Nieuw Amsterdam Review
Sparkling ship with great crew but a bit of culinary malpractice
Rating by category
Additional details
Nieuw Amsterdam is almost a decade along but is in new ship shape. The showroom has business class quality seating and good sight lines.... We arrived at the dock at 12:30 and were in the room in ten minutes. Wife told me this was our tenth HAL cruise, so I guess we must be satisfied customers. Fitness center, visited daily, has ocean view and enough machines for all. There are the fitness "lectures" which sell dubious treatments, but whatever. Also similar art lectures. We spent some time at pool and casino. (Casino details in another post) All the HAL ships have a 5K walk for cancer now, and I did that.
HAL staff is consistently efficient and polite. Ever get "attitude" from serving staff on other lines? Never on HAL.
Main dining room all seven nights. We had a well located table for two. Servers were good. Food quality varies. I loved the rack of lamb and escargot. Fish on ships always or almost always comes on frozen, so you can't expect perfection. The salmon holds up well and is available nightly.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Ocean-View Verandah Stateroom
we have sailed in every outside category cabin. This was suitable for our needs, Roomy enough for daily breakfast in the room.
Port Reviews
Key West
Loved Truman White House and walking Duval Street
Cozumel
walked around bought stuff. friendly folks
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
stayed three nights before. Olaf Street has quite a few vacant stores. The water taxi is a good enough way to spend a day.
Half Moon Cay
stayed on board. on previous trips rode horses twice. take the last tour available for few people and more spirited horses