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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Michael Hurley
Email: michael_glen@yahoo.com
Age: 33
Occupation: Airline Employee
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Ryndam
SailingDate: 25 Mar
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 516 - Outside
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Apr 2000
Time: 02:34:42
Remote Name: n10.twa.com
Remote User:
Comments
Wow!
After reading the reviews of Holland America before I left; I had pegged my expectations a bit higher
than my last cruises on NCL and RCL. Not only did HAL hit the mark, they usually exceeded what my
expectations were.
Boarding from Port Everglades was reasonably organized, and my travelling companion and I arrived at
1pm to pickup our tickets/etc. We had booked 2 weeks prior to sailing, with only an inside guarantee,
period. Until we arrived at the pier, we had no idea where our home was to be. Our trip was started off
by HAL upgrading us to an outside cabin on the main deck, #516.
After the paper formalities, we were on board by 2pm. Just as promised, there were the white-gloved
stewards to escort you to your stateroom. When you first board the Ryndam, you realize that chintz is
out, and elegance is in! Polished brass, warm paneling, leaded crystal all come together to make you
smile, and that's only in the foyer. The Rydam is an elegant ship, with her clean lines outside, and the
classy artwork inside. The phrase 'Scrubby Dutch' definitely applies here, as the 6 year old ship is in
excellent shape.
Our cabin was the largest I've ever had. We had plenty of room for the clothes and luggage to be put
out of sight, with drawers left over. After the cursory look in the bathroom, I soon realized that my usual
date (the shower curtain) wouldn't be appearing; as we had a combo tub/shower! Wow! The bathroom
was good-sized, with room for standing... or sitting without your knees hitting the door/vanity/shower!
There was a shelf at the base of the mirror for your toiletries with room for more articles on the vanity
(full sized).
The embarkation lunch was more than just the usual sailaway food, but a full meal served in the Lido
restaurant. HAL has managed to take buffet food to a higher level. I commented more than once that the
food was always fresh, and HOT or COLD! Not once did I encounter lukewarm dishes. They were at the
proper temperature consistently.
After lunch was the lifeboat drill, and the Ryndam crew was very thorough. They had lowered a couple of
lifeboats, and went over how everthing worked with detail. I learned that the Ryndam has enough room
on the boats/rafts on just one side (port or starboard) for every passenger and crew member on board.
This is in case the ship was ever listing too severely to one side to launch. The crew also demonstrated
that in case of a list, how the adjustable davits will swing in or out to still board passengers. Many people
commented that the drill we went through was the most thorough they had ever seen; and I agree totally.
They are big on safety.
Getting around the Ryndam was easy, after you learn that the Promenade deck (#7) does NOT go all of
the way through from bow to stern, as there is about a 200 foot gap where the kitchen is. Other than
this, the traffic flow is good. Many of us used the 'forward observation deck' during the daytime, and
walked out all of the way to the bow of the ship. The other lines should use this wasted space the way
HAL is, and make it a public area. You get a much better perspective of size of the Ryndam by looking
back at the foward profile of the bridge/etc. Bottom line, a great place to be. Ryndam has many nooks
and crannies for a quiet getaway. One spot was the aft swimming pool on the Navigation deck (#10).
This pool usually always had chairs available, but if not, take the steps down one level to the Verandah
deck (#9), and privacy and a terrific view are yours; while still being only steps away from the pool.
I knew about the self-service laundry, and used it twice. It was great to only have to pack 1/2 of what I
usually take. The cost is $2 to wash and $1 to dry. A very reasonable cost for not having an extra
suitcase full of dirty clothes! There is also a full sized iron and ironing board in the room for your use.
The food was great overall. There were only a few gripes at dinner- one being the chicken. I had
chicken 3 times on the cruise, and each time the bird was tough. We laughed it off (how can you screw
up chicken?) and stuck to other meats. The barbecue on deck was one of the best I can remember.
Perfectly done sirloin and baked potates hot off the grill. HAL has a large selection of food at every
mealtime, so most everyone could find something they were happy with. Desserts were unique in the
fact they tasted as good as they looked. I read earlier about the bread pudding on the reviews, and now
I can say too, it's great!
The service on the Ryndam was either excellent or poor; with no in between. I noticed that the
Indonesian/Filipino crew would generally smile at you and speak first; while the American/Canadian
cruise staff would stare straight ahead and avoid any contact at all. I first thought it was just me, but a
group of 10 talked about the same thing. Our dining room staff was efficient and friendly. We had the
same drinks waiting for us, and refills/order changes were handled with a smile. The last night of the
cruise, our waiter gave me a complete copy of the menus for the entire week. A classy touch. The cabin
steward was great and non-obtrusive.
My complaints are few: too long of lines for the Lido restaurant, cruise programs directed primarily at the
50+ crowd, weak kids program, too many opening/closing hours for ice cream/lemonade/etc (c'mon, who
schedules an ice cream break!), noisy outside rooms on the Main deck (#5) account of being directly
under the outside promenade deck, and indifferent cruise activity staff (for the most part).
I would definitely cruise again with Holland America, and would go again on the Ryndam or one of her
sisters. This cruise line would not be my recommendation for families, as spring break overloaded them
with 120 kids. (our cruise had 1300 on board per the purser). HAL has got to adjust its activities
accordingly; as our ship was well represented with 20/30/40/50+ age groups on board, but the daily
events were not balanced out (bridge, 40's swing, napkin folding were a good example) to give each age
group something to do. After saying that, if you are looking for an elegant, value packed vacation, you
won't go wrong with HAL. The positives far outweigh the negatives.
Happy cruising!
Name: Naomi Rivkis
Email: nrivkis@concentric.net
Age: 30
Occupation: housewife
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Ryndam
SailingDate: 2/5/00
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: don't recall
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 50
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 88
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 60
LoungeService:
TenderService: 75
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 40
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 40
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 65
Casino: 65
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 70
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Apr 2000
Time: 14:29:04
Remote Name: ts020d30.chi-il.concentric.net
Remote User:
Comments
I won this cruise in a drawing, so I had no particular say abut what line I took. That didn't bother me, I'd
wanted to try Holland America anyway. It lived up to my expectations in a lot of awys; where it didn't, it
was because it followed "customary cruise practice" and I had heard that it offered more of a class act
than other cruise lines. On balance, I don't think that's a fault of the line so much as a mismatch in my
expectations.
Embarkation was incredibly easy. There were a fair number of people, but MANY lines, and clear
directions, and we were on board inside fifteen minutes of arrival. One of our bags was delivered to the
wrong room... not a real problem, as it was marked and our neighbor found us and returned it, but
definitely remember to mark your bags! Our cabin was an ordinary outside, and *very* nice; big picture
window (looking out onto the promenade deck, alas, not the ocean) and huge by comparison to my one
previous cruise on the (then) Dolphin Seabreeze. We had a little table and a sofa and chair and desk in
addition to twin beds and good closet space. Not quite as much drawer space as I'd like, but shelves,
which made up for it. Bathroom was smallish but fine, although I wish the water pressure had been
better, and the water temperature, for some reason, could nevr get better than lukewarm... not good if
you're coming in cold out of the pool and want to warm up in the shower. Room temperature and light
controls were easy and effective, something I've learned not to take for granted.
Food was terrific. Blew me away, and I grew up eating at top New York City restaurants and am not easy
to impress about food. Dinners were consistently superb in the dining room, although the one time we
tried their alternative dinner it was really bad and we hastened back to the main dining room thereafter.
It may have been a fluke of timing, no idea. Their Royal Dutch High Tea was exquisite, and their other
afternoon teas were quite nice. Buffet breakfast was wonderful; I didn't eat breakfast at all in the dining
room. I did eat lunch there once and that was good too -- Indonesian specialties. I wished that there
were a few things on that menu that *weren't* Indonesian, since I tend to be a nervous eater about foods
I don't know at all, but in general they were pretty ood about this. When they had a specialty cuisine they
would put one or two things on the menu that were more ordinary, for people who didn't care for it. I kept
meaning to get to the midnight buffets but only made it for the chocolate buffet, and the lines were so
huge for that one that we didn't get any food till it was almost over. By then all the chocolate was melting
from the hot lights, and there was nothing left of a lot of stuff I had wanted to try. The cheeseburgers at
the poolside grill were wonderful. Biffet lunches were good but I sometimes ad trouble finding something
I wanted there, so I tended to stick to the cheeseburgers.
Dining room service was good. Most people would probably have liked it better than I did: I don't usually
like 'friendly' waiters, preferring them to stay professional and out of my way. These were friendly and
enthusiastic, which some people will like and I found a little annoying, but they did do their jobs well and
quickly. They remembered the things we ordered every night, like what kind of tea we wanted after
dinner, and brought it without being asked. Our cabin steward was not especially noticeable and very
efficient, we liked him. Especially since we were in and out of the room at odd times, we developed an
appreciation for his ability to do the room when we weren't there and leave us alone when we were.
Service elsewhere on the ship was somewhat more awry. We don't drink, so I can't say how the bars
were, but I had problems getting attention during afternoon tea sometimes, and the service (like the
food) during the alternative casual dining was simply terrible. I did like, though, that even when I went to
the dining room for lunch or tea and therefore was not sitting at my usual table, whatever waiter I had
was just as competent and attentive as the ones who saw me every night.
Cruise staff varied, but were mostly good. I didn't like the cruise director much and if I ever hear another
announcement that begins 'This is Peter, your Bingo King...' I think I'm going to hurt someone. Too many
announcements in general, especially ones that advertised some aspect of the cruise for which they
hoped to get you to pay extra. But the shore excursion people were simply incredible. One of them (I
wish I remembered her name) got us off the ship at Playa del Carmen when we explained that we had
not realized the tenders there were only for excursion passengers and had made previous commitments
on the mainland we couldn't get to from Cozumel in time. The shore excursions were very expensive,
and I think they would have had to be beyond the real in ordr to be worth what we paid for them, but
they *were* good. Well-organized, friendly, and you got plenty of what you were going for. When we
went on a beginner's scuba excursion, we spent twenty minutes in transit, an hour or so suiting up and
learning the equipment, and a solid 45 minutes underwater, which wasn't bad given how much they had
to teach us first. When we went kayaking on Key West, we took a 3 1/2 hour excursoin and spent more
than 2 1/2 hours in a kayak. I felt we got, if not our whole money's worth (not at those prices), good
excursions and was satisfied.
Okay, I'm a snob about shows. I don't like much less than true Broadway, and only about the better third
of what gets to Broadway at that. But these were pretty awful even allowing for my overly high standards.
There was a magician whose tricks even I could tell you how they were done, and he spent way too
much time setting them up and waving his arms around. He was a much better comedian than he was a
magician, and there was one art of his act where he mostly did comedy with a trick that went 'wrong' as
an excuse, and it was very funny. The music and dance shows were simply pathetic. We skipped most of
them; they couldn't even make them sound interesting on the daily bulletin. Classical musucians on
board were pretty good; the jazz musician didn't seem able to keep his rhythm going, which is a serious
problem for jazz. He kept changing things to simplified rhythms so he could play them, and that just isn't
what jazz is about.
The ship's public areas were really pretty. The Vermeer Show Lounge is stunning, a very 20's art deco
place with silver and black all over. Beautiful. I liked the artwork in odd corners of the ship, you kept
coming acros something you hadn't expected. There was a fountain in the atrium that kept acting up,
meaning the area around it was usually a bit wet and if you didn't watch it on the way through, so were
you. Everything was kept scrupulously clean.
Name: Tom & Mary Milano
Email: tmilano@n-jcenter.com
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 15
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Ryndam
SailingDate: 4/1/00
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: Main Deck #643
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 09
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Apr 2000
Time: 12:50:59
Remote Name: nspm3-07.n-jcenter.com
Remote User:
Comments
Tom & Mary Milano HAL Ryndam...Western Caribbean April 1, 2000
We are addicted to cruising. This is our 15th cruise in less than four years and we have the Grand
princess booked for May 7th. With God's grace, we hope to make many more.
This is a lengthy review. We tried to be as thorough as possible so that the reader would have a very
good idea of what it would be like to cruise on the Ryndam. This was our second cruise on the Ryndam
in the last year and a half and we came away with a new and heightened respect for the Holland
American Line. We now understand more than ever why they have such a loyal following.
AN UNEXPECTED CRUISE: Our cruise agent called us on March 21st and told us that although he had
us booked for a May 7th cruise aboard the Grand Princess, he had to call us about a special he had just
received from HAL. It seems they needed to fill some cabins on the Ryndam for an April 1st cruise to the
Western Caribbean and they called their top agencies with a very special discounted price. We had
sailed on the Ryndam in October 98, and had a very enjoyable cruise. It didn't take Mary & I very long to
decide it was to good an offer to turn down. We have just returned from that cruise and we will share our
experience with you.
As we have said in past reviews, we all look at things from a different perspective. When you read this
review please remember it is only our opinion and you have to discern for yourself if our tastes are
similar to yours. Mary & I will give you an honest, straight forward opinion of what we feel were the
highlights and the negatives of our cruise.
PACKING FOR CRUISE: It seems our society is becoming more casual each day. We now have the Wall
Street financial district and other business areas having what they call, "Casual Fridays." It won't be long
before they have, "Casual Thursdays," "Causal Wednesday," and etc. What goes around comes
around. It wouldn't surprise us that after the novelty of wearing jeans and polo shirts to board meetings
that the powers to be started having "Dress up Friday," "Dress Up Thursday," "Dress Up Wednesday,"
and etc. Well, we don't have to wait, Mary & I are already there. We enjoy getting dressed up. To us it's
one of the nicest features of cruising and it is very appealing to us. When we are home, although we
have restaurants that being dressed up is appropriate, it isn't unusual to see someone enter in jeans or
cut offs. It might be that this happens because we live in Florida, but I kind of suspect it is happening in
many other places. That is one of the reasons we look forward to the formal nights. There is something
very elegant about being among a group of people who are all dressed for the occasion. It is not very
often, if at all, that they will have a chance wear formal attire at any other time during the year. The
ladies look especially attractive in evening gowns and party dresses.
I think Mary might have wished to be born in an earlier era, those days when a women wouldn't think of
traveling without a steamer trunk. But Mary isn't far behind those ladies. After our fourth cruise she
made me buy the second val pack. We now have his and hers, mostly hers. We even dress up other
than formal nights. We don't pay to much attention to the suggested attire of the day. We have enough
casual dress when we are home. We enjoy the whole process of getting ready for the evening, it adds a
bit of anticipation for what the evening will bring. We hope that the casual trend doesn't become the
norm for the cruise lines. If it does, cruising will have lost a lot of its appeal for Mary & I.
EMBARKATION: We drove to the Fort Lauderdale Port from our home in New Smyrna Beach. The
parking garage was directly across from the HAL terminal. We arrived at the terminal at 12:30. Very
smooth, efficient check in process. They made a quick check of our cruise documents and told us we
would board at 1:30 At 1:25 we boarded and we were escorted to our cabin.
CABIN : We had an outside cabin #643, on the Main deck, deck #5. It was a good sized cabin, with a
queen sized bed, full pull out sofa, with adequate closet and drawer space. Mary is a bath person and
she loved having a tub. All of HAL's outside cabins have tubs. The shelf space in the bathroom was very
limited. On the shelf they had a very nice assortment of creams, lotions and shampoo. It was more than
adequate.
There was a basket of fruit on the desk area, which was replenished each day. The Television channels
were very limited. CCN, two Movie channels and the rest were various HAL related programs. Our cabin
steward Rosman kept the cabin immaculate. He lived up to our judgement of what is a good steward. We
rarely saw him but everything that needed to be done was taken care of.
SAIL AWAY PARTY: We always feel a degree of excitement when we sail through the Ft. Lauderdale
inlet. When we retired in 1973, for a short period of time we had a home in Ft. Lauderdale and we did a
lot of boating in this area. We used the inlet on almost a daily basis. It brought back a lot of very
pleasant memories.
The sail away party was held on the aft pool deck. A steel band supplied the Caribbean rhythms and it
wasn't long before everyone was in the party mood. We were very surprised at the age of the guests.
They were much younger than the passengers on our last Ryndam cruise. They appeared to be
between the age of 35 and 55. It wasn't very long before it became a real party atmosphere with a long
conga line strung out and weaving side to side between the two decks. Everyone seemed to be enjoying
themselves. It got the cruise off to a good start.
CHECKING TABLE ARRANGEMENTS: We make a habit of checking our table arrangements as soon as
it is possible and we suggest you do so. If it turns out they aren't what you requested, you have a better
chance of getting them changed if you see the Maitre`di as soon as you can. Because of our late
booking we weren't confirmed for the late seating. Even though our cruise agent sent a fax to the dining
room manager requesting the second seating and a specific table arrangement, he couldn't get it
verified. They said they would put us on a waiting list. I told him I wanted to speak to the dining room
manager. He gave me the number and told me the dining room manger of the Ryndam was Kristin.
When I called she wasn't at her desk but I got a recording telling me to leave voice mail. I took the
opportunity to tell her that on our last cruise aboard the Ryndam we had a very bad situation concerning
our table and we were very unhappy, but because of the professional and sensitive way the situation
was resolved by the Maitre`di Jerry Spies, we had one of our better cruises. In fact, later on in the week,
Jerry Spies extended an invitation for us to have dinner with the captain. It is hardly what we expected
being the way the cruise started out. We accepted and had a wonderful evening. Mary was the captains
dinner partner and he seemed as pleased as she was..
When we returned home I wrote a letter to the personnel director of HAL in their Seattle office, with a
copy to Jerry Spies, and told them of the valued employee they had in Jerry Spies and how he helped
resolve a very difficult situation and etc. & etc. I received a letter back from Donna Franchimon, the
personnel director thanking me for being so thoughtful and for taking the time to write the letter and also
stating if she could ever do anything for us to let her know. I told the dining room manager Kristin this
story and it evidently meant something to her, because when we checked our table we were greeted by
the Maitre`di in charge, Agus, with a big smile. He said he was told to give us preferential treatment and
he was happy to tell us we had the second seating as we requested and he arranged to have us seated
at the same table that they had moved us to on our first cruise. It was more than we had expected and
we were delighted. I guess it is true, what goes around comes around. Through the years, whenever we
have an exceptional service rendered or are extended a significant kindness, we make it a habit to write
a letter to the department head, with a copy to the employee, complimenting that employee. It goes into
their personal file and means a great deal to them. Many times it means more than a tip.
DINING ROOM: The Ryndam dining room is outstanding and is unique among the dining rooms we have
seen on any of our cruises. We were seated at the rail of the balcony overlooking the lower level. The
ceiling above the open area is certainly a work of art. It consists of 600 to 700 individual Venetian glass
shades that look like inverted petunia blossoms. They are about 18 inches at the opening and are set at
four different levels but all placed closely together. Instead of a light bulb in each one, they have a
filament that is imbedded in the fluted glass approximately five inches from the base. The lighted ceiling
is breath taking and is truly a work of Art. The dining room walls are mostly glass, giving the diner the
ability to look out at the ocean when having breakfast and lunch. The openness to the sea gives the
dining room a very bright, cheerful, pleasant atmosphere. We were sorry we didn't have breakfast and
lunch there more often. Another very appealing feature of the dining room was a large sunken music
area on the upper balcony level, where the Rosario String Quartet played during dinner. In most ships
dining rooms you can barely hear the music and if you can it is mostly annoying. No so with the
Rotterdam dining room. It was a distinct pleasure to be able to listen to The Rosario String Quartet play
chamber music as we enjoyed our dinner. A decided plus.
We were finishing our lunch in the main dining room when I noticed the waiters and assistants doing
something very unusual with the table settings. I asked Augus what they were doing and he said they
started doing this at the beginning of the Millennium. It is now their policy that on the second formal night
of the cruise they reset the tables with off white damask table clothes and napkins and then they do
something we have never seen done before. They completely covered the chairs with off white
coverings, that were form fitting and hung to the floor. It gave a most unusual but very rich appearance.
They hung wide bands of black and white material across the ceiling of the open area and completely
encased the two large columns in the center of the dining room with gold lamay from floor to ceiling. It
created an elegant look that added immeasurably to the formal night atmosphere. It gave you the feeling
you were going to experience something very special. And that is just what the evening was. It was, very
special.
FOOD, MAIN DINING ROOM: We were very pleased with the food. We noticed a decided improvement
since our last cruise. What was especially impressive was the evening we were served Lobster Tails,
Mary's favorite. They were of good size and broiled to perfection.. Each evening they gave us a choice
of salad and either one was excellent. We found the desserts and pastries to be much better. They had
a very good assortment and they were very tasty.
Although the food was much better than we expected the service was even more so. We had a
wonderful group of servers, starting with Putraham, our waiter, Indra the assistant waiter, Rocky the wine
steward, and finally the assistant Maitre`di Augus. They couldn't do enough for us. They catered to us
and pampered us as if we were the only guests in their dining area. I don't think we have ever seen a
group of people that were as warm, friendly and sincere as our servers. There is something very
appealing about the Indonesian and Filipino people. There is almost a naivete, an innocense about
them. Angus, a very handsome young man, was an outstanding assistant Maitre`di. On many ships the
Maitre`di comes around to each table each night to say a few words so you will remember to tip him on
the last night, Not Augus. Augus poured water, Augus helped serve, Augus helped clean off tables,
Augus helped serve dessert, Augus did everything. Mary told him if we were still in the restaurant
business, we would steal him away from HAL. I think he was very pleased with Mary's comment. I know
we will meet him again and I am sure he will be in an even higher position. He's a very special person. If
you sail the Ryndam, say hello to Augus.
THE OCEAN BAR WHERE THEY PLAYED OUR KIND OF MUSIC: The Ocean Bar is a delightful lounge
where we had cocktails and danced before and after dinner. It is staffed by Mylene, Miraluz, Roderick
and Adolpho. Just as I said about the dining room crew, the lounge servers went out of their way to take
care of our every need. I can't think of any other ship that serves hot hors d`oeuvres while your waiting
for your cocktail order. They do on the Ryndam. They did this every evening. And just before we would
leave, Roderick would show us the dining room menu for that night so we could have an advanced look
at what they were serving..
In the Ocean Bar, they feature a very accomplished trio that played the kind of music we like to dance
to. That good old forties & fifties music. That romantic music of that period that makes you want to hold
your spouse just a little closer and just little tighter. I can't think of a nicer way to start an evening than to
have a table in a intimate lounge and to be served hors d`oeuvres and cocktails and have an occasional
dance as you bide your time before dinner. We saw many of the same people in the lounge each
evening and got to spend time with some of them. One couple we met, the Frahms, have cruised 26
times and have traveled extensively. We found we had a lot in common with them and intend to keep in
touch through E-Mail.
The piano player and leader of the group, was an exceptional piano player., He had a very small
keyboard on top of the piano, with which he could create all the different sounds of an orchestra. He
played one of a Jack Jones hit songs, ‘Here's That Rainy Day,' that was as good a rendition as we have
ever heard. If you like to dance, or if you just like to listen to some good music, spend some time in the
Ocean Bar. If you would like to hear something special, ask the group to play, ‘Here's That Rainy Day.'
We never went to the Crows Nest, a disco lounge, at the top of the ship. We understand it was very nice
but it's not our choice of music. We understand they also served hot and cold hors d`oeuvres.
We really believe that if the younger generation was taught to dance the Fox Trot like we did in the
forties and fifties there wouldn't be as much violence. By the time they danced a few numbers holding
their sweethearts tightly in their arms, close to them, they would mellow out and become docile. Instead
of being angry and wanting to fight, they'll want to make love. (Maybe that's far fetched, but we find the
thought amusing.)
PIANO BAR: There is also a piano bar on the upper promenade deck. Keith Kerslake keeps things lively
by getting the group to sing along with him. We didn't participate but we passed the entrance two or
three times a night and he always had a good crowd and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. If
you sail the Ryndam, you will be impressed by the two magnificent huge bouquets of flowers on each
side of the entrance. I took pictures of Mary with the floral arrangements as backdrops and they turned
out great. This might be the time to tell you that we have never seen as many beautiful floral bouquets
as we saw on the Ryndam. There is no way we can describe their beauty. We made it a point of taking
pictures in front of each of them.
EXPLORERS LOUNGE: The Explorers lounge has a very unusual setting. What normally would be a wall
facing the deck area, is instead the back of the lounges that have very comfortable seating for two's and
four's and sixes. It gives the lounge a very open feeling. On the right hand side is a slightly raised area,
again with lounges but with higher backs which gives you the impression you are in a separate room. In
this area is a small bandstand that is the home of the Rosario String Quartet. They play there every
night and have a very loyal following. High tea is served in this lounge from 3:30 to 4:00. It is white glove
service and done very well. They serve tea and an assortment of finger sandwiches, Petits Fours and
pastries while the Rosario Quartet serenades you with selections of chamber music. A wonderful place
to visit before taking an afternoon siesta. Once during the week they serve Dutch High Tea in the main
dining room.
JAVA CAFE: The Java Cafe is a place that serves Coffee, Cappuccino, Coffee Lotte, and chocolate chip
cookies from 9:00 in the morning till 4:00 in the afternoon, ALL FOR FREE. It's right across from the
Wajang Theater. The cute little girl that takes care of this venue is Evangeline. She is as sweet and
fresh as the morning dew. When Mary & I cruise we usually have two cups of Cappuccino or Coffee
Lotte each day, at a cost of $2.50 a cup or $10.00 dollars a day. Because of the recent wave of cruise
lines charging extra for many items, it's even more impressive that Hal includes this in their ticket price,
ALL FOR FREE!
THE LIDO LUNCH AND ALTERNATE DINNING ROOM: The Lido lunch room is a very attractive site. It
has a generally warm feeling about it. The food was very good. For breakfast they made eggs to order.
At lunch time they had 4 or 5 hot meat dishes each day and a very good variety of lunch items. They
also have a very nice salad bar. There is also an area where they display assorted pastry with an
attendant standing by to serve you. Toward the later part of lunch they put the pastries and assorted
sandwiches in a cylindrical refrigerated display case that rotates. When you decide what you want you
wait till it comes around and when you open the door it stops rotating and you can take out your
selection.
If you would like to hear a little piano music while your having lunch, go to the port side of the Lido in the
aft section, and you will find Frank Banes at a white baby grand piano. He plays all of the old standards
and is very good. It makes for a very pleasant lunch.
Part of the Lido is used for alternate dinning. The tables are tastefully set and they have a limited menu.
Its popular for families that have been ashore and don't feel like getting dressed up for dinner and for
those who are looking for a more relaxed atmosphere.
LIDO ICE CREAM BAR: One of the most popular places on the ship is the Lido ice cream bar. You can
get four different flavors of ice cream and they change every day. You can also get Yogurt in a waffle
cone..After you get your ice cream they have an area that you can get all the fixings to make a sundae,
fresh whipped cream, chocolate, butterscotch, raspberry syrup, every kind of nuts, shaved chocolate,
sprinkles or just about anything else you can use with ice cream. IT'S ALL FOR FREE A day never went
by that we didn't at least make one visit to the ice cream bar, and we have the weight to show for it.
THE POOL AREA'S: The Ryndam has a very nice pool area. The first thing that catches your eye is a
bronze sculpture by the steps of the pool featuring five leaping dolphins. It's a very beautiful piece of art.
The pool has a five foot area extending from the coping that is flooded with 6-8 inches of water. It's very
enjoyable to lay down with your back against bench, surrounding the pool, and have the water slosh
back and forth across your body, with the movement of the ship.
There are two Jacuzzi's adjoining the pool. The pool has a sliding glass paneled roof enclosure that can
be closed when it rains or partially closed to block out the wind for evening deck parties. At one end of
the pool is the Pool bar with a charming seating area with tables & wicker chairs. On the opposite end of
the pool is a Frank & Hamburger grill. Adjoining this area is a another cooking station where you can get
various kinds of Thai food, in all different forms. Taco's, Burritos, etc. & etc. A chef stands by to assist
you in making a choice. There is another very nice pool with abundant lounges on the lower deck at the
aft end of the ship. Great views from this area
Another very nice touch by Holland American is that at 11: 0'clock in the morning they serve lemonade
to everyone on the open decks and at 3: 0'clock in the afternoon they serve ice tea to everyone on the
open decks. ALL FOR FREE.
ENTERTAINMENT: This is not a strong point with HAL. I think they cater to a clientele that doesn't
consider entertainment that important. I think they concentrate on other amenities that are much more
appealing to their loyal cruisers. The best that can be said for the production shows is that they were
nice. We saw a magic act that was very good. The magician billed himself as The Brazilian Sicilian from
Brooklyn. How's that for a handle. His illusions were really good but his dialogue was even better. We
were also treated to special show put on by the Show Choir of Carmel Indiana. They were a group of
over 100 high school students that have put on shows all over the world. They were fully costumed and
had beautiful voices. They were a big hit.
CAPTAINS PARTY: Very nicely done but we think they missed a great opportunity to add additional
enjoyment to the occasion. They had the Ryndam show orchestra on stage. They played the great
standards and everyone was tapping their feet to the rhythm but no one ever made a announcement
inviting the guests onto the stage to dance, which is done on most ships..We all sat in our seats for 50
minutes until the Captain was introduced.
For Holland American loyalists, at the repeaters party the captain announced that HAL is coming out
with a new ship (63,00 tons) in May, another of the same class in the fall, 2 ships (84,000 tons ) in 2002,
1 ship (84,000 tons) in 2003 and 1 ship (84,000 Tons) in 2004. I think if we put a fine edge on our
bargaining tools we could get some excellent pricing on fall cruising.
CASINO: Quite small. Very little action. I think this is another example of Holland American knowing their
clientele. They put their money and efforts into the areas they know their guests prefer.
PORTS: HALF MOON CAY: We heard a number of people say if they had their druthers, they wouldn't
mind if they staid at Half Moon Cay for the week. It is an absolutely beautiful Caribbean paradise. This
pristine beach stretches for some two miles. The sand is soft and white without any of the rock
formations you find on many islands and the water sparkled with every hue of green as the sun struck
the water.. The Masdam was also at anchor and even with the additional people the beach never looked
crowded.
In the late 60's, we had a condo in Puerto Rico and made hydroplane trips to Magens Bay which is
reputed to be one of the top ten beaches in the world. We have always loved it there. But after seeing
and spending a day at Half Moon Cay, there is no comparison. It's like comparing apples and pears. We
never expected it to be as nice as it is.
GRAND CAYMAN: Went to the Beach Hotel resort next to the Hilton on seven mile beach. The beach is
really nothing extra but from it's location you can walk down the beach to areas where you can wade and
swim with no one within two to three hundred yards of you. It was delightful
COZUMEL: Cozumel has become one of our favorite ports because of the store, Los Cinco Soles and
the restaurant to the rear of that store, "Pancho's Backyard." Los Cinco Soles is our favorite store of the
whole Caribbean. We go through all the shops and then make our purchases there. They have
everything conceivable item plus a wonderful women's boutique. At Pancho's Backyard, they have a
Marimba band playing for lunch and until 3 o'clock. Shopping at Los Cinco Soles, then having lunch at
Pancho, makes for a very nice port stop.
THIS IS THE END OF OUR NOVEL: We haven't previously kept notes on our previous cruises in
preparation for writing a review.. We relied on our memory. But since we have our reviews posted on
several web sites, we have received a huge amount of mail, even some from Europe, asking all kids of
questions and asking for our suggestions on various aspects of cruising. We have learned that many of
the readers rely heavily on reviews for making critical decisions about when and where and with what
line they will make their next cruise. We feel a deepened responsibility to review readers and also to the
Cruise lines, that the information that we convey is truthful and honest and as thorough and as unbiased
as possible. Because of that realization, we kept a small notebook with us at all times during this cruise
and jotted down the things we thought would be of interest. The results of which is this review.
We would be happy to help you in any way. Just send us an E-Mail@: tmilano@n-jcenter.com
Happy Cruising, Tom & Mary Milano
Name: Walter A. Pannone
Email: wallie@home.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Vice President/Hospital
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Ryndam
SailingDate: April 8, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: Mini Suite
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 98
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 98
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Apr 2000
Time: 20:06:22
Remote Name: proxy1-external.rdc1.ct.home.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first Holland America Cruise and it won't be our last! We were extremely impressed with how well
HAL took care of us, from meeting us at the airport the day before our cruise till the minute we left for home.
Each and every person that we encountered was pleasant, courteous and seemingly only interested in making
our experience simple, flawless and thoroughly enjoyable.
We were met at the airport by a HAL representative day before our cruise for any overnight stay in Ft.
Lauderdale. This very pleasant representative at the airport named Pat, even provided us with a luggage cart.
When the bus that was to pick us up and transport us to the hotel was delayed, (she apologized for a 10
minute wait), she put us in a taxi and had us off on our way.
Representatives were also present at the Pier 66 Hyatt Regency to explain the transfer procedure for the next
day. That also was flawless and we arrive at the dock in plenty of time to check in and explore the ship before
sailing.
The process at the ship terminal was also very well organized. It flowed extremely well, no glitches, and the
HAL personnel were friendly and helpful.
As we arrived on board, a member of the crew was standing by to escort us to our cabin. We had a mini suite
on the Verandah deck. The room had every amenity necessary. It was roomy, comfortable, well furnished and
very pleasant. Fresh flowers and fruit were on the table. Our verandah was a very special treat, that allowed a
private enjoyment at any time of the day of the beautiful sea around us. There was plenty of storage area to
unpack. and store our belongings.
We were extremely impressed with how well kept and clean the ship was. The Ryndam is a very beautiful and
elegant ship. The décor is very tasteful, elegant and soothing. It appeared that all of the crew took great pride
in their ship.
The crew was as friendly and helpful as you could expect. I was surprised that they had as good a command
of the English Language as they did. I have been on other ships where the crew didn't understand a word you
said, and would just smile and do whatever they thought you were asking for!. This was not the case with the
crew on the Ryndam.
A nice touch upon sailing away was the buffet lunch provided on the Lido Deck along with the ship's Steel
Drum Band, Pantastic. This band played through out the cruise and helped to make the atmosphere more
Caribbean.
The first port of call was HAL's private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay. We were tendered in, also
another process that was very smooth and efficient. It had rained when the first tenders left the ship. The day
was extremely windy and the water was very cold. This was very disappointing as the beach itself was
beautiful. It was congested on the beach, with the majority of the ship's passengers there.. A barbeque was
provided for the passengers, on the island.
The next day was an at sea day which was extremely enjoyable. My only complaint about the outdoor space
on the ship is the jockeying for a lounge chair near the pool. There simply isn't enough room for everyone to
find a place in the sun.
The Lido area is well laid out though, with nearby restaurant to eat indoors. Also a help yourself buffet is
offered outdoors, with plenty of space to sit and eat. Entertainment is provided. Stewards offer drinks from the
nearby bar.
A word about the Restaurant and the dining: the Rotterdam Restaurant with two levels and a grand staircase,
is absolutely the most beautiful that I have seen on a ship. Large windows for a view of the sea surround the
entire room. A string quartet plays music during dinner. The table settings and the atmosphere are very
elegant and contributed to the ambiance of the formal nights (2).
The service in the dining room was excellent, attentive. Staff easily remembered your preferences and tried to
have things available without even asking. The wine steward was also very helpful. The quality of the food, the
variety, the presentation, quantity etc. was excellent.
Our second port was Grand Cayman. We were also tendered to George Town. I found Grand Cayman
extremely disappointing. There was no natural beauty, no products indigenous to the island. The shopping
was plentiful, but consisted mostly of imported items, with no bargains. We went on a tour of the island, visited
Hell (a waste of time) and the turtle farm which was slightly interesting. The best part of the tour was the
Nautilus Submarine ride, only partially submerged, which revealed more beauty beneath the sea. Many
varieties of tropical fish, sting rays, and even two ship wrecked were seen.
Upon completion of the tour, it absolutely poured rain, which spoiled the rest of the time in this port.
The next day was Cozumel, which turned out to be the most enjoyable. The Mexican flavor, was interesting.
The shopping plentiful, with bargains available. The only bothersome issue was with the shop employees who
literally were 'at you' constantly to come into their store to look, buy, etc. One could not walk past a store
without a barrage of sales pitch.
We ate dinner at Poncho's Back Yard and were very impressed by the quality of the food, service and the
atmosphere.
We did go to the beach while there. While the water looked beautiful, it was extremely dirty with seaweed. So
much so that it made going into the water impossible. The facilities though, at Playa del Sol Beach were
excellent, ambiance, Mexican music, changing facilities, toilets and chair and umbrella rentals. It was a shame
that the water was not conducive to swimming.
It was a costly ride to and from the center of town, about $28.00 for the cab and tips. This was the only port
that the ship remained in at night time. It was very pleasant weather wise which contributed to our enjoyment.
Our next day was at sea and as enjoyable as the first at sea day.
A word about the entertainment onboard: We were very impressed with the quality of the shows. From the
Barry Manilow, Copacabana Review to the 50's and 60's song night, the shows were very well done. We were
impressed with the quality of the performances, the dancers and singers and also the state of the art facilities
for the productions: rotating stage, computerized lighting, excellent sound, and other effects. The Vemeer
Lounge, a two level facility was very beautifully decorated with the Dutch Tulip Theme, marble and comfortable
sitting with good views of the stage.
Our last port of call was Key West where it rained so heavily that it spoiled the entire morning tour. The Conch
Train personnel gave us plastic bag ponchos, but the bad weather just made the tour difficult. It did clear up
later in the morning and we did get to enjoy the shopping and the sites on and around Duval St. The
atmosphere, the music emanating from the bars, and the colorful people made it enjoyable. Shopping for
those tropical items is excellent. The waters surrounding Key West are very beautiful and an exceptional
shade of aquamarine. We were disappointed though that Key West does not have any natural beaches, but
only man made ones, according to the tour director. It certainly would be an excellent choice for someone who
enjoys boating and/or fishing.
Our ship's staff advised us about the disembarkation process, which was also flawless and efficient.
Overall we were very impressed with our experience and thank Holland America for taking such good care of
us.
We did encounter one problem which our dinner table friends also encountered. That was that our room
steward forgot to clean our room one day. We found this very unusual and had never heard of this happening
on any other cruises.
Lastly, HAL does claim no tipping required and also does not offer any advice regarding how much to tip. Our
experience was that most passengers appreciated the service and did tip the room stewards, dining room
steward, busboy, wine steward and other crew members who went out of their way to be nice.
We would highly recommend a cruise on the Ryndam. While the ports of call left us wanting, the ship
experience exceeded all of our expectations.
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