Oosterdam Review
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Additional details
On the Oosterdam...everyone was friendly and happy. Many employees (of all levels of employment) ate in the buffet area and got along with each other and the passengers. The stateroom (aft, end stateroom) was large and quiet. The room stewards were a hoot, it seemed everyone loved working there! The breakfast buffet was spread out and varied menus offered as was the case for lunches and dinners. The entertainment was good and the bars offered a Happy Hour where you buy one and get one for a dollar...we hit all three most days. The stops were not all that interesting and the shore excursions were expensive and not very interesting either,(tour office people were rather short with passengers and were seldom available) but I was prepared and we made our own excursions and had a good time! ( I have an entire portfolio of port information if anyone needs anything.) They celebrated our anniversary and my birthday was a big deal! I even got a bottle of champagne for it!
Halloween was festive and fun! We made a lot of friends on board and settled into a favorite bar for the evening Happy Hours. We had a SMALL problem with the toilet and were sent a bottle of wine as an apology, I made a positive comment about the staff to the front desk and was rewarded with a bottle of wine....everything was just wonderful! I would HIGHLY recommend this ship! This ship had some T Shirt sales and inexpensive things for sale. The menu's at dinner were always new and exciting. There were many rotations on this cruise...people getting off and on at different locations, but the dinning room did not repeat any menu's. Service was classy and friendly. Some nights I did not care for much on the menu so I was told to order what I felt like eating and it was served quickly!
(As a background, we had just left the Queen Victoria and that ship was such a disappointment. This ship was a breath of fresh air!)
Cabin Review
Deluxe Ocean-View Verandah Stateroom
This was on the end of the ship right above and open deck but we never heard a sound other than the wake as we traveled through the sea. It was a HUGE room with a large verandah BUT the verandah (this deck only) was not entirely covered so it was not usable in rainy weather of when the sun was hot. The TV was a large wall mount, but since we had a large room, it was not easily seen from the living area so we had to sit on the bed most of the time. Bathroom was large and had a nice tub. Room service was great and when we tipped the waiters, they always looked so grateful! I had to ask for additional hangers but closets were huge and under the bed and couch had additional storage!!! No laundry on the ship (we already knew that) so we had the laundry service which was fast and good! No foot traffic going past this room but it was a hike to get mid ship. we do a lot of cruising but Deni and Yudi were the best room stewards ever!!!!
Port Reviews
Monaco (Monte Carlo)
easy walking here. the second visit with thei ship was November 1 and a holiday so even restaurants were closed.
Corsica (Ajaccio)
walkable
Sete
walkable
Barcelona
this was the second cruise in a month and the third stop in Barcelona...so we just walked. They had a shuttle to town (NOT free) and it s all walkable. Few wifi places. Years ago we did a city tour and if this is your first time, I suggest that but make sure it includes an INSIDE tour of the cathedral !
Seville
walkable
Gibraltar
I wanted to take the cable car to the top but we were told of long lines and the fact we had to stop and see the monkeies so we just walked from the ship to town. They have a marvelous shopping area and that was a treasure...check out the glass blowing shop...wonderful! It is hidden away so ask someone!
Malaga
walkable
Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
We have been here with other cruises but this time I was talking to a local and was shown a shopping area behind the cathedral. It was a great find and the street venders all over had great deals. Buy REAL Mallorca pearls!
Toulon
walkable