Cruise Ship Reviews : Holland America Line Reviews
Erwin1lucy saw things this way:
A good cruise experience with a hardworking staff willing to please., February 5, 2012
Reviewer: Erwin1lucy
Pros: The staff is friendly and hard working
Cons: Ship showing some age, some bad odors
Date of cruise: January 4, 2012
Departure port: Sydney, Australia
Region visited: South Pacific/Australia
Cabin category: Inside
Cabin number: 1842
Good for children: Yes
Good for teenagers: Yes
The Volendam has a very good promenade for walking and enjoying the sea. Staff very professional. Much different entertainment. Many activities for all ages and interests. Captain kept us informed. Ship shows some age. Food quality quite good. Cabin kept very clean.
Rick Helm saw things this way:
We were exceedingly impressed by this, our first, cruise, August 23, 2010
Reviewer: Rick Helm
Pros: The helpfulness of the staff seemed to know no bounds
Cons: A minor irritation was the continual shopping information
Date of cruise: August 1, 2010
Departure port: Vancouver
Region visited: Alaska
Cabin category: Inside
Cabin number: 2554
This was our first cruise (seven nights to Alaska via the Inside Passage) and we weren't sure what to expect. The hospitality of the crew immediately impressed us and we continued to be impressed by this throughout the cruise. Nothing was too much trouble and everyone went out of their way to be welcoming and helpful. We had chosen the cheapest cabin, inside, with no views, nevertheless it was spacious, well equipped, delightfully furnished and bigger than we expected. The range of food was extensive and the quality very good. There was the option of help-yourself "canteen-type" dining in the Lido restaurant or waiter service in the Rotterdam main dining room. Both were very good and similar food. There was also the Pinnacle restaurant for a $20 surcharge, which we tried one evening, to great delight - the best steaks we'd ever had. We'd been told there would be two formal evenings during the seven nights and given the impression that we'd need to bring appropriate attire, which we did. However the option of dining in the Lido made this unnecessary and, though we chose to dine in the Rotterdam and dress formally, it's a shame the options weren't made more clear. The entertainment was adequate and of reasonable quality. However' we had excellent weather and there was always wildlife and scenery to occupy us. If the weather had been poor, I could imagine getting a little bored on days without ports of call. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. We were very pleased with the ship. We look forward to our second cruise and would have no hesitation booking with Holland America and the Volendam again.
helter712 saw things this way:
Excellent ship and great staff ., August 18, 2010
Reviewer: helter712
Pros: Value for money
Cons: Not enough time in each port
Departure port: Hong Kong
Region visited: Asia/Far East
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: 7127
In November we took a cruise on the Volendam for 14 days from Hong Kong and visited Vietnam and China. The itinerary was well thought out by Holland America and the information given in lectures on the ship was both informative and helpful . Hong Kong was a great place to start the trip as it is a facinating city with such a wide range of different areas to see. I would advise anyone to arrive a couple of days ahead of departure or to stay a couple of days at the end of the cruise. On a visit to Hong Kong be sure to visit Kowloon, Lantau, the Peak of course, the Nunnery Gardens and also do not miss the Botannical Gardens right in the centre of the city. Soho is a great place to have lunch or dinner with its wide variety of restaurants and bars . Vietnam is another incredible experience and nothing prepared us for the gardens at Nha Trang or the exquisite work done by the young women at the embroidery gallery there. Da Nang is another world and China Beach there must be visited . To visit An Hoi is to step back in time and it is so interesting to stroll through the old town and see the local people going about their business. One of the hightlights of the trip was the two days we spent in Shanghai where the ship docked right in the centre of the city. At night we were surrounded by the lights and all the ships and boats using the waterway offered such a wonderful spectacle as they were lit up with all the colours of the rainbow. The city offered such a variey of experiences including the Jade Buddah temple, the Shanghai Museum , the Arts and Crafts Research institute to the wonderful old town with its tea houses. The location of the ship made it possible to walk into the city in a very short time. Watching the Volendam back down the river as we left Shanghai was a unique experience. On our itinerary in China were Xiamen and the island of Gulangyu, a ferry ride away. There are no cars on the island and it was most relaxing to stroll around the island and see the colonial architecture from an era long gone. We were delighted to watch a puppet show given by masters of the craft before returning to Xiamen I would recommend the Holland America cruise line and this particular cruise without any hesitation
Volendam reviews
Average customer rating:
4.36 / 5
4.36 / 5
Average Rating based on 3 Reviews:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
4.33
4.33
4.00
5.00
5.00
4.33
3.00
4.00
4.67
4.33
4.00
5.00
5.00
4.33
3.00
4.00
4.67
Erwin1lucy saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Staff and Service
3
3
4
5
4
4
3
4
5
4
4
A good cruise experience with a hardworking staff willing to please., February 5, 2012
Reviewer: Erwin1lucy
Pros: The staff is friendly and hard working
Cons: Ship showing some age, some bad odors
Date of cruise: January 4, 2012
Departure port: Sydney, Australia
Region visited: South Pacific/Australia
Cabin category: Inside
Cabin number: 1842
Good for children: Yes
Good for teenagers: Yes
The Volendam has a very good promenade for walking and enjoying the sea. Staff very professional. Much different entertainment. Many activities for all ages and interests. Captain kept us informed. Ship shows some age. Food quality quite good. Cabin kept very clean.
Rick Helm saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
We were exceedingly impressed by this, our first, cruise, August 23, 2010
Reviewer: Rick Helm
Pros: The helpfulness of the staff seemed to know no bounds
Cons: A minor irritation was the continual shopping information
Date of cruise: August 1, 2010
Departure port: Vancouver
Region visited: Alaska
Cabin category: Inside
Cabin number: 2554
This was our first cruise (seven nights to Alaska via the Inside Passage) and we weren't sure what to expect. The hospitality of the crew immediately impressed us and we continued to be impressed by this throughout the cruise. Nothing was too much trouble and everyone went out of their way to be welcoming and helpful. We had chosen the cheapest cabin, inside, with no views, nevertheless it was spacious, well equipped, delightfully furnished and bigger than we expected. The range of food was extensive and the quality very good. There was the option of help-yourself "canteen-type" dining in the Lido restaurant or waiter service in the Rotterdam main dining room. Both were very good and similar food. There was also the Pinnacle restaurant for a $20 surcharge, which we tried one evening, to great delight - the best steaks we'd ever had. We'd been told there would be two formal evenings during the seven nights and given the impression that we'd need to bring appropriate attire, which we did. However the option of dining in the Lido made this unnecessary and, though we chose to dine in the Rotterdam and dress formally, it's a shame the options weren't made more clear. The entertainment was adequate and of reasonable quality. However' we had excellent weather and there was always wildlife and scenery to occupy us. If the weather had been poor, I could imagine getting a little bored on days without ports of call. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. We were very pleased with the ship. We look forward to our second cruise and would have no hesitation booking with Holland America and the Volendam again.
helter712 saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
5
5
4
5
5
4
3
3
5
5
4
5
5
4
3
3
5
Excellent ship and great staff ., August 18, 2010
Reviewer: helter712
Pros: Value for money
Cons: Not enough time in each port
Departure port: Hong Kong
Region visited: Asia/Far East
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: 7127
In November we took a cruise on the Volendam for 14 days from Hong Kong and visited Vietnam and China. The itinerary was well thought out by Holland America and the information given in lectures on the ship was both informative and helpful . Hong Kong was a great place to start the trip as it is a facinating city with such a wide range of different areas to see. I would advise anyone to arrive a couple of days ahead of departure or to stay a couple of days at the end of the cruise. On a visit to Hong Kong be sure to visit Kowloon, Lantau, the Peak of course, the Nunnery Gardens and also do not miss the Botannical Gardens right in the centre of the city. Soho is a great place to have lunch or dinner with its wide variety of restaurants and bars . Vietnam is another incredible experience and nothing prepared us for the gardens at Nha Trang or the exquisite work done by the young women at the embroidery gallery there. Da Nang is another world and China Beach there must be visited . To visit An Hoi is to step back in time and it is so interesting to stroll through the old town and see the local people going about their business. One of the hightlights of the trip was the two days we spent in Shanghai where the ship docked right in the centre of the city. At night we were surrounded by the lights and all the ships and boats using the waterway offered such a wonderful spectacle as they were lit up with all the colours of the rainbow. The city offered such a variey of experiences including the Jade Buddah temple, the Shanghai Museum , the Arts and Crafts Research institute to the wonderful old town with its tea houses. The location of the ship made it possible to walk into the city in a very short time. Watching the Volendam back down the river as we left Shanghai was a unique experience. On our itinerary in China were Xiamen and the island of Gulangyu, a ferry ride away. There are no cars on the island and it was most relaxing to stroll around the island and see the colonial architecture from an era long gone. We were delighted to watch a puppet show given by masters of the craft before returning to Xiamen I would recommend the Holland America cruise line and this particular cruise without any hesitation