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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Susan Rudin
Email: educators2@aol.com
Age: 53
Occupation: Educator
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Rotterdam6
SailingDate: July 29, 2000
Itinerary: Scandinavian Symphony
Cabin: 3399/ K
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 93
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService:
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 97
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace:
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Aug 2000
Time: 13:26:17
Remote Name: spider-te062.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
My husband and I have just returned from our second Holland America cruise and once again have
the highest praise for the staff for a truly memorable experience.
The Rotterdam is a beautiful ship that is always kept in tip-top shape. Crew make you feel
comfortable and take great pride in their jobs. Many ask your names and remember them the next
time you appear for breakfast or for cappucino. There is lovely artwork and fresh flowers that add to
the ambience of luxury.
Everyone has favorite lounges or places on ship and I must commend the Explorer's Lounge staff.
The Rosario Strings add a touch of class to the shipboard experience and the cappucino and
homemade chocolates are superb. The library was most popular and an Internet cafe was a most
pleasurable way to get in touch with friends and relatives.
Food is plentiful and artfully presented. On the advice of reviewers, we tried the Odyssey Restaurant
on two occasions. The Odyssey is a Mediterranean restaurant and is very intimate in setting. The
food is quite good although the menu does not change during the cruise except for a nightly special.
The LaFontaine Dining Room is excellent with a wide variety of choices including light fare. Our
tablemates were very compatible and we enjoyed each other's company. The Lido is excellent for
breakfast (even an omelette bar) and the deck hamburger bar is great, too. All in all you will truly
never be hungry! Of course, be informed that soda or bottled water is not included in the cruise
price.
None of the reviewers commented on dress and I was surprised at how formal the dress was at all
times. At dinner, casual was not chinos for ladies but more casual elegant. Similarly, most men wore
collared shirts all the time on ship and not T-shirts except for the gym. Formal nights were black tie
and although about 25% of the men wore tuxedos, many women wore long gowns. On our last cruise
to Alaska, formal was not on this level.
The ports of call were exceedingly interesting especially St. Petersburg. Shore excursions were well
organized and carefully monitored so there was no waiting to board buses. We also enjoyed an
architecture tour of Finland. The art parks in Sweden and Norway were extraordinary. The hardest
day was the second full day tour of St Petersburg which became overwhelming. No visas are needed
if shore trips are taken with the group in Russia.
It is most impressive to see how efficiently the ship disembarks in a seemingly effortless manner. It is
a tribute to the organization.
The cruise director, lecturer and customer relations manager are all extremely professional. The
nightly entertainment appeals to all ages and the enthusiasm of the dancers is commendable.
We certainly would cruise on Holland America again even though the age of most cruisers on this
ship was over 65. Every effort is made to appeal to all ages and families were enjoying many
activities.
Name: Lou Choffe
Email: choffe@ibm.net
Age: 59
Occupation: Management Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Rotterdam6
SailingDate: August 22, 2000
Itinerary: Baltic Sea (19 days)
Cabin: 2544/E
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Sep 2000
Time: 12:04:00
Remote Name: ss09.ny.us.ibm.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was the first 19 day segment of the 38 day 'Voyage of Discovery' cruise from Copenhagen to
Dublin. It was our 7th consecutive cruise with HAL, first on the Rotterdam.
We did not use the air/sea program, however the embarkation process was completely painless. It took
less than 3 minutes and our luggage was in the cabin within 15 minutes. Very slick indeed.
This is a beautiful ship and as clean as we have ever seen. Like other HAL ships, even when full, you
never feel crowded and lineups are nonexistent. While we have been impressed with other ships -
Maasdam, Statendam, Ryndam - this ship is another notch higher in many respects. They obviously
take the 'flagship' designation very seriously. Here are a few of the things we would put at the top of
the list.
Dining Room - Great food variety, beautifully prepared and presented. Ask for a steak medium rare
and it comes medium rare. The evening meals were all excellent, a couple of lunches were so-so.
Odyssey - The most beautiful restaurant at sea, a match for any 5-star restaurant ashore. The
ambiance, food quality, presentation and service were simply topnotch.
Lido - The best of any HAL ship we have been on in terms of variety, preparation and presentation.
Staff - Everyone greets you with a hello and a smile, anywhere on the ship, including the crew.
Show Lounge - The shows by the Rotterdam cast were as good if not better than anything we have
seen in Vegas or elsewhere. I usually suffer through these things or skip them altogether, but these
were not to be missed. Other entertainers were very good as well.
Explorer Lounge - After dinner, we retired to this lounge for coffee, chocolates and the best classical
music quartet, the Rosario Strings. It doesn't get any better than this.
Other Comments
Ports of Call - 15 ports in 19 days made this a very busy cruise, but that is why we chose it. This is a
part of the world we would probably not have visited were it not for this offering. A real highlight was
the port lecturer whose knowledge of the world and its history was simply astounding.
Shore Excursions - We like to do our own thing although we did take 3-4 hour bus tours in Estonia and
Russia since this was the only way to go ashore without visas. Both were very interesting and good
value. Once again, the port lecturer's tons of useful info and tips made our own explorations in the
other ports very enjoyable indeed.
Weather - A severe North Atlantic storm greeted us as we left Iceland with hurricane force winds and
30 foot swells. It meant skipping the stop at Stornaway and obviously made moving around and eating
a bit of a challenge, but we were surprised at how well the ship handled it. Obviously the stabilizers
were doing the job and the captain reduced speed to increase comfort. With the motion of the ship, an
annoying squeak showed up in our cabin ceiling that made sleeping difficult that night.
Disembarkation - We used the HAL transfer service from the dock in Dublin to the airport. Again a very
slick process. We boarded a bus and our luggage was at curbside when we arrived.
Onboard Prices - I still have difficulty with the prices of beverages and ship photographs. Wines were
more than double retail and I could buy 4 35mm films for the price of a single 5X7 photo.
Overall, a great cruise on a great ship with only a few minor irritants. Worth every penny. Can't wait to
go again.
Name: Bernard Bemboom
Email: statendam@hotmail.com
Age: 25
Occupation: Journalist
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Rotterdam6
SailingDate: april 25 2000
Itinerary: Transatlantic
Cabin: I-3400
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 100
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Sep 2000
Time: 06:21:38
Remote Name: vp195-150.worldonline.nl
Remote User:
Comments
Itinerary:
1 Fort Lauderdale 2 At sea 3 New York 4 At sea 5 Bermuda 6 At sea 7 At sea 8 At sea 9 Horta, Azores
10 Punta Delgada, Azores 11 At sea 12 Lisbon, Portugal.
The ship:
The ship is an excellent and elegant vessel. Everything is very comfortable and clean. She has got
three staircases instead of two like the S-class. My cabin was on Lower Promenade deck. It was very
clean and there was a lot of space for all the junk that i carry with me when i travel. The Public rooms
are very nice decorated. The show lounge is very elegant. The Crow's nest bar is very different than
on the Statendam-Class ships. On the Rotterdam it's more of a lounge, while on the S-class ships i
always considered it as a watering-hole. There's a lot of art aboard the ship but i'm not really an
Artlover so i have no opinion on that. The Oceanbar is the same like the other HAL-ships. The overall
interiors are sometimes more Flashy and sometimes more classic like the other ships. The Atrium is
very Las vegas style. The La fontaine Diningroom is Very nice, but i was on the lower level. I think the
Upper level is much more comfortable. The lido deck is much like the other ships. The exterior is very
sleak, BUT i do not like the sternsection of the ship. The stern of the Maasdam is much more
impressive than this one.
The Service and food:
I think that Holland America is dropping some standards with service. The Diningroomsteward and the
cabinsteward were excellent. I've had some promblems with the barservice in the Oceanbar. One
afternoon we where even ignored by the waiter. The staff overall seemed to be exhuasted from the
Worldcruise. The service in the Lido was Good but it could be better. The Bartenders in the crow's
nest were the best bartenders i've ever seen aboard HAL-ships. They were very funny and my drink
was ready when i came in every night. The officers were very friendly. The captain Peter Bos was the
best captain i've seen. The voice from the bridge was hilarious every day. The food is good but not
memorable. On Formal nights i always enjoyed a casual lido dinner. The Lido food is better than the
diningroom food. I've got no opinion on the odysee restaurant because i haven't been there.
The Ports:
Fort lauderdale: Very nice city. I always enjoy the Pier 66 hotel very much. I didn't have much time in
Fort Lauderdale this time. I hope to stay there a little longer next time. Embarkation is always very
smooth in this city because of the good facilities.
New York:
Because of a storm and a medical emergency that we had our first seaday we had a very big delay.
Instead of 1 PM we arrived in NYC at 7.00 PM. I was very glad i boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale
because all the people that were waiting in the terminal looked very exhausted of all the waiting.
Sailing to New York is one of the most impressing sights i've ever seen. We docked at Pier 90. The
captain wanted to leave agian at 9.00 PM. Everybody thought it was not possible, but he did it. My
brother and me rushed of the ship to see Timessquare and than rushed back to the ship to make it on
time. The ship left the city at 9.07 PM. I think that the captain has set a new world record. New York is
incredible and i plan to go back there very soon.
Bermuda:
The ship was far from Hamilton. We were docked at Kings wharf. Holland America arranged a
complimentary shuttle service to Hamilton. The island is very clean and very beautiful. We spend two
hours in Hamilton and then my brother and i went back to the ship via the Lighthouse. We really
enjoyed Bermuda.
Horta, Azores:
The day before Horta, the captain warned us that there was not much to do in Horta, but he was
wrong. There was nothing to do in Horta. The only nice thing was the harbour. A lot of yachts come to
the island every year on transatlantic voyages. All these sailors paint something in the harbour. That
was pretty good.
Punta Delgada, Azores:
Punta delgada is much bigger than Horta. There are a lot of nice shops and the people are very
friendly. There much more to see. We didn't get to see that much because it started to rain. We
rushed back to the ship and had a nice cheeseburger instead of exploring the island. Lazy as we both
are.
Lisbon:
I've been in Lisbon several times and everytime i go there a hate it more. I think this city is the most
terrible city in Europe. The moment i got out on deck that morning, i immediately smelled lisbon again.
It stinks. I know that a lot of people like Lisbon and i do not want to offend them with this, but it is only
my opinion. Disembarkation went very smooth though. We heard that after we disembarked the ship
the luggage belt of the ship broke down so they had to carry every single bag by hand of the ship.
Overall:
We had a great trip and we are planning to sail with HAL again in July or august on this ship or on the
Maasdam, which is my all-time favorite ship. We did not go on this cruise for the destinations but
because of all the seadays. I love seadays and the Rotterdam is the perfect ship for that.
Name: Sandra Kahn
Email: askletour@aol.com
Age: 68
Occupation: Travel Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 30+
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Holland-Rotterdam6
SailingDate: Aug. 22 2000
Itinerary: Northern Europe - 1st half of 38day cruise
Cabin: D 338389
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 75
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 8590
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Sep 2000
Time: 19:45:14
Remote Name: spider-tn043.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Having done over 30 cruises over a 35 yesr period of time, my husband and I consider ourselves quite
experienced cruisers. We have sailed Holland-America on several occasions and had been on the old
Rotterdam on two occasions. The new ship is larger and quite pretty but lacks some of the elegance and
class the old Rotterdam had,her art works while plentiful and in some cases quite stunning seem to have
just been left there with no reason for their being there.
The itinerary was what appealed to us first, some 15 ports in l9 days and all of northern Europe and
Scandinavia plus the Shetland, Faroe, and Hebrides islands and Iceland, ending up in Ireland were a
tremendous enticement. The initerary did indeed prove very interesting although with a port a day for the
first half of the cruise it was paced very fast and we did take some time off at ports we had visited
previously. My husband uses a walker or a cane and in some instances when touring or in rough weather
(which we certainly had on this trip) needs a wheelchair. In that respect they were very accommodating
and we kept the wheelchair through the end. the cruise.
Embarking was not difficult at all, although we were there early and it did take over an hour for the bags
to arrive in the room, but disembarkation was more difficult for someone who had mobility problems.
Information that we needed was not given us and since we did not have transfers the ship kept trying to
sell us all kinds of useless transfers that would have left us stranded in the middle of Dublin when all they
had to do was for a minimal fee see that they called enough taxis and have them drive to the gangplank.
As for service, the cabin steward for our particular cabin was not as well-trained as he should have been
and although the cabin was well kept, he did not understand the conception of keeping the sodas
repleneshed. We had numerous misunder- standings and he was not always around when needed.
However the dining room staff was exceptional - our busboy/waiter exceptional with an ingratiating manner
and made the dining expetience a real pleasure. Our table companions were very pleasant but the menu
could have been more exciting - it was very heavy on fish with few and poor choices in chicken and veal,
and we found the roast beef and beef wellington very good but the steaks were not. Nor were the lamb
chops, the deserts were good and specials were readily available but appetizers needed a little more
variety. Lunches were occ- asionally better than dinners|
Another spot that needed improvement were the shops. They had very little choicve in goods and sales
were all in the morning and then they would put everything away for the rest of the cruise. Not a way to
sell merchandise. They kept saying they were waiting for merchandise but on a l9 day cruise, you need
shopping diversion as well as a little more variety in actibvitiesd to spice up the day. The ship has lots of
nooks for reading and they were all being used quite a lot of the time.
One other thing I would like to point out was that prices for drinks were very high and we would be invited
for beer or wine parties and charged for the drinks consumed.Not quite cricket. Everyone remarked about
being nickel and dimed. The internet cafe was most welcome and very useful in staying in contact. A plus.
The casino was friendly and pleasant but the entertainment was not up to par in general.
People would stick with Holland-American were more satisfied than those who had cruised with other
lines. The one most often compared to was Princess. We would like to see more than lip service paid to
the traditions of the earlier days of cruising.
Name: Ed Cook
Email: ecook52129@aol.com
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 18
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Rotterdam6
SailingDate: Sept 10, 2000
Itinerary: Dublin to Athens
Cabin: 1939 outside
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 17 Oct 2000
Time: 16:56:57
Remote Name: spider-mtc-tc011.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our second cruise with HAL. Previous cruises were either with Princess or RCI. We chose this
cruise for its itinerary and were not disappointed. The level of elegance and personal service on the
Rotterdam VI exceeded expectations.
This was the second 19 day segment of a 38 day cruise. This segment began in Dublin and ended at
Athens. We arrived at Dublin one day early to allow for jet lag and delayed luggage. Dublin is a fun city.
Embarkation was free of all hassles.
The staterooms were large by cruise ship standards with adequate storage space. There were sufficient
hangers all equipped with clips. The cabin amenities were as expected. An electronic safe would have
been preferable to the lock and key type, but this is a minor point. The bathroom was larger than usual
with a shower tub combination. A small refrigerator would have been nice. The room steward was
extremely efficient and unobtrusive.
The food in both the main dining room and on the Lido deck was five star, both in presentation and
quality. We chose to eat breakfast and lunch in the Lido. There were many staff personnel in the Lido to
serve your food and to instantly remove empty plates. We had second sitting dinner in the main dining
room, at an assigned table for eight. Service by waiters and the wine steward were excellent. The food
was varied and of very high quality.
Service in the lounges was also efficient and friendly. After about two days, the staff knew your name and
drink preferences. HAL still serves hot appetizers during the pre dinner cocktail hour.
The entertainment in both the lounges and main showroom were of high quality. In the main showroom,
with perhaps one exception, the talent was not repeated during the cruise.
The front office staff was available twenty four hours a day. I found them to be pleasant and helpful at all
times.
The RVI made a superb effort to keep you informed about the various ports of call. In addition to talks
describing the various tours, there were specific port talks that were helpful whenever you were not on
tour. There were also enrichment lectures that gave the historical background of the ports and how this
affected life today.
We tried to book our tours by fax, approximately four weeks before sailing. This information was never
received by the ship. The tour office staff were very helpful in seeing that we got all the tours that we
requested. The tours were pricey, but they were all of high quality. On the full day tours the included meal
was of unusually high quality with wine and/or beer included. The only disappointment was that we mostly
rushed and not given enough time at the various points of interest.
We took the full day tours in Malaga, to visit the Alhambra; Rome for the private visit to the Sistine
Chapel; Haifa for Jerusalem and Bethlehem; Alexandria for the pyramids and Cairo museum. We took half
day tours at La Coruna, Nice, Messina for MT Etna, Rhodes and Cyprus. Cyprus was not very interesting.
At Istanbul we went on our own to visit the Topkapi palace. This time we saw the Harem quarters which
are not included on the packaged tours. We walked to the blue mosque, the Hagia Sophia, had lunch,
visited the underground cistern system, then made our way to the spice market before returning to the
ship. That evening we took a tour to a mosque where we saw a performance by the whirling dervishes,
followed by a very traditional Turkish dinner.
This was the first time we took a cruise that lasted nineteen days. On another ship that may have been
too long, but with the overall elegance and service that we experienced on RVI we could have stayed
longer. A few of our table mates at dinner had been on for the full thirty eight day cruise. They have also
taken world cruises with HAL.
The disembarkation at Athens was the best we ever experienced. The luggage was placed alongside the
bus that was to take us to the airport. No hunting for luggage inside a large warehouse. We had a brief
tour of Athens with a stop at the Acropolis.
The Athens airport was another story. I can best describe the scene as a chaotic free for all. There were
no orderly lines or queues as about 300 people merged as a mob toward two KLM ticket agents. To top it
off there was no order in loading the plane. In the future I will try to avoid Athens as a disembarkation
port.
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