This was our 23rd cruise and the 8th with HAL, previously sailing with Cunard (4), Disney (4), Princess (4), Royal Caribbean (2) and Celebrity (1).
We were on the Veendam earlier this year to Bermuda and had bad weather going to and coming back from Bermuda. This was our chance to enjoy the ship with the added bonus of fall foliage and colors enroute. Overall, it was a great cruise which is always better than going to work.
We arrived the day before. Always a good idea, in order to reduce the stress of missing the ship. A number of passengers we met got delayed in Atlanta or other places enroute and so always wise to build in an extra day or two if possible.
We had an oceanview cabin (DA 551) on deck 5 towards the bow. It is close to the elevators, a bit noisy as everyone goes past your cabin. Always some rude inconsiderate people talking loudly at 1 in the morning or really early in the morning. Directly across from cabin 553 (next door) are the room attendants who start work early and make a loud of noise because of the nature of their work. Also, right above you on the lower promenade deck on Deck 6 are the cable fittings which attach to the ramp for disembarkation onto ground level from deck 3, in Quebec City, Charlottetown and Syndey, when a bridge or jetway is not used. If you are an early rise and won't be bothered by the noise, great. If not, pick another cabin.