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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: R. Michael Temple
Email: MTemple212@excite.com
Age: 42
Occupation: Logistics Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Westerdam
SailingDate: 9/2/00
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
Cabin: 596
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 50
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Sep 2000
Time: 11:52:36
Remote Name: atlas.gth.logicon.com
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I sailed on the Westerdam on the 2nd of September out of Vancouver,Canada.
Embarkation was rather smooth as we didn't get there untill around 2:30 in the afternoon as we drove
up from the Seattle airport. We were on the ship by 3:30.
Our cabin was very nice. We were on Main deck and were upgraded by HAL as we only paid for a M
catagory cabin which was an inside.We were upgraded to an F catagory. The cabin was spacious
compared to the cabin we had on RCCL. There was even a full sized couch in the room. The bathroom
was the usual closet size.
The food on this ship we thought was outstanding. Especially compared to the Royal Caribbean ship
we were on. Very well prepared and the service was also outstanding. The dining room wasn't too
fancy but well layed out. We were at a table for six and enjoyed our other companions for the most
part at all dinner seatings.
The entertainment in the Admiral's lounge was excellent. The Westerdam cast was superb in every
way. The comedian magician were also very good.
Other activities planned on the ship were very good although we only participated in a few. I did the
basketball free throw contest our first full day at sea and didn't fare too well.
The weather during our cruise was in a word, awful. It rained practically every day. Especially during
our port visits in Juneau and Ketchikan. Skagway was very foggy when we did our bus tour version of
the Yukon and White Pass tour. In Juneau we did the Mendenhall Glacier tour and we could barely see
the glacier due to all the fog and rain. We were told by some of the crew members that the week
before the weather was really nice. So I guess it's a hit or miss thing as far as the weather is
concerned.
Overall we had a good time but would probably not do this cruise again for a long time, on any cruise
line. The reason being is that there were not too many people our age on this cruise. That's not to say
we don't like older people, we do. But when most of the guests are in their 60's to 80's that's too much
for us. I think that also affects some of the activities onboard as well. The ship itself was outstanding
and very well kept for an older vessel. The ship as a whole was immaculate and they were constantly
painting or cleaning or upgrading parts of the ship. We even had our couch in our room replaced with
a new one and the one that was in the room looked fine to us. They told us the old couch didn't match
the other furniture that was in the cabin. I wouldn't mind cruising this ship again such as in the
caribbean or some other destination.
Name: Suzanne M. Whiteside
Email: suzanne.mccann@excite.com
Age: 48
Occupation: Managerial
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Westerdam
SailingDate: 11/18/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 816, N
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 92
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 97
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace:
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Nov 2000
Time: 11:33:40
Remote Name: nas-114-69.chicago-t.navipath.net
Remote User:
Comments
Our cruise on the Westerdam was our honeymoon cruise. We anticipated having a queen size bed as
reserved by our travel agent but low and behold - we have twin beds. We tried to have the situation
rectified however, the ship was full and there wasn't another cabin or state room or suite to put us in.
Other than that, the cruise was marvelous. The service was exceptional, especially in the dining room.
We felt like a king and queen for a week. The food was wonderful. The variety was terrific. I am a
seafood lover and my husband is a red meat lover. We both had our fill of each.
We had both been to the ports that were on this cruise with the exception of St. John, VI. St. John is a
beautiful island and we did take a 3 hour excursion around part of the island. I would highly recommend
this tour if you have not been there previously.
As the cruise was winding down we went to HAL's private island, Half Moon Cay. It is the most beautiful
island I have ever seen; white, white sand and the clearest water. While we were swimming a school of
angel fish swam around us! This was a wonderful way to end the cruise.
Also, our fellow cruisers were a great group of people. We met so many wonderful individuals who will be
hard to forget!
Great cruise. We would go again today!
Name: Darren Coleman
Email: colewade@msn.com
Age: 35
Occupation: Registered Nurse
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Westerdam
SailingDate: 12/1/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: LL410 Inside
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 99
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 99
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 99
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 99
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 99
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Dec 2000
Time: 09:43:56
Remote Name: 1cust101.tnt1.asheville2.nc.da.uu.net
Remote User:
Comments
CRUISE REVIEW HOLLAND AMERICA / WESTERDAM 7 DAY / EASTERN CARIBBEAN 12/1/00
This was my sixth cruise and first with HAL. It will definitely not be my last! HAL offered some incredible
deals late in the summer, and my friend and I took advantage of them. Because different people have
different areas of interest and this is a long review, I will break the review down into subheadings. Just
read the parts that interest you most, or all of it if you are considering a trip on the Westerdam.
THE WESTERDAM is the second oldest ship in the HAL fleet. She was purchased from the Home Line in
1988 as a two- year-old ship, and stretched with a one-hundred-foot mid-section. She is neither the
most glitzy or the most formal ship in the HAL fleet, but is still among their larger and most comfortable
ships. I initially had reservations about the ship because the passenger-space ratio is a bit lower than
many other HAL ships. The ship sailed full, and I never noticed long lines or crowded conditions
anywhere on the ship. The ship's German craftsmanship shows through in every respect. She gives the
impression of being a very solidly built ship with an almost masculine feel. From pictures I had scouted
out earlier on the web, I can tell you that all the curtains, carpet, and most of the upholstery have been
replaced. The off-white and blond wood walls and pastel color schemes have been replaced with rich
mahogany-toned paneling in the public rooms and much richer and more attractive color schemes than
in the pictures I had previously seen. Comfortable sitting areas are located fore and aft in the stairwells
of almost every level. This ship has many beautiful works of art including oil paintings, antique maps,
ship models, statues, and oriental vases. Fresh floral arrangements are skillfully placed throughout the
ship. Despite all the art and flowers, nothing screams for your attention. This ship provides a
comfortable, elegant, and understated environment. The large balconied show room has sofa,
banquette, and single seats. No matter where you sit you will have decent sightlines and a place to sit
your drink. The Admirals Show Lounge is done in rich reds. The movie theatre on sun deck is full-sized
with a cinemascope screen. It features first run movies with free freshly made popcorn. The Queen's
Lounge has a lighter and brighter feel and is used for large functions like the Captain's Cocktail Party.
Two of my favorite lounges were the beautiful Ocean Bar and The Explorer's Lounge. Both are smaller
and probably the most elegant two rooms on the ship. The Peartree Lounge is the late-night disco with
a DJ and an occasional band. It opens from 9:00pm until whenever. The casino was adequate, but I
thought it was rather small for a ship of this size. Nevertheless, it did seem to handle the crowds without
difficulty. The ship has two very nice pool areas on Lido and Verandah decks. The Verandah pool is
covered with a glass dome in inclement weather. Finding a deck chair was never a problem. The
wrap-around teak promenade is a definite plus. The promenade is lined with padded wooden steamer
lounges and offers the only forward view on the ship. Four laps equal one mile if that gives you an
indication of the length of the ship. The Amsterdam Dining Room is located on the lowest public deck
mid-ship and has double portholes instead of windows. This room is done in dark burlwood paneling and
has a large lighted geometric dome in the center. The dining room is in two sections and all on one
level. The location of the dining room is traditional, but it is considered odd by many. I found it to be very
well lighted and pleasant. The aft of the ship has six open decks from A deck to navigation deck. Almost
none are used frequently except for the top two decks. These are great places to spend a quiet moment
over the ship's wake. Unlike newer ships, you won't find private balconies in the suites. The staterooms
are not bad, though. Suites are spacious and midship rooms are slightly larger. The outside room at the
extreme bow and stern are definitely smaller. but in general are larger than the inside rooms. (I did some
wandering when people vacated their rooms on the last day.) I booked an inside cabin which are the
same on every deck. It provided a nice armchair, vanity dresser with a chair, a chest of drawers and a
fairly large two-sectioned closet. While the inside staterooms and their bathrooms are not large, they
are significantly larger than I experienced on some of my earlier cruises on RCCL, and not quite as
large as on HAL's newer ships. I considered my stateroom perfectly adequate and the Dutch oil painting
was a nice touch. The location of the dining room, the fact that there is no forward observation lounge
or private balconies, and no open atrium area are the things that I think are the real negatives of the
ship.
THE ITINERARY. The Eastern Caribbean is a well worn route, but the last frontier for me in the
Caribbean. In general I enjoyed it more than the Western route. This itinerary offers more history, better
shopping, and beaches that are just as good if not better. Our first stop was Nassau, Bahamas.
Somehow I have managed to avoid the Bahamas, but I found Nassau a pleasant surprise for a half day
ashore. We basically took out on foot and visited the Queen's Staircase, Fort Fincastle, Government
House, and Royal Victoria Gardens, which is the site of a civil war era hotel that is basically huge
tropical trees and flowering shrubs now, as the hotel burned around 1970. Most of the shops and the
famous straw market were closed because it was a Sunday. This is a fairly easy walk.if you are in
average shape. The lighthouse at the harbor entrance provides a dramatic flourish. Monday bought a
wonderful sea day which was spent poolside mostly, only to be interrupted by HAL's wonderful buffets.
Tuesday morning we arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since we didn't have to leave until midnight we
took our time and strolled along the waterfront to enter the city gate as Old San Juan is a walled city.
(Pick up a map when you exit the ship) For those of you who don't know, many of the buildings in old
San Juan are over 400 years old. Our self-conducted walking tour included the Fortaleza or governor's
mansion, which is basically a fortress-like compound of buildings above the city wall. The Cathedral of
San Juan is the burial place of Ponce De Leon and is a beautiful large cathedral in a very early Spanish
style. El Morro is a giant Spanish fortress that is not to be missed. This fort provides one of the most
dramatic harbor entrances in the world as it sits high on a cliff at the mouth of the harbor. We took the
National Park Service tour and were able to see the Explorer of the Seas as she entered the harbor.
That afternoon we stopped by the Pablo Cassal Museum on San Juan Square for a brief but interesting
$1.00 tour for those that are interested in a truly great classical cello player. He was a San Juan icon in
his day. Lunch was at a wonderful courtyard restaurant where the Pina Colada was invented, inside
Barrachina Village at 104 Forteleza Street. We had two appetizers and of course a Pina Colada. (Stick
with the Puerto Rico appetizer.) After returning to the ship for dinner, we returned to San Juan and
strolled along the waterfront, the wide paved walk way illuminated by romantic lamp posts. We got a first
hand street-front view of how real San Juan citizens live. The city was decked out in all it's Christmas
finery. We were entertained by a choir singing Chistamas carols on the steps of the old cathedral. The
old convent across the blue cobbled street is now the El Convento Hotel and is worth a walk through or
perhaps a future stay. Old San Juan is far too interesting and complex to do it justice in this format. The
ship was a quick walk back. Upon departing that night, San Juan Harbor was even more beautiful. The
capitol building was lit with a computerized light show, visible at least 10 miles out to sea. The building
changed to every color in the rainbow. San Juan knows how to celebrate Christmas! St. Thomas, USVI is
the grand central station of the Caribbean. We docked at the Crown Point Terminal which, by the way, is
nowhere near downtown Charlotte Amalie. The Norway, The Massdam, The Amsterdam, The Explorer of
the Seas, and The Grand Princess were all docked in the harbor. This is great for ship viewing but it
definitely means crowds. We did the Kon Tiki Party Cruise our only ship's shore excursion which was
true to it's title and sailed to a wonderful beach near the University of the Virgin Islands. The rum punch
was strong, but most people were well behaved -- with one or two exceptions. I witnessed a
40-something couple from Topeka take their first swim in the ocean. St. Thomas is an island with
beautiful beaches and great shopping for things you really don't need, like jewelry, cigarettes, and
booze. The next day was another wonderfully relaxing sea day with lots of activities on board including
bingo, pool games, trivia games, the daily quiz, build your own boat contest, wine tasting, and several
"passport to fitness events". including dance lessons, laps on the promenade and aerobics. Half Moon
Cay, Bahamas. The weather did not cooperate on Half Moon Cay. The tender ride ashore was upbeat
as all the passengers sang Christmas carols. The island is everything it was promised to be and I was
amazed at the natural way that most of this private island experience is maintained. The Bahamian
Village which was created by HAL came in handy in the persistent rain. The village is comprised of a
large covered open-air restaurant for a delicious BBQ lunch, a Bahamian chapel, a grand old fort
entrance and miles of beachside trails. Those that tried it said that the snorkeling was great. The village
also contains a shop, a large bar, and beachside massage cabanas. Despite sitting under an umbrella
in a lounge chair for two hours on the beach, I must say that it is possibly the most beautiful beach I
have ever seen. The light blue water extends out for a half mile before dropping off into the deeper
water. My true Holland America moment came during this soggy time on the beach. An Indonesian
doorman from the ship came out in his formal red and gold braided uniform and walked down the beach
playing jingle bells with the dinner chime, just as he walked in front of my view of the one month old MS
Amsterdam. Despite the rain, it was just like the commercial. How beautiful! We enjoyed a tasty lunch in
the restaurant and returned to the ship.
SERVICE AND ENTERTAINMENT. The shows followed a traditional cruise pattern. They featured the big
Anita Mann production numbers for the Broadway type shows. Since it was a "sock hop cruise" they also
featured the Dixie Cups of "Going to the Chapel, Going Get Married" fame, and Bowzer from Sha Na Na
fame. Both of these groups provided excellent shows. They also featured a comedian that was quite
good. The Ocean Bar featured a nice dance trio. The Queens Lounge featured an all purpose band
that was pretty good at most types of music. Both of these lounges had nice wooden dance floors. The
grand finale of the Indonesian Staff Show shouldn't be missed. The bamboo symphony they play is
unlike anything I have ever heard. The Cruise Director seemed more like the entertainment director
than anything else. For average Joes like me he seemed pretty low profile. The service was exceptional.
All the officers are Dutch, the dining room staff is Indonesian, and they hotel staff are Filipino. Many of
the crew members will remember your name by day two. They will draw pictures on chinet plates, make
origami figures and the like. What a friendly and extremely neatly dressed lot they were. HAL believes in
uniforms for its staff. I think it adds a particularly polished touch. The only downside I will note about
service is that deck stewards are pretty rare on the lido deck during all but peak hours. Remember that
tipping is not required. Only a heel would not tip these people for the excellent service they provide. My
friend did come across one ill mannered bartender who stated that he had no idea where he could find
and ashtray. It was noted on the cruise survey.
FOOD AND RESTAURANTS. The Westerdam had the best food that I have ever experienced cruising. I
have not and would not say this about every cruise I have taken. The rest of the cruise industry could
really learn a thing or two from HAL about how to provide a breakfast or lunch buffet. The buffets were
offered in the Lido Restaurant and the Verandah Restaurant. Just a tip: the menus are identical and
breakfast lines are shorter with less noise in the smaller Verandah Restaurant. Both restaurants offer
real dining tables and are nicely appointed. The only place you will find that white lawn furniture is by the
pools. The variety and flavor of the lunch buffets is truly impressive. Have you ever had King Crab legs
or Sumatran beef on a lunch buffet? Grilled items were also available which often included salmon,
chicken, burgers, ribs and steaks. A taco bar and stir-fry station alternated appearances on Verandah
deck. Fresh baked pizzas were also featured on several days. The ice cream, espresso, and
cappuccino are absolutely free. Dinner in the main dining room was an elegant affair. Perhaps the food
was not quite as stellar as on the lunch buffets. I think I just expected a few more pasta choices and
spicy options. I can say that I thought it was better than on other lines - above average to exceptional.
Some of the soups were a bit thin to my liking. My steak was prepared perfectly and the lobster tails
were the New England variety, not those tiny Caribbean types. Ask for the things the way you like them
on the first night and you are not likely to have to ask again. This amazes me since this restaurant alone
serves over 6,000 meals per day. Don't expect the quality of your favorite dish at your favorite local
bistro. My South African and North Carolinian tablemates were also delightful company. The desert
extravaganza was just that. Room service provided the same high quality foods I found in the dining
rooms and arrived about as promptly and just as hot. Last but not least, the Westerdam serves the best
hot appetizers I have ever tasted every evening in every lounge before dinner. After dinner the
Explorers Lounge serves winderful truffles and candies with an after dinner drink to accompany the
music of the Champagne Strings.
PRE AND POST CRUISE. We chose to book our own airfare and got a great deal round trip on
Expedia.com. On round-trip sailings it is almost always less expensive to book your own airfare. We
arrived one day early in Ft. Lauderdale to prevent problems with possible flight delays. After a
trouble-free flight, we spent one restful night at the Amerisuites for $99 / night. The hotel provided free
transfers from the airport and to Port Everglades. Many restaurants are within easy walking distance.
We arrived at noon and waited in a comfortable waiting area until about 1:30 to board. Many who
arrived at 2:00pm or after, simply walked on the ship. Don't believe the 3:00pm published boarding time.
They usually start about 1:00pm. Having a late flight on departure, we were among the last to depart the
ship. We basically walked off. Customs amounted to handing officials the form. We claimed our luggage,
and checked it with a US Air employee and never saw it again until we arrived home. The cab ride to the
airport is $12 flat rate and is the same regardless of luggage or people. Overall, I would say that
embarkation and debarkation were the best organized I have seen on any cruise line. The good deal on
the airfare did mean that we had a 4:00pm departure from Ft. Lauderdale. We checked our carry-ons
into an airport locker and took a cab to Las Olas Boulevard downtown. The area is fascinating with
many boutiques and great restaurants. We chose to take the 2-3 mile walk to the beach passing
through several nice neighborhoods with mansion-lined canals. After a nice lunch and rest on a bench
at the beach, we took a cab to the airport with 1.5 hours to spare. A perfect end to a wonderful trip.
Darren colewade@msn.com
Name: Stephanie Kyle
Email: wkyle@thirdplanet.com
Age: 47
Occupation: pharmacist
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Westerdam
SailingDate: 2-25-01
Itinerary: 5-day Caribbean
Cabin: 769 - A Deck
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Mar 2001
Time: 18:48:32
Remote Name: pc-pm10-48.cros.net
Remote User:
Comments
We are first-time cruisers, having generally preferred to travel on our own previously. We chose the
5-day Holland-America cruise on the Westerdam primarily for the ship itself(after reading numerous
cruise reviews )and for the length of the cruise.
Embarkation day We booked our own flight as it turned out to be a little less expensive than the
cruise/air package. You are taking a bit of a chance if you take your own flight the same day the ship
leaves, so I would recommend getting an early enough flight to leave plenty of time to allow for any
delays. Even though we had booked our own flight HAL did take care of transferring our bags to the
ship, which was nice. We had not pre-booked any ground transportation, so just grabbed a cab from
the airport. This was pretty reasonable – around $10. We arrived at the pier waiting area around 12:30
and had a 1-1 ½ hr wait before boarding. Definitely have all of your travel documents filled out ahead
of time – makes things go very smoothly. As our luggage was not yet in the cabin, we decided to start
exploring the ship and also take advantage of the lunch buffet that was being served. Our bags were
delivered in time for us to get unpacked before the mandatory life-boat drill at 4:15. I think we were
fortunate; we saw other bags being delivered well into the evening. It does pay to stuff a change of
clothes(shorts/T-shirt) in your carry-on as others have recommened, just in case.
The Ship The Westerdam seems to be a more traditional type of cruise-ship compared with what I’ve
read about the newer mega-resort ships. Not a lot of glitz or huge atriums, but nicely decorated in an
understated style. As publicized, HAL is known for their onboard artwork; you will find interesting
paintings, sculptures and artifacts scattered throughout the ship. One of the best features is the Upper
Promenade Deck which has a very nice wrap-around teak deck lined with those teak ship’s lounge
chairs. It’s amazing how much more comfortable these are than the plastic versions around the pool
areas.(I want 2 for our deck at home!). A very pleasant(and quiet) place to read, snooze, have early
morning coffee, exercise(4 times around is a mile), or have cocktails. One nice thing about HAL is that
you can purchase liquor on board at the duty-free shop for use in your cabin(although you pay a 20%
upcharge for this). We got into the habit of fixing our martini in the cabin and heading up to enjoy them
on this deck. The Queen’s lounge and Ocean bar are also nice places to have a pre-dinner drink(they
serve complimentary hot hors’douvres and have live music) We found the layout of the ship to be a
little confusing in that you can’t access certain decks from certain parts of the ship. I don’t know if that’s
typical, but I suspect it has to do with the fact that the ship was cut in half and rebuilt to enlarge it. Even
Bill’s unerring sense of direction failed him a couple of times! The fitness room was very well-
equipped. Unfortunately, although I had the best of intentions, I never used it! I rationalized this by the
fact that we got a lot of walking on our shore excursions! Here’s a tip for any of you cold-blooded
people like me! Bring some warm clothes with you. Even though you’re in a tropical climate, the inside
public areas of the ship(especially cocktail lounges and theatre) were kept quite cool. General
impressions: Overall we enjoyed this ship very much. It did feel crowded at times(especially the day at
sea) but it helps to be a contrarian and do things at different times than most others. Our fellow
passengers ranged in age from 1 to 90, I think. HAL is ,of course ,known to attract an older clientele
and that was true on this ship, but also there were a number of families on board, some with younger
children, some with teenagers. It was a nice mix. There’s a photographer on board who takes
everyone’s picture a number of times. These are posted the next day in a public area and you can
purchase yours if you like. If you’re lucky you’ll get a good one on formal night that you can pass out to
the kids(ours wasn’t that good, so we didn’t buy) People were dressed a lot more casually than I had
imagined. We had one formal night and the rest were classified casual, which means no jeans or
shorts in the dining room. Other than that, you see pretty much everything.
Our Cabin We were very pleasantly surprised by the size and layout of our cabin. We had gotten a
'deal' price and could not pick our actual location(except that we knew it would be an outside cabin) ,
so we didn’t know what to expect. We ended up around mid-ship on A-deck which is the next to the
lowest deck which contains passenger cabins . It was one deck above the main dining room – very
handy for dinner. It had a small square porthole, 2 twin beds with nightstand,(some of these are able to
be pushed together, some aren’t) a spacious sitting area with sofa bed, chair, and coffee table, a
dresser/vanity with large well-lit center mirror and drawers on each side, 2 full-size hanging closets with
long drawers underneath. We didn't begin to use all the storage available. The head contained a
tub/shower with an amazing amount of water pouring from the showerhead(better than at home!) We
could hear some of the TV from the next cabin, but other than that it was very quiet.
Entertainment After what we’ve read about onboard entertainment, we were also pleasantly surprised
by the quality here. The ship’s cast of young singers/dancers(sort of Up-With-People types) were very
talented. It was a 50’s theme cruise and featured were Barbara Lewis(Baby, I’m Yours and Puppy
Love) and the Happenings(of See You in September fame). Both of these shows were a lot of fun.
Catch the Not-So-Newlywed game if you can – very amusing!
Staff The young Indonesian staff are generally always smiling and happy. This, despite the fact that
they work from early morning until late at night. I think they go for months without a day off; these
people work very hard. Even though HAL has a no-tipping required policy, you should definitely tip the
people who have been serving you. We got a kick out of our cabin steward, Sidik. We would always
hear his singsong Hellooo! when going to and from our cabin and started answering him the same
way. Our waiter, Puguh, was quiet and serious – very efficient and concentrating on the job at hand.
However, the 4 older ladies at the table next to us kind of adopted him and got him to smile and laugh
a few times! The staff put on their own show of native songs and dances late one night(at 11:30 after
they’re done working) They’re not professional entertainers, but made up for it with their enthusiasm.
They were so proud and happy to be onstage and getting the applause. It bothered me to see the
number of people leaving the show early.
Ports-of-Call Just some highlights. Our favorite day was the day at the private island, Half Moon Cay.
We’ve been to a lot of beaches, but this place had some of the softest and whitest sand that we’ve
seen. We took a snorkeling excursion by boat to a coral reef– beautiful. Otherwise , just enjoyed
relaxing on the beach(you can also snorkel off the beach) . There’s a HAL-built faux Caribbean village
complete with bar, ruins, hair braiding, even a picturesque little chapel with a flowered archway(good
photo op) They serve a picnic theme buffet – ribs, chicken, hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad.
Very nice day. Nassau – if you’ve been there before, probably don’t need to bother. However, we took
a trip over to Paradise Island($6.00 round trip by boat) mainly to check out the Atlantis resort which
looms up out of the water like it’s namesake. Very impressive! You can wander around the outskirts
and through the casino(I doubled my money at an electronic blackjack game;of course I only started
with $5.00!) , but some of it is off-limits unless you’re a guest. I think you can get a tour of the whole
place for $25.00 a person, but we didn’t do this ,so I can’t say whether it would be worth it or not. Key
West – what can I say? Everyone should visit here at least once! Fun shopping. Toured the
Hemmingway place – very interesting(especially for us cat lovers!) The ship provides a complimentary
conch train ride into town from the dock. Otherwise it would be a 45-minute walk. If you’re a boater,
you’ll enjoy hanging out in the marina area – there’s an extensive boardwalk here. Mainly ,I wanted to
get some conch fritters and key lime pie which I did for lunch at Kelly’s(owned by Kelly McGillis of Top
Gun fame). If you’ve never been here before, you’ll probably want to do the Conch Tour Train. The
only excursions that we booked through the ship were the snorkel trip from Half Moon Cay and an
Everglades tour out of Ft. Lauderdale on the day we got back(mainly to avoid sitting in the airport all
day waiting to leave) Another note – the only time you had to tender ashore was at the private island.
At the other ports you were docked and could just walk off the ship.
Food OK, my favorite topic. Dinners in the main dining room were excellent! Usually we had all five
courses (appetizer,soup,salad,entrée,dessert) because it was all so good. They do an especially good
job with soups. Here’s our menu for one evening (gourmet night – each night was a somewhat different
theme with different menu selections) Malossol Caviar with toast points Chilled Vichyssoise(Bill had
Cioppino Soup) Caesar Salad Grilled Venison Chops with port wine sauce, wild mushrooms, Macaire
potatoes Baked Alaska(presented very dramatically by the wait staff who marched in to rousing
classical music and were all carrying sparklers)
The only night I would have to say wasn’t outstanding was the 50’s diner night which featured meatloaf,
macaroni and cheese, fish sticks(I’m not kidding), etc. They could have skipped that one!
The dining room has a nice variety of table sizes. In each “section” along the perimeter there is a table
for 6, two tables for 4, and a table for 2. We had the table for 2. The tables are in such close proximity
that you are able to chat with people at surrounding tables and take each others’ pictures. One couple
at the next table was from a town very near ours in Ohio and live across the street from some friends
of ours(small world!)
There are 2 buffet areas for breakfast and lunch – one on the Lido deck and the other on the
Verandah deck. Lunch buffets were quite varied with different selections every day – something for
everyone. You could eat as little or as much as you wanted I got the impression that the Verandah
buffet line was less crowded, but that may have been due to the times we were there. Breakfast buffet
was OK, not great. Same selections every day. Overall, we were impressed with the job they did with
the buffets, considering that you’re feeding 1500 people every day. For lunch, there was also a grill
area at each of the pool decks featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, salads . We did this once and it was
quite good. Sometimes there’s nothing like a good cheeseburger! There’s an afternoon high tea which
we heard was good, but never tried, as we had early seating for dinner and were afraid of not being
hungry enough! Regarding early vs late seating. We still haven’t decided which suits us better. Early
was at 6PM , late was 8:15PM. At home we like to eat at around 7, so the 8:15 seems a little late.
However, we felt that we were cutting our days a little short by having to be ready for dinner by 6, so I
think next time we might try a late seating. It also may be a little more leisurely, since the wait staff
certainly is pressured to get the early people out by 8. You could also eat breakfast or lunch in the
main dining room and be served. We did that for breakfast one morning as it was raining a little and we
didn’t want to eat outside.(the main dining room is down low in the ship with no large windows, but for
dinner it doesn’t matter since it’s dark anyway)
Overall impressions of cruising
I certainly see the great appeal of cruising – getting to see a variety of places while only unpacking
once. Stress-free travel – only one decision to make (which cruise) instead of many. I did feel a little
“herded” around at times. I think I can get over that! And, yes sometimes it gets a little corny, like the
night of the Dutch theme dinner we walked into the dining room and the men were all wearing little
Dutch boy caps and the women the pointy Dutch girl version! All-in-all, though ,this was a great cruise
for us first-timers. By the way, if you want a private verandah, this ship is not for you; the Westerdam
doesn’t have any . I can see a lot of uses for a verandah, so we may spring for that next time. One
highlight of the trip for me was the afternoon that a whole pod(I think that’s the right term) of dolphins
came alongside the ship and starting jumping the bow wake. It looked as though there must have been
a hundred of them. They frolicked for about 20 minutes or so and then were gone. Spectacular! We
had beautiful weather. I don’t think I would take a chance on cruising during hurricaine season
regardless of how good the deal was. Even with the calm seas, I did have a bout of motion sickness
one evening. We were in the casino(did I mention the casino yet?) after dinner. I was watching over
Bill’s shoulder as he played blackjack and we were rolling around a bit..(the casino’s in the aft section).
I started feeling a bit queasy and decided to leave. Being a boater, I should have known better than to
go back to the cabin instead of up on deck, but I just wanted to lie down. Big mistake – let’s just say
that the rack of lamb dinner was wasted on me that night(and no, I didn’t have too much to drink!).
Well, if you’re still with me, I hope that this long-winded review has given you a better idea of cruising if
you haven’t done it and some specifics about this particular cruise.
Name: Michael Johnson
Email: mikej@adamsmulford.com
Age: 30
Occupation: Purchasing Manager
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Westerdam
SailingDate: February 25, 2001 to March 2, 2001
Itinerary: Nassau - Half Moon Cay - Key West
Cabin: 956
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 82
CabinComfort: 89
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 78
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 82
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 82
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 81
DeckService: 82
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 70
TenderService: 88
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 50
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Mar 2001
Time: 15:21:20
Remote Name: janeway-137.netunlimited.net
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I live in North Carolina and had experienced a colder than normal winter. For that reason we
decided a late February Caribbean cruise would be a great break from the winter. We looked at a couple
of possibilities and decided on a 5-day “sampler” on Holland America’s Westerdam. We chose this one for
two reasons 1st the price was great and 2nd we only had to take one week vacation rather than the Friday
before and/or the Monday after which you often have to do on the 7-day cruise. My wife had previously
been on the Westerdam for an Alaska cruise and could never stop talking about how good they are.
Because of this I was very excited about the trip. I will break the cruise down into 7 sections and will explain
both the pros and the cons, of each
1) Arrival and day before: My wife and I decided to book our own flight and were able to get it for
approximately $100.00 less per person. Because the boat will not wait if your plane is late when you book
your own flight, we decided to arrive the day before. I researched for a hotel to stay at and decided on
one called Seville Hotel. It is just off what I would call the main beach strip, so it’s a short walk to the beach.
The hotel is owned and run by an individual named Linda, who was very nice. She went out of her way to
help me out and I appreciate everything she did. I would consider staying there in the future. It is important
to know one thing before you try to book a room there though. It is a traditional beach motel. It is clean
and safe as far as I was concerned, but it was not a hotel like a Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn. If you are
looking for a Holiday Inn style look elsewhere, on the other hand if you are wanting an older beach style
motel this is the right place.
2) Embarkation: We arrived at embarkation at approximately 1:00 and were able to go ahead and start the
boarding process. They did an excellent job and moved everyone through rather quickly. I do not know
about how quickly it moved later in the day, but I never heard anyone complain about the embarkation
process.
3) Nassau, Bahamas: I had heard very little good about Nassau and now I know why. It is not a very nice
city. My wife and I had heard that there were great deals on jewelry in the Bahamas, but did not feel there
was any price so good we could not turn down. The only positive I can say about Nassau was watching the
city come to life. We got off the boat about 8:00 and most of the stores do not open until 9:00. My wife and
I sat, on a bench, on main street most of that time and watched as the city came to life.
4) Half Moon Cay: What a beautiful Island. We did nothing but lay in the shade and float on our rafts. We
were off the boat and tendered to the island by 8:30. Getting out so early we were able to get our choice
of lounge chairs, the choices became very slim by 10:30. We rented 2 rafts and quickly began our leisure
day. HAL serves a cookout lunch on the island. I believe it runs from 11:30 to 1:30. The cookout was quite
good they have the standards hamburger, hotdog, spare ribs, potato salad etc. The ribs were great, I am
not one that likes spicy food and the ribs were a sweet flavor rather than spicy. If you want your ribs spicy I
suggest you take some of your own seasoning. We did meet several people that decided to explore the
island and said it was a lot of fun. The island appeared very flat so I doubt there would be minimum
exertion for any exploration you may decide to do. In short what ever you decide to do Half Moon Cay is a
wonderful experience.
5) Key West, Fl.: I had heard very little about Key West, other than Jimmy Buffet likes it there. After visiting
I understand why. Key West seems to offer a little bit to any personality type. My wife and I like to just walk
around and take it easy and were able to do just that. The downtown kept us busy all day and we still had
more that we could have seen. A couple we meet on the ship rented some bikes and rode around seeing
more of the island. If you are into more adventure rent a jet ski, take a catamaran ride, snorkel or to
parasail. If eating or drinking at a local bar is more your style there are plenty of bars that are more than
happy to fulfill those needs. The downtown is very quaint and the island has a great deal of history to it.
HAL has a contract with the local trolley service to transport the passengers between the boat and
downtown (about 7 minutes). Make sure you use the service, not so much to avoid the walk rather the
drivers of the trolleys share bits of information about the city you might not learn about otherwise. While
each one of the drivers were very good, I found Roger to be the best. He seemed to have a little bit more
showmanship and talked about the city from when you got on the trolley to when you got off.
6) Disembarkation: Disembarkation was easy. HAL has you fill out a questionnaire at the beginning of the
cruise, asking about your flight information and how you plan to get back home. Make sure you fill it out.
HAL uses it to help determine disembarkation number, based on when your plane or ride leaves.
7) Boat Overall: My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with HAL. The Westerdam is in wonderful shape
considering its age and usage. I do believe it is necessary to point out some of the concerns/problems we
did experience also. The staff and crew were friendly and seemed to care about their work. I do believe
however, HAL did not have enough of a crew for the demands that were put on them. Our cabin steward
worked very hard, I am sure, but we rarely saw him and on a couple of occasions failed to turn our bed
down. We were probably in the room at the time that he was there to turn them down, but were usually out
of our room for at least three hours prior to returning to our room for bed. We would often see him halfway
down the hall cleaning other rooms. I believe he was being asked to maintain too many rooms. I felt the
same about the dining room staff. It was not that they did not provide the best possible service rather they
were being asked to provide service to too many. The boat is an older boat and therefore is not as
ergonomic as some of the newer boats, it was also cut in half and an additional length was added to the
middle. Because of those two reasons I found myself having to change stairwells on more than one
occasion to get to different parts of the boat. My wife and I have been on cruises twice before and believe
we know what to expect and what not to expect. While there are a couple of areas they could improve on
overall they do a great job. HAL has a refined elegance that the other two lines (Carnival & Celebrity) did
not seem to offer. If you want a cruise line that is a party from when you get on, look elsewhere; if you are
looking for a cruise to relax with a book and enjoy the time at sea in a lounge chair this is the cruise line
for you. We will cruise again and HAL will be a line we consider. If you have any questions please email me
I will answer as best I can. Good Luck and enjoy your cruise.
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