When shopping for an Alaska cruise Holland America was highly recommended by the travel agent as a great cruise line. But I was very disappointed from the start. First was the "suite". I had never had a suite before and thought I would treat myself. This was only to find out that Holland America calls all balcony cabins suites. So what every other cruise line calls a balcony Holland America calls a suite. So I felt I paid extra for a suite and got a balcony. However everything on the cruise was mediocre. We went to the welcome aboard presentation where the cruise director went on and on about this being a 5 star cruise. It certainly wasn't in my mind. We were missed for turn down service the first night. The restaurant was hit or miss. One lunch was a dry Reuben with potato chips (are you kidding me? 5 star?) To add insult to injury they asked if we would share a table (which I don't mind) but they sat us with a couple half way through their main course. They were eating desert when we finally got our food. Again there is no excuse for this in a 5 star operation. One day we went to the poolside snack bar for a quick lunch and were told it would be 30 minutes for a hamburger and hot dog. Are you kidding me? When I finally got my hot dog with sauerkraut it was dry. I've had much better food at McDonald's. And you don;t wait 30 minutes for food at McDonald's. The Lido restaurant (buffet) had food served instead of self-service. This resulted in slow service rather than just pick your own and portions were always too much or too little. Finding a table with silverware was also challenging as busing the tables was slow. We usually just cleared areas and then scavenged for silverware. Entertainment was also mediocre. The first night ventriloquist was so-so. You would expect this entertainment on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. They constantly picked on the audience and called multiple people losers. The singers and dancers were OK but we noticed the "show band" didn't play for half of the numbers and they used canned music. When we heard a horn and saw no horns on the band we knew something was fishy. Most disturbing in the entertainment was the truth or dare show the cruise staff put on. First you were stuck seeing that show because it was right before the main show and you have to go early for a good seat. The women on the cruise staff used toilet humor recanting how she farted three times at a dinner with her boyfriends parents on the first meeting. Frankly I thought this was in poor taste. Play this in a lounge NOT the main show lounge. The pianist following the toilet humor though was excellent and this time the band actually played with him. My trip to the gym was also a disappointment. The national conventions were on TV and only 3 of the TVs on the treadmills worked. On the plus side they had a tech program on computers which we went to and this was very good. We went to the spa and it was immaculate. If you get a really good deal and don't mind mediocre service I guess the Amsterdam is OK but 5 star it is no in my opinion,