I once considered Holland America the most upscale of the mainstream cruise lines. I found the service, amenities, entertainment and dining far superior to Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean. However, after my weeklong Alaskan cruise on the Eurodam in May, I believe HAL has slipped to just average.
That much being said, "average" is still a great vacation when you're cruising Holland America. We still had a wonderful time on board and you will too. The staff went out of their way to make us feel special from embarkation until our last minutes on board.
We sailed round trip from Seattle and spent a day touring the city before boarding. Pike Place Market was our starting point. We spent hours there seeing the sights and tasting the free samples. We also went for one of the underground city tours, which was a fascinating way to learn about the history of Seattle.
I love Neptune Suites, for their size and amenities.
Our cabin (7065) was large, well equipped and starting to fall apart from age. A broken drawer, makeup mirror and stained furniture were my chief complaints. It was still a wonderful place to share a pre-dinner bottle of wine with friends and we loved the oversized balcony. The best part of the cabin were our stewards Gede and Franz. They seemed to know intuitively what we would need or want and provide it.
The bed was comfortable with extra pillows. The sheets were soft.We found plenty of storage space, expecally closets! There are lots of glasses, if you care to have cocktails, wine, etc. in the room.
The bathroom is large, with dual sinks, a small shower and a full sized jetted bathtub with a second shower. The towels were large and soft. So were the complimentary bathrobes! The best I've ever experienced in 20+ cruises.
Neptune Suite perks include free laundry and use of the Neptune Lounge. The lounge is an under-used haven you should take advantage of. There's a concierge on duty to make or change reservations for you (spa, dining, shore excursions). Complimntary specialty coffees and snacks all day. And an honor bar in the afternoon and early evening. An honor bar means you pour your own drinks, just he way you like them, and sign them to your account.
My favorite Neptune Suite perk is breakfast in the Pinnacle Grille. The grille is open for suite guests only, during the same hour the main dining room is open. Complimentary mimosas are offered with breakfast. It's a wonderful intimate way to start the day.