Volendam Review
Rating by category
Additional details
My sister and I booked a 7 night Inside Passage Cruise on the MS Volendam. We flew into Seattle, took the AmTrak coach to Vancouver to spend the night before boarding the ship the next day. We stayed at the Ramada close to Gastown and enjoyed shopping there in the morning before boarding.
The Ramada was close enough to Canada Place that we could have walked, so we didn't include the transfer cost, but taxis are reasonable there and we didn't want to struggle with luggage. Boarding was painless. The lines were long, but moved rapidly. There were two ships in dock and a lot of people milling around but the process was well controlled. There were ample HAL employees directing traffic and it went seamlessly. We had our photos taken, issued cabin keys, then seated in the "holding area" until the line opened for us to pass through customs.
Once on board, the Lido (buffet) was open for lunch and it was recommended that we eat before going to our cabins in order that the stewards had plenty time to ready the cabins from the cruise that had disembarked that morning. As soon as we arrived in our cabins, our luggage was already there. We unpacked, gathered at our Lifeboat stations for the Emergency procedures, then went on a tour of the ship with the "Lifestylist," Claire. (Very helpful, cheerful personality.)
Cabin Review
Large Outside Stateroom (fully obstructed views)
Cabin 3422, "partially obstructed view" but good view across Promenade Deck (though limited due to a part of the deck having a wall that blocked our view looking backward). Room was in a good location for easy access to Promenade Deck, as well as to elevators going up to Rotterdam Dining and Lido buffet areas. The cabin was larger than expected. Bathroom and storage sizes good,(deep) tub. Suitcases can be stored under bed. Room could use some refurbishing - there was a piece of wood just stuck in a crack for "chocking" on the finishing strip above the TV. There was no hall noise due to being near the back of the ship so few people walked down that way. When the engine was reversed to back out of a docking area, the noise was horribly loud and very uncomfortable and our cabin shook horrendously. Felt like the whole ship was going to shake apart!