Volendam Review
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Additional details
We were invited to join some friends on this itinerary. My husband wanted to revisit Vietnam, and I had previous enjoyable trips to Hong Kong and Japan. For us, the shipboard experience is as important and enjoyable as the destinations/excursions. Our previous experiences include a recent Mediterranean cruise on the new Viking Ocean Sea, as well as shorter cruises with Royal Caribbean, NCL, the point being we are not Holland long-time cruisers. In fact, this was our first Holland cruise and we were very interested in joining the apparently loyal Holland community onboard.
Overall, the experience with Holland was good. The front desk staff was always pleasant and helpful. The cabin stewards provided prompt and excellent cabin service. In-room dining service was prompt and the servers reviewed each meal delivered before leaving the cabin. Shipboard entertainment was somewhat varied, but it did repeat over the 28-days. We enjoyed afternoon team trivia the most, and the various evening music venues (Adagio and Barry from Boston - depending on our moods). However, Adagio was located in an open lounge, adjacent to a main thoroughfare and near the rowdier piano bar, resulting in comments from the Adagio crowd. (??) Admittedly, we enjoyed Barry from Boston, as he controlled his show and audience skillfully and was talented. My friend attended most of the Test Kitchen sessions and was very impressed by them. We took in a few of the movies, but the more interesting of them had subtitles which were difficult to read (flashed across the screen too rapidly). The main entertainment venue was okay, with the multi-talented singers/dancers.
The fitness center was bright and open, but I will comment about the fitness instructor and fitness lectures. The young instructor was very dictatorial and insulting as he lead us through the exercise programs. I went twice and did not return. The fitness lectures - don't go. I spent nearly an hour, hoping to absorb important information from the fitness instructor about body fat, cleansing the system, etc., until I realized it was a sales effort to buy products. The same day, I googled the same lecture, and found multiple comments of the same. I guess I didn't expect this from Holland, as a more refined cruise experience. Just in general, there seemed to be a smorgasbord of shipboard sales pitches.
Cabin Review
Large Ocean-View Stateroom
The best part of the cabin experience was the service provided by our cabin stewards - first rate! We booked cabin 3366, as we wanted to experience a promenade deck cabin, located immediately at the beginning of the corridor. I had read, unfortunately after booking this particular cabin, that it and those following it, would be located under the dining room kitchen. Every night around 11pm-midnight, and early in the morning around 6am there were rolling noises above (dish carts?). Annoying but not enough to keep us awake for long. The bed was comfortable. Lighting in the cabin was adequate except in front of the closets - we used flashlights, as the lighting there was not bright enough to see inside. My husband uses a CPAP machine and we have learned to carry a power strip and extension cord, which we arranged on the first day, since the closest outlet to the bed was across the cabin over the desk. The bathroom was comfortable, cabin 3366 having a full shower replacing the tub. We would book the promenade deck again but pay more attention to the particular cabin reviews beforehand.
Port Reviews
Koh Samui
Our first excursion and exposure to temples, shrines. Had an enjoyable monk experience at the temple.
Bangkok (Laem Chabang)
Went to Ayuddhaya to experience the Wats. Ok tour.
Sihanoukville
This needs to be discontinued. Nothing enjoyable about visiting with the local residents here.
Da Nang
My husband enjoyed the historical value of the citadel, being the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam. I would have enjoyed the Hoi An tour more.
Halong Bay
Enjoyed sailing the bay area, enjoying the geographical diversity. The cave visit is over rated.
Hong Kong
We enjoy taking hop on/off bus tours when we are in a new city and have time to revisit areas we see from the bus tour. In Hong Kong, we took all 3 bus line tours eventually.
Shanghai
Watertown has good shopping and food stalls, but this tour did not offer enough time to experience the town to its fullest. Book it on your own. The second day in Shanghai, we walked the city independently and enjoyed it.
Seoul (Incheon)
A trip to town and back. Very cold and windy day of the tour. Good mix of old and new on this tour.
Singapore
We stayed in Singapore days before embarkation and thoroughly enjoyed the city. Subway system is easy to follow and use. Residents are friendly, and english is spoken.
Kagoshima
Enjoyed Chian tour of Samurai houses (outside only) and gardens. Friends went to Sengan-en Gardens and enjoyed that tour as well.