On February 11, 2008, we embarked on our first Holland America cruise. This ten day vacation was excellent with only some minor problems. There is no doubt that it was expensive, but part of that included the Panama Canal fee. As a contrast to some of the bad reviews provided on this board, we feel that perfection is impossible to attain. It is important to put the overall experience into proper perspective.
The embarkation process was fast and smooth. A porter took our luggage, we parked in the concrete garage, passed through the screening process and boarded the ship in less than one hour. The luggage was delivered to the rooms very quickly. The Lido was crowded for lunch on the first day, but that is expected and normal.
We like fixed seating at 8:00 P.M., but were assigned AYWD. After a quick trip to see the maitre d', this was resolved to our satisfaction. He gave us a great table for two, fixed at 8:00 P.M., in a very good location. After the second night, we received a letter from the officer in charge of the dining rooms telling us that our "request for a table change had been denied". Our maitre d' ignored this and we had our table available on most days for breakfast and lunch and always for dinner. He continued to provide us with superior, personalized service and we demonstrated our gratitude at the end of the cruise.