Holland America Oosterdam Reviews

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“I would recommend the Oosterdam anytime. This was our...”

★★★★★

written by MargaretB on 28/08/2006

I would recommend the Oosterdam anytime. This was our first cruise and we had no complaints at all (bad points listed above not really complaints, just comments). Maybe if you want nightlife happening into the early hours or if you have children to entertain it might not be for you but if you want good food and the chance to see shows if you want to, then retire for a good night's sleep on a quiet ship in a comfy bed, then this one's for you!!

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Joni97's Response to MargaretB's Review

Written on: 04/08/2010

I found this review somewhat helpful because...while there was some information it was not detailed enough

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“Holland America Oosterdam - I am not new to cruising....”

★☆☆☆☆

written by edwardnoyer on 22/05/2004

Holland America Oosterdam - I am not new to cruising. I have cruise on ships owned by Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian cruise lines. However, Holland America is the worst by far.


Although the M.S. Oosterdam is a beautiful ship with lovely, public areas and beautiful staterooms (I had a superior suite.) You might as well sail on a barge with the staff of the local McDonalds.

My trip on the M.S. Oosterdam was my first and last cruise with Holland America. I feel as if I was lied to about the service and that Holland America misrepresents their product. They are not a "premium" cruise line unless you consider being ignored, ran into and "self service" an upscale elegant experience.

The rooms are nicely appointed (probably the nicest of any cruise I'd been on) complete with a minibar in the room. However, the minibar is never restocked. I like having bottled water, and so I drank it the first day of the cruise and I guess it was unreasonable to expect the water to be replaced (even though I am being charged for it.)

Like other cruise lines, the M.S. Oosterdam offers room service. However, if you ever need to call them be prepared for your call to immediately to go into a queue, in which your call will go unanswered for 30 minutes. I think that made me the most upset about the 3 times this happened was that I was calling for water that should have been replaced anyways.

Your room will be clean upon check-in, but do not expect any of the extras that you get on other cruise lines. The cabin steward will only make the bed and change the towels in your room and at his convenience. Unlike with other cruise lines, if you leave a jacket out, it will not get hung up it will just be moved out of the steward's way.

Holland America does not want you ironing in your stateroom for safety reasons so if you need something pressed you just need to call the cabin steward and they will come get it, well at least that is the idea. The same idea is true for shoeshine as well. However, on the occasions that I called my cabin steward he would not show up for four hours and then he would let me know in no uncertain terms what an inconvenience it was. Because of the cabin steward, I did not have my shoes to wear with my tuxedo on the first formal night, as I had requested that they be shined at 9AM, by 1PM when they were not picked up I had to call again and they were not returned until the next day.

On the first day of my cruise I had notified the cabin steward that the robes were missing from my room, by the time I was leaving the ship, no robes had ever been replaced in my stateroom.

In my stateroom the temperature would vary drastically so I had to take two blankets from one of the decks because I couldn't get the cabin steward to bring me any additional blankets. Adjustments of the thermostat could not control the huge swings in cabin temperature. Each night I would need to replace the blankets myself. Once again, unlike other cruise lines, the cabin steward would not replace the blankets even though he found them on the bed each morning.

On the last day of the cruise the cabin steward came bursting into my room at 6:30 AM unannounced to make up the room, although this was not the first time this had happened, this time I happened to still be asleep and was startled.

I guess that each stateroom is supposed to have a bowl of fruit in them. This is news to me since I never saw one in my room. Also a recent article I read states that on the first formal night corsages and boutonni res will be delivered to your room. I wouldn't wait around for them to show up, as the cruise will be over before they ever do.

A helpful guide of where things are located on the ship was delivered to my stateroom on the last night of the cruise, obviously of little use by then.

Outside of my cabin the service was not any better. I have never had such a difficult time in getting served drinks in my life. The cocktail servers would ignore you completely or take your drink order and then disappear for 20-30 minutes. This shocked me considering how on most other cruise lines you're offered drinks continually.

Holland America offers an afternoon tea, however you'd better bring your own hot water and eat a large lunch before going. Although tradition is to serve petit fores and finger sandwiches at tea, you will be lucky if the attendants even acknowledge your presence. I sat horrified as guests where getting up going to the service stations and were getting there own hot water, because none was being offered by the crew. Let me clarify that tea is served in the DINING ROOM not in a self-serve restaurant.

Unlike on ALL other cruise lines the staff will not acknowledge you in the halls. Even on budget lines like Carnival ships the staff are polite and courteous and will acknowledge you and offer a friendly "hello" or "Good Evening". On Holland America the only greeting you're liable to get is when the staff runs into you because you're in their way, or as they step in front of you in the Lido restaurant so they can get some food. On the Oosterdam the crew eats in the Lido restaurant. I guess they are in a hurry so they can get back to ignoring you.

I purchased fountain drink cards before boarding the ship. I would not recommend them as my nephew was ignored by the wait staff and would was once again notified in no uncertain terms that they were too busy to get him any beverages.

I was HORRIFIED at the service on the ship and so I notified the onboard guest relations manager, who sent a $10 bottle of wine to my room. Considering my room was $3,200, my mother's cabin was $2,600 I ordered $700 in flowers, onboard credit for my family, toy packs for my nephew, prepaid for spa packages, and champagne and wine before I even got on the ship I had spent $6,500 for a seven day cruise. I was fine with this as I was promised an elegant cruise with superior service. All of the Holland America Literature leads you to believe that they are a premium cruise line. I know I certainly paid a premium price; however, the level of service was on par with a Denny's.

However, I guess what added the most insult to the overall injury was when I spoke to customer relations manger and wrote a letter to Holland America telling them about my experience and they told me that the service is better on some of their other ships because they are smaller. See, according to Holland America these new "Vista" class ships the Westerdam, Ooosterdam, etc. carry more passengers than their older ships, so if you want a better cruise experience you should take one of those ships.

My letter to Holland America received a response of thanks for the information, but everyone else on your ship rated the cruise great! See you again sometime! I have a better idea for Holland America, why don't I just take another cruise line altogether?

Buyer beware on this ship you will pay premium price for a substandard level of service.
Unless they are giving this cruise away your money is better spent on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity.

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167797_Mjsellersrose's Response to edwardnoyer's Review

Written on: 29/08/2004

I sailed on the Oosterdam (Alaska) in August, 2004 and my experience was just the opposite of that reported in this review. Great time, good value for the money, friendly crew (I tipped some crew members extra because of the good service)
<br>and great food. There was one time when my minibar was not serviced. Crew members said hello in hallways. I am planning a European cruise on the Rotterdam currently.
<br>Michael Sellers, Houston, Texas

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Joni97's Response to edwardnoyer's Review

Written on: 04/08/2010

I found this review somewhat helpful because...it contained lots of specific information, but my experience has been exactly the opposite. I sailed on the 'O' in 2005 and at that time I rated it the best shipboard experience I'd had out of about 30 cruises. We're booked again onboard in Sept 2010.

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414612_Sorrycruiseline's Response to edwardnoyer's Review

Written on: 02/11/2008

I agree with Mr. Noyer's comments. I too have cruised on several cruise lines and the 10/11/08 cruise to the Mexican Riviera was by far the worst of all. I will not sail on Holland America again and definitely would not recommend it to my friends.

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Desteb's Response to edwardnoyer's Review

Written on: 10/09/2008

I disagree with this review because...<br/><br/>I just took a cruise on the Holland America Oosterdam. My husband and I were pampered beyond belief!! We had incredible service in all aspects of the cruise. Our room steward, bartender, waiters, assistant waiters, front desk, and truly anyone from the ship we had contact with made our cruise superior and one to remember through years to come!! The food was incredible with more choices then one could imagine. We were spoiled EVERY single day. Whether it was our room steward being wonderful for us several times a day or our waiter, assistant waiter, and wine steward who totally knocked our socks off with all they went above and beyond with. to our main bartender "Capt" (you'll find him at the Sea View Bar on the Lido deck in the back along with his sidekick first mate)... And the waiter staff who took the time each and every day to shake our hands and make sure we were doing okay and always made sure we had what we needed. The group at the front desk are incredible! Room service was quick and terrific. Yes, there were a couple nights it took a bit, but we were informed when we called it was a busy night and it would be a certain amount of time. They always delivered it before they estimated. I know I'm missing some staff here, and I apologize for that. I can tell you that Holland America is one cruise line that stands above and beyond all my other vacations hands down. And yes.. we've already put a deposit on a future cruise with them. And will again and again...

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217836_Route 6A's Response to edwardnoyer's Review

Written on: 21/11/2005

Last winter, I sailed on the Oosterdam and found the service excellent throughout the ship. I have recently sailed on Silversea, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, and Holland America compares most favorably and is superior in some respects. The staff were exceedingly cordial and friendly. Officers would speak in the corridors, and the cruise director, Peter Daems, greeted us in an elevator, and chatted in a very friendly manner. The deluxe veranda suites are fabulous, with pillow top mattresses. I am sailing on the Oosterdam again soon and am looking forward to a wonderful vacation. Oh, those expansive teak decks! Heaven!

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Gmarr's Response to edwardnoyer's Review

Written on: 04/02/2005

Glad to hear the Oosterdam is better than most reviews indicate. Sailing on April 2, 2005 to Mexican Riveria and looking forward to our first HAL cruise. Have cruised with Princess and Royal Carribean 5 times each.

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