I am so sorry to give this review to anyone who has already paid their hard earned money to go on this cruise. I have sailed with Holland America in the past and truly enjoyed my trip. My husband and I are much younger (about 30 years) than the average HAL cruiser and we enjoyed that. We were looking for a chill cruise without the usual drunks. We did get a more tame crowd which was good, but other than that, we did not get anything we had hoped for.

First, I eat healthy for 51 weeks a year, saving my love of sweets and more indulgent food for my vacation. The food on the Noordam was bland and forgettable. My husband and I chose to do anytime dining. Our experience was horrible. If we chose to eat early around 6, they rushed us out and if we at late around 8, our dinner took nearly until 10. The service was poor, the servers were rude and the food wasn't very good at all. My husband and I wonder if the world renowned chefs who have their name on each menu have actually tasted what is being served each night. I usually love to eat in the dining room...the whole process, the dressing up, the wonderful service. This year, we actually chose the Lido more than the dining room.

Service in the Lido was lacking. I would ask for honey for my tea and I was asked if I looked on the other side. One morning I asked for Sriacha for my eggs and then i waited and waited...and waited. After about 10 minutes, my husband got up and found some. The server finally walked by and giggled that she forgot. I did not have a hot meal all week. Literally, everything we ate was room temp. When I asked for no oil in my omelet the server clearly started talking about me to the cook next to her in her native language. It was so embarrassing. Read more