area. (Disappointed in change from 2016)

Recommended: Yes

Nice Ship

Outstanding Cruise

January

Pros: Service, food, entertainment, ports

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Outstanding in every way. The service was over the top, food was excellent, entertainment was very good, ship is in pristine condition. We had a totally fantastic time!

Christmas Cruise

December

Pros: lovely and clean ship, very good room steward and dining room steward

Cons: quality of the food has dropped, cut back on staff in dining room

Recommended: Yes

It sometimes took a bit long to complete dinner and we were late to the show. It seems the DR steward doesn't have a full time helper. The quality of the food was not as good as last year. There was a movie every day and it was offered several times during the day. The room had a large flat screen TV so one could check the news. It also offered a variety of movies if one was interested. They still offer a daily newspaper so one can check on what is going on. There were some innovations in the Lido Restaurant. You don't make your own salad. You indicate what you want and it is prepared for you and it is in a nice bowl rather than on a flat dish.

Holland America is Changing

December

Pros: Ship is beautiful. Cabin suites are large and have ample decks. Staff is friendly.

Cons: No Bon Voyage celebrations when you leave ports. No announcement of leaving. They have eliminated deck parties showing local food of countries visited. Never saw Captain on trip.

Recommended: Yes

Food is good. Optional restaurants are good. Poor internet. Holland is moving their communications during voyages to the internet. However, the access is terribly substandard. Don't buy a soda card - there is almost no place it can be used. Holland has their own island and it is put into all Carribean itineraries. It would be preferable to stop at another Country instead.

Nieuw Amsterdam

November

Pros: Exceptional service and a great itinerary

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Exceptional cruise experience

Holland America Cruise

November

Pros: We liked everything about the cruise.

Cons: No complaints

Recommended: Yes

Regarding the pre-cruise hotel, The Westin, the hotel was very nice but the location was not good. It wasn't close to any shopping, dining or sightseeing and we had to take a cab whenever we left the hotel and that became rather pricey. This is the first pre-cruise hotel that we have ever stayed in that was so inconvenient to everything.

Holland America

November

Pros:

Cons: Unable to use beverage pkg on private island.

Recommended: Yes

n/a

Cruise

November

Pros: Great ship, good staff, excellent food

Cons: Would like to see more activity options when at sea

Recommended: Yes

Would like to see additional trash cans throughout the ship in common areas, I.e. Near elevators. Many times I was looking for one and wasn't one to be found except for ones on Lido deck. Photos are too pricey. Think more could be sold if price was around $10 per 8x10. Seemed there was a lot of prints wasted because they were not purchased. Overall, enjoyed the cruise very much!

Icy Glacier Bay through the Panama Canal into the warm Caribbean

October

Pros: The day long visit to Glacier Bay was beyond spectacular. Take binoculars for greater wildlife viewing. Traveling the locks of the Panama Canal was just spectacular when you arrive at the top man created lake it is beyond beautiful

Cons: No cons, we had minimal rain considering the time of year for Alaska it was the last cruse ship the season.

Recommended: Yes

These two places, Alaska and the Panama Canal have been long dreams of mine. To accomplish both in a single 29 day cruise was the perfect trip for me. When I unpack my bags I want to cozy in and stay awhile.

A wonderful cruise

September

Pros: The staff. Excellent. The itenerary was excellent.

Cons: So much to do so little time

Recommended: Yes

We celebrated our 40th anniversary on this crude with our adult kids. Had a nice combination of activities. Very clean and welcoming. The crew suburb.

North to Alaska

September

Pros: Scenery from the ship

Cons: Lots of people

Recommended: Yes

I would cruise with Holland America again.

Not just a vacation, but an adventure!

September

Pros: Tours, guides, accommodations, food

Cons: Not long enough!

Recommended: Yes

I would go back tomorrow on the same trip... wonderful accommodations, food and the scenery was picture perfect each and every day...

Cruise

August

Pros: Food, service, and shows

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Trip of a lifetime!!

Nieuw Amsterdam

May

Pros: Specialty Restaurants were varied & superb. Piano Bar great fun. Classical music a nice change.

Cons: 6pm dining too early and 830 too late -

Recommended: Yes

While I know you have the option of dining at any time, the reserved seating establishes many friendships you don't find in bouncing around to different tables.

Panama Canal, A Must See !

April

Pros: Great ship & crew

Cons: Very hot weather

Recommended: Yes

One less item on our Bucket List ! This was a trip of a lifetime and we loved the ship & crew. Holland America has very high standards, which is why we prefer to sail with their company.

quality cruise

March

Pros: food, safety, cleanliness, service, did I say food?

Cons: sea days on a mid-sized ship

Recommended: Yes

relaxing, low stress, good food, great service and cleanliness....

Met expectations

January

Pros: Well organized, great food, wonderful, accomodating staff....

Cons: None that we can think of...

Recommended: Yes

Traveled with friends and from embarkation to debarkation we had a totally enjoyable time with no problems at all.

A Great Week

January

Pros: Accommodations with balcony, Food, Pinnacle Grill, Entertainment, Staff

Cons: None to complain about

Recommended: Yes

Of the specialty restaurants we went to, I would only recommend the Pinnacle Grill. The Tamarand was OK with the presentation being the best part. The Canaletto was confusing to order. It says to share but that didn't seem to work very well.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINES

December

Pros: NICE SHIP, NICE DECK & CREW

Cons: SMALL CABIN, FOOD AVERAGE

Recommended: No

WILL PROBABLY GO BACK TO CELEBRITY & THE NEW PRINCESS.

Highly Recommend

November

Pros: medium size ship. easy to get around. staff very accommodating and eager to please.

Cons: tipping was $11.50 per day per person. Cruise line should pay their personnel rather than depend on our gratuities.

Recommended: Yes

Wanted to relax and that is what we did.

Exceeded Expectations

September

Pros:

Cons: I would like to see more time in ports that were a distance from major cities like Rome, Florence etc.We never saw the Captain! He should have welcomed passengers at the Gala night and possibly the last formal night. I have never been on a cruise when the captain made no effort to greet passengers!I feel strongly that water should be provided in the cabins nightly.

Recommended: Yes

I have traveled on the Holland American line to Europe before and this ship,crew and staff were far superior to previous cruises. Accommodations, cleanliness and the wonderful staff surpassed all previous cruise experiences. Glad to see that on your new ship the Canaletto dinning room will be a separate entity. The lighting in the Neptune Suite make-up area needs improvement. Shore excursions for 12 or more should include listening devices, tour leaders with clear language skills and comfortable seating buses especially for tours that last long hours.

Mediterranean Empires June 9th to June 21st, 2015

Pros: Dining rooms food and service

Cons: Santorini port, 5 ships at one time and too short of time for a beautiful port

Recommended: No

We arrived at the Cruise Terminal for Embarkation approximately 11:30 AM. All went smoothly. Our room was ready for check-in. The cabin we were assigned was an ocean view room with floor to ceiling glass with an obstructed view. The room was very adequate. My wife loved the bathtub. The main dining room was amazing. It honestly felt like we were eating hundred-dollar meals every night. The service was just as great as everywhere else on the ship, they never pushed us to buy wine or anything, food came as quickly as you would expect, the variety was great, everything looked super, and there were only a couple dishes I wasn't so impressed with. Everything else we ate there the whole trip - appetizers, soups, salads, mains - was all great. We also learned to love the lunches at the poolside burger place - they were the sort of burgers and hot dogs you would get for like 12 bucks at a burger-specialty restaurant. We frequented it often after we realized its quality. Speaking of food around the ship all the time - every few days they threw a pre-dinner party out by the aft pool, celebrating the local cuisine. The food there was obviously significantly less *fancy* than the main dining hall, but was also consistently of extremely high quality. (Ironically, we spent all day in Istanbul looking for good Turkish food, didn't find any, and depressed, came back to the ship... to find the first of these events, at which we had the best Turkish food we found all trip.) We took in the show in the Showroom at Sea each night. The range and quality of entertainment was from very average to very professional. We enjoyed each night’s performance for what was presented. Each night we were hoping to find a venue to ballroom dancing. There was only one band that even came close, all of there music was basically the same, either off beat triple-time swing or cha-cha. By the time the show was over the music was over. Friday, June 12th – Priaeus (Athens) We took the HAL tour from the ship to Acropolis. The tour was approximately 4 hours very good value. View from Acropolis is fabulous. Prepare to walk and prepare to be in a large crowd. The walking surface was steep and uneven in places as well as slippery. Saturday, June 13th – Cruising the Dardanelles and Istanbul Cruising through the Dardanelles was very early morning which we did not get up for. Saturday, June 13th - Istanbul A city of approximately 16 million. Where do you start with such a large city and different culture than North American cities? We started with the HAL 2 hour Panoramic Istanbul Old and New. It helped give a lay out of the city. We spent about 30 minutes at the Grand Bazaar. This tour was a quick overview and time for some photos. Then we did the HAL 2 ½ hour Bosphorus cruise. The cruise started in daylight and ended at twilight. A cruise on the Bosphorus is a must while visiting this city. The only city in the world that occupies two contents. Sunday, June 14th – Istanbul Today we did the HAL 4 ½ Panoramic Istanbul tour with a visit to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and the cistern, the grand bazaar is closed on Sunday. That is the reason we scheduled the Grand Bazaar on Saturday. What an experience. Be aware of improvised Turkish guides who want to help you. Monday, June 15th - Myilene, Lesbos Mitilini is tender port very small. We walked around the small village, had lunch on the water. Very pleasant laid back visit. Tuesday, June 16th – Kusadasi (Ephesus) Signature Collection Group Excursion. I had the opportunity to talk with most of the Signature Group as the Excursion came to and end and also back on the bus by way of the PA system. 100% this by far is the best excursion I have participated. All on the tour agreed. The Tour Guide was outstanding. The Tour Guide turned the Group over to his mentor who has worked at the ruins for 41 years and now retired, did the tour of the Terrace Houses. An extremely fascinating man. This tour alone made the trip worthwhile. It was a very hot day, and more steps than most people will take in a year. These homes where built into the side of a mountain. Exceptional ruins! Wednesday, June 17th – Santorini Ship arrived at Santorini at 9:00 AM. All on board at 4:00 PM. Very short period for such a beautiful place. This a tender port using only local tenders. We got off the ship by 9:30 AM; the line for the gondola to the up of the mountain took 2 hours. The line was very long. We had been warned there was five cruise ships in the small port at the same time and ride down could take longer than the ride up. Therefore we made arrangement to be in line to go back down no later than 1:30 PM, which only gave us two hours at one of the most outstanding ports on this cruise. We made the best of it. We made to attempt to walk the 900 or so steps or to ride the donkeys. Thursday, June 18th – Katakolon (Olympia) We took a local bus, just outside the cruise terminal from the ship. The village of Olympia is very small and ruins were easy to walk through on your own. We had a light lunch at a quaint café. Friday, June 19th – Argostoli Argostoli, a quiet a place. Many nice shops and friendly people, they did not understand us and we did not understand them. You cannot mistake a smile and what it means, we felt very welcome in this small town. We walked through the town and down the ocean path looking at all the sea life that you could totally see because the water was so clear, and look into all the little shops. Saturday, June 20th – At Sea Sunday, June 21st – Disembarkation Disembarkation was amazingly simple.

A wonderful experience

October

Pros: The food was wonderful, fresh and creative. In the main dining room, the portions were modest in size which was good since it seemed we were eating all the time! The cleanliness, everywhere and at all times, was exceptional. The staff managed the disembarkation and reembarkation of huge numbers of passengers efficiently, and in such a way that we didn't feel herded like cattle!

Cons: The entertainment in the Showroom each night was hit-or-miss. The individual featured performers (a pianist, a magician/comedian, a musician, etc.) were very good, but the ship's regular performers were not all that great.

Recommended: Yes

We met some wonderful new friends, saw some amazing things, and lived like royalty for 12 days!

Mediterranean 12 Day Cruise

April

Pros: Good destination ports

Cons: Internet did not work on ship for three days

Recommended: Yes

Had a great time. Lots to see and do. Weather was great. Crew did great job.

Nice relaxing cruise

April

Pros: Food

Cons: Cabin size

Recommended: No

Experience on board

February

Pros: Our room location was excellent

Cons: Room was very small

Recommended: No