Newbie Does Westerdam 2/18-2/25

[Briny]

DW and I just returned a few days ago from a week on the Westerdam in the Eastern Caribbean, February 18-25. It was our first cruise and one of our best vacations ever. We are sure we will be cruising again, and likely on HAL, which seems a very good fit for us. Perhaps the following observations will help someone like us, first-timers who are thinking of going on a Holland America cruise. To keep this review to a reasonable length I have intentionally omitted any comments on ports of call.

We traveled with a group of 21 persons from a neighborhood travel club, with an age range of 40s to upper 70s. Most seemed to be, like us, in their late 50s and early 60s. We chartered a coach from North-Central Florida to FLL, which was a very stress-free way to get to the ship. Embarkation was a breeze. We arrived around noon and the lines were short. The whole process was well organized and the personnel were friendly and helpful. Even as novices we did not feel the least bit intimidated. In short, it was a nice way to start a vacation.

The Highs: Service and Food

The service was definitely the highlight of the cruise. The friendliness, helpfulness and competence of the crew were much better than we had expected. We had assumed that all the ads and brochures showing all those smiling faces was just so much advertising puffery, but it wasn’t. From cabin stewards to dining room attendants to the guys who vacuum the stairs, it really seems as if the crew enjoys their jobs and making passengers happy. It may just be an act, but if so, it’s a darned good one.

The food was uniformly excellent. We had all dinners and most of our breakfasts in the main dining room. Dinners were well prepared, beautifully presented, and tasty. The portions were generous without being oversized. There were some rather plain looking items on the menu, but I usually ordered those which were more highly seasoned and was always pleased. (Look for the sun symbol, denoting a taste of the Caribbean.) Breakfasts in the dining room were pleasant, and provided an opportunity to have a nice chat with a different group of fellow passengers each day. On a couple of mornings, we had breakfast in the Lido, which was fine, although the self-service aspect of the Lido is somehow less appealing than the table service in the Vista dining room. We skipped lunch on most days, opting instead for the daily late afternoon tea. The small sandwiches and sweets served at the tea are a good way to curb one’s appetite until dinnertime without the need for a heavy lunch. Probably helped us to not gain any weight on the cruise either, I’m happy to say.

Just About What We Expected; Cabins, Public Spaces and Decor

Our cabin met our preconceived notions about what a ship’s cabin would be like. (We were in a VB on the 6th deck, portside.) It was cozy, with small scaled seating and just enough room to wriggle past the bed. We were very glad we booked a verandah stateroom. Having that bit of private outdoor space was welcome when we wanted it. There was adequate storage space – more than we had expected and more than we needed. They really need to replace those bulky old-fashioned TVs with flat panel models, to free up some space on the desk/dresser.

The public spaces on the ship (atrium, passageways, shops, casinos, etc) were pleasant, but not grand. It seemed as if every deck, bulkhead and overhead in the public areas had a unique finish and color, and they often seemed to clash with the adjoining ones. I didn’t know there were so many shades and patterns of carpeting! Every set of elevator doors was different, perhaps to help passenger know where they are. Where they could use some variety is on the cabin passageway bulkheads, all of which that I saw had the same rather institutional looking yellow finish and prints showing scenes of the Dutch countryside. There was some worn carpeting on the stairs, but it was being replaced as we sailed. There were dings and dents here and there, but overall the ship appeared very well cared for.

Better Than Expected: Entertainment, Formal Night, Fitness

The entertainment, although not always my favorite, was better than I had anticipated. I had read several reviews on these boards that severely criticized the shows, and I was not looking forward to any of them. The best of the lot was Joel Mason, who did Elton John impressions and songs. Joel was quite talented and often funny. The dancers gave high-energy performances, all the more amazing because the seas were rough for most of the voyage, and the ship was constantly pitching and heaving. The lead singers in the two main production shows were very nice looking young people, but not the best of vocalists. The Filipino crew put on a performance one evening of traditional song and dance that was amateurish…and utterly charming. We loved it. If I have any complaint about the main-stage shows it is how over-amplified they are, oftentimes painfully so. The best antidote for all the loudness was found in the Explorers Lounge where the Rosario Strings performed nightly. What a treat! We spent a number of evenings listening to their light classical and show tune arrangements for piano, violin and bass. Clearly they offered the best entertainment we had during the cruise and a wonderful way to wrap up a day at sea, along with a cool tropical drink.

Formal nights were great fun. I’m one of those guys who actually enjoy wearing a tux on occasion, so I was glad to see that I had lots of company. Based on some threads on these boards I had expected to see a lot of clashing of the formal crowd with the flip-flop gang, but if that happened, I didn’t experience it. For the most part, everyone either got in the spirit of formal dress or confined themselves to the Lido Deck or their rooms for the evening. There were a few party-poopers who showed up in daywear at the shows and other venues, but they definitely were in the minority.

The fitness center was well equipped with Cybex weight machines and rows of stationary bikes and treadmills. There were two eliptical trainers that I used several times. The view forward was awesome, giving me the sensation that my pedaling was actually propelling the ship. I also used the promenade deck for a good run on three days. I found there was plenty of running room to share with the people who were walking for exercise or just taking a leisurely stroll.

Not So Good: Pool Areas, Spa Prices

Admittedly DW and I are not pool loungers, but we found very little to attract us to either the Lido pool or the aft pool. The pools are very small and the lounge chairs are crammed together uncomfortably close to each other. The water in the pools did not look clear, and the roughness of the voyage meant there was much sloshing over the edge. Moreover, in the partially enclosed Lido area the air is heavy with chlorine and cigarette smoke. I found it much more pleasant to snooze in the sun on one of the comfortable wooden deck chairs on the promenade deck.

What can I say about price of spa treatments, other than it is just highway robbery. And after the stick-up, they try to sell you more stuff to take home. Sheesh.

The Real Letdown: The Trip Home

Disembarkation was very orderly and went off without a hitch. There were plenty of porters to help us with our bags. Customs and Immigration reviews were a snap, and alas, far too quickly we were on the Florida Turnpike, heading home, our wonderful cruising vacation over…for now.

[DixieCaribe]

Something I read was that all ships would be upgraded with flat panel TV's in all staterooms by Summer 2007. Glad you enjoyed your cruise, may it be the first of many!

[Denn33]

Something I read was that all ships would be upgraded with flat panel TV's in all staterooms by Summer 2007. Glad you enjoyed your cruise, may it be the first of many!

 

This is correct--when the ship goes into drydock this spring, they are replacing the current tvs with flat panel TV's and DVD players.

[Schplinky]

A very good review. I disagree with you on the quality of the entertainment (which I suppose is really just a matter of taste) but I agree with you on nearly all other counts. We thought service and food were easily HAL's strengths, too.

[lippylulu]

So glad you enjoyed your cruise! We were on your cruise and WOW those were some rough seas! I have been to Cane Garden Bay several times and never saw it so rough. I also agree with you about the lovely quartet playing in one of the lounges. I forgot to mention it in my review, whch was somewhat more negative than yours. A lot of people just walk by this musical group rather than sit and listen, and they really deserve more. At one point they played a song from Fiddler on the Roof and people in the lounge and walking past sarted singing and clapping!

[SmokinActuary]

I am going on the Zuiderdam in a couple of weeks during a peak week and I am concerned that the pools will be overwhelmed. :confused:

[Schplinky]

The thing with the pools was this: while the chairs around them are all taken, the pools themselves were not full of people. I think people like to be able to take a dip to cool off but don't actually swim all that much. We did find the seating around the people to be very limited but never found the pools to be a problem.

[TedC]

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Briny, and thank you very much for your excellent and balanced review. It's always interesting to read the impressions of first-time cruisers.

 

So glad you had a wonderful time and shared it with us.

[bluegrass grannie]

Briny--thanks for your positive and thoughtful review. It almost sounds like you were on a different cruise than some others who have reviewed this same one. It just shows how unique each individual experience can be.

 

Since we leave on this ship on Sunday, I am a bit concerned about the rough seas you mentioned. Was that a particular storm system you were passing through and did it last the entire week?

 

I was on the circle Carribbean out of Tampa on the Ryndam last year for a couple of weeks and we had pretty smooth sailing until the last night before we returned. I wasn't expecting to be tossed about next week and just wonder if others have experienced the same rough seas on this Westerdam route this winter.

 

If so, I guess I'll start on the ginger capsules tomorrow and the Bonine on Friday!:eek:

 

Thanks again, for a well written review. Tell us about the ports when you get a chance.

[Briny]

Bluegrass Grannie - The rough seas were mostly for the first three days of the cruise. A cold front had passed through and the winds were quite high -- around 30 kts. It was so bad that the captain cancelled the first port of call (Grand Turk) because the large swells kept him from docking safely. We also experienced some roughness on the return trip while in open waters, although it was not nearly as pronounced.

 

A number of seasoned cruisers remarked how unusual it was to have such rough sailing this time of year. Nobody in our party of 21 had seasickness, though. As a newbie I have nothing to compare it to, but it wasn't bad and I found my sea legs quickly. Now if I could just get my "land legs" back...