We just returned from the 16 night South American Explorer cruise. On the whole, the trip was everything I expected and I would highly recommend Holland America with the caveats that no cruise will be perfect and that individual expectations will influence one's enjoyment and satisfaction with a cruise- no matter what the cruise line.

Embarkation- we hired a private car and guide to take us from the Santiago airport to Valparaiso. As a result, we were able to see a number of the sights along route as well as the highlights of Santiago. Embarkation was a breeze- we were in a deluxe verandah suite so had a separate check-in line. There were quite a number of people waiting for regular check-in but I do not know how long they waited. Our cabin was ready and our luggage arrived shortly before lifeboat drill.

Accommodations- this was our third cruise with HAL so we knew what to expect. Our previous cruises were on Vista ships. On the Rotterdam, the balcony seemed to be larger than on the Vistas. We were located directly across from the Neptune Lounge which was a perfect location. Read more