Back from the HOLLAND AMERICA (HAL) Oosterdam February 6-20 Australia & New Zealand cruise... here our (wife & husband, mature couple) report:
The ship (Oosterdam) is great, recently refurbished, nicely decorated interior, very good facilities. Our stateroom (Category SY) was spacious, well appointed and clean. On embarkation the "VIP Reception" (as older HAL clients) was impeccable. The room service personnel did an excellent job during the whole cruise. Unfortunately (compared to our HAL Rotterdam Panama Canal cruise 2 years ago) the general HAL level diminished evidently -- we assume due to Carnival's (who owns HAL) tightening the proverbial financial screw on them.
- all dining room(s) personnel (incl. maitre d') was exclusively Indonesian & Phillipino, some w. a rather "summary" comprehension of English
SY category, very spacious, well appointed, great bathroom with soaking tub, large, well furnished balcony. Most pleasant!