As a cruise specialist homeworker, I was delighted to win two places on the Nieuw Amsterdam inaugural cruise by entering a Holland America Line trade competition. I was joined by fellow Thomas Cook homeworker, Lynsey Smith.
Although I have sold quite a lot of Holland America Line cruises in the past, I have never actually cruised on a HAL ship before. We felt very honoured to be part of an inaugural cruise – and we were both amazed at the high quality of the product, the service, amenities and attention to detail throughout.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much is included in the cruise fare, although there are some optional extras, for instance speciality restaurants for guests who are happy to spend a little more for a special occasion or more personal service.
The atmosphere is very relaxed onboard, although there are opportunities for guests to dress up on some evenings of a longer cruise. I also liked the international mix of clients onboard and choice of night-time venues.
The Nieuw Amsterdam is a nice size – lots of space around the ship – and no public areas ever seemed crowded, even on days at sea. The outside of the ship is very classic looking, with glass lifts running either side and there are lots of open deck areas.
We had a very spacious verandah stateroom, and the balcony was a good size. Our bathroom featured a shower (with a great showerhead) and even a tub. Passengers who book full suites have access to the Neptune Lounge which offers a personal concierge service.
The Retreat on Observation deck is very special as it features upmarket private cabanas which you can hire for a day, or even the full cruise. Prices start from around $40 for a port day.
The food and service in the Manhattan Dining room is excellent. However, the reservations only Pinnacle Grill is really outstanding.
I visited the beautiful Greenhouse Spa and booked a luxury pedicure. Relaxing on my comfortable chaise longue I enjoyed a lovely sea view and was even treated to a glass of water with “de-stressing” rejuvenating oils.
The service crew are mostly Indonesian and Filipino, trained at Holland America Line’s own hotel school, and they are all very personable and efficient. Although this is a new ship, the staff are all very experienced.
There’s really something for everyone on this ship. a broad age range of couples and even some higher end honeymooners. The kids’ amenities are very good and the product is great for those who like to stay at five-star resorts and don’t want to compromise on quality when they take a family holiday.
