Holland America corrected some of their missteps on the Konigsdam with this new ship, which carries on many HAL traditions while introducing some new ones. They have preserved the superb cabin and dining room service and the generally dignified atmosphere. The balcony level of the pool area is an attractive addition. Tamarind is lovely and has very good food and service. I could get used to the whale-skeleton look of the Main Dining Room decor, but really don't like the yellow walls and chairs. I was surprised that the MDR was not open for lunch on sea days. Club Orange is a mystery to me; that restaurant is an interior space with a long glass wall along the main corridor that makes it look like a fishbowl. The furnishings look low-end rather than luxurious; the chairs don't even have upholstered backs. Why anyone would want to spend $50 a day for the privilege of eating there is beyond me.The Lido Market was OK, but the layout is not nearly as inviting as the buffet on the Celebrity Edge. Seats in the Lido were often hard to find. The Pizza place and deli have been combined on the deck above the Lido. The pizzas were excellent. The waits for hamburgers at Dive In seemed longer than I remember from other ships. I did not try Sel de Mer. I hope the idea of ship restaurants with a la carte prices doesn't catch on. I miss the dedicated theater with popcorn, although even the most recent films were available free on TV in your cabin. (On my recent cruise on the Celebrity Edge, they charged $13 for them.) Lincoln Center Stage is a very welcome addition. It's the prettiest room on the ship. A string quartet plus a pianist played a variety of classical and pop programs. B,B, King's, Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Online all seemed well-attended. The World Stage is a mixed bag. It is totally devoid of decoration except for the upholstered seats (which have no drink holders). The circular thrust stage brings the performers close to the audience. The walls are used for high-tech projections. In the case of the first dance show "Humanity," the projections were quite artistically coordinated with the choreography. It was one of the best shows I have seen on a ship. The other dance show was good, but not as impressive. There was a comedian and an illusionist who, in addition to their own shows, encored on the final night. I was surprised that the World Stage was dark for two nights. The atrium is a disappointment. Unlike other recent ships, it provides no sense of occasion and is useless as a focal point for passengers to gather. The wait for an elevator was often long. I am sorry that the shops are still permitted to clutter the passageways with racks and tables for bargain sales. (The Celebrity Edge eliminated this entirely.) I miss people-watching from a deck chair on the Promenade Deck. That's my biggest complaint about all the new ships. I was disappointed that HAL dropped the Indonesian/Filippino crew show, which I always enjoyed. The cabin was well laid out and the bed was very comfortable. The bathroom is a bit small. I was pleasantly surprised that I heard nothing from the cabin on either side. The itinerary wasn't very exciting for experienced cruisers. HAL should really try harder to come up with new excursions for repeat travelers. Transfers from FLL airport to the ship were a mess. I had to wait over an hour for a bus and there were others who had waited even longer. The return transfer was timely. The main negative was that the ship lost power on the next-to-last night and we had to skip Half Moon Cay to assure a timely arrival back at Port Everglades. It was nice of HAL to offer a $50 shipboard credit, but it is still a bit alarming that a brand-new ship would mysteriously lose power.