ms Maasdam review by Debra

Reviewer Profile

Age: 36-50
# of Cruises Taken: 10
Destination: Caribbean
Sailing Month: Dec 2007
Stateroom Type: BALCONY
Cruising with Children: No

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Comments By Debra
Overall a relaxing and enjoyable holiday cruise. On our last cruise with Holland America in the New Year of 2005 we had noticed a slight decline in service but this was not the case on this holiday cruise - the service and attention to detail were excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive and we were well taken care of. The embarkation and disembarkation procedures have changed in the past few years and are very pleasant - short or no line ups - early boarding onto the ship and disembarkation scheduled at your convenience (as long as its before 11:00 am) with the option of waiting in your room until your number is called. Service during the cruise was fabulous. It’s tough to argue with a day that starts with your coffee delivered to your room which you enjoy out on the balcony overlooking the ocean. We brought our 2 teenage daughters along and they had a great time - they too found the service to be respectful and attentive. We booked a balcony suite for ourselves and an inside cabin across the hall for the girls. This arrangement worked fabulously - the rooms were clean, spacious and our cabin steward was fantastic and very responsive. There was more than enough closet space and the rooms provided sufficient room to relax. The balcony was worth it and we often enjoyed coffee in the morning and some afternoon sun from our room. The cruise had a good variety of services and amenities. We enjoyed a cooking class, mixology classes, fitness classes and movies aboard. Although our complements exceed our concerns there are a few - the quality of food has declined since we began traveling with Holland America. The food is still very good, it’s just not exceptional. With respect to dining we booked reservations in the specialty restaurant, the Pinnacle, for a lunch and a dinner and were somewhat disappointed - the food was good but no better than in the dining room and the wait staff did not seem very knowledgeable. At one point we asked our sommelier if the chardonnay on the menu was heavily oaked and he indicated that it had a screw cap so it wasn't oakey. Certainly the additional $30 per person that this specialty restaurant costs was not worth the expense. We have also noticed a trend which increases on board expenses - fees for special coffees and fitness classes etc which used to be included - although some may find this pay as you go service more economical I think we would prefer a higher cruise rate and more of an all inclusive approach - which is why we may consider upgrading to a luxury line but would not hesitate to cruise with Holland America again and really enjoy the size of a ship like the Maasdam which is not a vista class (mega) ship.

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