After reading all of the negative reviews about the food, the ship, the service (though this usually gets high marks) and the activities, I was a little concerned about what we might find once we boarded. It's true that the ship looks dated and that they were regularly repairing various areas of the ship, but I've seen repairs and painting happening on Disney cruises as well. This ship is old. No doubt about it. At least compared to some of the newer mega-ships that are gracing the waters these days. However, if you keep that in mind, there is a lot to be appreciated in the Volendam.

The food was great. It wasn't always the most exciting ever, but it was always well cooked and they always had a great variety. The food at the Pinnacle Grill was AMAZING and well worth it. One of the best steaks I've ever had - and the soup was outstanding. The buffet was delicious and varied, especially at lunch. The asian food was a hit with all of us... especially the day they served Indian food. Dinner at the buffet is what they're serving in the dining room... BUT our favorite servers were in the dining room, so we usually ate there. There aren't many kids on the boat, but our servers were wonderful with our children. They had tricks for them every night - and always showed them how to do them, which kept them occupied for a long, long time. They were always fast, kind, and attentive. Ditto for our room attendant. In general - the service was amazing.

We did not attend any of the shows (except the magic act, which was fun), but the live music (jazz, classical) found in some of the bars were great. The bars and lounges were a little understaffed, so be prepared to wait some. But that's fine because you always have time and often have beautiful things to see out of the windows inside - which are everywhere. Our favorite places were the Explorers Lounge (family games, crossword puzzles, puzzles, books, chess, majong, and more). We also loved the Crow's Nest during the day. It was practically empty during the day and a great place for us to visit and watch the scenery. Kids were more than welcome up there during the day. There is a lot to see (mountains, whales, generally beautiful scenery) and it's not to be missed. It was great to always be in places where you can look out. We saw humpbacks and pods of orcas on our trip. Read more