Veendam Review

4.0 / 5.0
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Veendam - Western Caribbean

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Veendam
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superdee
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Dec 2006
Cabin: Verandah Suite

Our trip began pre cruise in Orlando and we headed to Tampa Airport to give back the rental car and catch our pre arranged transfer we booked along with our cruise. When we arrived at the airport we had a porter grab our luggage and take us to baggage claim and meet the HAL rep. She gave the porter instructions where the bus would pick us up and he took us there. The staff at the airport were very friendly and helpful. The bus arrived on time and they loaded our luggage and we headed for the cruise port. We arrived at the cruise port and embarkation was well organized and we were on the ship in quick efficient fashion. I had cruised once before and this was a real nightmare and lasted for hours. Again the staff was very helpful and we headed up to the Lido Restaurant for lunch. We were just finishing up eating and they announced our rooms were ready. Our stateroom was a Verandah suite and was really nice. It was clean, bright and a lot roomier than I expected. We had all kinds of closet space and drawers for our stuff. Our 4 suitcases fitted under the beds out of the way. We had early sitting for dinner so after a brief stay at the " Set Sail party" on the LIDO deck at the aft pool we got ready for dinner. We sat in the lower dining room in the Rotterdam and ate there every evening with the exception of Weds. where we ate at the Pinnacle Grille. Josef and Rian our waiters did an exceptional job and we became friends and they would stop and say hi whenever our paths crossed throughout the ship. Wayan the headwaiter was also very dedicated and caring and always stopped to asked how things were going even when I was snacking in the Lido. The food was awesome with all kinds of variety and they bent over backwards to appease my wife and one of our table companions who are meat and potatoes type eaters. I mentioned the Pinnacle Grille and I would consider this my big "Cruise Mistake". Our steaks were under cooked and the portions were not overwhelming. As I had mentioned my wife being kind of fussy and liking plain meals she really didn't like the place. We actually ordered room service later in the evening. The Rotterdam is a much better choice but that is our opinion. Our first port of call was Grand Cayman. We had signed up for the Atlantis Submarine tour and the Island Tour with a visit to Stingray City. The Atlantis Submarine tour was at 8.00 am and there was only 6 of us on the boat that early. This trip was awesome as we could move to take pictures from side to side. When were leaving the next trip was packed full so I suggest earlier the better. We got back to the dock and toured around town and went to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for lunch. One thing of note here is make sure when you buy stuff ask the currency as the USD is devalued to the Cayman Dollar. We are Canadian and we lose on the exchange to US as well. The cost for 2 cheeseburger Deluxes with 2 pops was $ 27.00 Cayman or $ 33.00 US. We did the bus tour by the beach and our driver Carlos took us to the dock where we boarded a small boat for a 10 minute trip to Stingray City.We got to Stingray City and boarded a boat that had a basement we big windows so we could look out and see the Stingrays and other fish as the diver brought them right to the window and fed them. The boat driver was well informed dive instructor who answered all our questions and really helped make this tour great. The tour continued and we went on to Hell and then to the Turtle Farm where I got to hold a living Sea Turtle.This was a really great day and we caught the last Tender back to the Veendam and prepared to set sail for Jamaica. The tour we booked in Jamaica was the Dolphin Cove and Dunn's Falls tour. Dolphins Cove is a great place that is secluded and quite private. The people that touched and swam with the Dolphins were great while we watched and relaxed. We went and watched the 5 buccaneers feed the the Sharks by hand in the water!!!! They are crazy but they have all their limbs and digits. We also walked through the jungle trail and I got to hold a large Iguana for a photo session and a Boa constrictor which I passed on. We left the Dolphins Cove compound and headed for Dunn's River Falls. The bus stopped and we got off and we were immediately approached by vendors to by beads water and other stuff. The bead guy was quite slick in that he put beads over all the little kids necks and then told the parents they owed him $ 2.00 per necklace. I have a bum knee and chose not to walk the Falls. We took the path down and back to the top. A few guys tried to get my camera to take our picture but I declined because I heard they run off with your camera. We got to the top and went through the vendors and they really were quite aggressive trying to sell their wares. I talked to other couples who avoided this confrontation by walking out the entrance. We then boarded the bus and it took us to a secure private shopping area that was free of pressure and we shopped for a bit and then went back to the ship. We sailed on to Costa Maya Mexico. We didn't book any shore excursions here which was probably a mistake. We had planned on taking the ruins trip but my knee was sore so we passed as I thought ruins and climbing was a bit much. We went to the shopping center at the end of the pier. We also hopped a cab into the fishing village and walked through town and were approached by all the vendors but they did take no for an answer. It is a very impoverished area and we didn't stick around long and took a cab back to the cruise terminal. There were 3 ships in port and it was hectic in this area. I did notice a lot of the younger people off the Carnival ship were pretty rowdy and getting drunk.I am glad we did not take that ship. The seas were rough and the weather was raining the last couple days but we enjoyed the sail back to Tampa. The Veendam is a very good ship and our cabin steward Sonny kept our room in great shape and kept Debbie amused with his towel dogs,rays and especially the Elephant. We left him a note that she loved the elephant and to leave it please. That afternoon lo and behold there was a baby elephant. Disembarkation was a breeze and well organized. It seemed like minutes and we were on the bus headed to our rental car. We were at Busch Gardens before we knew it continuing our vacation. For those wishing a great vacation on a fantastic cruise line with great food and exceptional people I will highly recommend the Veendam and Holland American Lines. We had a wonderful holiday and we plan on doing it again next year with our new friends we met on the cruise. We are 54 and 47 and this cruise had a variety of ages and we met some very great people who also made this trip special.

Thanks Dennis and Debbie

Cabin Review

Verandah Suite

Cabin A
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