Friends liked the itenary and chose the 21day package as they were interested in the ports, we joined them for the last 10 days. Cabin and cabin staff good. Ship and washrooms clean. Loved it when the captain announced a whale sighting. Dining room short staffed, so food seldom hot when served - tasty, but only warm. Entertainment in Oceans Bar awful - the musicians were clearly bored and thought if they played really loud you wouldn't hear their off key notes. Didn't ask for requests and didn't seen to know what to play next. When they got more than one or two couples dancing, they either stalled until they sat down or played something to make them sit down. Piano bar also too loud. If I was looking for a loud ship, I would sail with Carnival. Holland America needs to decide who their target clientele is and cater to them. Offering 10, 11 and 21 day cruises limits their market to people with time to cruise. There is a strong market of retired people who enjoy either listening to music or dancing AND being able to chat at a table but they just don't get it or care. I'm sure if the Market (buffet) staff acted as bored and served food as poorly as the HAL Cats did their brand of music they would be shipped home. BB King music was also too loud to enjoy.

Because guests are older and hearing not as good as it was, many wear hearing aides, making the blaring music painful and sound is muffled when so loud.

A prime example was on the final sea day the Ocean Bar was full of people enjoying each other's company. Their voices filled the area with an inviting humm. At one time someone was playing background music. Then the band returned, many Ocean Bar guests left. Read more