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Thursday 9th Feb 2012
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Quiet Time On Holland America
Quiet time on Holland America |
5 of 5 people found this review informative
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Reviewed By: islandgirl, the chilterns on 14th Feb 2010
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| Cruise Line: Holland America Cruises |
Times cruised before: 1-2 |
| Cruise Ship: MS Maasdam |
Sailed:
December,
2009 |
| Destination:
Caribbean
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Age: 56-65 |
| Cabin: Outside |
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This is a cruise review for the Holland America Maasdam Southern Caribbean Cruise.
We had stayed for one week in an apartment in Fort Lauderdale and so drove ourselves to the Port, handed in our Alamo car hire and then took the courtesy shuttle bus from the Airport to the Port, all very easy. The check-in for the Ship was very fast as no Immigration to go through and we were on board in less than half an hour. We were told the cabins weren't ready and to go to the Lido Restaurant for lunch. Whilst we were having lunch in a very crowded restaurant it was announced the cabins were ready. When we arrived down in our cabin our luggage was already there. The cabin was the nicest one we have had so far - new to cruising this being only our third cruise. We had a small two seater sofa and chair and coffee table. The Bathroom had a tub with shower over. The Bathroom looked a little dated but understand the Ship is to be re-furbished sometime this year. We unpacked, three suitcases, British Airways had just reduced their luggage allowance from two suitcases each to one so we had to pay £40 for excess baggage - well worth it in my case as I just can't travel light!
We were on deck for the Sail away from Fort Lauderdale and had plenty of time to be ready for dinner second seating at 7.45 p.m. and then the second Show at 10 p.m. I particularly liked the timings Holland America had, dinner was not so late as our previous cruise on Celebrity which had been at 8.30, also on Celebrity we had to go to the early show as the second show was on whilst we were eating. Not so keen on having to be ready for the show then dinner by 7 p.m. especially on port days when it seemed very rushed. Holland Americas timmings were much better.
Holland America cruises seem to be of a very high standard, the food was very good, perhaps not served with quite the flair that Celebrity seem to manage. It was easier to have some banter with Celebrity MDR staff that was much harder with HA staff who are Indonesian and do not speak such fluent English. But our waiters in the MDR were very good, we were always served quickly with the right orders. We chose a table for ten, four Brits and four Americans who were lovers of all things English! We were almost always the last to leave the restaurant and really enjoyed lively chats over dinner, changing seats each evening to chat to someone else around the table - first time we have done that and it worked really well.
The food in the Lido Restaurant was good although the restaurant was very busy most times we went for Breakfast or lunch, which we always ate in that restaurant.
We had three formal evenings, although we had been advised there would be four. Mostly people dressed up four of the men on our table in Dinner Suits and we all looked very smart - really enjoy the dressing up, seems to me that is what cruising is all about.
We thought the Dutch officers were aloof and not very friendly towards the passengers, those working in the Lido Restaurant seemed to spend most of their time chatting to the waiters and not seeing what they could do to improve the service. They were also not very visible in the MDR only on two of the formal evenings were they seen and never saw the Captain apart from the Welcome/Farewell shows in the theatre.
The ship was lovely, the smallest we have been on so far, 1200 people, average age would be around 75, so no pool cames, no loud music around the pool, no wall to climb etc., just peace and quiet. We always managed to get a sun bed in the sun or shade on sea days. There was always space on the lower deck with wooden steamer seats in sun and shade too. The main pool was off from the Lido restaurant and had a slide over roof for when the weather was poor - which it never was. We were very lucky and had a hot and sunny two weeks. The main pool was a really nice area for having lunch by and listening to the on board singer and small group.
We were disappointed with the Theatre and shows. If you were a bit late into the Theatre it wasn't possible to squeeze into the empty seats without making your way along in front of people - not as much space to do this as on the Celebrity Mercury Ship we cruised on last. Which meant that we stood for three or four of the shows. The on board singers and dancers only did four shows over the two weeks, they were good and all had lovely voices but we would have preferred to see them sing a couple of songs at the start and finish of the other evenings which just had a guy on a Saxophone, pianiest, juggler, etc., mostly the entertainment seemed to be catering for the very elderly, which seem to be HA main passengers. But it was a pleasant way to pass an hour or so after dinner.
We really liked the Explorers Lounge which is where the Library, Cafe, Internet, games and magazines were with lots of comfy sofas, although we did find the air conditioning a little fierce throughout the Ship.
We also liked the on board cinema but the timmings again confllicted with dinner or shows often which was a shame, although they were re-shown a couple of days later on the onboard TV channels. Nice to see free movies and not the usual pay-for-movies. HA seemed less intent on trying to sell you drinks/art works/shopping promotions/photos etc., that we found a little intrusive on Celebrity.
So all in all would recommend Holland America if you want a nice quiet cruise - which we did.
Our ports of Call were HA own island Half Moon Cay, which was really lovely although they did take a while to tender us all over to the island, then had a BBQ lunch there. Tortola, British Virgin Islands, St. Barts, Martinique, Grenada, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba. We have holidayed on most of the islands so just tended to wander around the towns or take a local taxi for a tour of the island.
We very enjoyed the quiet atmosphere on the Ship and would travel with Holland America again.
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| Quality of Food |  |
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| | Shore Excursions | n/a |
| | Staff | |
| Waiter in the MDR very good. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities | |
| | Cabins | |
| | Overall Rating | |
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