Volendam Review
Rating by category
Additional details
This type of report is unavoidably subjective. I have read on this and other forums reports about the same cruise by different authors and it is hard to believe that they were actually on the same ship at the same time.
The following are therefore my views only and I'm sure that other passengers from this voyage of the Volendam would disagree with me on just about every point I make.
I took this cruise because I had been invited to a wedding in Las Vegas and at the time that the invitation arrived I saw a Holland America newspaper advertisement. Rather than face 14 hours flying home to Sydney from Los Angeles I decided to sail across the Pacific.
Cabin Review
Verandah Suite
I had originally booked a single occupancy ocean view cabin (1946) on deck 1 but was persuaded by the advice of my mother (who at 86 is enthusiastically cruising) to change to a veranda cabin on deck 6.
I was in cabin 6194 on the port side of the ship; about two thirds of the way back from the front of the ship.
Even with the additional cost, nearly double, I'm very glad I made the change because having a veranda means being able to get a breath of fresh air without having to make yourself presentable enough to leave your cabin to go on deck. The veranda also makes the cabin seem so much bigger with the extra space outside and also with the wall between the interior and the veranda being all glass (with curtains heavy enough to block out the sun if necessary).
There was little noise from adjacent cabins or from the corridor outside. My cabin had other cabins above on deck 7 and I never heard a noise from that direction. Below me was the library and internet area and again I never heard a noise from there. There were a few squeaks if the ship was rolling but no vibration from the engines or other distractions.
The cabin was spotlessly clean when I arrived and remained so for the whole voyage; any mess was mine alone.
The bed was very comfortable with a good reading light and six pillows were provided; 2 firm, 2 medium and 2 soft.
Plenty of storage space for everything and enough room under the bed for several suitcases.
Take a power board if like me you have several things you want to charge or power at the same time. There is one power point at the desk.
The bathroom is a good size and well lit; with a shower over a bath. The hot water was consistent in temperature and the water is soft enough for shampoos and soaps to lather.
The cabin was serviced every morning while I was having breakfast; the room steward just seemed to know when I'd gone to eat.
On the TV there are:
- Usually three movies on three channels showing in a continuous cycle.
- Holland America promotional material.
- Promotional material for the on board shops.
- Port excursion and other information.
- Replays of presentations and cooking demonstrations from previous day
- Fox News seemed to work no matter where we were.
- ESPN, TNT and other channels worked most of the time, this depended on satellite location.
- Ship location, speed, heading, weather information channel.
There are 100s of DVDs available to borrow; you just have to phone and they will deliver!