Your Experience on Amsterdam Christmas cruise

[vinonme2]

We are planning a Christmas/New Year's cruise and have narrowed it down to two ships - Ocean Princess and Hal Amsterdam. We have sailed both lines multiple times.

 

For those who have sailed Christmas with Holland America, would be very appreciative if you would please share your experiences of how the how Christmas is celebrated on board ship, especially on the Amsterdam. We have sailed Hal Zuiderdam for New Year's but not Christmas.

 

We've sailed Grand Princess for Christmas and New Year's. Christmas was absolutely wonderful with Santa arriving by boat to the ship, Midnight Mass, officers caroling on Christmas Eve, huge gingerbread village display in atrium, "snow" on Christmas Eve, etc.

 

Thanks!

[Wakepatrol]

You'll have all you mentioned on the Amsterdam. Tree lighting ceremony

The ship all decked out. My feeling is there's usually a bunch of world voyage passengers on there so they really go all out.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

In addition to the tree lighting early in the cruise, here is what we experienced this past December on the Amsterdam Holiday sailing.

 

Christmas Eve at 11:00PM there was the International Christmas Choir - crew members singing traditional carols and holiday songs followed by Mass and Interdenominational services at midnight.

Christmas Morning Festivities were lots of fun - in the Queen's Lounge we were served Egg Nog and Hot Chocolate. The kids of Club HAL sang a couple of carols, and then the pianist played a few for a sing-a-long and then Santa was spotted on the radar and he arrived on the ship and eventually into the Lounge where every child and teenager could sit on his lap and receive a present. A total of 80 children and teens were aboard. And yes, even the teens sat on his lap. It was really neat!

There was a New Year's Eve Party at 11PM in the Queens Lounge, followed by a New Years After Party at 1AM in the Crow's Nest. I understand they were not as many attendees as we really had a rock and roll night that night - high winds and rolling seas so many folks stayed in their cabin.

New Year's Eve dinner, the MDR was decorated and we all received hats to wear.

New Year's Day was the Mariner's Reception and Luncheon.

 

There was a special Christmas Eve Dinner as well and I think everyone received a glass of champagne either Christmas Eve or Christmas night at dinner.

 

The Amsterdam was decorated beautifully as the florist on board is from Holland and does a wonderful job - lots of trees everywhere with different themes as well as gorgeous flower arrangements.

[OleSalt]

Ditto to thew above description. New Years Eve included non-alcoholic "champagne". There was a family group on board with some fifteen children/teens. They led the carol singing and lit the tree and sprinkled the "snow". Very nice touch, we'll do it aain next yesr.

[vinonme2]

It sounds so very nice, thank you all for the feedback.

 

Looking at the Amsterdam pictures on the Hal website, the ship has about the same look and layout as many of the other Hal ships. Only real difference I noticed was that the Pinnacle Grille was quite ornate and the buffet seating area is not as crowded with tables.

I really liked the look of the public rooms on the Ocean Princess. They were very inviting and looked like someone's beautiful home.

 

Other Amsterdam feedback is very welcome.

 

Our agent has the cabin on hold till Monday, so we've got to decide soon.