SHIP: The ship was good size with lots of options for eating, drinking, walking, exercising, relaxing, or reading. It was very clean with hand sanitizer dispensers spread throughout the ship. The pool was a little on the small size, but most people were very content to use the lounge chairs around the pool and just relax. The "adult pool" was a smoker's paradise so we avoided it. Not a lot of kids, maybe a 20 or so. HAL definitely caters to an older demographic. The only negative about the ship was a very noticeable constant vibration throughout the ship that got to be very annoying at times. The group at the dinner table next to us had to change tables it got so bad.

SERVICE: Holland America has it down pat. Service was great starting with check-in. It only took about 30 minutes to check-in. Getting on/off the ship for excursions was quick and efficient. On board, the staff was polite, friendly, and always greeted you with a smile. After the second day, the cabin attendants and waiters knew our names. That was nice.

FOOD: There's lots of it. The selection, variety, and presentation was good. Lines were generally not a problem except on "at sea" days. Food ranged from good to very good, occasionally raising to excellent, sometimes dropping to average. The prices for beverages were reasonable, similar to what you would find in any restaurant in any city. The Tamarind restaurant was exceptional for dinner ... worth the $20 up charge. (I didn't like lunch at the Tamarind.) Hint for future travelers: Have breakfast in the Rembrandt restaurant; table service with real menus, no up charge, and no crowds. Read more