Just returned from our 12 Carribean days with Holland America Lines on board the Nieuw Amsterdam. Fantastic,the stateroom staff were the most outgoing people that you could ask for. We had a veranda room with beautiful views of the ocean, ports, sunsets and of course sunrises. Five options for dining, from "dressy" to casual on deck. Several evening spots for music and entertainment, piano bar, jazz, blues, and live dance performances.It was an eight island tour with stops in Tortola,Dominica,St Lucia, Barbados,Marinque,St. Martin,St. Thomas and Half Moon Kay. This was our third cruise with Holland America and we can't recommend them enough!! Great Cruising!!! Our shore visits consisted mainly of guided tours of each island, seeing sights,learning history of each Island and special interest places like old island churches and even 400 year old rum distilleries still in operation. Plants and flowers everywhere with many explained to us as medicinal uses, trees and grasses. Never a dull moment!!