My husband and I recently disembarked from the January 23rd sailing on the MS Noordam, and wanted to share with you our experiences. Normally, embarkation in Fort Lauderdale is chaos coupled with frustration. On this sailing, it was not only fast (fifteen minutes from cab departure to feet on the promenade deck), but organized and welcoming. After receiving our room keys in the terminal, we were offered glasses of lemonade/iced tea/chilled water and cookies prior to stepping on to the gangway. Being early birds, we did have one hour to enjoy the upper deck before our stateroom was ready, but the party was already in full swing. As with our prior HAL cruise, we immediately noticed the difference in the 'class' of our fellow passengers. Generally well dressed, sans tattoos and t-shirts, and mostly under 200 pounds (Lord, I apologize.........) and under the age of 65! Lots of Canadians and Europeans, very few Floridians, enough said there....... Living in a resort community and working in the resort industry has made us both uniquely observant vacationers. This being our sixth cruise, we must say that this sailing has far surpassed all others. The MS Noordam is truly a magnificent ship and the crew outstanding. While those may be comments you would expect to hear, you should know that this is the first crew we've found so "accessible", the aspect which we found to be the most distinguishing of this sailing. Almost without exception, everyone we spoke to from the wait and spa staff, room stewards, to the captain always had time to stop and engage in genuine conversation. Beyond the courtesies expected of them, we learned quickly of the newborn son of a waiter, the intimate meeting of the shopping specialists (fell in love on another ship, he a dealer, she a dancer), to the Captain with a story so hilarious and unexpected, it gave us the snickers all week long. Surprisingly candid they all were which continued to enhance our feeling of being welcomed guests and part of the "inner circle", rather than burdens.

Second vote goes to the space on the promenade deck for the Explorations Cafe across from the shopping venues - an expansive space with comfy chairs, over twenty internet stations, tables for puzzles, a huge atlas, library books, travel books, card tables, all interspersed to create a lovely, peaceful gathering area to just "hang-out". I've not seen this layout on any other ship, and it was so inviting and comfortable, we found ourselves there several times each day to just chill out and dial in. Other niceties.......upon returning to our ship after each day in port, there were crew members handing out damp towels, chilled water, and again, cookies prior to stepping back on the gangway. No other ship we have sailed has offered this service, which while seemingly insignificant was really lovely after a long, fun, sweaty day in the sun. The "as you wish" dining option worked flawlessly. Most nights, we asked for a table for two never waiting more than five minutes to be seated. The food was outstanding with plenty of healthy, vegetarian options. And the Chocolate Extravaganza night? Art almost too beautiful to eat. But somehow we managed:).

We booked a balcony stateroom on the very top and center back of the ship. These balconies are slightly longer allowing for full reclining in the sun. Our proximity to the pool and the Lido was ideal. And the beds? There is just no sleep on earth like the sleep one has in one of these delicious beds, while gently rocking at sea. Our cabin was kept immaculately clean, and the towel animals? Granted I am easily entertained, but these became one of the highlights of each night. Add fresh flowers and fresh fruit, and our cabin became the perfect oasis. Read more