Name: Emile B. Gurstelle
Email: emile@bhealthi.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Psychologist
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: 7/12/97
Itinerary: Alaska - Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 88
CabinComfort: 89
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 97
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 65
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 50
LoungeService: 98
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Aug 1997
Time: 19:48:49
Remote Name: 207.99.1.181
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I sailed on the Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam on 7/12/97, accompanied by two teenagers, and shared outside cabin 889 on C Deck.
We chose the Nieuw Amsterdam because we considered it an "outside" ship, as opposed to an "inside" ship, with its teak 15-foot wide wrap around
outside upper promenade deck. Five times around make a mile. The architects successfully invoked the image of a classic liner.

Although it carried 1250 passengers on its 33,930 tons (a purportedly high passenger to space ratio), the ship perceptually seemed quite spacious, both
in its cabins with lots of storage space for four people, and in all its public areas. The only crowding seemed to be waiting in the buffet line in the Lido
(casual) restaurant. The extra five minute wait, which only occurred a few times, was worth it, since they served the same food as in the formal dining
room. Compared to five other ships, this was the best food in a casual restaurant. One quibble: the "freshly brewed coffee" was actually made from a liquid
concentrate, but it wasn't bad. I could not tell much difference between the decaf and regular coffee.

The Captain was frequently seen in the Lido restaurant. He waited in line and carried his own dishes like everyone else. The crew did not wait on him in
any special way. Hats off to you, Captain Simon Douwes. The senior officers, in general, were visible and approachable.

Speaking of food, the best meal was an outdoor salmon and steak barbecue. The Lido manager informed me that he and the executive chef personally
picked out and bought the salmon while the ship was docked in Juneau. I have never had better salmon! The food in general varied from average to very
good. If any of us didn't like a dish, our super dining room steward was happy to bring a different dish. Our steward quickly remembered who preferred
coffee, and who preferred ice tea.

The Explorer's Lounge had class. Ruth, the lounge's charming hostess, immediately learned what coffee specialties each of us liked, and brought them to
us whenever we sat down. However, the members of the string quartet entertaining in the lounge sounded as if they were going down with the Titanic.
Although the library on the ship has been criticized for its limitations, it did have a number of reference books, as well as novels I would have loved to read
had I not brought my own. The library was pleasantly staffed by the ship's singer-dancers (more on them later). Each morning at 9:00 a.m. there was a 20
item daily quiz, with subjects such as movies, Alaska, Canada, and brainteasers. The winner won a small prize. We came in second the two times we
entered the quiz.

Our cabin steward made up the room twice daily. One of our teens would leave messed up clothes on his bed, which the steward always neatly folded.

There is a rumor going around that Holland America does not have good entertainment. LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT! The orchestra consisted of
seven musicians who sounded like seventeen. The seven resident singer/dancers gave four different floor shows. Never have I experienced such
continuous energy, range and variety of talent, and enthusiasm as I did with these seven performers! Other fine entertainers included an excellent
ventriloquism team named Matilda and Patrick, three wonderful magic shows by the Diamonds (watch out David Copperfield!), and a standing ovation for
Harry Bee. Who is Harry Bee? Most people on the cruise probably saw him a dozen times. He was a member of the "Harmonicats," who appeared
regularly on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Milton Berle Texaco Hour. There was also a comic the first night out, who yelled at the audience to enjoy the
cruise and "Look at me!" What can I tell you? Nothing is perfect.

There was not enough presence of deck stewards. The sound system in the well attended movie theater could be improved by eliminating the
considerable distortion. Movies on our cruise included Ransom and Jerry Maguire, among others. Our teenagers were bored, although a member of the
cruise staff tried very hard to get a teen program together. The trouble is that teens don't voluntarily join organized activities. So, on the few occasions
when they checked things out, no one else was there. Teens represented two percent of the passengers on our voyage. While I don't have the actual
statistics, I would say that it appeared that most of the passengers were sprightly senior citizens. That in no way prevented us young ones (late forties,
early fifties) from having a grand time.

The shops on board had an excellent selection of Lladro and clothing at reasonable prices. The bridge tour lasted about 50 minutes, and we actually
learned something. A New York Times fax edition appears under your door daily, although one time an article was obviously missing. Was it censored? We
do not know.

At Glacier Bay, I lost a small but critical winder screw to my camera while I was on the Top Deck. Hearing of my difficulty, the chief radio operator, Hugh,
spent his lunch hour looking for it, and actually found it underneath a Jacob's ladder four decks below. Few passengers seem to know about or bother to
go up to the Top Deck, as it is not a listed deck in the brochures. This is one of the best kept secrets; so don't tell anyone.

We often arrived one to two hours earlier in port than the times stated in the brochure. Juneau was our first port of call. Several operators provide tours
that include the Mendenhall Glacier for about half the cost of buying the shore excursion on board. We found this the case at most of the ports. The walk
up to the Russian Orthodox Church is worthwhile. Shopping is fare and reasonable.

Skagway, while existing solely for tourists, does have lots of charm, as well as a Starbucks. We went on good hiking trails up the hill on the right side of
town with great views of the ships and town. Book a two and 1/2 hour minibus tour up the White Pass to Frasier for $30. We obtained great history from a
26 year resident. Skagway has excellent shopping, and there is a small camera shop that has lens caps, should yours fall through the cracks of the
boardwalks in town. Skagway was our favorite port.

Glacier Bay is most beautiful at its northern terminus where the Marjorie glacier calves into the bay. Figure on about 3 hours of sightseeing out of the 10
actually spent in Glacier Bay. (Figure on about 3 rolls of film, too.) Consider the rest of the day "at sea."

In Ketchikan, walk about a mile north (left) of the tourist area to Silver Lining Seafoods, where you can buy hot smoked and other salmon to send home.
Our order arrived exactly when promised. Saxman Indian Village was a little disappointing. One would probably learn more if one were on a tour. Famous
Creek Street is definitely worthwhile, and it has some good art galleries and a bookshop.

One last thing: There have been numerous questions regarding Holland America's "no tipping required policy." The entire crew provides excellent and
genuine service without once asking for or expecting a tip, ever! When I tried to give the wine steward a tip the first night, he said it was not allowed and
he crossed it off the bill. Tipping is optional, and as on other ships, it is done on the last night of the cruise. Unlike on other ships, envelopes are not
placed in your cabin. If you want them, you have to make a trip to the front office to get them. We tipped: the dining room and cabin stewards each $3 per
person per day, the head dining room steward and the Explorer's Lounge hostess each $5 per person for the week, the wine 15% of our total bill, and
the doorman a total of $5 from the four of us. He actually worked and cleared dishes when he saw what needed to be done.

If you have been on a megaliner that looks like a floating regency style or Las Vegas hotel, and long for a ship that actually looks and feels like a ship,
then the Nieuw Amsterdam is for you.

Have a great cruise!

Back to Holland Nieuw Amsterdam

Want to book your cruise at a great rate? Click here.
Questions or comments? Mail to webmaster@cruiseopinion.com.
Copyright ©1996-2001 CruiseOpinion.com. Last modified: March 22, 2000.