My wife and I are both retired and have been taking yearly cruise for a number of years. We are 3 Star Mariners and this was number 8 with HAL. Last year, we did our second, end of season Alaska cruise with HAL, out of Vancouver on the Noordam, which was a great trip.
We like Holland America because of the older, more seasoned travelers on board and a very high percentage are return cruisers.
This years cruise on the Oosterdam was nothing like any of the other HAL ships we have been on. This also was the biggest ship we have been on at 1,975 passengers and ONLY a crew of 800.
Our cabin, which was a G category, ceiling to floor ocean view, was the smallest we have ever had, and there were no drawers, only shelves. We did not see our cabin stewards until the end of the second day.