Caribbean & Panama Canal Transit
Caribbean & Panama Canal transit |
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Reviewed By: Spencer, Broom on 6th Jan 2010
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| Cruise Line: Holland America Cruises |
Times cruised before: 10+ |
| Cruise Ship: Ms Amsterdam |
Sailed:
December,
2009 |
| Destination:
Caribbean
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Age: 56-65 |
| Cabin: Outside |
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We flew to Miami where we were transferred to a hotel in Fort Lauderdale for the night before embarking on MS Maasdam the following day we were rather concerned that the ship was older than most of their others but we found the public rooms were all clean and luxuriously furnished and all we could want. Our cabin was spacious with a window all the usual fittings with the addition of a two seater sofa and table. Perhaps the bathroom could have done with a makeover, the washbasin was cracked but it was kept spotless by our cabin steward.
We found the food and service very good indeed, we never struggled to find a sunbed (this is a priority with us as we like to read and soak up the sun!), we found quickly a small Piano bar with a trio and quite a good vocalist, this became a favourite haunt at night, the bar staff were amazingly helpful to us, they found us some house gin (do they mean boat?) which was not on the menu, it was just to our liking and rather good value, they produced origami for us and hors d'oeuvre (can ruin your appetite !) All in all a very pleasant place to meet at night, other passengers passed by for the restaurant and often called in for a quick drink when they saw us seated there.
This was our first visit to the Caribbean except one previous call to Barbados, and we enjoyed it so much we plan to visit again to see more islands. the weather was really very good, hot but not too hot. Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private island was like heaven on earth ! would like to visit it again. We went to the beach again in Antigua, Port James, this was a ship's excursion but really only to the beach for a few hours. We had not arranged an official excursion on Rosseau, Dominica, but after walking around, along with a Canadian couple were persuaded to embark on a trip with Lennox in a people carrier, what a good move this proved to be , he was a fascinating guide as well as a member of the island's national football team. He happily stopped as long as we wanted to show us cinnamon bark growing on a tree as well as cocoa beans and bananas. He took us to some waterfalls with hot and cold pools where we could swim and a hot sulphur spring, Rosseau was a beautiful unspoilt tropical island. We found the partial transit of the Panama canal quite amazing, we watched the progress of our ship and others for hours without realizing how many hours passed. Perhaps our favourite excursion was in Costa Rica, we travelled through the jungle on a small and primitive train, originally used for transporting bananas but now used for tourism, the driver stopped at any sign of wildlife and we were excited to hear and see Howler Monkeys, then we went on a boat trip along the river where more monkeys, birds and butterflies were spotted before returning by motorcoach to the ship.
We will be happy to cruise again with Holland America in the future and look forward to when we can return to the Caribbean.
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.jpg_thumb.jpg "Santorini sunset")
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