10-night Mediterranean Enchantment Cruise (Roundtrip Rome)
Vacation Offer ID # 438236
Contact a Holland Specialist
1-866-563-1101
Sail Date: 10/8/2010
Length: 10 Nights
Ship: Noordam
Price: From $1,499.00
Available Addons: Pre or post cruise hotel stay. Optional roundtrip airfare. Optional shore excursions.
Have you considered adding...?
A pre or post cruise hotel stay - Exclusive complimentary amenities at over 600+ of the world's finest hotels and resorts. Ask about personalized private shore excursions - Contact your cruise specialist for more details!
EXCLUSIVE AMENITIES (per couple):
- $150 Shipboard Credit
Itinerary
| Destination | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Rome (Civitavecchia)Wcities destination guide and download available | 10/8/2010 -- | 10/8/2010 5:00 PM |
| Florence/Pisa (Livorno)Wcities destination guide and download available | 10/9/2010 7:00 AM | 10/9/2010 8:00 PM |
| Monte Carlo | 10/10/2010 8:00 AM | 10/10/2010 5:00 PM |
| BarcelonaWcities destination guide and download available | 10/11/2010 12:00 PM | 10/11/2010 -- |
| BarcelonaWcities destination guide and download available | 10/12/2010 -- | 10/12/2010 11:00 PM |
| Palma de Mallorca | 10/13/2010 9:00 AM | 10/13/2010 6:00 PM |
| At Sea | 10/14/2010 -- | 10/14/2010 -- |
| La Goulette | 10/15/2010 7:00 AM | 10/15/2010 6:00 PM |
| Trapani | 10/16/2010 7:00 AM | 10/16/2010 6:00 PM |
| NaplesWcities destination guide and download available | 10/17/2010 7:00 AM | 10/17/2010 6:00 PM |
| Rome (Civitavecchia)Wcities destination guide and download available | 10/18/2010 7:00 AM | 10/18/2010 -- |
N - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: Call for price Get a Quote
K - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,499.00 Get a Quote
J - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,529.00 Get a Quote
I - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,559.00 Get a Quote
MM - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,599.00 Get a Quote
M - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,639.00 Get a Quote
GG - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,649.00 Get a Quote
L - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,679.00 Get a Quote
D - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,749.00 Get a Quote
C - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,779.00 Get a Quote
H - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,799.00 Get a Quote
F - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,054.00 Get a Quote
E - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,139.00 Get a Quote
DD - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,224.00 Get a Quote
VD - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,299.00 Get a Quote
VF - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,399.00 Get a Quote
VE - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,499.00 Get a Quote
VA - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $2,599.00 Get a Quote
NN - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $2,924.00 Get a Quote
SY - Superior Verandah Suite
From Price: $2,999.00 Get a Quote
HH - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $3,374.00 Get a Quote
SC - Deluxe Verandah Suite
From Price: $3,999.00 Get a Quote
VH - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $4,124.00 Get a Quote
SB - Deluxe Verandah Suite
From Price: $4,349.00 Get a Quote
SZ - Superior Verandah Suite
From Price: $5,249.00 Get a Quote
PS - Penthouse Verandah Suite
From Price: $9,999.00 Get a Quote
10-night cruise, meals and entertainment.
Ship Overview
The ms Noordam, which is the first ship to be launched with the full complement of Signature of Excellence enhancements, exemplifies the classic style of the golden age of ocean travel with contemporary amenities and modern enhancements. In addition to excellent service and an incredible range of elegant dining choices, the ms Noordam has over 50 scheduled shipboard activities allowing you to do as much or as little as you please.
Dining
Pinnacle Grill
Vista Dining Room
Entertainment
Casino
Crow's Nest
Explorations Café
Explorer's Lounge
Northern Lights Nightclub
Ocean's Bar
Piano Bar
Pinnacle Bar
Sports Bar
The Loft
Vista Lounge
Other Areas of the Ship
Atrium
Club HAL
Culinary Arts Center
Fitness Center
Hydropool
Lido Pool
Thermal Suite
| Ship Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Year Built | 2006 |
| Year Refurbished | N/A |
| Year Entered Present Fleet | 2006 |
| Previous Name | N/A |
| Country of Registry | Netherlands |
| Tonnage (GRT) | 82318 |
| Passengers | 1,918 |
| Max Passengers | 2,457 |
| Passenger Decks | 11 |
| Number of Crew | 820 |
| Officers Nationality | Dutch & British |
| Cruise Staff Nationality | International |
| Staterooms | |
|---|---|
| Total Staterooms | 959 |
| Suites with balcony | 0 |
| Suites without a balcony | 0 |
| Oceanview without a balcony | 0 |
| Oceanview with balcony | 0 |
| Accommodations inside | 28 |
Select a deck to view the deckplan.
Sports Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Observation Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Lido Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Navigation Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Rotterdam Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Upper Verandah Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Verandah Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Upper Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Lower Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Main Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category
have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols
with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - N
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - MM
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - M
- Large Outside Stateroom - GG
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - L
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Large Outside Stateroom - H
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large Outside Stateroom - E
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - NN
- Superior Verandah Suite - SY
- Large Outside Stateroom - HH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VH
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Penthouse Verandah Suite - PS
Activities & Services
Every day aboard a Holland America cruise ship brings a wealth of activities and indulgences, along with the freedom to partake in as many - or as few - as you please. With so many choices, there's a perfect onboard cruise activity experience for everyone.
Click HERE for information about Holland America's "As You Wish" Dining.
| Tipping Policy | Additonal for all guests. |
| Onboard Ambiance | Elegant |
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining 
Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value The beautiful Amsterdam
Alaska - 7/2009
After hosting a Personal Enrichment Series Food & Wine group for Signature onboard the
She is beautiful and with less than 1400 passengers there was never a space issue.
The ship was very clean and no matter where you looked someone was cleaning something.
I did have a talk with the Hotel Manager and he mentioned that the crew is a very cohesive group and people love to work onboard the ship. I spoke with one waiter who actually is extending his contract. I have never heard that one before. The crew was happy and it really showed when they interacted with the passengers.
I did get an outside cabin. Very spacious and very well taken care of. I was not looking forward to having a connecting door to the neighbors because of the noise. I must say that we never even heard them and they were three teenagers! Sound control is great on the ship.
Beds were phenomenal. Never slept so well on a cruise!! They use pillow top Sealy mattresses.
In the whole week I saw my cabin steward twice, but yet our stateroom was always clean! They do not use any of those housekeeping carts anymore. On other cruises they stand around the hallways at their carts waiting for passengers to leave their staterooms. Not on HAL. I do not know where they hide, but it was a pleasure to walk in the hallways without it being an obstacle course.
The food was very good at the buffet, the restaurant and of course at the Pinnacle Grill. What I liked about the buffet is that it was not self-serve. There were cooks behind the counter serving the food to you. That kept the place much cleaner then when passengers get their own food.
And guess what, the crew actually helped people to their tables if they noticed that the passenger needed help with their plates (unlike some other cruises I have done this year).
I saw no signs of the cruise line trying to save money! HAL is as good as they have always been. And if they are saving money this year it happens behind the screens and does not affect the passengers!
Overall this experience reminded me again why HAL is still my favorite (mass?) premium cruise line!!! The service can't be beat and the whole atmosphere still reminds you that you are cruising and not that you in a big floating hotel.
Oh, and the average age was a lot lower then what most people think it is!!!!
Pros: Crew and atmosphere
Cons: It was only a 7-night cruise
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment 
Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Transatlantic cruising
Venice to New York - 4/2008
Excellent food - Happy staff!
Ship was very well maintained. The crew goes out of their way to assist you in all areas of the ship. Very extensive library and wifi in many areas of the ship, however, a little slow and expensive. Outside deluxe stateroom was comfortable and we made more room to move about by turning the queen bed in to twins.
Pros: Food, Staff, Library, Spa
Cons: No cons
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Never Disappoints
- /
We use Holland America a lot, and the Oosterdam in particular. Even with some technical difficulties aboard, the staff more than compensates for this shortcoming with their willingness to accommodate each guest.
I have sailed on the Oosterdam 4 times in the last 18 months hosting groups. Like all ships, things go wrong from time to time, whether they be mechanical or schedule related. What sets Holland America apart, and the Oosterdam, is the willingness of the crew to step up and do what it takes to make things right.
I find the accommodations to be among the best around. The food has gotten increasingly better over the years, and the service is excellent. I am not an entertainment person, but can say with confidence that the dealers in the casino are very friendly.
We think HAL offers the best bang-for-the-buck in the cruise industry.
Pros: Holland America stands up for their product and do what it takes to make customers happy.
Cons: The ship is in somewhat rough shape, but is due to drydock in April and all of this should be repaired.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
Staff
Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value 10 day Southern Caribbean HAL
Southern Caribbean - 1/2010
We did the Catamaran/Beach excursion in Grand Turk and it was probably the best shorex we have ever done. However, the whale watching shorex at Samana, D.R. was a bust. Very poor. The boat was too small for chasing whales, we could not stand as there was nothing to hold onto in the rough seas, thus we could not see very well, and we could not hear one word the guide said over the engine noise. We did see whales - a glimpse at a time. AVOID this tour. And then in Aruba we did the Catamaran/snorkel/beach shorex (again) and it was good (though a little long). We were disappointed that by the time we returned from the tour, everything in Aruba was closed as it was Sunday and the shops closed at 1 PM. It would have been nice if HAL had warned us ahead of time that Aruba rolls up the sidewalks on Sunday. We were also disappointed that we had to skip the stop at HAL's private island, Halfmoon Cay, due to high winds. That has happened to us now two years in a row. The day at Halfmoon Cay is usually the highlight of our trip, but it was not meant to be again this year. But, that's not HAL's fault as none of us can control the weather.
The nightly shows on this trip were average. Not great, not bad. We were a little disappointed because the song and dance production shows on this voyage were the exact same ones we saw on the Noordam in 2009. Same lead singers, same sets, same routines. I guess we learned not to the repeat the same ship in consecutive years.
However, overall we had a great time, met some very nice people, and enjoyed ourselves. It's a very good value for the money spent, except the shore excursions. They are rarely worth the money, but we find if we don't take some of them we end up doing nothing in port but shopping.
We are thinking Maasdam for 2011. We enjoyed that ship once before and on our cruise this year I overheard several guests remarking about their fondness for the Maasdam.
Pros: Cabin;Clean;Food;Staff;Spa;Itin;
Cons: Entertain;
Reviewer Recommended? Y
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