While the Westerdam is not one of the newest ship of the fleet, it certainly is one of the friendliest! The staff and crew were unbelievably wonderful and made us feel like family. We chose this particular voyage because there were multiple days at sea and the Hawaiian destination. Due to bad weather, our itinerary was changed, but the Captain took advantage of it by allowing us to see the volcano up close (relatively speaking). Probably the best food we've had on any HAL cruise we been on, and generous portions. The new Test Kitchen was a real plus for me...not only in attending presentations, but also in participating in a hands-on class. The Hawaiian 'ambassadors' on hand were excellent!!! I learned on to play the ukulele, make a fresh lei, and make two different bracelets. These ambassadors also taught passengers how to hula. The four-person team also did a number of presentations. I cannot say enough positive things about that team! As always, the ship's singers and dancers were excellent and I felt that they use more technology in their shows which made them even more fun. The Filipino and Indonesian crews worked very hard on their shows, but I have to say, the Indonesian one was a riot! While excellent talent, it was the humor that stoled the show. My only complaint of the cruise was having to use the ferries in Cablo San Lucas along with HAL tenders. I didn't think the Cablo pilots were as careful. Going in and out of San Diego is a breeze. With the cruise terminal so close to everything, passengers can easily get from one place to another.