We just returned from a 35 day cruise of the South Pacific and were left with mixed feelings about the overall experience. This was our first cruise on Holland America and we selected it based on its South Pacific itinerary.
Embarkation: Boarding in San Diego was efficient and uneventful with the exception of a noticeably high number of over 70 guests - some with walkers or scooters. Although this did not present a problem for us socially, we did find accommodating them on tenders (which there were a lot of) tedious at times and we wondered why there wasn't a dedicated tender for older/disabled cruisers.
Common Areas: After boarding, we self-toured the ship to orient ourselves and were struck by its dark interiors and small spaces. We also noticed a lot of worn and outdated furniture in the Crow's Nest and library. Their two specialty restaurants and even the theater were not very private and did not evoke a sense of being special. On the plus side, the Crow's Nest and Library's spaciousness invited more light than any other area of the ship without being outside.
Food smells occasionally drifted in from air vents. Good size, loved the balcony.