Westerdam Review
With the launch of ms Westerdam, the third in Holland America's Vista-class series, the cruise line continues to issue itself a challenge: How to continue to appeal to traditional passengers, which in HAL's case is older, experienced travelers, while also attracting younger, more dynamic and often first-time cruisers (particularly with a family demographic).
As such, Westerdam offers today's contemporary facilities and options, from a gourmet alternative restaurant to expansive spa and from cabins upgraded with plusher furnishings to a concierge lounge for suite guests. Traditional HAL favorites, such as the Crow's Nest, an elegantly decorated main pool area, the upscale lido buffet and an elaborate casino, still have a place.
Still, we sensed that Holland America is definitely at a crossroads.
As a ship, Westerdam's efforts to offer programs and facilities to appeal to a myriad of tastes work pretty well. It balances traditional-style cruise dining in its main restaurant with a genuinely unique gourmet eatery (and its Lido buffet area is the most elegant afloat). In addition to the usual spa and fitness offerings, there's a hydrotherapy pool. Staterooms are plush and comfortable as a result of a "Signature of Excellence" upgrade.
While facilities may succeed by and large in courting a wide appeal of traveler, we're not at all sure that Holland America's traditional passengers -- or its staff and crew for that matter -- are up to the challenge. On our voyage, heavily marketed to families with young children, pool decks were overrun and posted policies were ignored (we, along with other passengers, were horrified to see children diving off the main pool's dolphin sculpture -- both sacrilegious and dangerous!). Service from staff and crew was uncharacteristically lackluster if not occasionally surly.
We also found aspects of the onboard ambience to be a bit jarring.
Holland America likes to claim that it is a premium cruise line; the fact that bingo and art auctions were continually announced over the ship-wide loudspeaker, and that the library charges passengers a $25 deposit to borrow a book (and they mean it, too; mine, though returned, wound up on my final bill), speaks otherwise. At one night's special barbecue buffet, which was billed as lasting until 8:30 p.m., crew members already had begun breaking down not only food stations, but also tables, as numerous folks were still finishing meals.
There certainly were highlights -- the Pinnacle Grill definitely rated wonderfully on numerous forays there. Ultimately, though, Westerdam's efforts to please everyone fell flat -- and we learned that we'd far prefer a smaller ship with fewer options, and more respect for all its passengers.
 Read Complete Westerdam Review
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