We chose this cruise as it was the right timing for us leaving from where we were staying in the tail end of our honeymoon travels . We loved the Tamarind restaurant and the dining room, We tried Pinnacle restaurant twice and were disappointed twice with missing orders and dreadful desserts and we are not hard to please! Great gymnasium with helpful staff, enjoyed the thermal pool and lounges. Enjoyes a boogey with the Bb kings, in fact all the entertainment was great. Loved sitting back for a scotch in the crows nest at the end the day. However, Towards the end of the cruise there were a group of 15 - 18 yr olds hanging out together being loud and obnoxious in public areas, (throwing footwear and running around like 2 yr olds) crashing through the Neptune lounge and overtaking the crows nest bar area late at night, I hope that can be addressed. They need a place to meet and be social but shouldn't be allowed to destroy the ambience that holland America work hard to create.
Cabin was a fantastic size for both of us. Well fitted out with our own coffee machine. Fresh fruit and ice daily. Room was spotlessly cleaned twice a day, nothing was too much trouble for the room attendants or the concierges'. Daily laundry and just Excellent service with happy helpful staff.
Complimentary shuttle bus to the city where we walked around until we found ourselves and shuttled back to the ship
We shuttled into Toulon and walked around this shabby chic town, it was quite cute with all the cafe restaurants set up to sit and watch the world go by
We bought the hop on hop off bus which was ok, did the top fort first which was terrific but beware the sceond line - the green line as it only circuits after more than an hour, we had to catch a taxi so we wouldn't miss the ship!
Loved exploring Cartegena by ourselves
We went ashore to swim and relax on the beach with the local families (didn't see the do not swim here sign until we left - Woops!) gorgeous swimming spot, gorgeous Port! Heard awful stories about being ripped off on the hop on hop off bus which ran (if you were lucky) every hour with Max. 20 people even though they sold hundreds of tickets - so be careful here, many people left stranded in the hot sun.
We walked all over Monaco from princess Graces' gardens to the pchurch where she married and the famous casino it was beautifully maintained everywhere
The place itself is worth a rating of five, there were three other cruise ships in port so it was beyond busy and it dampenend the day. TOO many people on an exceptionally hiot day. We walked the wall,explored the inner city and Dove into the refreshing ocean and were back on board before 5pm exhausted. Less foot traffic would make the world of difference.
Loved Kotor, if we hadn't exhausted ourselves in Dubrovnik would have walked up to the top fort / look out but still amazing medieval town with friendly people.
On line Reviews said there was a beach close to the port ( within a twenty minute walk)
We walked and walked and it's not a beach, it is the Mediterranean but it is rocky and quite dangerous to enter the water on unstable slippery rocks, uncomfortable to sit on as well. Not a people friendly beach at all!
the port was easy access to board