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Inspiring cruise by
Kristine B from Steuben, Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: the pace of my travel Cons: wish we could have travelled longer--no time My family and I had a wonderful cruise--loved the ports--no suitcases--tours were very informative and well planned--great waitstaff and cabin stewards--food was delicious and so many choices!! On a sea day I had time to relax in the library reading magazines and listening to soft guitar music. It was great! Ship Quality
Dining/Foodabsolutely delicious---so many choices and all wonderful to taste! Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff Qualitystaff was very friendly---cabin stewards wanted our rooms to be perfect for us--the waitstaff wanted us to like our meals or would provide us w another--iced tea/coffee was always waiting for us at our table Entertainment & Activities
 
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Helsinki, FinlandSurprised by the work of Saarinen the architect
Kiel, GermanyWe met our exchange student;s family here! We had a great day shopping and visiting the cafes!! Museums weren't open on a Monday/
St. Petersburg, Russian Federationneed more time at the Hermitage
Don't Miss: St Catherine's palace and the Hermitage museum//ballet was great too Stockholm, SwedenIce bar was really fun!!!
Don't Miss: ice bar Tallinn, EstoniaDon't Miss: medieval village Warnemunde (Berlin), Germanywould have liked more time in Berlin--Antiquities Museum was amazing
Don't Miss: Memorial to the Burning of the Books in 1933--small but haunting memorial 8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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  The Coolest Cabanas! by
A Traveler from Chantilly, VA Sailing date: Feb 2009Pros: Having the cabana for sea days. DIdn't have to worry about "saving" chairs. We were waited on hand and foot, given champagne, fresh fruit, chilled water, chocolate covered strawberries and delivered lunch. We also had piped in music and an IPOD to use.All inexpensively! Cons: There were MANY elderly folks that walked very slowly, so you had to be very patient. This was an excellent ship with excellent staff and special touches in the room such as a base for your IPhone and a flat screen TV. The pool was a little small, but otherwise it was up there with the best!! Ship Quality
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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greatv vacation by
Rebecca D from dixon, il Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: everything this was my first cruise i thought the staff was superb romeo was our "pool boy" he was absolutly awsome. yadie was our resaturant waiter- he is definatley a keeper if i ever get to cruise again, i will keep you in mind you score a "10: in my book Ship Quality
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8 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Not one to repeat by
Sharon R. from Tampa, FL Sailing date: Jan 2009Pros: The Mini Suite Cons: Ship layout and cabanas The ship was beautiful of course. It's new. The layout was confusing at best and very claustrophobic and compartmentalized. If this were your first or second cruise, you wouldn't have anything to compare it to and probably wouldn't notice. I would recommend this for older first timers. This was our 13th cruise and the ship is different. The service from the Indonesian and Phillipino crew was the best. An unusually large amount of deck space is dedicated to rarely used "cabanas". Ship QualityThe layout was very closed in and claustrophobic. Low ceilings on the Lido deck had some taller people ducking to miss the signs and fixtures. There was no Grand Atrium or opulent walkway to the shops. The atrium only went up 2 decks and the shops are all in one large room that goes from one side of the ship to the other. You walk down a center aisle and go to the area you wish to shop in. strange. The cabanas by the pool and the deck above seemed to be a waste of space. I only saw a couple used all week. Dining/FoodAlthough the food in the dining room was adequate, we chose to eat mainly on the Lido buffet. There was a lack of variety at dinner though. They also choose to close off half of the Lido dining area each night for the crew and officers of the ship. That was odd. With part of it sectioned off for the Italian restaurant and the rest of that side closed for the crew, it could get crowded on the one open side. Stateroom QualityWe had a mini-suite, cabin 6081. The best cabin by far on any cruise we've done. Contemporary furnishings and the bed was exceptionally comfortable. The balcony was very large and comfortable as well. We had breakfast in the room every day. Ship Staff QualityThe staff was excellent. I found the attentive service on the Lido surprising and appreciated. Unfortunately, our cabin steward was the worst we've ever had. We were lucky to get our room cleaned before dinner each day. Entertainment & ActivitiesWe saw only one show, the comedienne. She was good, but, not extraordinary. The daily activities were not anything to write home about. 34 out of 37 people found this review helpful.
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Early December Cruise of the Eurodam by
Julie J from West Bend WI Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: Winning at the casino Cons: Service was disappointing Overall the cruise was ok but the general service on the cruise was a disappointment. The ship itself is very nice although a bit more crowded that some of the other HAL ships we have been on.
We never did get introduced to our cabin steward, and although the cabin was always cleaned and we cared for I missed the personal touch that was given on previous cruises. We were told that the cabins are taken care of by several stewards now and not a single person. More efficent I assume but less personal.
The food on this cruise seemed more standardized and the menu less varried. We did the open seating and were disapointed in the overall service. The waiters never get to know you and the flow of the meals in open dining is slow. We often had to rush the end of the meal or skip[ coffee to make the late show or entertainment.
Shops seemed to be poorly stocked and managed. Some shop staff even a bit rude and distant.
Deck space seemed to be cramped with the private cabanas that were added. The overall feel of the decks also seemed more crowed. I suppose this happens when you add an extra 200 plus people on a ship but still have about the same deck space. Ship QualityIt wa sa very pretty ship-but it is new and should be in good shape. Dining/Food
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Grand Turk Island
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasHAL docks at the newer dock accross the island so you are not on the main part of the island near main shopping. You must take a taxi into town.
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
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Eurodam Holland America by
Tammy U from Neenah, WI Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: The Food Cons: N/A, everything was great The ship was beautiful, the staff, entertainment was excellent, the food was the best we ever had and we have been on over six cruises. Ship Quality
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Stateroom QualityThe beds, pillow's, robe and linens were of wonderful quality. Ship Staff QualityAlways pleasant and helpful Entertainment & ActivitiesThe entertainment, comedy and activities were great!
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Grand Turk IslandWaste of time
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)This is the most beautiful private island we have been too......
San Juan, Puerto RicoLoved how much time was given at this port, that is why we chose this cruise
Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasDidnt like the distance from pier to shopping, but really like St Thomas
13 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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Disappointing Experience by
Dan J from Milwaukee wi Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: Great bar waitress in Angie-she single handedly salvaged our service experience Cons: Overall indifference of the crew including management and officers The Eurodam was a disappointment. HAL added cabins and more people but the overall feel was more crowded than other HAL ships we have been on. The cabana's on the observation and Lido decks make the ship feel crowded and cramped and disrupt any flow that those decks have on the Westerdam and Oosterdam. Overall the ship is technically sound but not as pleaseant to crusie on during sea days. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodFood was at best average. Menu was uninspired. Three types of bread served over 7 days? Quantity was there but overall food experience was a letdown. HAL needs to dump the open seating concept-they do not know how to make that work and it seems to have affected the elagance of the dining experience as the wait staff seems spread to thin and unable to stage the meals in this type of environment Stateroom QualityOverall no real complaints about the cabins other than for being a new ship it seems to have lost some storage-no medicine cabinet in the bathroom on VA cabins only shelves with no practical lip to keep items in place during rolling motions. Ship Staff QualityWith the exception of one staff member I was given the impression that we were an imposing when seeking a drink. Bar staff ranged from morose to rude. Entertainment & Activities
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Grand Turk IslandOther than margaritaville not much to do-I think this is HALs fault as they offer very little in the way of good excurssions here. Several passengers set up their own fishing trips and made their own arrangements. The Flowrider at Margaritaville is fun and reasonably priced for the experience.
San Juan, Puerto RicoBest to see Old San Juan on your own. Easy walk and plenty to see. We did the city tour and distillery tour at Bacardi as we had done this once before. Would not reccomend it-they have turned the tour into a big advertisement and the city tour is very limited.
Don't Miss: El Moro Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasNot much stands out-take the St John Island snorkel
12 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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Most elegant yet! by
Joan B. from Orlando, FL Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: Beautiful restaraunts and lounges Cons: some of the lounge entertainment This is Holland America's most elegant ship to date. The Mainstage for the big shows is state of the art, with moving stages and great sound. The Silk Den Lounge is a must-see...very secluded, posh and elegant. I wasn't thrilled with the lead singer of the magnificent HalCats, nor the string quartet, but the evening shows were terrific. The service meets HA's usual ly high standards, you will definitely be spoiled. Cabin space was larger than most cruise ships, another reason why I like the Holland America Line overall. Will definitely repeat! Ship QualityThe public areas are beautiful and comfortable, especially the unique Silk Den Lounge. Dining/FoodThe Pinnacle Grill is the best eating venue by far, with greattasting steaks and appetizers. The main dining room food is better than other cruise lines, but sometimes hit-and-miss on the entrees. Stateroom QualityLarger than other cruise lines, and the bed is sooo comfortable! I usually have insomnia when I travel, but not here. Ship Staff QualityAs always, friendly and accomodating staff. Entertainment & ActivitiesMain shows awesome, but the string quartet painful to listen to and the lead singer of HalCats very poor (though the band itself is wonderful). 11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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A Cruise to remember by
Ramona P from Rockledge, Florida Sailing date: Nov 2008Pros: Shows Cons: Activities The ship is new and still have a lot of problems. We had early dinning (5:45)
and was finished being served until 8:00pm when the next group was
coming in. Ship Qualityrooms are small, but bathroom's were a good size Dining/Foodservice was slow in dining room, Stateroom Qualityhad a abstructed view room, but could still see the ocean and plenty
of light in room thru window Ship Staff QualityNever did see room stewards, and was charged for a half drank bottle of
water in mini-bar that I did not use. Entertainment & ActivitiesEnjoyed the shows 3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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My first cruise by
Phyllis W. from Dixon IL Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: The relaxation Cons: I am not sure The ship was beautiful. The crew was GREAT! The food was good, although I guess I expected much more. I am not crazy about buffets, but the food on this was above average. The resturant called The Pinnacle was "out of this world". I would highly recommend it.
The cabin was very nice. The bathrooms had a bathtub in them. That was definately a plus. Not that I use a tub, but the room in the shower was so much better than anticipated. Ship Quality
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Entertainment & ActivitiesI didn't know what to expect and I did not stay up late so I could not honestly tell you about the entertainment. I did go to the pool several days and the band was playing a few times. I did not care for the lead singer.
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Grand Turk IslandDefinately a tourist trap.
San Juan, Puerto RicoI wished I would have been able to see more. I had a foot problem so I could not do a lot of walking.
Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasI couldn't believe all the jewlry stores. Of course I bought something.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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