"One thing to know about South America, is that most of the ports are industrial ports and require a shuttle to the cruise port entrance for any independent tours and in Buenos Aires, all passengers including those on Holland America Tours.Just keep this in mind when choosing the starting time of your independent tours...."Read More
jmd1961
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Age 60s
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1-10 of 81 Panama Canal & Central America Oosterdam Panama Canal & Central America Cruise Reviews
Chose cruise for its itinerary. Hadn't sailed on Holland-America in many years but had concentrated on Celebrity and Princess for several cruises on each and were pleased with both of them. Oosterman proved a very pleasant surprise. Entire ship was in excellent condition. Excellent cabin for handicapped. Service personnel were also excellent. Most of entertainment was very good, especially ...
We took the 31 day cruise option (Nov 15-Dec 16 2023) - Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aries with the express purpose of doing the Straits of Magellan. We have cruised HAL many times (we are 4 Star travelers) and have enjoyed every trip. This cruise was also a wonderful experience - except for the entertainment, will get to that in a moment.
We stayed in a Neptune Suite and it was as has always ...
We flew from London Heathrow to Miami 2 days before the cruise via British Airways. Flight was on time and very pleasant with great food and service onboard. On reaching Miami we were transferred to Tony Hotel on South Beach where we stayed for 2 nights. Hotel was art deco style and in an excellent location next to many bars and restaurants. We had a very pleasant stay in Miami and did a hop on ...
The principal reason for my enjoyment of this cruise was the extraordinary service provided by the Oosterdam crew and service personnel. My every need was attended to and in many ways above and beyond all expectations. I was traveling on the second leg of a tour around South America back-to-back with the first leg which started in Buenos Aires and ended in Santiago. Toward the end of the first ...
This was a good itinerary, combining two cruises to sail through the Panama Canal, see the west coast of South America, round Cape Horn and visit the Falkland Islands before ending in Buenos Aires. I hadn’t sailed with Holland America before, but they came highly recommended by several friends so I was expecting it to be at least on a par, or better than, Celebrity. Sadly not so. Veteran HAL ...
We choose this cruise for the itinerary. We had previously been on the Oosterdam and like this size ship. One thing to know about South America, is that most of the ports are industrial ports and require a shuttle to the cruise port entrance for any independent tours and in Buenos Aires, all passengers including those on Holland America Tours. Just keep this in mind when choosing the starting ...
My wife and I wanted to go thru the Panama Panel, and see Macho Picchu, which this cruise covered nicely. Missed the political upheaval in Peru by about 2 wks, so lucky there. Traveling to 3rd world countries, Ecuador and Peru, is always a worry, so we had purchased a Medjet membership for the voyage, plus the optional extraction for political upheaval. Fortunately we didn't have to use, but ...
We had planned this trip for several months then, the night before we were to leave, COVID started shut everything down(1999). We had been waiting for this trip to reappear on Holland's schedule, we were very excited that it was finally happening! (Nov. 19, 2022). We had cruised with Holland 3 previous times and had been satisfied with our trips.
Let me begin by saying the crew/staff were for ...
The Oosterdam is one of the older Holland America ships but is attractive, well maintained, and comfortable and has probably the best service, certainly the friendliest service, of any of the Holland America ships that we have sailed on. The officers, too, are unusually cordial and went out of their way to greet and chat with guests. What I liked best about this 17-day Panama Canal transit cruise, ...
My wife and I just completed a 17-day cruise on February 22 on the Oosterdam from Fort Lauderdale (February 5) to San Diego. The food and service were great. The ship was clean and crisp. The staff was always friendly and helpful. The headliner shows each evening were top notch. The Lido Market was well organized, much better than other cruise ships. However, we probably will not book ...