My husband and I planned our spring trip to Holland to see the fields of tulips with another couple. In doing our research we learned that the AmaLea was a new ship and that the cruise we were interested in was departing on April 1st and it was to be the second cruise for this new ship. The AmaLea was a great choice although in hindsight we should have left a week or two later because the bulbs were late bloomers this year...although if we had waited for a later date we would have missed out on the big Easter basket filled with chocolates that was in our cabin! We have been on several cruises and found the crew on the AmaLea to be outstanding--they accommodated every request and I believe that if they could have, they would have even encouraged Mother Nature to work harder and prepare the fields of yellow, pink, and red tulips that we had been hoping to see. Of course Keukenhof did not disappoint and we also enjoyed visiting a tulip farm, one of the optional shore excursions.

We presented some challenges--one of us was in a wheelchair and needed a doctor at one of the ports. The crew was very helpful in setting up an appointment and a taxi. (If someone is dependent upon a wheelchair port excursions are sometimes challenging, especially having to cross through-- and sometimes over-- other ships during disembarkation at the various ports.) I am a vegan and Chef Daniel Tanase prepared every meal I ate to those specifications. I can honestly say that I have never eaten better and I believe that several of my dining partners may be seriously considering "converting" after seeing the wonderful meals he prepared for me. Our cabin was always clean and comfortable -- my husband was given his choice of 8 pillows to choose from after he said his pillow the first night was a little hard! The service could not have been better nor the staff friendlier.

Would we go again? I can't say. We usually travel on our own and enjoy meeting the locals. Our ship was predominately Americans so other than the local guides we had limited opportunity to do that. However, it is certainly a conversation we would have and I would recommend it to anyone who prefers the ease and convenience of cruise travel.