Volendam

Ultimate Mediterranean, Round Trip from New York City

October

Pros: Experiencing the Mediterranean without international flights

Cons: A few short port days

Recommended: Yes

Fabulous cruise

October

Pros: Easy check in/disembark, Interesting ports of call, friendly&competent crew

Cons: Had to pay for shuttle at several ports, notably Barcelona

Recommended: Yes

First cruise experience

July

Pros: Incredible staff, beautiful and interesting ports, efficient transfers from sea to land, excellent food, many options during the day

Cons: Slightly limited social activities during off times and limited communication for accessing the app and information on the ship.

Recommended: Yes

The Volendam was an excellent first cruise experience. We loved the attention of the staff, the size and comfort of our room, the destinations and excursions on the trip and the specialty food choices. The staff was so pleasant and helpful. Each member of the team made us feel welcomed, seen and appreciated. It was such a pleasure to meet them and we appreciated their attention to details for us. The specialty dining places- the dining room, the Canaletto, the Pinnacle Grill were amazing! The choices and the staffing were so incredibly accommodating and provided food that we can never replicate. So good! The staff that took care of our room was so kind and we loved all of the special information and candies they left behind. It was so fun to come to the room to see the bed made or pulled back. We are not used to being so spoiled. It was amazing and special. Our couple minor concerns are the rotating choices of food in the Lido Deck buffet. The first couple of days were great but then it was the same choices throughout the week. I would like to have seen some variety in the main dishes. The other concern was the social activities. There were limited choices. I do not have a specific recommendation for changing this. We did not feel super socially connected. But we made our own fun! There is a lot of nickel and diming on this trip. Everything is tipped and expected. We did the upgrade in drinks but still felt that everything was additional. We are paying a tip each day per person in the room and then additionally tipping for drinks. It added up to a sizeable bill at the end of the week.

Just giving feedback

November

Pros: Needed to be on the ocean again

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

V365 voyage. The cabin stewards served me well. There was no refrigerator and I was keeping medicine cool with ice. Sam and August (Agus). Did a great job refreshing the needed ice.

Another great Holland America cruise

September

Pros: Relatively small ship, friendly efficient crew, informative lectures, great food

Cons: Ship is fairly old and in some places showing its age such as pool.

Recommended: Yes

We are loyal Holland cruisers because it offers great itineraries at fair prices, demographics of passengers are compatible

Jerry & Patty

August

Pros: The service was outstanding

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

The ship was awesome, the staff could not have been more accommodating, the food was great..lots of things to do at all times...they kept you informed on a daily basis of what was happening. Very impressive!!

3 day cruse Vancouver - Skagway, Alaska

June

Pros: small ship, smooth sailing, nice room

Cons: cleanliness, ship credits,

Recommended: Yes

Very nice room. The first night when I pulled back the sheet, there was a washed Kleenex laying on the bed. Were given ship credits of $100 each along with cancelation of an excursion at $35 each. Wow, $270!! Did not know we would be charged gratuities of $16 per person per day. Was glad we had credit to pay for that! We were also told that we would be arriving in Juneau 3 hours early due to a medical issue. So using up our credits shopping was cut short. Also didn't know that the whole next day, as we traveled to Skayway that we would not be able to use our ship credits to shop. I heard others left behind large amounts of credits also. Use your credits wisely and fast. Maybe these credits should also apply to the many land shops owned by Holland Am in these port towns.?? We were also told the $70 for the canceled excursions would be coming back as dollars in our account vs ship credit. Still waiting on that.

14 Day Volendam Cruise

March

Pros: The itinerary, the staff and crew of the ship and the excursions

Cons: Food and Entertainment

Recommended: No

The entertainment was mediocre and one comment from a fellow cruiser that was on the 72 day cruise proceeding ours was "what entertainment?" On his trip before it was far better. The food choices in the main dining room were lacking. It is our first cruise that 40% of our choices were an extra charge. Lobster was never offered for 14 days without paying extra but turkey was offered twice as a choice. The food that we had was very well prepared and in good portions. The meals we had in the specialty restaurants were excellent. The food choices in the cafeteria were great and delicious. We found all the staff and crew members to be beyond excellent and well trained. We were always greeted with a smile and there were many instances we were greeted by name which was a nice personal touch. obviosly

Grand Voyage South America

January

Pros: The perfect itinerary with excellent ports of call. The Volendam is the perfect size ship, especially for a long voyage. There was always something to do yet very restful and relaxing when you wanted it to be. They had great entertainment and guest speakers.

Cons: The main issue I heard from everyone was the horrible internet speed. Lets blame that to locations. And there a lot of complaints as to removing the refrigerators from the staterooms.

Recommended: No

Holland America had delivered an experience of a lifetime. The entire South America experience was beautiful and amazing. The Antarctica viewing and experience was unbelievable and will never be forgotten. The captain navigated the Antarctica and the Amazon with unbeatable skills to ensure optimal pleasure and safety. Very nice "pillow gifts" on Gala nights to pleasant & helpful staff.

Wonderful Volendam

October

Pros: A real cruise ship feel throughout

Cons: "older" look to some of the decor and public spaces. The main dining room is way too dark.

Recommended: No

Alaska inside passage 7 day cruise

August

Pros: Great staff and service, great variety of activities to keep you interested.

Cons: Extra Gratuity per person/per day/per activity was excessive. I think the price should include all gratuity so that staff don’t have to feel like they are working just for that.

Recommended: Yes

Loved the wildlife connection with the park rangers and the deck spotting. Kids club should include a meet and greet with the captain to make them feel special and included. More rooms needed to be offered for my kids to feel comfortable in the ship on at sea days. Less movies to “entertain” kids in the kids club. Entertainment was varied and very professional(especially the Italian string quartet).

Beautiful ship

July

Pros: Food was good. Good entertainment. Service was excellent .

Cons: More electrical outlets. ESpecially near the bed for a CPAP machine .

Recommended: Yes

It was a very nice cruise. Loved getting so close to the glaciers.

Amazing Alaska Experience

June

Pros: Well organized

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

We had a great first cruise experience with Volendam. The service was impeccable and the staff ever so friendly! Food was delicious and beyond our expectations!

Alaska Cruise

May

Pros: We enjoyed the hole trip a specialty the thermal room on the ship.

Cons: Our dinner time was a little late for us. Next time we would ask for the earlier dinner time.

Recommended: Yes

Everything was very enjoyable and Edward Infanti was extremely helpful. My husband was very sceptical about going on the trip but throughly loved it and we will go again ????

Panama trip

April

Pros: Good trip; staff very good

Cons: Food average

Recommended: No

Good trip overall

Panama Canal Transist and ports of call.

March

Pros: Overall experience of going through the locks in Panama. Really enjoyed Guatemala & Costa Rico excursions.

Cons: Nicaragua.

Recommended: Yes

For my first cruise, this was grand. The journey through the Canal Zone was the reason I was excited to go - and it didn't disappoint. The other ports of call were a bonus. Especially enjoyed the Mayan ruins of Mexico, Antigua, Guatemala with it's active volcano; Costa Rico and the Old City & Fort of Cartagena.

Individual Vacation

December

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: No

Panama Canal Cruise

November

Pros: Fantastic trip

Cons: Only one of the entertainers was terrible

Recommended: No

Great Cruise

September

Pros: Great food, great entertainment, lots to do and see on ship....never a dull moment.

Cons: Nothing comes to mind.

Recommended: Yes

Great trip overall.

Alaska via Holland America

September

Pros: Everthing was fantastic including the usual clear, dry weather

Cons: Can't think of any

Recommended: No

Fantastic Week on Sea & Land

July

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

We were on the ship for just three days, but everything was wonderful. We look forward to sailing again with Holland America for a longer cruise. The accommodations, and staff were very helpful and attentive. We were very pleased with our short stay aboard your beautiful ship.

Vancouver to Skagway

July

Pros: Great staff, never felt crowded, wide selection of entertainment and activities.

Cons: Couldn't purchase excursions for the land porton of our trip while on board.

Recommended: Yes

This was a great start to our land/sea trip to the Yukon and Canada. I liked doing the sea segment first. The land segment from Skagway to Dawson City aligned with the path of the gold rush. It also saved the best parts, Denali and the Alaska Railway for the end. The weather for the whole trip was great.

Ship Needs Updating

July

Pros: Staff and Cleanliness

Cons: One outlet in cabin. Outdated decor

Recommended: Yes

Older ship needs updates to cabins and decor on the ship. No outlet in bathroom which was small. Only outlet in cabin in sitting area. Very inconvenient. Ship not recommended but land portion was excellent

Alaska tour

June

Pros: Good food, service, guide, promptness, help

Cons: Food counter closing 8 pm. Half were closed 20-25 min early

Recommended: Yes

Great Trip

June

Pros: Everything was absolutely first class

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

This was the first cruise we had ever been on so we decided to do it all, land and sea. It was first class and the way.

Fletcher family vacation

February

Pros: ankor wat was exciing, excellent entertainment, hotels and food on excursions was tops

Cons: not as much selection for food as usual

Recommended: Yes

cruise lines are cutting corners to cut costs, not a good idea.

fun and relaxing

February

Pros: un-pack once

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

join in all the activities or just chill out enjoy people watching eat, eat, eat gather with friends shopping

regal

April

Pros: great room and laundry service. Food and service also great

Cons: slow wi-fi

Recommended: Yes

Really enjoyed the cruise

Dining

April

Pros: Staff was proficient.

Cons: Quality of food was not as good as we experienced on the Zaamdam.

Recommended: Yes

Having completed a cruise on the Zaamdam prior to the cruise, we noticed that the quality of the food was not as good. The food was not bad but could have been better.

FABULOUS SERVICE

January

Pros: TWO PERFECT HOTELS IN HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE WITH BREAKFAST

Cons: NONE

Recommended: No

Alaska cruise/land tour

July

Pros: Fantastic cruise ship with all amenities needed.

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

Would definitely cruise on a HA ship again, more than satisfied with this trip