Note -this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Susan Myers
Email: susanleighmyers@prodigy.net
Age: 37
Occupation: Attorney
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: June 11, 1998
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 89
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 79
CruiseStaff: 50
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 89
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Jun 1998
Time: 03:33:37
Remote Name: 209.156.84.10
Remote User:

Comments

I traveled with my sister (age 32) and mother and father (ages 60 and 67, respectively). Overall, we enjoyed the trip. While the passengers were mostly
my parents' age and older (as we expected), there were families, honeymooners, and a few groups of single women. The best feature about this ship
was the teak deck which encircled the ship. There was plently of room to walk around, or to grab a chair on the outside decks and watch the beautiful
scenery. Following are my comments on some specific topics.

Entertainment: There was enough variety of activities to keep everyone entertained. I enjoyed the lounge entertainment of the Basul Quartet which
played oldies (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis etc.), and the Rosario Strings. The shows in the Stuyvesant Lounge (the main showroom) were good. The ship's
singers/dancers, if not the most polished, were energetic and enthusiastic. The comedian was very funny. The entertainment highlight of the trip was the
show put on by the Filipino crew members (with the Basul quartet backing them) of traditional song and dance in celebration of 100th anniversary of the
Philippines' independence. Our dining steward (who is Indonesian) told us that they alternate shows by the Indonesian and Filipino crews. There also
was a movie theater on board, which showed recent films such as Good Will Hunting, and gave out popcorn. I didn't find time to see a movie in the
theater, but my parents saw two. There also was a movie channel on the cabin televisions.

Shore Excursions: It is worth it to book excursion through the ship for the convenience. I had purchased a book on Alaska shore excursions before the
trip. As an example, the book listed the price of the train ride in Skagway as $80, the ship charged $89. Juneau was okay. We took a bus tour for $30 to
the Mendenhall Glacier. Our guide was a college kid not from Juneau, so he really wasn't an expert. But seeing the Glacier was worth it. I had wanted to
take the train ride in Skagway, but my family wanted to take the Skagway Streetcar Co. tour, also $30, so I went along. It was great! The Streetcars are
1930's White touring limos (bright yellow), driven by women in Laura Ashley-type dresses and hats, which give a kind of goldrush era effect. We not only
saw the touristy sights, but also our guide's in-laws' house and the only grocery store in town. The main street in Skagway was lined with shops. We
didn't take a shore excursion in Ketchikan. There is a very nice visitors' center right next to the dock, and tours can be arranged there. (Ketchikan may
be the one place not to book ahead as you may want to see what you feel like doing when you get off the ship). We just walked around town and
shopped.

Food and Drink: The food was very good, with some things better than others. My family is in agreement that our favorite was the Indonesian lunch. We
ate at the 8:00 sitting, so we never were hungry by the time of the late night buffet. We went to only one, the Dessert Extravaganza. Once again, some
things were great, others so-so. Be aware that you have to pay for sodas, but you can have all the ice tea you want for free. I thought that they would
gouge us on the liquor, but it wasn't any more expensive that at a regulare bar or restaurant. The best deal for wine with dinner is to select 4 or 6 bottles
upfront. We paid only $56 for 4 bottles, much less than if we had purchased one each evening. The wine steward had a bottle waiting when we arrived at
dinner each night (our travel agent had sent us two bottles, so we were covered for the week).

Cabin: We paid for "FF guaranteed" and were upgraded to category C. We had cabins on the Boat Deck, which were very nice. My sister and I shared a
cabin which faced front, so we could see where we were heading. It also was an accessible cabin, as are the other three cabins on the fore of the Boat
Deck. One of our neighbors was in a wheelchair, and she said that overall accessibilty was good.

Complaint/Warning: Lock your cash in your locking drawer provided in your room or in a safe deposit box, or carry it with you at all times, or carry
traveler's checks. My parents had $425 taken from their cabin. My mother found $25 missing from her wallet after the mandatory lifeboat drill as the
luggage was being put in the rooms. She reported it and got no response. My sister gave my parents her purse to take back to the ship while we were in
Skagway. Unfortunately, my parents didn't know she had all her spending money, $400, in it. They left it on top of their dresser, and the money was
gone. The theft appears to have happened when the cabin steward was cleaning. The cabin stewards prop the cabin door open while they're cleaning
and then they run down the hall to get ice or towels. While we didn't expect to get the money back, we expected some concern on the part of the cruise
staff. The security officer visited our cabins, but we never heard anything after that. Holland America has a no personal check cashing policy (although
they will take a personal check to settle your expense account). My father talked with the purser about cashing a check for $400 to replace the stolen
money, but the purser said he could not do that, and that my father would have to talk with the hotel manager, rather than offering check for him. By that
time, my parents were too frustrated, and it was time to get off the ship. I would think Holland America would be more concerned. This is the reason I
gave the cruise staff a 50.

Name: Michael Nolan
Email: seabreeze_irl@hotmail.com
Age: 50
Occupation: Computer Specialist
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-NieuwAmsterdam
SailingDate: 20 Oct 1998
Itinerary: Hong Kong - Singapore
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 60
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 500
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 50
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 50
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 50
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Nov 1998
Time: 09:32:15
Remote Name: 194.125.67.161
Remote User:

Comments

I travelled with my wife on the Orient Explorer Cruise...Hong Kong, Danang, Thailand, Brunei,Kota Kinabalu, Kelang Malaysia and finished in Singapore.
The cruise was excellent in most ways and the food and service on the Nieuw Amstardam were terrific. The ship is a real SHIP and is treated as such
by the crew ie not as a floating hotel. The crew make a point of keeping you informed of where you are with comstantly updated maps and charts and
even a GPS to show your location. Along with the many nautical memorabilia this is the perfect ship for the sea or boat lover. The destinations were all
very interesting with the exception of Brunei, which, although of great curiosity value as the richest country in the world, has little to offer in terms of
sightseeing and ZERO things to buy in the shops. A second day in nearby Kota Kinabaloo would be more enjoyable as this place has a great buzzzzz
about it. As for the official tours, they were expensive. At ALL ports we were able to join with other passengers and get a local taxi or minibus to show
us around for a fraction of the cost. You will miss out on some of the endless statistics quoted by the official guides but you will see the sights which are
usually well known by the local drivers. The only negative side to the ship was our mistake in choosing a SMOKING table. This table was located in an
annexe off the main dining room and did not get the full attention that everyone else got. We will know better the next time. Although the food was
excellent the service was not up to the same level of style as our previous cruise...the Horizon. It is hard to define this difference but certainly Horizon
was more formal and dressy even on the non-formal nights.

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