Our second cruise on Holland America. We enjoy the additional refinement of the so-called "premium" cruise lines, and we were looking forward to the new innovations that the Eurodam promises. Despite a few rough edges, we thoroughly enjoyed this cruise, and I would certainly consider sailing with HAL again in future.

Check-in was quick and efficient, and we were on board within less than 20 minutes. We were, however, somewhat taken aback by the lack of any welcoming on board. The only "welcome" was a female staff member shouting: "go to the back of the ship!" Cabins were ready at 1.30pm.

Our SS suite (really a larger balcony cabin) was spacious and well appointed with a large balcony. The balcony had a round dining table and two lounging chairs - great for lazy days at sea. The bathroom was great. When putting our suitcases away under the bed, we saw crumbs and other debris on the carpet. The ceiling of the bathroom above the bathtub had long strands of black hair stuck to it, which remained there for the duration of the cruise. We noted some other cleanliness issues on board - in particular, the aft Lido Deck was always dirty. I realise the challenges of keeping spaces such as that clean, but even on port days when the ship was virtually deserted, the deck was full of stains and debris. Read more