7-Day Canada & New England Discovery

1. Holland does a great job. Need a different port

   

   June 2024 Baltic Sea

   PROS: Service, Service, Service!

   CONS: Water leaks, stained carpet and mildew smells

   RECOMMENDED: Yes

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2. 2024 World cruise/Holland America Zuiderdam

   

   March 2024 World cruise

   PROS: The crew are the BEST in the industry. They work hard to remember you and your preferences, your name and to make the voyage as special as they can. The ship was not full which made it even easier to find your own space and enjoy the activities or spend quiet time.

   CONS: Menus are substantial but food is not consistently hot or cooked as you prefer. Live entertainment (from off the ship) is four nights a week plus the singers/dancers on the main stage = five nights a week - then a movie and it may be dark one night or a cultural show. Entertainment was good to very good (there is also the Rolling Stone Lounge, the Billboard/piano players, Explorers Lounge and Ocean Bar trio). This ship was not built for a world cruise so closet space is limited. When you ask, they provide portable drawers and clothing racks.

   RECOMMENDED: Yes

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   The world cruise offers the best winter get-away: Explore the cultures and sites of the world escaping the winter cold.  Meet new friends while being pampered with no cooking, cleaning or laundry!

   The onboard activities on sea days are numerous: arts and crafts (which are phenomenal), pickleball, abs class, tai chi, body conditioning, coffee with the cruise director and special guest, walk a mile, meditation, sit/knit and needlework with Project Linus (made over to 300+ blankets), morning devotions, tech for travelers (excellent!), art class, port talks, dance classes, bridge classes, guest lecturers, health seminars, singles and solos meetings, trivia, drawing class, mahjong, shuffleboard, afternoon movies, game time, afternoon stretch, PRIDE meet-up, footprint and posture analysis....those are the sea day events. Then add the evening entertainment, and you have quite a schedule! The ports talks are recorded and provide good information.

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3. Holland America brought their A game

   

   January 2024 WORLD CRUISE

   PROS: Officers and Staff, The Entertainment and Guest Speakers make this cruise an enjoyable experience.

   CONS: Food in the Lido Market could be hotter. More storage in the stateroom

   RECOMMENDED: Yes

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   My review is what it was like to cruise Holland America’s Grand World Voyage:

   It depends on who you talk to when they say why they booked this cruise:  The Itinerary, celebrating a milestone, a bucket list destination, dining choices, daily actives and entertainment, their cruise friends booked it, the length of the voyage or they love this cruise line and more importantly the staff.

   The reasons go on and on. 

   The revised Itinerary may have not been the countries or ports that everyone would like to have visited but when a change is made for everyone’s safety there’s little you can do but embrace the change. With all of its Ports of call, there was something for everyone’s liking.  We were simply amazed and will cherish every moment we experienced during this sailing. We had some repeated ports and we looked at these ports as a new adventure, with just as much excitement as the first time. If you have been to this country or port before, think about what you wish you would have done or missed the first time around.  And that’s what we did.  There are plenty of excursions to choose from to make your stay in this port memorable. 

    

   Because of the time you spend on a world cruise, 128 days, you get to know all the crew.  For this reason, the dining for all meals seemed special and made for me.  There is truly something for everyone. 

   The dining staff takes food allergies very seriously.  Depending on your dietary needs, you will be able fill out your food choices the night before so that your meal will be available to you the same time as the person ordering off the menu.

    

   The activities, Theme Nights, Guest Speakers and entertainment will keep you engaged every day, morning to night.  The evening before you would receive the Daily schedule to start making your plan for tomorrows Sea Day.  Friends and Family that have not done this length of a cruise just don't understand what choices we have and think that you will be bored.  I tell them, there is not enough time in the day to do everything you would like.  So no, I never got bored.

    

   The captain, officers and staff do everything in their power to make this cruise a dream come true and for some a once in a lifetime experience.  For just over four months the Zuiderdam is home.  When you leave the ship for the day to experience the World in which you have traveled so many miles to see, you will be greeted by the banner and the staff "Welcome Home"

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4. Holland America Mariners

   

   September 2023 Quebec City, Canada

   PROS: Great food, great entertainment, good service, good selection of ports

   CONS: none

   RECOMMENDED: Yes

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5. Nice Cruise

   

   September 2023 Maine and Canada,Northeast

   PROS: Lido food was awesome. Entertainment was fantastic. Piano bar and main theater!

   CONS: need more choices at dinner for food. staff to speak better english.need newer ships.

   RECOMMENDED: Yes

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