Name: Jim Thornton
Email: jthorn@gte.net
Age: 63
Occupation: Retired Engineering Manager
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: April 26, 1997
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 50
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 50
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 70
DiningRoomService: 70
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 70
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 60
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 70
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 70
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 70
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Jul 1997
Time: 18:06:23
Remote Name: 153.34.80.86
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I allowed Holland America Line (HAL) to arrange our air travel from LAX to New Orleans. The flight was totally
full and we had no choice in our seat assignments. We attempted to improve our seats but we found out that New Orleans was
starting their ten-day JazzFest. We ran into a heavy storm over Texas which delayed our arrival. The HAL representative was
disinterested and provided no instructions on how to get to our hotel. We elected HAL’s two-days and two-nights New
Orleans city package - it was not worth the money. It rained for both days - a big storm in New Orleans - flooded roads with
numerous electrical blackouts. The HAL city tour to the ship was interesting.

We had to walk or run in the rain to board our ship. Our luggage was delivered to our cabin late - just before dinner - minus
one piece who was located in the main office although it was properly tagged with our names and cabin number. We later
found out that this was the last HAL ship to sail from New Orleans as their new port will be Houston, Texas.

We selected the same cabin as we had before on our Alaska cruise based on its view of the ship’s bow and the closeness to
the main walking deck. Our first seating was a table of eight - all were interesting people. The first night after dinner, we got
sea sick out of New Orleans due to that same storm. The seas were rough for the first two days.

Grand Cayman was poor because we skipped the snorkeling due to the prior sea sickness. The previous cruise by passed
Grand Cayman due to rough seas. Don’t bother going to Hell, a small tourist trap, and the turtle farm. The glass bottom boat
ride was OK.

Jamaica was great - take the river rafting but watch out for the strong request from your raft captain for a large tip at the end
of the trip.

Cartagena, Columbia, was interesting - take the city tour with the trip to the fortress. The emerald rings are beautiful.

The Panama Canal trip was a very long and hot day. Our trip was marred by a broken "donkey", an engine that pulls the ship
through the locks, another ship that struck the locks ahead of us, and a sick passenger that had to be removed from the ship
and flown home. We didn’t arrived to the Pacific Oceans locks until after sunset. This lateness forced us to by pass the
cursing of he Golfo Dulce, in Costa Rica, the next day.

The Cloud Forest trip in Costa Rica is a must. Lots of tall jungle trees, lots of tropical birds - hummingbirds, all blue in color
and as big as a small robin. This was the highlight of the trip.

The four Mexican ports of Acapulco, Puerto Vallaria, Santa Cruz Huatulco, and Zihuatanejo all looked similar and boring. Gone
were the tropical green jungles, etc. It was the end of their summer and brown vegetation was everywhere - the rains would
begin in a week or two. Many passengers ended their cruise at Acapulco; while brand new passengers boarded here to go to
Los Angeles, British Columbia, and Alaska’s Inside Passage.

HAL provided several excellent performing groups on board from Jamaica, Columbia , and Mexico.

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