Our Spring Break cruise aboard Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam
With a few Caribbean cruises under our belt, we stumbled on the Holland America cruise line. Back then we were just parents, searching for good value in our Spring Break vacation, and Holland America- or HAL for short- often had deals where the 3rd or 4th person in a cabin sails for the cost of taxes. On the surface, it was certainly great value for our family of three, and it turned out to be one of the best vacation decisions we ever made.
Dining aboard Holland America, is a treat; whether you prefer to dress up a bit for dinner in the main dining room, or enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere of the buffet the food quality is excellent and varied. They are masters at providing options in different cuisines, while catering to various diet restrictions regardless of whether you’re vegetarian, gluten-free, or diabetic.
During our time aboard the ship, we enjoyed relaxing in the spa, taking a dip in one of several pools, playing penny slots in the casino or attending a discussion about our next port of call. Our son, who was in his teens at the time of our first HAL cruise, spent time socializing with other teens in one of many hot tubs onboard, playing video games and attending the various dinner shows and activities geared toward his age group.
Overall, HAL provides one of the most comfortable cruising experiences amongst mainstream cruise lines. They are dedicated to providing you exemplary service, attending to the little touches that make you feel pampered, and helping you maximize your vacation- what’s not to love about that!
– Desiree
