holland-rotterdam6wo042698

Name: william olesky
Email: wolesky@mail.idt.net
Age: 43
Occupation: manager
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Rotterdam6
SailingDate: April 26
Itinerary: transatlantic
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 99
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 Jun 1998
Time: 17:08:03
Remote Name: 169.132.96.11
Remote User:

Comments

This is our fourth cruise - our second with HAL. We enjoyed our cruise (spring transatlantic crossing) and you almost have to be a nitpicker to find
something wrong with it. Nevertheless, every effort is made to present a balanced review.

Embarkation There is room for improvement as embarkation was somewhat clumsy. The New York Passenger Ship Terminal is a bit of a disgrace. Long
lines, no place to sit, no refreshments and all the ambiance of a really well-lit garage. When you get out of your cab, you really don¹t know who it is you
are handing your bags to at curbside and you wonder if you will ever see them again. Still, we boarded about an hour and a half before sailing and had
time to explore the ship before lifeboat drill, and the bags arrived at the cabin promptly. HAL (and other cruise lines) may wish to consider providing
better directions to their ships in the pre-boarding package. Not all New York City cab or livery drivers know where the passenger ship terminal is, and
many from out of town told us they had a devil of a time finding it! Our driver was en-route to lowertown until we turned him around and headed him in
the right direction.

About the lifeboat drill. This exercise was thorough and informative and we had no doubt that the crew were efficient and should anything happen would
be able to get us off the vessel safely. We learned quickly which lifeboat we were assigned to and how to get to the disembarkation place. All in all a
reassuring exercise.

Cabin Our cabin (outside lower promenade deck) was terrific. I t had a queen size bed, sitting area with couch, well appointed bathroom with tub,
medicine cabinet and dryer. Also, the room had ample storage space (for us) and a safe which we found very convenient. We experienced no problems
with air conditioning, sound or lack of hot water as noted in some early reviews. Room service was quick and our steward friendly and attentive and
seemed to be on duty 24 hours per day, our room was cleaned and tidied every time we left it.

The ship The ship is - well - stunning. We also felt that way about the Maasdam which we sailed two years ago. Though somewhat larger, Rotterdam VI is
essentially a Statendam class ship (Maasdam, Statendam, Veendam., Ryndam) with the addition of an alternate dining room which we will come to later, a
suite deck with a private lounge, and seemingly more places in public areas in which to read, relax or do whatever undisturbed. The artwork is
spectacular and it is apparent that no expense was spared in the vessel¹s decor. If any criticism can be made here, it is that the decor lacked
consistency in theme and pattern. The new safety rules do not encourage the use of real wood in ship construction. The use of wood-like and real marble
finishes throughout the ship were a very welcome surprise, recalling as they do the age of the great transatlantic liner. The furniture was very elegant.
We were particularly impressed with the beautiful chairs throughout the ship. The three deck clock (a fine piece of art) in the atrium is truly spectacular.
The bronzes of the seals were excellent.

Just as Rotterdam shares many of the advantages of the Statendam class, it also shares its one major disadvantage: It has no major all-pupose meeting
room big enough for people to mingle during the Captain¹s cocktail party or alumni party or whatever. In fact, holding these ³parties² as they do in the
Queen¹s lounge, which is essentially a theatre, social interaction is absolutely stifled, and it is difficult to chat or mingle with anyone. It is a survivable
weakness, but one I hope can be addressed in future ships.

You are able to walk completely around the ship on the promenade deck. Most passengers did their turn around in the afternoon and evening in good
weather. Passengers taking part in physical fitness programs could gain points towards prizes. In stormy weather we were able to walk from one end to
the other indoors with a view of the ocean much of the way. For those serious about being in shape there is a health club with exercise machines and
swimming pools.

The Crows Nest bar provided a fine view of the ocean. Pre-dinner drinks and hors d¹oeuvres every evening became a tradition with us and one evening
we were treated to a spectacular complete rainbow and a school of dolphins in leaping front of the ship. Friendly staff, drinks served at a leisurely pace
and a dance band playing off to one side made it a great start to the evening.

The shops on board seemed a little pricey, with the usual selection of t-shirts, formal wear and accessories, jewellery, key rings and alcohol. The t-shirts
in a mailable postcard box for children was a good idea. Thought there could be more merchandising of HAL memorabilia such as post cards, reprints of
posters, books on the ships, nameplates for books saying ³purchased at sea², etc. not only to take home as gifts for others but for our own memorabilia
collection.

Dining Dining was unequivocally a wonderful experience. In the main dining room, we were seated with delightful dinner companions, and service was
cheerful, sincere, and attentive - we found that our usual cappuccino was placed on the table regularly after the first couple of days. We took the late
sitting and ate at a leisurely pace, often being among the last to leave. The menu represented a good variety of tastes, from basic ³meat and potatoes²
and light fare, to very interesting dishes for those more adventurous. All were delicious and beautifully presented. The wine steward was particularly
friendly and informative. He taught us a little about wines and made some excellent suggestions, particularly with respect to a dessert wine.

Dining in the ³Odessy² - the alternate dining room was open to all by reservation. We reserved an evening halfway through the crossing and found it a
delightful change in routine. The facility is elegant, the food and service delightful, and again, the wine steward informative and attentive.

Although we could have taken all our meals in the diningroom, we normally chose to have our breakfast and lunch in the Lido. In the morning, the
continental breakfast station offered fresh baked croissants, sweet buns, fresh fruit in abundance, juices and yogurt. The buffet offered a good variety of
breakfast foods such as lox and bagels, bacon, ham, eggs, omelets, cereals, fruits, and juices, etc. Lunches in the Lido could be full course meals or
soup and salad, again a good variety appealing to all tastes. We did not arrive early for meals and so had no problems with lines. The Lido offered
snacks all day and ice cream for part of the afternoon (longer hours for the ice cream please).

Informal snacks and lunches were also served poolside. Also, one evening there was a poolside bar-b-que which was perfect after a full day touring the
Azores.

And what cruise would be complete without the midnight buffet, one of which was devoted to chocolate. Diets had to be put off once and for all until after
the holiday.

Our favorite mid-morning spot was the Java Coffee shop, which offered coffee, tea and a variety of cappuccinos and lattes. Unfortunately the machine
broke and it was out of order for a couple of days.

Entertainment The Las Vegas style shows were good, again a variety of performers appealing to many tastes. Our favorite was a puppet act featuring
penguins doing the ³three tenors². The Queen¹s Lounge was large enough to accommodate the audience comfortably. Bands, many featuring the big
band sound, played throughout the ship during the cocktail hours, in the dining room during dinner and at poolside during lunch. Couples could dance
during lunches at the poolside as well as in the bars every evening from about 5 pm to midnight.

There was lots to do everyday. We took part in the daily quiz in the library, loaned books and worked on one of the puzzles that was always sitting out
partly done in the puzzle room. The card room accommodates large groups for bridge and cribbage tournaments and of course the casino operated in
the afternoon and evenings. It too is a surprisingly beautiful facility.

Vowal Renewal Ceremony Hal offers a Vowal Renewal Ceremony to give those interested the opportunity to renew their marriage vows at sea. It is a
romantic idea. Unlike the Maasdam, however, where the ceremony was scheduled in the evening when everyone was dressed for dinner, the Rotterdam
ceremony was held in the morning which proved rather awkward. Those in attendance noted that they didn¹t know how to properly dress for the
occasion. They wanted to wear something formal (as photos would be taken) but felt as we did, that they would look silly walking among their casually
dressed fellow passengers so early in the day. The ceremony, presided over by the Captain followed by champagne and cake represents a fine
experience, but one best held in the evening. Those interested may wish to ask when their ceremony is to be held before deciding to go ahead with it or
not.

Lectures A delightful surprise was a lecture on the Empress of Ireland by the author of a new book on the subject. His lecture was the best, and we were
delighted to purchase his book and have him autograph it at sea! The flagship forum lecture needed work. The lecturer on WWII presented his material
from a US veteran point of view, which probably would have appealed to most in the audience.

Ports of Call The three ports of call, one in Bermuda and two in the Azores were excellent. The port lecturer was well informed as was clearly
demonstrated in his organized and thorough presentations. The shore excursions were well priced and shore tenders well managed. We took one
excursion in each port and found them to be of good value, giving us a short thumbnail sketch of the port and its history. We left the ship in Lisbon and
stayed for a week. Like most European cities, it is small and walkable. We found it to be a great destination and we hope to go back.

Overall Cruise Value As to the overall experience - this was a transatlantic crossing in April and May - not the calm season for the Atlantic. We had some
hi-force gales and some pretty big waves. We loved it, but we kept the Dramamine handy. The ship was remarkably stable considering the 25-30¹ waves.
The ports of call in Bermuda and the Azores were interesting, and the excursions well planned and reasonably priced. The port lecturer was well
informed and friendly when answering questions we know he has heard a thousand times. The ship was grand. The cabin was large and well appointed,
the dining experience was wonderful, the stewards and hotel staff friendly and helpful, and the whole experience was, save for the matters noted above,
a delight.

We intend to sail Holland America again.

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