Our first Holland America cruise has us yearning for more wonderful experiences like this one. By way of background, previously we have cruised on Costa (twice) and Norwegian (once). While we very much liked our earlier NCL Jade cruise (12-day Norway) and our first Costa Atlantica (Norway), out second Costa Atlantica cruise was a nightmare due to the rudeness of the passengers and the hopelessness of the staff. But I have digressed...

AMBIANCE

The Amsterdam impressed as a very relaxing venue for a vacation. As opposed to the frenetic pace seen on larger liners with a younger crowd, this ship's smaller size and the advanced age bracket of the passengers combined to make this a very mellow experience. No fighting crowds, no conga lines, and no loud bands around every corner. Just some real peace and quiet. While we were one of the younger couples aboard (late 50s), we really enjoyed it. However, if you like a lot of wild action, this ship may not be for you. Read more