Holland America Westerdam

Pros: Comfortable, friendly and relaxing
Cons: Buffet food, so-so entertainment.

I just got back from my first cruise on the Westerdam, a 7 day cruise to Alaska departing from and arriving in Seattle. It was one of the best vacations I’ve taken, for several reasons. Including things not related to the cruise line, like going ...

Pros: Holland American Product / Quality
Cons: None

MV Westerdam

Built: Jos L. Meyer Werft, Papenburg (Germany) (1986)
Officers: Mainly Dutch
Staff: Mainly Indonesian
Passenger / Crew Ratio: 2.5

Today’s Westerdam is in many respects a product of the beginning of the...

Pros: Scenery, everything is paid for up front, generous casino!
Cons: lines lines lines...I hate people ;)

**This is an overview of the Westerdam with general highlights. Please see my food, ports, and insider tips reviews as well. Thanks!**

As your bus or taxi pulls up to Canada Place in Vancouver, BC, you won't see much of the Westerdam, except...

Pros: "as God is my witness, I'll Never be Hungry Again!" You and Miss Scarlett...
Cons: dang swimsuit season is coming up, and you just blew it

**This is strictly a review of the food available on board the HAL Westerdam and in port. Please see the Generic Ship Review, Insider Tips, Customs info, and Ports reviews too. There was too much for one review! Thank you!**

Ah,...

Pros: Good safety measures, we felt safe...
Cons: long lines at Customs, dragging all bags with you

**This is the continuation of a series on the HAL Westerdam cruise to Alaska. Please see the General Overview, the Insider Tips, and the Food Review for more info on my member page! Thank you for reading these!**


When you arrive at the...

Pros: SPACIOUS SUITE, FRIENDLY ATTENDANT, DIDN'T SINK
Cons: DIRTY DISHES, LOUSY FOOD, HORRIBLE ENTERTAINMENT, DINNING ROOM WITH STENCH OF GARLIC ...

May 4, 2007 HOLLAND AMERICAN LINES Westerdam April 1,2007 – April 17, 2007 Sailing from Ft Lauderdale, Florida to Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy Nice room but that was about all. We splurged and reserved a deluxe suite and looked forward with ...

Pros: You'll have so much to talk about when you get back, you'll entertain your friends for hours
Cons: Your friends may want to choke you into silence after the fifth telling of your trip

**This is a continuing look at my Alaska cruise- please see a general ship review and my food review also- THANKS!**

I'll just number these, since they jump from topic to topic:

1. Decide what size stateroom you can stand to live in...

Pros: Quiet and laid back cruise with beautiful ports of call and great food and service.
Cons: No internet service, no cash machines, and limited arcade games.

My wife and I cruised out of Ft. Lauderdale on February 17, 2001 on the new eight day eastern caribbean cruise to Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Marten, San Juan, and Nassau. Our outside room was on the lower promenade deck and was very...

Pros: everything
Cons: somewhat expensive

If you can only take one vacation in your life, take your lover on a Holland America cruise to the caribbean in the winter. The weather is lovely, usually very warm but not real hot, the seas are calm and the islands are beautiful and loads of fun.
...

Pros: The staff, the decor of the ship, the ports, the food and the atmosphere during the experience
Cons: NONE

This cruise was something that we had not done and it was recommended by a few of our friends. It was decided to take the Ms. Westerdam due to the age of the ship and the itinerary it had. We were 'Newbys' and did not have a clue what we were in for....

Pros: one of the best vacations I've ever taken
Cons: pack smart, or you'll end up bringing your entire wardrobe

A couple of years ago, my husband and I took a cruise to the Caribbean on Holland America's Westerdam. We had never been on a cruise before, and didn't know quite what to expect. Our seven day cruise on the Westerdam has forever made me a fan of...

Pros: LOVED THE ITINERARY
Cons: SHIP NEEDS REMODELED

We planned our cruise package with YOUR MAN TOURS. It included a motor coach tour in its 14 day trip. it started in San Francisco and traveled north to Vancouver,B.C. there we boarded the WESTERDAM for a seven night trip. The return trip started in...

Pros: it was free!
Cons: Staff members were unfriendly

We sailed on the Westerdam several years ago (1991), but this is a trip that sticks out in my mind. I have been on five cruises, and this was the only one that did not have a "fun" atmosphere.

I have been on 3 Princess Cruises, one...

Pros: great service great ship and great locale
Cons: it was a little cool outside and a little too short

A few years ago I went on the Alaska cruise aboard this ship with my family and it is and will be a vacation I will never forget. We boarded in Vancover and headed up into Glacier bay and made port in three towns including the state capital of Alaska,...

Pros: Luxury, the rocking motion of the boat, ready food and drink
Cons: Somewhat insular, smoking.

In February 1998, my wife and I decided to go cruising, lured by a Wine themed boat cruise through some part of the Caribbean (Western I think). The cruise was to have 2 or 3 wine-themed events, usually tastings and flackery by a wine maker or two,...