This cruise was called "Celtic & Gaelic Explorer". We actually embarked at Ijmuiden which you need to be aware of because if you stay in Amsterdam, the taxi fare to the port is substantial.

We had heard great things about this ship, but found it to be highly overrated. We knew it was an old ship, but it is not well maintained. Our stateroom, called a veranda suite, on upper promenade deck, was quite worn. The wood areas were dinged up and the couch and cushions on the veranda chairs were worn and appeared dirty. The most disgusting thing was finding some sort of piece of candy or throat lozenge in the pillow case ! The captain confirmed that Holland America is trying to sell this ship so I can see why they don't want to put money into maintenance. But the price of the cruises is too high for a ship in this condition. One aft elevator was not working for at least 5 days of the cruise, leaving only one operational aft elevator. Deck 10 laundry had only 2 working washing machines - very inadequate for the number of people on ship.

Our dining reservations were poorly handled. We reserved our table for 2 early dining over one year in advance. The first night we were taken to a table for 8. When we requested a table for 2 it was handled grudgingly and discourteously. We found the food overall to be mediocre, nothing great. Finally the charge for bottled water in the room was outrageous. Holland America "nickel and diming" for everything puts them in a low class operation in my opinion. We enjoyed the itinerary and the ports but I would NOT sail on this ship again.