It has been a few years since I sailed on Holland America as friends have chosen Princess and family is now happier on Disney. First, let me say that the boarding process was very good and my room was ready when I boarded right around noon. The ship was spotless and the crew was among the best I have encountered in 20+ cruises. Why does this review say "very good" instead of "Excellent"?

The fact is that at age 70 I am not content to sit around and vegetate when I really want activities and participation. Both of the aforementioned cruise lines seem to be better at making things happen as opposed to letting me sit and watch things. The shows were OK, but not great. The selection of entertainment was somewhat limited compared to the bigger ships I have been on but that is not always true for ships of this size. Even the comparable ships from other lines have multiple lounges and game areas. If I want to learn to play the Ukulele, or sing in a choir or make balloon animals or fold towels or try out the water slide or glide along the zip line, it's nice to have the choice to do so as opposed to listening to lectures or performances. There was not even a good dance band that I can think of.

Food in the main dining room was very good as was the lido deck fare. Read more