Note -this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Peter Quinn
Email: dxbpq@hotmail.com
Age: 55
Occupation: Airline Manager
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: 10 May 99
Itinerary: Osaka-Vancouver
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall:
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 85
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 May 1999
Time: 23:17:21
Remote Name: proxy1.emirates.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was an exceptionally comfortable experience. We chose this cruise primarily for a rest, and were not interested
in visiting any ports. Nor were we interested in the glitz and glamour that many cruise lines seem to push these days.
We also chose not to attend many of the entertainment and cruise activities, as we wanted peace & quiet primarily,
although there was a huge variety of activities available. We used the library, sauna, outside decks, lido deck, bars,
movies, cooking demos and dining room primarily. It was our first cruise on Holland America, and it exceeded our
expectations on almost every count. We have taken cruises on other lines, and I was a shipboard purser for 3 years
in my younger days, so we are not unfamiliar with ships. The cabin, A431, although not huge was very comfortable,
with all the amenities we were interested in. There was plenty of outside deck space, and a large outside
promenade deck. There always seemed to be plenty of room and we never felt crowded. The quality and variety of
food was much better than we anticipated, as was the speed and quality of cabin and dining room service. There
were more than enough dining opportunities, with something available somewhere at any hour, plus 24 hour room
service if desired. The crew on board seemed to be primarily Filipino. They were very good indeed,cheerful and
accommodating. The cabin was made up and towels refreshed whenever we left the cabin. Room service (food)
arrived on time and was hot. The average age of the passengers seemed quite high, although I'm getting up there
now! Some younger passengers (20s & 30's)seemed to have a great time in the nightclub until 3 or 4AM. The
formal nights were not as formal as I had feared, with a lounge suit quite appropriate, although there were plenty of
tuxes around. I would say that the best part of the whole cruise was the overall comfort and quality of the entire
experience. Any negative comments are minor only, and did not detract from the experience. Nothing is perfect, and
we don't expect perfection anywhere. Cabins are not completely soundproof and coughing could be heard from next
door. The meals in the dining room were not always as hot as they could be, although the quality and variety was
exceptional. Medical services on board, although excellent, are very expensive. The range of liquor for sale in the
shop did not match was was shown as available in the cabin literature. I would recommend the Nieuw Amsterdam to
anyone, and we look forward to planning our next long voyage on board her without any intermediate ports.

Name: Carla Conrad
Email: carlaccc@aol.com
Age: 27
Occupation: Computer Programmer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: 5-27-99 thru 6-3-99
Itinerary: Alaska's Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 83
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 100
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 89
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 89
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 97
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 93
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 97
Stabilization: 79
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 94
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Jun 1999
Time: 20:53:52
Remote Name: motnt06-206.postnet.com
Remote User:

Comments

My main purpose in going on this trip was to get my mother to Alaska, which has been a dream of hers
forever. I expected to enjoy myself but not overly so. I had the BEST time of my life. The Holland America
Line (HAL) had a lot to do with that.

We had three ports on our journey: Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchican. I took a wildlife cruise while in
Juneau that I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone and everyone. I saw whales, eagles, seals, porpoises,
all kinds of stuff. The bus drivers to and from the ship to the boat were great and the company HAL used
for this boat cruise was fantastic. The crew were great and highly knowledgeable. This was something I
definitely wanted to do and would have had trouble arranging on my own which is why I booked the
excursion through HAL. It was a good value for the money. For the other two ports, Skagway and
Ketchikan, my mother and I decided to go it on our own as far as shore excursions were concerned. We
were mainly interested in city tours and things along that line. Nothing that involved major amounts of
transportation to get to and from. In Skagway, we decided to take the White Pass/Yukon Railroad train trip
to White Pass Summit. The train station was about three blocks from where we got off the ship. By walking
that short distance and buying our own tickets, we saved $11 per person. If you stop in Skagway, you
MUST ride the train. Whether you buy your own tickets or you book the excursion through HAL. The
scenery on the journey is beyond incredible. There are places in town that offer a White Pass bus trip for
a lot less money than the train but, the bus route is only the same as the train for a little while and then the
train goes back up further into the wilderness than the bus can go on the one and only road in and out of
Skagway. Even though there is a large cost difference between the two ($30 for the bus as compared to
$78 for the train), the train is well worth the extra money. In Ketchican, there were several tour companies
ready to take us anywhere and everywhere the moment we stepped off the cruise ship. My mother and I
were mainly interested in a city tour while in Ketchican and then lots and lots of shopping. We bought a
tour from one of the company's at the visitor's center. Same trip as offered by the shore excursion office
on HAL but $8 per person less. We also were a lot less crowded on our transportation than the bus that
was packed full of our fellow cruise passengers who had booked through HAL. The tours themselves
seemed to be identical. Every time we stopped (except for an extra stop our driver threw in so we could
stop and see some eagles' nests), the bus arranged through HAL was stopped there also. Bottom line: If
you're just looking for your basic sightseeing stuff, nothing fancy, it's cheaper to make the arrangements
on your own when you get into port. Anything out of the ordinary, such as helicopter rides or kayaking or
hiking, you'd do better to stick with HAL. (If you're on one of their excursions and something happens, they
won't leave port without you.)

Our cabin, which was an outside cabin on the A deck, was larger than I had expected with plenty of closet
and drawer space. I would, however, have been willing to give up some of the space in the cabin for just a
little more room in the bathroom, which was a tad cramped. There's also a shortage of electrical outlets in
the cabin and bathroom. You couldn't have your curling iron plugged in warming up while you were blow
drying your hair. You could do one or the other but not both at the same time. The air conditioning was not
the greatest in the world. We had to get a fan the first night and we had it on pretty much whenever we
were in the cabin. It never really seemed to get cool in the cabin. Both my mother and I do run on the warm
side though and can never be too cool so it may not have completely been the cabin's fault. Our cabin
steward, Ludi, was wonderful. He was rarely seen, almost ghost-like, but extremely efficient. Every time we
came back to our room, every thing was straightened, clean, and put to rights. Each night while we were at
dinner, our beds would be turned down and that wonderful little foil-wrapped piece of chocolate would be
placed right in the center of the pillow. Along with all my clothes being folded and shoes being lined up and
the bathroom being cleaned and straightened from the production known as 'getting ready for dinner'. Our
cabin steward also did a great job on special requests. He got a dress I had sent, at the last minute, to be
pressed, back to me right away so the I wouldn't be late for dinner. It was wonderful being pampered so.

The food. What can you say? There were good days and there were bad. Most evenings, the dinner was
not as warm as we would have liked (mostly due to understaffing in the dining room) but the flavor was
always very good. The variety of things to choose from was also very good. I ordered a cappucino with
dessert our first night. Unfortunately, the cappucino machine was broken. But, come four days later, when
it was finally fixed, here came my cappucino with dessert. I was amazed that my dining room steward had
remembered. Of course, the next night, the cappucino machine was broken again. I was only able to have
cappucino with dessert, two times out of seven dessert times. The late-night buffets were mostly good. On
the theme nights, if you didn't like the theme, you were out of luck. The variety was limited to what fit in the
theme and that's it. During the afternoons, there was usually a hamburger/hot dog/taco bar open on the
Lido deck. Fabulous food. They grill it while you stand there and wait for it. Yum-yum. They had the best
bratwurst I have ever eaten. Another good point about the Lido was that the cappucino machine there was
broken only one day out of the seven. The service and selection at the ice cream bar was also good. We
ate breakfast most mornings at the Lido buffet rather than in the dining room because the buffet was open
longer and the variety was much larger. The biggest downside to the food and beverage is the fact that a
can of soda costs $1.65!!!!! Highway robbery. Luckily I'm already partial tea because that was free as was
all types of coffees and juices.

The entertainment all nights was fabulous. The shows were great and not to be missed. The only
downside was having to stand in line to get a seat because the shows rarely ran on time and they wouldn't
let one sitting in until the show that was running late was completely done. We also enjoyed the musical
entertainment in the lounges which we visited a couple of times. A wonderful string quartet one evening
and jazzy piano player another evening. We went to the casino once, very briefly. It was very cramped and
for some reason the people seemed to be really crabby. Other activities were offered all throughout the
day and evening. If you didn't have anything to do it was by choice and not necessity. Whether it be an art
auction, bingo, an ice carving demonstration, a tour of the kitchen, health seminars, wildlife seminars,
etc..; you could always find something to do. There's a movie theater on-board that was showing new to
video movies. There's a library with magazines and books. A card room with a few games and puzzles. It is
simply is NOT possible to be bored at any time.

Embarking and disembarking were handled very well. We always felt we knew exactly where we were
suppose to be and when we were supposed to be there. The ship seemed to be really stable when there
was land on both sides but when there wasn't any land on the one side things got pretty rocky. I would
highly recommend the Sea-Calm tablets that you can get at the Front Desk.

The staff of the Nieuw Amsterdam was incredible. The service at all times was pretty darn good with very
little to complain about. The Indonesian and Philipino crew were very attentive and the majority that we
came into speaking contact with could speak and understand English well enough that there were rarely
ever any miscommunications. They were extremely friendly and super polite. The ones you came into
contact with on a regular basis did their best to remember your name and any preferences you had. Even
the guys in the band, who would have no reason to be, are helpful. I smoke and found myself without my
lighter late one night, I asked the drummer if I could borrow his lighter. He said 'Of course.' and while I was
lighting my cigarette he left and returned with a book of matches. He doesn't work for tips. He had no
reason to do anything but lend me his lighter. Instead he went out of his way so that I wouldn't have to run
all the way back to my cabin later on. That is an attitude that permeates throughout the entire crew, with
the possible exception of the photography staff, who, at times, were a touch on the rude side.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we would not hestitate to recommend Holland America to
anyone. If we cruise again, we intend to stay with the Holland American Line.

Oh, and the super secret tip-of-the-day, use the self-service laundry on the Boat Deck towards the front of
the ship. Large capacity washers and dryers and it's never busy.

Name: Glenn O'Neill
Email: iriemon@tconl.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Management
NumberOfCruises: 8
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: July 15, 1999
Itinerary: Inside Passage
Cabin: Outside Std
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 65
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 65
EntertShowLounge: 65
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 65
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Jul 1999
Time: 21:20:52
Remote Name: tconl90250.tconl.com
Remote User:

Comments

Although we have gone on many cruises, this was our first one to a cooler climate. That made it the most difficult
part of the trip. One suggestion I would give is to pack layers, that really worked out well. Our first very pleasant
surprise was that we found the cruise line picked up our luggage and by the time we got to our state room the
luggage was already there. We have never experienced this on any other cruise line. Check in was quick and
easy, once again, much better than we have experienced on other cruises. Our room was your normal cruise ship
room, the only thing I wish that it had more of was electrical plugs. There was only one by the desk. The Beds
were comfortable and our room steward Henry was wonderful. We could want for nothing. They do use Feather
pillows in the rooms so if you have an allegy, ask for foam ones.

We had to do that and had foam ones i in a
matter of minutes. The ship is an older one (1983) but very well kept, always being cleaned and polished. The
only problem was it was not always easy to get from point A to point B. The Food in the dinning room was very
good, good assortment and taste. The waiters and bus boys service were very good, however they did not
interact with the group at the table as other waiters we have had on other cruises. We were three days into the
cruise before we knew his name. Toward the end of the cruise he did warm up and begin to talk. The ports of call
were very good (Juneau, Skagway, Glacer Bay & Ketchekan) We did the wild life cruise in Juneau and it was worth
every penny we spent ($128 each) We were lucky enough to come upon a pod of 9 whales feeding in addition to
other wild life. They have a naturalist on board to explain about what you are seeing, however it is not a lecture,
but has lots of interaction. She was very knowledgeable and able to answer all questions. In Skagway we took the
train up the mountain and the coach ride back down.

Once again it was wonderful. There is no way to explain
Glacier Bay, you have to see it to belive it. In Ketchakan we went off on our own and had a good time. The service
and personnel in all areas that we interacted with on the ship were wonderful. One thing that amazed my wife and I
is that they got to know you by name and called you by name. It was almost like family The only lounge that we
went to was Henry's. The staff in there are also wonderful. Holland America hires very personable people to
interact with their passengers. The entertainment at night is just OK. They don't have a regular stage like on other
ships that we have been on, and it was more like watching a highschool show. If you looking for a ship that has a
lot of activity going on, this may not be the ship for you, however, we really did not miss it, with all the views from
the deck. The casino is very small and the machines are very tight. I did not talk to anyone that won anything in
there. Overall we liked the cruise, and would do it again.

Name: Nancy Carper
Email: nancy.carper@hqafcee.brooks.af.mil
Age: 44
Occupation: Enviro Protection Specialist
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: 1 Sep 99
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
Cabin: E101
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService:
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 65
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Dec 1999
Time: 15:10:38
Remote Name: diamondback.brooks.af.mil
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first HAL experience and we look forward to our next sailing with HAL professionals! Our week
on-board was fantastic! Overall, the staff couldn't of been any more professional or efficient - and always
with a smile or friendly comment! We found a bargin by purchasing five bottles of wine up-front rather than
pay per-bottle prices each evening in the dining room! All the food was great, especially the salmon bake
on the Lido deck! We selected the float plane tour of Juneau's ice fields; panning for gold and bus tour
in/around Skagway; and the tour of Totem Bight in Ketchican as our shore excursions. Very satisfied with
the value for the price. We felt the $20 per person we paid for the Mt Roberts Tram was outrageous! It is a
spectacular view from the top of mountain and the trails are nice, but not worth $20 per person! The
evening dress code was not honored by most passengers. We noticed during the suit/tux evening, many
gentlemen in sweater vests and docker slacks. There were many passenagers who wore sweat pants or
warm-up suits and tennis shoes repeatedly to dinner in the dining room. We were disappointed by the level
of cleanliness in our cabin. The steward was attentive, but his cleaning skills needed some work! This was
not the case of the overall ship! We would guess-a-estimate that 80 percent of the passengers were 60
years old and older. Despite this, we were seated (in the dining room) with two other couples very close to
our ages. We all wondered if that was done on purpose or just a coincident! Make sure you take your rain
gear as we experienced lots of bone-chilling rain during our week at sea! Don't miss the early morning
deck walk and the chance to spot humpback whales off the side of the ship!

Name: John & Pat Steinke
Email: Calgon1@Yahoo.Com
Age: 50s
Occupation: Retired Military
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: 03/12/2000 - 03/26/2000
Itinerary: Circle Caribbean
Cabin: B-005
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 94
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 
CruiseActivities: 94
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 
MedicalFacilities: 99
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 88
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 10 Apr 2000
Time: 21:23:13
Remote Name: pm461-06.dialip.mich.net
Remote User: 

Comments

This cruise was billed as ‘our most complete Caribbean vacation … 11 intriguing islands in 14
unforgettable days. First a lazy circle through Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, then an island
hopping spree charting the arc of the Lesser Antilles all the way to Isla Margarita, just off the coast of
Venezuela. Next, the Dutch gems of Bonaire and Aruba, the spectacular coral reefs of Grand Cayman.
By the time you reach Tampa, you’ll have come full circle." After much planning, we arrived in Tampa a
day early to avoid any last minute problems. We have family and friends in the Tampa Bay area so this
gave us a chance to catch up on old times and relax before our cruise. We booked a room at the
Radisson Riverwalk Hotel via the internet ( http://www.radisson.com ), choosing that hotel for is location,
free shuttle service, and rate ($99.00/night). Excellent hotel, but avoid the dining room. Way over priced
for what you get. Check out the deli on the ground floor. Excellent sandwiches and soups, delightful
pastries and very reasonable prices. For a late night snack, call Dominos! 

Tampa is a very nice city with
all the nightlife, diversity, culture, entertainment, sports, history, museums, theaters, education, zoo,
theme park and restaurants you could ask for. There are other cities with better theater, better
museums, etc. But, Tampa offers a very good mix of venues and a wide selection. You can do as much
or as little as you wish. Tampa Bay has it all. On Sunday morning, I called to the front desk and reserved
two seats in the first shuttle bus to the pier. Embarkation was listed as beginning at 1:15 PM. We arrived
at 12:00 Noon and were greeted at the door by a HAL Shore Representative. He asked if we were
alumni, gave us a boarding number, ‘A’, and ensured that we had our documents and our U.S. Customs
form completed. We then checked in at the service counter, pre-processed our credit card for our ship
board account and received our Passenger Identification Cards. The whole process took almost five
minutes! 

After that it was wait until our number was called, carry-ons through the X-ray, up the escalator,
across the gang-way and ‘Welkom Aan Boord!’ Entering the ship, you are greeted by a white gloved
steward who will take your carry-on bag(s) and escort you to your stateroom. Quite a difference from
some lines where all you get is a, ‘down the hall, take your first left and go up three floors. Your cabin
should be on your right." Our stateroom was B-005. That’s the third stateroom from the front, on the
right-hand side, on the top most deck. Just around the corner from The Crow’s Nest Lounge. An
excellent accommodation! 

The room itself was about 14’x20’, with a queen sized bed against the outer
wall, below two 18x20 windows. There were two double door closets with two upper shelves in each. The
inside wall is completely mirrored. There is a full sized color television in the cupboard and a dry sink.
The dresser has six large drawers, two with key locks; and a writing desk with an ottoman for a seat. To
the side was a small table and two easy chairs. The bathroom was tiled and had a counter about 2’x5’
with a stainless steel shelf underneath. One wall was (again) a full mirror and the shower/tub
combination was against the opposite wall. There was only one electrical outlet, and the warning sign
read ‘For Electric Razors ONLY!’ They are serious about that. Heard of many people who blew a circuit
breaker by plugging in their hair dryers and other goodies. Three of our bags were waiting for us on our
arrival and our Steward arrived within five minutes with the last bag. 

Unpacking took about another 20
minutes, then we were off to explore the ship! Addressing each category from the ratings list seperately
- Discos / Nightclubs - We’re non-drinkers, so this is a difficult category for us. Anyway, not to much in
the way of ‘discos’ or ‘nightclubs’ on board, but there were some great lounges. In particular; The Crow’s
Nest was a very popular watering hole, especially when arriving or departing the various ports. Excellent
views and a good pianist (Robert Howard) and a tiny dance floor. On Upper Promenade Deck is Peter’s
Bar, overlooking the Stuyvesant Lounge. Good service and a great view of the activities in the lounge.
Farther aft is the Peartree Club. This is a sports bar with dim lighting and a big screen TV. There is a
dance floor, but I don’t think I ever saw this bar getting any use. Strange because it is right next to the
casino and overlooks the Lido pool area. Most likely, it’s because of the lighting. That’s the only thing I
can think of. 

On Promenade Deck is the Explorer’s Lounge, the Hudson Lounge and Henry’s Bar. Both
lounges have dance areas and either the Rosario Strings or the Basul Quartet played in each. Entering
the Hudson Lounge, don’t forget to rub the beaver’s nose. It’s a good luck thing! Shops on Board - Only
four shops on board and they are all located on Promenade Deck, just off the main stairwell and
elevator bank. The Boutique is your stop for film, liquor, sunscreen, souvenir coffee mugs and all those
little things you forgot to pack. Basically it’s a small airport gift shop. Adjacent is the Perfumery. Just in
case you missed out on a particular scent in one of the ports, then you can always get one here. Across
is the Jewelry shop. You guessed it. Jewelry. Everything from gold-by-the-inch, to $20,000 emerald
rings. The final shop is clothing. Moderate assortment of nice items, or good quality. Robes, sports
wear, jackets and formal wear. 

Naturally, the nautical and M/S Nieuw Amsterdam themes prevailed.
Exercise Facilities - Although we did not avail ourselves of the gym, I did wander through and check it
out. Although small it is well equipped and the staff is knowledgeable. There is an extensive organized
fitness program on board, or you can set your own pace. We did. I ate and Pat shopped. Hey, it worked
for us! Beauty Salon - Steiner’s of London has the Holland America concession. They have a
comprehensive line of products which appear to be competitively priced. My wife hit the salon five times
during the two weeks and was not pressured into making massive purchases of various creams and
lotions. As a matter of fact, I don’t think she bought anything along those lines. Casino - From what I
experienced, the Wampum Casino is very ‘tight’. Although there were some ‘winners’, it appeared that
there were far and away more losers. Most nights the casino was fairly empty. Other than the first night, I
never saw anyone playing my favorite, the roulette table. I had built my stake up to $86 after about 20
minutes of quiet play, then the croupier was switched and suddenly, I lost it all. Go figure. 

Ship
Cleanliness - Cleanliness is a Dutch tradition and a trademark of Holland America. I seriously doubt that
there was anytime when someone, somewhere, was not cleaning, polishing or vacuuming something!
The ship is old, but she doesn’t show it! Obviously the Senior Housekeeper, Unan, knows what she is
doing! Deck Space - There was never a shortage of deck space or chairs/loungers. The decks were
always kept clean. It was appreciated. Having an older crowd on board, Space Ratio - The Nieuw
Amsterdam is a small ship, at 33,930 gross tons and 1,214 passengers. However, on this cruise we only
had around 950 passengers, so the public rooms were never crowded. Wheelchair Access - Did not
apply to us, but I have included it for the benefit of other future cruisers. There were very few places the
one could not get to with a wheelchair. Top Deck and the tenders were about the only restrictions I saw.
There were two passengers with those little electric scooters. They went everywhere! 

Medical Facilities -
We didn’t have much of an opportunity to thoroughly check this out ourselves other than one visit to pick
up a sea-sickness patch because the Bonine ® tablets had made her too drowsy. Even though it was
after passenger sick-call, and the doctor was only working with the staff, a nurse was happy to take care
of my wife’s request. It would have been easy to ask us to return later, but the nurse didn’t choose the
easy way out. She was quite helpful and really friendly. Also, she informed us that the patch is not very
effective, not recommended, and that HAL doesn’t carry them. She gave my wife "Sea-Calm" and
explained that it is the same thing as Bonine ®, just with a different name. Advised Pat to take only a half
a tablet, is she was feeling uneasy, and the other half at bedtime. As it turned out, she only needed it
that one day as the two days we were crossing the Gulf Stream were a little rough. Later on, we had an
opportunity to see the medical staff in action (so to speak). One of the passengers was taken ill. Her
condition was so critical that the captain altered course and made ‘full turns’ for the Key West Coast
Guard station. The doctor and his staff was able to stabilize the passenger and prepare her for
helicopter evacuation. Naturally, the information released by HAL was limited due to medical
confidentiality, but the captain said that the medical staff was solely responsible for having saved the
lady’s life. A big hand to the U.S. Coast Guard too. 

OK, on to my favorite aspect of cruising … food! We
were scheduled for second seating as I had been concerned that we might end up a little rushed to
make it to early seating if some of our shore excursions were late returning to the ship. In retrospect, I
recommend booking early seating. If your excursion is late returning, the Maitre d’hôtel will be only too
happy to accommodate you into the later seating. Additionally, early seating will give you plenty of time
to rebuild your appetite before the Midnight Buffets! We were seated at table #27. It was a window table
for four, but set for two, back to the rear of the Manhattan Dining Room, on the right side. Manhattan
Dining Room - Much has been said in many reviews that HAL food is bland, not on a par with five star
land restaurants, and generally lacking sophistication. Nothing is farther from the truth! We found the
taste, freshness, variety and presentation to be among the best we have ever experienced. The
average dinner had six appetizers, three soups, two salads, five entrees, a vegetarian entree, two
carving board, and four ‘light’ selections. 

There was at least one selection in each category classified as
a ‘spicy’ dish. Servings were not the huge portions you are used to in your local restaurant; but, then
again HAL serves quality, not quantity. If you want seconds, thirds, fourths, etc. It’s just a request away.
Room Service - We have broken this category into two sections. Regular and Special Room Service. We
found the ‘regular’ room service to be adequate. We ordered continental breakfast every morning. It was
always on time and the order was correct. If you use this service, we recommend you butter your
toast/muffin immediately. It is delivered hot, but will cool quickly. My wife called down once for a
sandwich. It was delivered promptly, but was nothing spectacular. I brought up a couple tuna sandwiches
from the deli bar a little later. She said that they were much better than what she had delivered. The
‘special’ room service was nothing short of a repeat of the Manhattan Dining Room. As part of our Just
For Us package, we had ‘Dutch High Tea - En Suite’. It was delivered with typical timeliness and was a
wonder. This was not just a tea service, this included a huge selection of over a dozen different pastries,
chocolates and fruits, six types of tea and impeccable service. We also had ‘Champagne Desert - En
Suite’ one evening (Pat’s birthday). Again, the service far and away exceeded our expectations! 

Lido
Restaurant - We loved the Lido. Home of the 24 hour cappuccino machine. The Nieuw Amsterdam has
arranged the Lido service in two areas. Restaurant and poolside. The restaurant has two lines. Both
have identical selections so there was seldom a delay. On occasion, one line will be set up for staff
dining, but no one really objects if a guest goes through that side. There were always three, or more,
salads, a large selection of fresh breads, rolls, biscuits and pastries, butter and margarine, a wide
variety of beverages, entrees, side dishes, and … deserts … oh my goodness, the deserts! In addition
to over a dozen sweets, there is an ice cream bar where you can create your own masterpiece, or have
the ‘soda jerk’ work his own magic for you. Then there is always the famous HAL Bread Pudding. The
recipe is available from HAL, or you can write us. We’ll be happy to forward it. Poolside there are, again,
two serving areas, both are typically open from 11:30 AM until 2:30 PM. The BBQ grill always has
hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and bratwurst. The deli bar varies between sandwiches, wraps,
taco bar, pasta bar, stir fry and pizza. 

Midnight Buffets - The Midnight Buffets typically begin around
11:15 PM and ends by Midnight. If you are planning on attending this on a regular basis, again, I
recommend you book early seating in the dining room, otherwise you are still too full from your evening
meal to do justice to the wonderful spread HAL puts out. The theme of the buffet varied every night
between Italian, Alaskan, Caribbean, Mexican, South Western, French, New England, German, Dutch,
Oriental, Californian, Mediterranean, All American and … you guessed it … CHOCLOATE! Now, the
ports. Overall, we rated the ports of call at a 95. This was a very ‘port intensive’ cruise. Ten ports in
fourteen days, yeah, that’s intense - San Juan, Puerto Rico - We did a walking tour of Old San Juan and
El Moro Castle. The old city is only about seven square blocks. San Juan has a robust economy and
although tourism does play an important part of that economy, it is not so significant the you will be
pestered by street people, or offers to ‘braid your hair lady?’. Spanish is the predominant language, but
English is widely spoken. Note - Puerto Rico is United States territory. Thus, your purchases do not
count toward your United States Customs allowance! 

We liked San Juan. St. Thomas & St. Johns, U.S.
Virgin Islands - This is a Mecca for those into ‘power shopping’ and your dollars will do well here. Again,
this is United States territory and your purchases are Customs exempt. We hired a taxi to take us over to
Magans Bay, and arranged to have him pick us up two hours later. Settle on a price first and have cash.
No traveler’s checks and no credit cards. We had made arrangements for para-sailing with Captain
Scotty of High Fever ParaSail ( http://www.VIParasail.com ). Unfortunately, when we arrived, he was out
with a couple of other customers whom he had to return to another location. Then, he was delayed by a
rain shower that passed though. By the time he was finally headed our way, our taxi had returned and
Pat was ready to hit Charlotte Amalie’s shopping district. Sorry Scotty. Next time for sure! Pointe-A-Pitre,
Guadeloupe - We did not go ashore in Guadeloupe. Pat has been there before and was not favorably
impressed. Guadeloupe is a district of France and the attitude of the citizens it typical of that country.
They are not ‘snooty’ or ‘aloof’ as some have described; they are just ‘very discriminating’ in their
cultural interaction. I suppose that is a polite way of putting it. Since we don’t speak French and were not
that interested in any of the tours, we had a ‘ship day’. 

Fellow cruisers, who did go ashore were split on
their opinions. Many good buys on French items and many of the men were ‘favorably impressed’ with
some of the topless beaches. Taxis here are not metered and can be expensive. Use caution. There is a
20% value added tax on all purchases, but, if you purchase with traveler’s checks or a credit card, this
fee is waived. Bridgetown, Barbados - The ship docks are about a mile from town and a $1 shuttle bus is
mandatory. In Barbados, we opted for the Catamaran Sail and Snorkel tour. The ‘Tiami II’ is a 60 foot
fiberglass catamaran. We sailed for about 40 minutes and were escorted buy hundreds of flying fish. We
tied up over a small wreck in about 60 feet of water. You could clearly see the bottom and the light
reflecting off the approaching fish. They are well trained. When the people arrive, food appears… By
the time we got our gear on and into the water, we were surrounded by thousands of bright, flashing,
colorful fish! Enroute back to the ship, we had a very nice buffet lunch. The local specialty, fried flying
fish, was included. Not bad. Needed the fresh lime juice though. 

Castries, St. Lucia - An absolutely
beautiful port! Very picturesque and one of my favorites of the entire cruise. We took the Island
Splendor Drive. This was a tour by 20 passenger bus. We first toured the city, then started our climb up
the twisting mountain roads. Scary enough but add to it that they drive on the ‘wrong’ side here and
there were more than a few ‘Oh my’s!’ from our fellow tourists. We stopped at the top of the peak for a
photo-opportunity and were besieged by vendors. They are persistent but polite and do take ‘No thank
you’ as a ‘No’. One hint. When you settle on a price for something, have exact change. Otherwise you
get your change back in additional goods. Next stop was at a local woodcarving shop. Beautiful carvings
and plenty of time to make your purchases. Then, off to a fishing village. We were a little put out by the
pushiness of some locals. Primarily the young kids and the Rastas. ‘Hey mon, you take my picture. OK?’
‘Now, gimme dollar.’ St. Lucia is a beautiful country and one to which we would both love to return. 

Isla
de Margarita, Venezuela - We opted for the La Restinga Lagoon tour. It was an escorted bus tour to a
national park and wildlife sanctuary. Our guide, Antonio, was very knowledgeable and quite entertaining.
Many of the ladies seemed quite 'taken' with him. Lucky guy. At the lagoon, we were divided into 3 and 4
person groups and boarded small boats with park guides. Umberto zipped us out into the park, pointing
out various beasties along the way. He edged into a clump of mangroves and caught a beautiful orange
seahorse in a glass jar. A little later, he caught a bright red starfish. We saw plenty of herons, cranes,
loons and at least one osprey. Next, we drove over to a very nice botanical garden and labyrinth. It was
quite informative and beautiful. Again, the message of ecological responsibility was emphasized. The
third part of our tour was a stop at a pottery and pearl boutique. Some great deals here. 

Kralendijk,
Bonaire - Absolutely my favorite island! I’m ready to move there right now. Unfortunately, Pat has other
ideas. She has five more years until she retires and she wants Aruba. In Bonaire, we again went
snorkeling. Dive-Inn Bonaire ( http:www.diveinn-bonaire.com ) runs a very nice transfer and snorkel trip
to ‘No Name’ Beach. Actually, it was a secluded beach on the northern shore of Klein (Little) Bonaire.
The waters here were even better that in Barbados. The sand beach ran out to about the 60 foot mark,
then dropped off at a 45 degree slope. The fish were more than plentiful and much greater variety. As
opposed to Barbados, no feeding was required. 

Orangestad, Aruba - Here is where Pat wants to retire
to. I can almost agree with her. In Aruba we did not take any of the ship’s tours, choosing instead to
strike out on our own. Basically, a final shopping opportunity before heading back to ‘the world’.
Between the Royal Plaza Mall, the Seaport Village Mall, the Port Of Call Marketplace and the Seaport
Marketplace, there are plenty of shops with everything you could want, and at reasonable prices. Don’t
forget to visit Carlos & Charlie’s! Georgetown, Grand Cayman - This was our final stop on the cruise and
we elected to swim with the sting rays, so … off to Sting Ray City with the crew of the Cockatoo.
Accompanying us was a wonderful young lady from Deep Blue Images ( http://www.deepblueimages.com
), an underwater photography/videography studio. She had an underwater digital video camera which
made my Kodak Underwater Disposable ® look rather puny by comparison. Arriving at Sting Ray City we
anchored the catamaran and hopped in the water. Within minutes we were surrounded by dozens of
sting rays. They are really quite gentle and will rub up against your legs just like a friendly cat. Your tour
operator will have ray bait available (cut up squid). Hold it in your hand, between your fingers, palm up.
The ray will come over your hand an suck it right out of your hand! Don’t worry, they don’t have teeth,
just grinding plates; but, the can give you a nasty ‘hickey’ if you’re not careful. Pat even managed to
hold one. The wranglers will show you how. We had a great time. The video tape was a bit expensive
($40) but well worth it! 

Cruise Activities - There was something happening, somewhere, all the time on
the Nieuw Amsterdam. There are scheduled activities starting from 6:30 AM until Midnight every day.
On-board activities ran the gamut from an extensive ‘Passport To Fitness’ program to midnight strolling
the deck, with your best friend, under a full Caribbean moon and a sky overflowing with stars. Other
activities included: ship tours, wine tasting, individual and team trivia, dancing, various demonstrations,
coffee and cognac tasting, art auctions, game tournaments, motion pictures, port and shopping talks,
bingo, trivia contests and a few dozen other things we didn’t have time to find out about. Was this cruise
good for honeymooners? - There are two views on this one. Although HAL has a reputation for being
‘The Old Folks Line’, marriage and honeymoons don’t really have anything to do with age, do they? On
one hand, most newlyweds are younger and may not find the excitement level of this ship up to their
expectations. On the other hand, our cruise had 16 honeymoon couples. The Manhattan Dining Room
has plenty of tables for two available. Just ask when booking. We ended up with a table for four, set for
two. Plenty of ‘elbow room’ and space for the extra servings whenever I went on a feeding frenzy... The
honeymooner’s cabins were marked with a nice little nosegay on the door. Additionally, there are plenty
of places on the ship where a couple can just ‘be together’ and share some quiet time. 

How about
families? - Again, I hesitate to exclude families with children from booking HAL. They have an excellent
Club HAL program for children complete with a separate ‘nightclub’ and video arcade just for the ‘tweens
and teens. On our cruise there were less than a dozen children. Two were infants in arms, two or three
toddlers, the Captain’s children, a couple children of other crewmembers and one young lady who was
actually a passenger. The Children’s Program Director had an easy cruise. Those children were spoiled
beyond beyond. Unfortunately, they also had around 900 ‘honorary’ grandparents watching over them.
A lot of pinched cheeks and lipstick marks on foreheads! If your children are not ‘well behaved’, then
HAL is the wrong cruise line for your family. Seniors ? - Absolutely! By seniors we are not talking old
‘fuddy-duddies’ or ‘sticks-in-the mud’. Heck, although Pat and I are hovering around 50, those ‘old folks’
wore us out! The entertainment is currently geared to the kids of the 1930’s - 40s, or, as Tom Brocaw
put it … ‘The Greatest Generation’. String quartets, grand pianos, strolling musicians, big band music,
and more quiet, refined entertainment. In ten years, it will be the 1940’s - 50’s generations, and so on.
You figure out where you stand and get ready, Your time is coming! 

The Cruise Director - What can I
say about T.J. Edens? Well, let’s see … with over 17 years of cruise experience, T.J. is your ‘typical’
Cruise Director. He was everywhere, all the time. He had more vitality and enthusiasm than a pack of
crazed chimpanzees in a banana factory! He could always be counted on to have up to date information
on who, what, where and when on any aspect of the cruise. The wealth of activities he was responsible
for was nothing short of astounding. If a passenger was ‘bored’ or otherwise had ‘nuthin’ to do’, it was
certainly their own fault. T.J. and staff worked 26 hours a day to provide good entertainment and they
certainly succeeded. The rest of the staff - The staff of the Nieuw Amsterdam, like that of every HAL ship
was fantastic! The wait staff are predominantly from Indonesia. The bartenders, wine stewards and
waitresses are from the Philippines. The galley staff are from ‘everywhere’. The ship really is a
mini-United Nations. Their commercials are accurate. We enjoyed the Bell-Captain ringing the gongs to
announce dinner. The bartenders and hostesses were pleasant and attentive without being pushy.
Everyone, from the Chief Engineer on down to the deck hands was friendly, polite and professional. Of
course, like all cruise reviewers, here is our chance to extend a special thanks to three people who did
so much to make this cruise a truly wonderful experience for us. 

Our Cabin Steward - Sapto. A wonderful
young man and truly a delight. Our cabin was always clean and neat, the ice bucket filled and we always
received a cherry, ‘Good morning Mr. Steinke, Mrs. Steinke.’ He took special effort to find out when we
were going on a shore excursion that involved the water and on our return from breakfast to pick up our
gear, we always had a couple large beach towels waiting for us to take along. We never asked for them,
they ‘just appeared’. We made his day by keeping things organized thanks to my Ultimate Packing List.
Next, our Waiter - Rushdi. If ever there was a stereotypical gentlemen’s gentleman, it is Rushdi. He
pampers without being obnoxious. Very attentive and knowledgeable . His recommendations were
always right on the mark and we never lacked for anything. Always nearby, but never intrusive. We
made the usual inquiry as to his next assignment. We were saddened to hear that Rushdi is finally
leaving Holland America and retiring from the sea, to return to his wife and family in Indonesia. Although
we are happy for him and his family, we are sad for all the future cruisers who will never have the
opportunity to experience this gentleman. Finally, our Assistant Waiter - Bonie. This young man has a
song in his heart and on his lips. He was a joy to be around. On the first evening he asked for our
beverage preferences and never made a mistake over the next 14 days! An excellent conversationalist
and very knowledgeable of his craft. He takes great pride in his work and it shows! One word of warning,
if you have Bonie as your waiter, be careful, he serves the hottest coffee on the ship! 

One last point
concerning the wait staff. If you book a subsequent cruise with Holland America, and request a certain
waiter, he will be assigned to you. Period. Bonie explained that the line will even go so far as to reassign
a waiter from one ship to another if he is requested by a Holland America Alumni! I checked with the
Maitre d’hôtel (Hugo van Joolen) and he verified that this was the case! We are certainly looking forward
to seeing Bonie again, in Alaska! Beauty Salon Staff - Pat was pampered and spoiled like never before
by these fine folks. From massage to hair to nails to pedicure to facials, Nadine was fantastic. She
certainly knows her craft and is a major asset to Steiner’s. Finally, the two weeks was over and it was
time to leave. Debarkation was a fairly painless process. We were provided a debarkation number
based on when and how we were leaving the area. In our case, our daughter was picking us up at pier
side and taking us to the airport for a 5:30 PM flight. We received number ‘24’. Our luggage was placed
outside our cabin the night before. After a leisurely breakfast in bed, followed by an even more leisurely
breakfast in the Manhattan dining room, we finally went to the Lido Deck to say goodbye to a few
friends. Debarkation proper was supposed to begin at 9:00 AM, but didn’t actually start until around 9:45
AM as there were a few non-US passengers who failed to report to the Cardroom to clear Customs and
Immigration. 

If you’ve ever cruised before, you’ll know what I’m speaking of when I say, ‘There are always
a few …’ Our number was called at about 10:25 and by 10:35 we had our luggage and were passing
through Customs. Negatives - Since this was a combination belated honeymoon, anniversary and
birthday for Pat, I ordered the Just For Us package ($395). This includes: One dozen red roses in the
stateroom, A bottle of Mums Cordon Rouge champagne, two plush terry cloth robes, and a package of
Dutch chocolates, in the stateroom, on arrival; Dutch High Tea service one afternoon; Champagne
desert one evening, two half hour massages, an engraved silver frame and formal photograph; and a
table for two in the dining room. They almost got it right. When we arrived there was only one robe and
the roses were nowhere to be found. A small point, but sometimes it’s the little things that really get
under your skin. It took two telephone calls, over a two day period to get the missing robe and roses
delivered, but, thankfully, the staff at the front desk was very concerned and kept at it until the problem
was resolved. Kudos to them! Overall Cruise Value / The Bottom Line - Would we sail with Holland
America again? WHEN DO WE LEAVE? Seriously, we have already started the booking process for our
next HAL cruise. A seven day Alaska Southbound for the two of us - be joined in Vancouver by two other
couples and our children/grandchildren - then a seven day Alaska Northbound with everyone - finishing
up with a seven day HAL land tour for ourselves and whomever can still get the time off work. Believe
me, we wouldn’t drop those kind of $$$’s unless we were firm believers in the HAL product! 

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