Westerdam Review

Great for older (60+) travellers

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Westerdam
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ccruiser72
6-10 Cruises • Age 50s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Nov 2013
Traveled with children

This is our 6th cruise and 1st on Holland America. We are usually NCL cruisers. This is a great ship. Much smaller than some of the others and very well kept. The cabins are large and spacious compared to others. The food is just fantastic. Light years ahead of any other ship we have been on. Even in the buffet deck (Lido), it is always fresh and great tasting with lots of variety. The food in the main dining room was comparable to any restaurant. The food in Le Cirque was world class.

As far as value for money, it is also the best ship we have been on. Drinks are a very fair price, comparable to any bar on shore and they even let you take your own wine on board. The waiters do add an automatic tip of 15% to drinks which I am fine with and they don't bug you to give more. It has always bothered me on the other ships that they add 18% and then also expect "additional" tip. There is also a $12 per person per day automatic tipping on the rooms, which I think is fair for adults but personally, I think it is ridiculous for kids. $45+ a day in automatic tipping for a family is just too much. Usually I would complain and have the kids tips removed but I won at the casino, so I left it on.

The itinerary was great, apart from Grand Turk. We wanted to just wonder about but there is nothing to see there. So best you book an activity on that island.

Cabin Review

Upper Promenade deck. Great rooms with large bathroom and spa bath. We booked the mini suite balcony and also the interior room directly across the passage for our kids. It worked out about $400 more for 2 rooms, rather than squeezing into 1 and was well worth it.

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