We were sailing for the first time aboard the Westerdam with a group of 14 that included mostly family with a couple of good friends thrown in for good measure.
This would be our 11th cruise, all with Holland America. I can honestly say that on all 11 cruises, we have yet to be disappointed by the service, food, or accomodations on a HAL ship.
Having sailed on two other Vista Class ships, we were very comfortable with the layout of the Westerdam. We always book our next cruise while onboard the current one. We had booked this cruise back in June '10 while on board the Zuiderdam on an Alaska Inside Passage cruise r/t Vancouver. We had originally booked an SS Category cabin, but when HAL dropped the price on the SB cabins over the winter, we jumped at the opportunity for another 'Suite' experience.
Lots of room for hosting parties. Balcony was very popular for lounging and watching other ships and islands go by. Plenty of storage, having a separate tub and shower is a great asset. Two sinks, two vanities always a plus. The king size eurotop bed provides the best sleep in the industry.