I was 52 and my wife 37 while our son was 22 months when we sailed the week after Thanksgiving. The Oosterdam is not a ship for parents traveling with toddlers. One example sums it up - the gift shop sells diapers for incontinent adults but none for children. HAL charges fees for children but provides little for it. Waiting 30 minutes in the Lido casual restaurant while they sent someone seven decks below to look for a highchair in a week when they only had 17 children onboard is another example of how HAL has not recognized that they must provide services for children if they are going to solicit families to travel with them.
EMBARKATION : The boarding process was smooth, efficient and a model for other cruiselines to emulate. Unfortunately, once onboard, we had to wait until 1:45 pm to gain access to our stateroom. In the interim, we were crowded into the Lido casual restaurant where there were not enough seats because passengers used them for carry-on luggage rather than checking it. The HAL staff did nothing to help.
CABIN : Our cabin was an oversized suite of almost 400 square feet. The bathroom had a tub and shower as well as lots of storage. The stateroom itself was well organized. The balcony, at almost 70 square feet was perfect. Unfortunately, our steward was a disaster who substantially detracted from our experience during our cruise. Only one champagne glass at sailing despite the presence of two champagne bottles on ice that had been delivered by HAL staff. It took a visit to the front desk and several reminders to the steward before this situation was remedied. The steward also failed to make the sofa bed on two of the seven nights despite knowing that there were three people in the room and having been requested to make the bed. He also failed to deliver breakfast room service order forms on several says. It also took several attempts to get laundry bags and order forms. In addition, we were one deck below the casual restaurant and were awakened at ^:#) am every morning by the sounds of crew members dropping off glassware at serving station. He was so bad that we spoke with the hotel manager on the third day and conditions did not materially improve with the steward.