My friend and I just arrived home from 10 days on the Veendam, plus three days on our own in Copenhagen. Contrast this Rodent's review with what I wrote last July about NCL's "Pride of America" in Hawaii. Holland America (HAL) did everything right that NCL did so wrong. Comparing the two is like putting Ruth's Chris Steakhouse against McDonald's.
We had a short wait to board the ship upon our 9:30AM arrival. Boarding was smooth and efficient. We caught a bite of lunch and a quick snooze before our cabins were ready.
Day One was a sea day so we snooped around the ship, made dinner and spa reservations, slept and settled in. It was nice to have no port of call the first day.