There is an air of dignity in the Westerdam. The ship, part of Holland America’s Vista class, entered service in 2004, but has some sobriety and elegance that contrast with newer more modern vessels. At the same time, the Westerdam is showing its age. Like all the ships in the cruise industry, the Westerdam is a workhorse – there are some visible signs that the ship might need to be revamped soon, among them worn out curtains, minor water leakages and run down carpets. Still, the Westerdam is a ship that stands out among the growing cruise lines fleet. It reminds passengers of the real meaning of cruises, that is, the joy of sailing the ocean in an elegant manner, away from huge floating malls, climbing walls and water slides.

But what it really makes of the Westerdam a remarkable ship is its crew. The commitment of every employee, from top to bottom, to attend to all guests and excel in service is commendable. For over seven days, the overstretched and, in most cases, overworked crew did their best to provide superb service, taking care of every single detail and following-up obsessively to ensure that all guests were satisfied. Contrary to many other cruise lines, and other vessels even within Carnival Corp., managers at the Westerdam work hard to provide personalized service to guests, even if it means additional work. Their work ethic is outstanding. As the ship’s wine cellar master pointed out “we are here to serve you. If it wasn’t for you sailing with us, we wouldn’t have a job.”

The seven-day Alaska roundtrip cruise from Seattle to Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, showed the best side of Holland America Line. The breathtaking Alaskan scenery, the wildlife, and the picturesque towns, are only part of an unforgettable journey that needs to be in everyone’s bucket list. But overall, what it really made of this trip notable was the attention that all the crew members provided to passengers during that week. Read more