Nieuw Amsterdam Review

4.5 / 5.0
963 reviews

Christmas Cruise with Family

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam
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keith.borg
2-5 Cruises • Age 30s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Dec 2016
Cabin: Large Spa Ocean-View Stateroom
Crew Caroling on Christmas Eve
Ship in Turks and Caicos
View of Pool with retractable roof when it rains
Ship decorated for Christmas
Manhattan Dining Room - Typically Dinner for Seven
View from our Room
Christmas Day Menu - Drinks
Christmas Day Menu - Dinner
Christmas Eve Menu - Drinks
Christmas Eve Menu - Dinner

We selected Holland America for the food and service (our second cruise ever). We're in our early thirties and we're joined by both sets of parents and an 18 year old sister with a total of 7 in our group. We had a really nice Christmas on this cruise and would recommend it to others.

Disembarkation: We flew in the night before to ensure no flight delays. We aimed to be at the cruise port at 1:00 but due to heavy traffic didn't make it until 1:45.(9 cruise ships leaving on the same day with an estimated 25,000 arriving and another 25,000 leaving). Unfortunately some flights were cancelled and some other passengers didn't make the cruise. Despite the official paperwork saying the boarding process was 1:00 to 5:00 we learned that we could have boarded as early as 11:30 that morning. Food was available at Lido upon boarding, the buffet restaurant as it always is (skip paying for an outside lunch)..

Ship: Built in 2010, the ship still feels relatively fresh and classy. There's not a ton of activities (no water slides or climbing wall) but that's expected due to the small size of the ship as it only carries ~2,100 passengers verses 5,000-7,000 of larger ships. The Silk Den (bar) on the top deck (11) is the best place for some quiet and to enjoy the views.

Cabin Review

Large Spa Ocean-View Stateroom

Cabin CQ

Having a window at the front of the ship meant we could watch the sunrise and pull into port each morning from our bed. We loved use room service for breakfast so we could enjoy this view with our morning tea. The room was ~260 sq ft (verses 160 and below) and included Yoga mats, cotton robes, slippers, mini fridge, tub, with a shower head adjustable for height. If you had a window on the side of the ship the view is often blocked when you pull along side another ship at a port.

We loved our room. We had initially booked an interior state room and three week prior to our departure had the opportunity for an upgrade to a room with a window for $200 more. We were allowed to select this Spa suite and it felt like a huge value for the price.

The location was convenient for all things located on the top decks of the ship. However, as you are located near the top of the ship you will feel the movement of the ocean more. I am prone to sea sickness and just felt it the one morning while traveling on the open ocean when I rushed my morning routine so I could get to a lower floor. I would book this room again as it'd didn't make me sick.

Port Reviews

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)

Ocean World - It was nice but was mostly just shows. Lots of opportunities to spend money on extras. Worth it if you plan to swim with the dolphins but wouldn't say the rest was worth it on it's own.

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